Sunday, September 1, 2024

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This blog is meant to encourage you to do the good works, which were prepared beforehand for those who are saved by grace through faith.  It was for these good works that the Lord created us.

As the Scripture says:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Eph 2:8-10)

Resting from Work Keeping Sundays Holy Christian Sabbath is Sunday, not Saturday
The Lord's Day Keeping Sundays Holy - Part II Famous Christian Sabbath Observers
Sabbath Period The Origin of the Sabbath Righteous Deeds and White Robes
Doing What is Right Your Rewards Are Based on Your Practice The Law Established Through Faith
Law of Love in the New Testament Deleted Scriptures in the Bible? Why Paul Lived Like a Jew Among the Jews
Is Obedience Optional? The Cost of Discipleship Obedience by the Spirit
The Law Fulfilled in Us The New Covenant Costly Grace
Partaking of the Divine Nature -- Part I Partaking of the Divine Nature -- Part II God Has Not Rejected His Jewish People, Has He?
Faith Works! The Spirit's Law of Life The Spirit of the Law
Is Practical Righteousness a Lost Truth? Righteousness by Faith not Law The Ebb and Flow of Ministry for the Lord
Compelled by Love God's Idea of Work What Then Must We Observe
The Law is Good if Used Lawfully The Sale of Christian Music and Art -- A Robbers' Den? Remember the Eternal Law of God
All Our Deeds Are Known to the Lord Practicing Your Righteousness The Righteous Will Shine Forth as the Sun
The Ways of Life Followers of the Way Judging with Righteous Judgment
Holding Fast the Faithful WordWhatever You Do, Do All Like ThisThe Conditional Security of the Believer
No Flesh Will Be Justified by Works Wesley's Sunday Sabbath Keeping Running from God
Spiritual Do-It-Yourself Life by the Spirit, Not Under the Law Walking by Faith
Obedient to the Heavenly Vision The One Another Commandments When the Lord was Angry with Moses
What Shall We Say to These Things Bearing Fruit in Every Good Work House of Idleness
Leaving Your Family for the Love of Christ Overcoming the Fear of Death Equipped for Every Good Work
Wesley and Henry on the Gospel Law Run with Endurance Faith in Action
Seven Things That Accumulate Building Materials Was Paul Speaking of His Past or Present Life in Romans 7?

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. The Good Samaritan by Dan Burr of Dan Burr Illustration copyright 2013 used by permission.

You may also access my complete blog directory at Writing for the Master.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

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___________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org. Partner with us online by giving to DMI.

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Was Paul Speaking of His Past or Present Life in Romans 7?

In the seventh chapter of Paul the apostle's epistle to the Romans, he speaks in the first person singular in the present tense regarding an intense inner struggle. It was the struggle between wanting to do what was good and right, but not being able to carry it out, and between wanting to avoid doing what is wrong, yet doing that very thing anyway. 

For centuries, a controversy has existed between those who believe that Paul was speaking about his past life before Christ, and those who believe that he was speaking about his present life at that time, as a Spirit-filled disciple of Christ. This same controversy continues to this day.

In fact, recently I was visiting with a dear relative of mine, who also loves the Lord, as I do, and who is a born-again believer. He said that he believes Paul was speaking of his present life as a follower of Jesus in that chapter, and that the main point he was making was that he needed to stop trying to keep the law. But I respectfully disagreed, saying that I believe the context, including Romans chapters six and eight, does not allow for that interpretation, and that Paul could not have been speaking about his present life. I said that I believe Paul was speaking about his life before knowing Christ.

This subject, in the context of the law vs. the spirit, is something I have been studying for decades, and the matter of whether Paul was referring to his life before Christ or his present life as a Christian is something I recall coming up in class in Bible school around thirty-four years ago,  That recent discussion over dinner with my relative led me to go and check to see what my two favorite Bible commentators thought about this matter. So I went and checked both Matthew Henry and John Wesley's commentaries, and although Wesley usually follows Matthew Henry, in this instance Wesley had a different point of view than Henry.

In this article, I am going to share with you an abridged version that summarizes their comments. For their complete, unabridged comments, please see the commentaries on Romans 7 written by Matthew Henry and John Wesley at the links I have just provided.

Matthew Henry's Perspective About Romans 7
Matthew Henry believed that Paul was writing either from the perspective of an unregenerate person, who is convinced they are a sinner, but who is still unsaved, or about the ongoing struggle with the remaining corruption in the life of a sanctified believer in Christ. He believed it was difficult to apply this passage to the regenerate, but even more difficult to apply it to the unregenerate. He also believed that Paul did not intend his remarks in this chapter to be understood to refer to the same state as his present state, and the condition he was now in. Henry explained in his comments that Romans seven: 

…is about the period “When we were in the flesh, that is, in a carnal state, under the reigning power of sin and corruption - in the flesh as in our element.”

…it is “a description of the conflict between grace and corruption in the heart, between the law of God and the law of sin.” 

…”it is applicable two ways: - 1. To the struggles that are in a convinced soul, but yet unregenerate, in the person of whom it is supposed, by some, that Paul speaks. 2. To the struggles that are in a renewed sanctified soul, but yet in a state of imperfection; as others apprehend. And a great controversy there is of which of these we are to understand the apostle here.”

…is “difficult to apply [this passage]…to the regenerate, who are described to walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” But “it is more difficult to apply it to the unregenerate.” “Of [the unregenerate] there are many that will needs have all this understood, and contend earnestly for it: though it is very hard to imagine why, if the apostle intended this, he should speak all along in his own person; and not only so, but in the present tense…if here he speaks of the same state as his present state, and the condition he was now in, surely he did not intend to be so understood.”

…”seems rather to be understood of the struggles that are maintained between grace and corruption in sanctified souls. That there are remainders of indwelling corruption, even where there is a living principle of grace, is past dispute; that this corruption is daily breaking forth in sins of infirmity (such as are consistent with a state of grace) is no less certain.”

…teaches “That true grace strives against these sins and corruptions, does not allow of them, hates them, mourns over them, groans under them as a burden, is likewise certain (Gal_5:17): The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other, so that you cannot do the things that you would. These are the truths which, I think, are contained in this discourse of the apostle…his design is further to open the nature of sanctification, that it does not attain to a sinless perfection in this life; and therefore [his design is] to quicken us to, and encourage us in, our conflicts with remaining corruptions.”

…”complains of - the remainder of indwelling corruptions, which he here speaks of, to show that the law is insufficient to justify even a regenerate man, that the best man in the world hath enough in him to condemn him, if God should deal with him according to the law, which is not the fault of the law, but of our own corrupt nature, which cannot fulfil the law.”

…teaches us that “Such was the strength of corruptions, that [Paul] could not attain that perfection in holiness which he desired and breathed after. Thus, while he was pressing forward towards perfection, yet he acknowledges that he had not already attained, neither was already perfect.”

…shows us that “in his own account [Paul] was a wretched man, because of the corruption of nature, because he was not so good as he fain would be, had not yet attained, neither was already perfect. Thus miserably does he complain.”

…teaches us that “When we are under the sense of the remaining power of sin and corruption, we shall see reason to bless God through Christ…to bless God for Christ; it is he that stands between us and the wrath due to us for this sin. If it were not for Christ, this iniquity that dwells in us would certainly be our ruin.” 

…is “an argument why sin should not reign over us, and why we should walk in newness of life.”

...is to be understood as referring to the law here “as a covenant of works”rather than “as a rule”, since “we are freed, by death, from our obligation to the law as a covenant,” [not as a rule]. 

…”shows from [Paul’s] own experience the great excellency and usefulness of the law, not as a covenant, but as a guide,” which is holy, just, and good. The law in general is so, and every particular commandment is so. Laws are as the law-makers are. God, the great lawgiver, is holy, just, and good, therefore his law must needs be so.”

…teaches that “the commandment, which was ordained to life, was intended as a guide in the way to comfort and happiness.”

…is “an argument why we should be holy” and an “encouragement in [our] endeavors” to do so through “grace, which promises strength to do what [the law] commands, and pardon upon repentance when we do amiss,” since “…we are under a covenant of grace, and not under a covenant of works - under the gospel of Christ, and not under the law of Moses.”

…”distinguishes the good works of believers from the good works of hypocrites and self-justifiers”, since those of believers “…are brought forth in marriage, done in union with Christ, in the name of the Lord Jesus.” For “The only fruit which turns to a good account is that which is brought forth in Christ,” which is “one of the great mysteries of godliness.”

…teaches is that as believers, “we must now serve in newness of spirit, by new spiritual rules, from new spiritual principles, in spirit and in truth. There must be a renovation of our spirits wrought by the spirit of God, and in that we must serve. Not in the oldness of the letter; that is, we must not rest in mere external services, as the carnal Jews did, who gloried in their adherence to the letter of the law, and minded not the spiritual part of worship…We are under the dispensation of the Spirit, and therefore must be spiritual, and serve in the spirit.” For “Wherever there is true grace there is an experimental knowledge of the spirituality of the law of God….Wherever there is grace there is not only a dread of the severity of the law, but a consent to the goodness of the law…This is a sign that the law is written in the heart, that the soul is delivered into the mould of it. To consent to the law is so far to approve of it as not to wish it otherwise constituted than it is. The sanctified judgment not only concurs to the equity of the law, but to the excellency of it, as convinced that a conformity to the law is the highest perfection of human nature, and the greatest honour and happiness we are capable of…All that are savingly regenerate or born again do truly delight in the law of God, delight to know it, to do it - cheerfully submit to the authority of it, and take a complacency in that submission, never better pleased than when heart and life are in the strictest conformity to the law and will of God.”

…teaches that “It is not enough to consent to the law, and to delight in the law, but we must serve the law; our souls must be entirely delivered up into the obedience of it. Thus it was with Paul's mind; thus it is with every sanctified renewed mind; this is the ordinary course and way; thitherward goes the bent of the soul. I myself - autos egō, plainly intimating that he speaks in his own person, and not in the person of another.”

…teaches us that “there is no way of coming to that knowledge of sin which is necessary to repentance, and consequently to peace and pardon, but by comparing our hearts and lives with the law.” For “There is nothing about which the natural man is more blind than about original corruption, concerning which the understanding is altogether in the dark till the Spirit by the law reveal it, and make it known.”

teaches us “to bow our souls to the commanding authority of the word and law of God, not striving against, but submitting to it.”

John Wesley's Perspective About Romans 7
Now let's look at what John Wesley believed about that same passage. Based on the following key statements that Wesley made, we can clearly see that he made a perfectly sound argument from Scripture to support his belief that Paul was impersonating an unsaved man in order to illustrate the utter bondage of trying to please God by obedience to Him in the flesh without the Spirit before becoming united with Christ in his death, raise with Him to new life, born again of the Spirit, and controlled by the Spirit. Wesley states that Romans seven:

…is “the comparison between the former and the present state of a believer

…is a comparison between “the past and present state of believers -- that ‘in the flesh,’ Rom 7:5, and that ‘in the spirit’."

…speaks of the period “When ye were in the flesh - Carnally minded, in a state of nature; before we believed in Christ.”

…demonstrates the futility of trying to serve and obey God “in the oldness of the letter…in a bare literal, external way, as we did before,” rather than “in newness of spirit…in a new, spiritual manner.”

…“is a kind of a digression, to the beginning of the next chapter, wherein the apostle, in order to show in the most lively manner the weakness and inefficacy of the law, changes the person and speaks as of himself, concerning the misery of one under the law. This St. Paul frequently does, when he is not speaking of his own person, but only assuming another character, Rom 3:5, 1Co 10:30, 1Co 4:6. The character here assumed is that of a man, first ignorant of the law, then under it and sincerely, but ineffectually, striving to serve God. To have spoken this of himself, or any true believer, would have been foreign to the whole scope of his discourse; nay, utterly contrary thereto, as well as to what is expressly asserted, Rom 8:2…”

…depicts the unsaved “man, finding there is no help in himself, [who] begins almost unawares to pray, Who shall deliver me? He then seeks and looks for deliverance, till God in Christ appears to answer his question.” However, “the deliverance is not wrought yet.”

depicts a man before knowing Christ, who “is now utterly weary of his bondage, and upon the brink of liberty,” who finally realizes how wretched he really is in himself, and who realizes that “God will deliver me through Christ.”

…is summed up and concluded “as he began, Rom 7:7. I myself - Or rather that I, the person whom I am [im]personating, till this deliverance is wrought.”

My Own Key Points
I believe that Romans seven could not have been about Paul's present life, since he said, "I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin" (Rom 7:14), which is completely inconsistent with what he wrote in chapters six and eight. 

In chapter six, he said that once you are saved, you are united with Christ through water baptism in his death and burial, and you are united with him in His resurrection to a new life (Rom 6:3-6). 

He said that our old self was crucified with Christ, so that we should no longer be slaves to sin (Rom 6:7). He also said you are now a slave to righteousness and no longer a slave to sin (Rom 6:17-18,22). Therefore, as a true believer, it was impossible for Paul to still be a slave to sin as he stated in Romans 7:14, so he could not have been speaking of his present state.

Likewise, in chapter eight, he said that through Christ the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death (Rom 8:2). He said the mind governed by the flesh is death, while the mind by the Spirit is life and peace (Rom 8:6). He also said that the mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God and cannot submit to God's law, and that those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God (Rom 8:7-8). All of these statements in Romans eight about the Spirit-controlled life that Paul was living as a believer are completely inconsistent with the kind of struggle he described in Romans seven.

I do believe, however, that the Holy Spirit was illustrating through Paul the ongoing struggle between the flesh and the spirit that exists in the life of a sanctified believer, and emphasizing the points made in Romans six and eight about the old self being crucified with Christ and the need to now be controlled by the Spirit.

Lastly, it's important to always remember that we cannot interpret the teachings of the apostles, except through the teachings of Christ, and not the other way around. The Lord Jesus always upheld the law, and commanded obedience to it (eg., Matt 5:17-19; Luk 16:16-18), as I've written about here. In fact, the Gospels, and especially the Sermon on the Mount, prove this point (Matt 5:48; Matt 5 - 7).

Conclusion
As you can see, Wesley and Henry each had their own different opinions about the meaning of Romans seven, and both were able to support their views in a doctrinally sound way from Scripture. Henry said that Paul speaks in his own person, and not in the person of another, while Wesley said Paul was impersonating an unsaved man. They both made many excellent points which, even to this day, continue to edify, instruct, and encourage the Body of Christ. Neither of these men used their viewpoint as an opportunity to teach grace as a license for sin, but both taught the need to live a holy life in obedience to God. Both of them taught that we must obey the gospel law (see here). 

Therefore, whichever way you choose to view Romans seven, just be sure that it is consistent with sound doctrine that conforms to Scripture, especially the teachings of Jesus, and that it is consistent in its context with the rest of Paul's discourse.

Attributes: Most Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, all rights reserved, used by permission. Image may be subject to copyright, used per the Fair Use Act for educational and commentary purposes only.

Author's note:  If you enjoyed this post, you may also like Aim for Perfection, Christian Perfection, Walking in the Perfect Will of GodLiving on Earth as They Do in HeavenWesley and Henry on Gospel Law, Is Practical Righteousness a Lost Truth?Faith in ActionBearing Fruit in Every Good WorkLiving a Life Worthy of the Lord, and the other posts available through the links on the Home page. You may also access my complete blog directory at Writing for the Master.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Him.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe. 


Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
______________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Seven Things That Accumulate Building Materials

Dear saints,

In 1987, a Korean pastor named Yong Park died tragically, and experienced both heaven and hell. He observed that some saints are richly rewarded in heaven, while others do not receive any reward; some saints have great big, glorious mansions in heaven, while others live in little, group homes. In fact, he saw that his own house was still small and unfinished, even after serving the Lord his whole life and pastoring a 5,000-member mega church (Mt 6:19-21). During this heavenly experience, he was told the reason for all these things. 

There are seven things you must do to build up materials, in order to build your heavenly home:

1. Worship and Praise to God
The first is your accumulation of worship and praise to God. 

Scripture says you were created to praise the Lord (Isaiah 43:21), and you are commanded to praise Him (Ps 148:5). You are commanded to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5). You are to do so at all times (Heb 13:5; Psalm 34:1), even with clapping and shouting (Ps 47:1). Another way the Scripture teaches us to praise Him is with the holy dance (Ex 15:20; 2 Sam 6:14, 16; 1 Chr 15:29; Psa 30:11; 149:3; 150:4). Whenever you do these things with love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith (1Ti 1:5), you accumulate building materials in heaven that are used to build your home there.

2. Reading the Bible 
The second is your time spent reading the Bible. 

Read the Word, meditate on it, and scrutinize it, so you won’t be deceived (Ps 1:2; Ps 119:11, 105; Mt 4:4; 2 Tim 3:16). This also results in building materials being sent up to heaven that are used to build your mansion.

3. Praying to God
Third, your time spent praying to God. (1 The 5:17; 1 Tim 2:8; Phil 4:6; Mt 7:7). According to E.M. Bounds, in his book on the power of prayer, the average pastor only prays about five minutes per day. That is called prayerlessness, which is a sin. It was the same way in the garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus prayed, and all His disciples were sleeping. But Jesus said, "Couldn't you men keep watch with me for one hour?" (Mt 26:40). He asks you that same question today, "Could you not spend one hour with Me in prayer?" This must be a priority for each of us, because prayer is our lifeline to God.

If you have been guilty of the sin of prayerlessness, the first step is to confess it to God, repent, and ask forgiveness. Do this, rather than simply trying harder or making a resolution to pray more, because we cannot reform ourselves. Once you repent and ask forgiveness, the Lord will set you free from that sin, and you will then be able to obey Him as you ought to.

As you pray, plead the blood of Jesus, put on the full armor of God, shout to the Lord, lift your hands straight up to God, attack the demons, and engage them in battle. Ask the Lord to give you true contrition for sin and tears of repentance. Seek His face (Jer 29:13; Ps 27:8). Pray in tongues (1 Cor 2:4-5; Jude 1:20; Eph 6:18). Pray that you may love with same love with which He loves you. 

As you pray, building materials are being sent up to heaven that are used to build your mansion.

4. Evangelizing Those Who Don't Know Jesus
Fourth, your time spent evangelizing to people (Mt 28:18-20; Mk 13:10; 16:15). The reward you receive from the Lord for this does not depend on the response of the people with whom you share the gospel, but rather on your obedience to God in sharing with them. This is the Great Commission that the Lord has given to us. He who has all authority in heaven and on earth -- who gave his life on the cross for our sins and the sins of the whole world, who is not willing that any would perish, but that all would come to repentance -- has commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations. As you do so, whether it is across the street or around the world, building materials are being sent up to heaven for your mansion to be built.

5. Tithes to God
Fifth, your obedient tithes to God. The Lord commands us to bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, and He promises that when we do, He will throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that we will not have room enough to receive (Mal 3:8-10). You can read more about this in my article on Christian tithing

A man named Emmanuel Agyarko had a vision of hell, in which he said: “I saw four pastors in hell, who were there because they did not pay their tithes. One was called Albert and another was Daniel, a pastor of Church of Christ and this church does not believe in tithing. Daniel said he told his congregation not to pay tithes, as it was no longer necessary. He was in hell for basically two things: first of all, he was not paying tithes himself; and secondly, because he also stopped others from paying it. For Albert, his church believed in paying tithes, but he thought it was meant for only the congregation, and that pastors were excluded from paying it. He wished he could come back to earth to start over again and pay his tithes. The other two pastors also did not pay, and one of them, thought simply he did not think he had to pay it even though he knew he should be paying it, and the other thought ministering before God is not working, so he thought there was no need to pay any tithes.” 

In Angelica Zambrano’s visit to hell, she said she saw a man who said, “I have stolen from God...At this very moment there are many people on Earth that are robbing the Lord like I did. When you return to Earth, tell all those people who don't want to give their tithes and offerings, not to steal from the Lord, otherwise, they’ll wind up in Hell, and no thief will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”  

Another Korean pastor named Yong-Doo Kim says, “People who did not properly tithe are ending up in hell.”

When you give to God, do it with love, and give to the Lord with true love. As you do, building materials will be sent up to heaven for your home.

6. Offerings to the Lord
Sixth, your offerings to the Lord (Mt 6:19-21; Lk 6:38). We are not only to give our tithes to the Lord, which is the first ten percent, but also our offerings above and beyond that. While tithes are to be brought into the storehouse where you are fed and cared for spiritually, offerings can be given to the church, or they can be given to Christian ministries and missions, as well as anyone who is doing the Lord's work. He who sows generously will reap generously, and he who sows sparingly will reap sparingly (2 Cor 9:6). One man gives freely yet gains even more, another withholds unduly and comes to poverty. A generous man shall prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed (Prov 11:24-25). Offerings include our alms to the poor as well. He who is kind to the poor will be blessed, because he honors the Lord (Prov 19:17). Whenever you give offerings, you will be accumulating building materials in heaven for your home.

7. Serving the Body of Christ
Seventh, your time spent serving the church in any way (Mt 20:28; Gal 5:13; 6:10; 1 Pet 4:10). You should have a servant's heart and do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

The fruit God wants is your personal love, your personal help, and your personal concern. When you see an individual hurting and your own heart actually hurts with them, this is when you care! God's desire is that we be like Jesus, and we will always find Him moving in the areas of human need.

God desires for us to do good to all men, especially to the household of God (Gal 6:10). He wants us to represent Jesus and to be like Him. When you are helping people, you become a living word to them which says, "I care and God cares for you!" We become a word that is alive to them -- a living word.

Any Christian can accumulate building materials every day, because there are people who need help every day! When we care for them, we are bringing the heart of God to them in their place of need. When we do this for God, something goes into our storehouse in heaven!

Closing Words
This message is only for those who have been born again, and know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. This message is not explaining how to get to heaven, because you cannot get to heaven by your own good works, rather you must be born again

These are the deeds or works of obedience in which one who is saved accumulates materials for his Heavenly home. If one is lacking in these areas, he will have no materials to build his home. Whenever you do something with faith, whatever it is, Jesus will build your house bigger and higher.

Attributes: Most Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, all rights reserved, used by permission. Image may be subject to copyright, used per the Fair Use Act for educational and commentary purposes only.

Author's note:  If you enjoyed this post, you may also like Faith in Action, Run with EnduranceFaith WorksWalking by FaithObedient to the Heavenly Vision, The Four Tallest Homes in HeavenLiving on Earth as They Do in HeavenBearing Fruit in Every Good WorkLiving a Life Worthy of the Lord, and the other posts available through the links on the Home page. You may also access my complete blog directory at Writing for the Master.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Him.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe. 


Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
______________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

Friday, January 5, 2024

Faith in Action

Today I'd like to write to you about faith in action, which is what the ancients were commended for. (Heb 11:2). The ancients lived by faith, demonstrating their faith by their deeds (James 2:18). Here are some examples in Hebrews 11 of how their faith and their actions were working together (James 2:22):


Brought a Better Offering
"By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead." (Heb 11:4)

Taken from this Life
"By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: "He could not be found, because God had taken him away." For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God." (Heb 11:5)

Built an Ark
"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith." (Heb 11:7)

Obeyed and Went
"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." (Heb 11:8)

Made His Home in the Promised Land, Lived in Tents
"By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise." (Heb 11:9)

Looked forward to Heaven
"For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." (Heb 11:10)

Was Enabled to Bear a Child
"And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise." (Heb 11:11)

Offered Isaac
"By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son." (Heb 11:17)

Reasoned That God Could Raise the Dead
"Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death." (Heb 11:19)

Blessed His Sons
"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future." (Heb 11:20)

"By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff." (Heb 11:21)

Spoke About the Exodus
"By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones." (Heb 11:22) 

Hid Their Child
"By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict." (Heb 11:23) 

Refused Prestige
"By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter." (Heb 11:24) 

Chose to Be Mistreated
"He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin." (Heb 11:25) 

Regarded Disgrace for Christ of Greater Value
"He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward." (Heb 11:26)

Left Egypt
"By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible." (Heb 11:27)

Kept the Passover and Sprinkling of Blood
"By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel." (Heb 11:28)

Passed Through the Red Sea as on Dry Land
"By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned." (Heb 11:29) 

Marched Around Jericho
"By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days." (Heb 11:30) 

Welcomed the Spies and Was Not Killed
"By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient." (Heb 11:31) 

Conquered Kingdoms, Gained the Promises, Shut Lions’ Mouths
"And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets..." (Heb 11:32)

"...who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions..." (Heb 11:33)

Quenched Flames, Escaped the Sword, Routed Armies
"...quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies." (Heb 11:34)

Received Back Their Dead, Were Tortured, Refused Release
"Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection." (Heb 11:35)

Faced Jeers, Flogging, Chains, and Imprisonment
"Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment." (Heb 11:36)

Stoned to Death, Sawed in Two, Killed by the Sword, Persecuted
"They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—" (Heb 11:37)

Wandered in Deserts and Mountains, Living in Caves and Holes
"the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground." (Heb 11:38)

The Faith of Christ
We must not forget the faith of Christ, as the apostle culminates this passage with the exhortation to focus on Him: “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb 12:2)

Even Christ lived by faith. The faith of Christ is the literal translation of the Greek expression pistis tou christou, which Paul used in Galatians 2:16 (twice); 2:20 (Son of God); and 3:22, as well as Romans 3:22, 26; and Philippians 3:9. The Greek word "pistis" means "faith, trust, or faithfulness", while "tou christou" means "of Christ". The word "tou" simply means "of". It does not mean "in". The Greek word for "in" is "en" or "eis", not tou.

Therefore, understanding pistis tou christou as a reference to Christ’s own faith or faithfulness is grammatically and theologically possible (Toews volume on Romans, 108-110). While this is mistranslated in the NIV as "faith in Christ", several other versions translate it as "the faith of Christ" or "the faithfulness of Christ" (eg., see above verses in King James Version, NET Bible, 1599 Geneva Bible, and the Tyndale Bible of the 1500's).

More on this here and here

Note: Examples of verses with the expressions "faith in God", "faith in Christ", and "believe in Christ Jesus" using "eis" include 1 Pet 1:21, Jn 14:1, Act 24:24, Col 2:5, and Gal 2:16. The expressions, "faith in Christ" in Col 1:4, as well as "faith in Christ Jesus" in 1 Tim 3:13 and 2 Tim 3:15 all use "en". Therefore, the expression "faith in Christ" is certainly found in Scripture, where "eis" and "en" are used interchangeably to mean "in". My main point above was simply to show that there is another biblical  expression, "the faith of Christ" or "the faithfulness of Christ", which uses "tou" (of), and connotes a different meaning.

The Faith of God
Finally, I would like to present to you a truth that some will find difficult to accept, but it is true nevertheless: even God has faith in Himself.

"By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." (Heb 11:3)

Our understanding of how God created the entire universe at His command is by faith. That understanding of ours is not based on reason or scientific evidence, although both of those have been proven to fully support our understanding of the creation. He made all visible things that we see around us -- on earth, in the sky, and in space, and He made them out of what was invisible. He calls things that are not as though they were (Rom 4:17). He had confidence about what He hoped for and assurance about what He did not see. That is the very definition of faith (Heb 11:1). He believed in His own power and ability. He knew that He was capable of doing what He wanted to do, therefore He believed in Himself, which only He can do, because He alone is God. He is all-sufficient. All things are possible for Him (Matt 19:26), and absolutely nothing is too difficult for Him (Jer 32:17). He simply spoke the Word, and the universe  came into existence (Gen 1:3).

Someone may argue that God does not have faith. However, anyone who denies that God has faith in Himself would have to prove that. It would be quite silly to insist that God does not believe in Himself, wouldn't it? Why would He command us to believe in Him, if He did not even believe in Himself and His own ability to call things that are not as though they were.

The Scripture says, "I believed, therefore I have spoken." (2 Cor 4:13:14). Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak. God put His own faith in action and taught us by His example how to put into action our faith in Him. 

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mar 11:22-24)

For more on this, please see The Faith of God.

Closing Words
The ancients were all commended for living by faith and demonstrating their faith by their deeds (Heb 11:2; James 2:18,22). They brought a better offering. They were taken from this life without experiencing death. They built an ark. They obeyed and went. They made their home in the Promised Land, living in tents. They looked forward to heaven. They were enabled to bear children. They offered their children to God. They reasoned that God could raise the dead. They blessed their sons. They spoke about the exodus. They hid their child. They refused prestige. They chose to be mistreated. They regarded disgrace for Christ of greater value than worldly treasures. They left Egypt, persevered, and saw Him who is invisible. They kept the Passover and sprinkling of blood. They passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. They marched around Jericho. They were not killed. They conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained the promises, shut the lions’ mouths, quenched the fury of the flames, escaped the sword, became powerful in battle, routed foreign armies, received back their dead, were tortured, refused release, faced jeers, flogging, chains, and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, sawed in two, killed by the sword, went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, and mistreated. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes.

While all of these ancients were commended for their genuine faith that was demonstrated by actions, we don't focus on them; rather, they are the cloud of witnesses surrounding us, as we are now the ones running the race. Instead, our focus is on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who led by example with His own faith in action.

Attributes: Most Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, all rights reserved, used by permission. Image may be subject to copyright, used per the Fair Use Act for educational and commentary purposes only.


Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Him.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe. 


Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
______________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

Friday, December 1, 2023

Run with Endurance

Dear friends in Christ, 

Let me encourage you today, especially those of you who feel like giving up. 

The Scripture says, "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." (Heb 10:36)

That applies to everything you do within God's will, including all your service to the Lord. You need to persevere. You need to hang in there to the very end. Keep on believing God. Keep trusting the Lord!

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Gal 6:9).

The promise that you will reap a harvest at the proper time is conditional. It is only given if one does not become weary in doing good, and does not give up.

As Jesus said, "The one who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Mt 24:13).

It's not the quitters who will be saved. He made that clear in his parable of the sower, in which one of the seeds was sown on rocky soil, where it sprouted quickly, but was quickly scorched by the sun (Mt 13:5-6). The Lord said this represents someone who hears the Word and immediately receives it with joy, but when trouble or persecution comes because of the Word, he soon falls away, because he has no root and lasts only a short time (Mt 13:20-21). The one who falls away from the Lord will not be saved, so you mustn't do that. Likewise, no matter what you undertake to do that is in God's will, you need to stand firm until the end, and finish what you started just as God always does (Phil 1:6).

Nothing that is truly worthwhile comes easily without making any effort. Anything we seek to do that is of eternal value is going to come with challenges and resistance, because we have an enemy that always tries to stop us from doing God's will. That's why we need to be persistent like the importunate widow (Lk 18:1-8). You need to press on, stay the course, and refuse to cave to the enemy.

We also need to remember that trials come to test our faith, in order to produce perseverance in us. James wrote:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (Jas 1:2-4)

This means that what you need to do is change your perspective on the trials, and consider it pure joy. You must let perseverance finish its work in you, which is the only way you will become mature and perfect.

You need to stand firm and let nothing move you, giving yourself fully to the Lord's work, as Paul the apostle wrote:

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1Co 15:58)

Before you undertake to do something for the Lord, whatever that may be, you need to pray and ask Him if this is something He wants you to do. Once you hear from Him that it is His will for you to do it, and you have confirmed that it is, by checking the Word of God to make sure it does not contradict Scripture, then that is your direction from God and the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is what you received when you were in the light.

Once you set out to accomplish it, you will often encounter a crisis of belief, where you will question whether you really heard from God. In those moments when you are in a crisis of belief, you must remember in the dark the direction you received when you were in the light, and follow it by faith without wavering. You must be obedient to the heavenly vision, as Paul was (Ac 26:19).

The entire chapter of Hebrews 11 is filled with accounts of saints who kept the faith and endured to the end like Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. That's our great cloud of witnesses, who have gone on into glory before us, and now it's our turn to run this race. 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb 12:1-2).

You must run with perseverance (Greek, hupomonē, endurance). No one else can do that for you. But be sure that what you are running is the race marked out for you, and not the race you have marked out for yourself, or the race that someone else has marked out for you. Be sure it is the will of God you are doing, and not your own. And be sure it is not something you are doing simply to please man.

And don't put any confidence in the flesh. If you put your confidence in yourself, then you will surely fail, as Peter did. Remember that he said, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will. Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." (Mat 26:33, 35). Of course, we all know that he did deny the Lord that very same night, and the Lord knew in advance that it was going to happen. But the Lord didn't condemn him, because He knew that it was satan's plan to try and sift Peter like wheat. Rather, he prayed that Peter's faith would not fail.  

Therefore, put your confidence in the Lord, not in yourself, and avoid making prideful oaths like, "I will never do this or that." Rather pray with that same intensity, "Lord help me never to deny you. help me to never quit, never give up, never give in, and never give over to the enemy. Help me never to love my own life, even so much as to shrink from death. Help me endure to the end. May Christ always be exalted in my body whether by life or by death. I trust in you, Lord, to keep me."

Notice it says to fix your eyes on Jesus. That's because all our confidence is in Him, and not in ourselves. We know that, if it were not for the grace of God, then we, like Peter, would deny Him, too. But Jesus is the author and the finisher of your faith. He authored your faith, and He will finish it. He is our perfect example, who endured the cross, finished the work the Father had given Him to do, and sat down at the right hand of God. He knows no defeat. He never fails. His love never fails. And His words will never pass away. 

Closing Words
Run with perseverance the race the Lord has marked out for you, fixing your eyes on Jesus, who is the author and the finisher of your faith. He who authored your faith will finish it. Trust in Him to keep you until the end, because he who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.

You should not quit, give up, give in, or give over to the enemy. You won't accomplish anything worthwhile that way. Unless you are quitting something sinful or bad for you, like cigarettes, heroin, or lying, for example, then you should always finish any good work for the Lord that He told you to do, unless He tells you to stop. There is no reward or honor in heaven or on earth for quitting. Keep the faith. Be faithful in all things. Stand firm and endure to the end. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord. If what you are doing is the will of God, then finish doing it. God always finishes what He starts, and we must be imitators of God. 

I hope this has encouraged you not to quit doing God's will.

Attributes: Most Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, all rights reserved, used by permission. Image may be subject to copyright, used per the Fair Use Act for educational and commentary purposes only.


Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Him.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe. 


Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
______________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.