Question: What is the value of archaeology to the study of the Old Testament?
2 Corinthians 5 v 7
“(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”
Our faith is primary and paramount in the Christian’s life!!!
Archeological finds related to the Old Testament and New Testament have in every
case verified what the scriptures have told us…
Archaeology has shown the Bible is Historically accurate!
Example One:
Genesis 15 v 20
“And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,”
The Hittites played a prominent role in Old Testament history. They interacted with
biblical figures as early as Abraham and as late as Solomon.
1 Kings 10 v 29
“And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver,
and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites,
and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.”
In the first book of the Kings it is recorded that the Hittites purchased chariots
and horses from King Solomon.
The most prominent Hittite is Uriah the husband of Bathsheba. The Hittites were
a powerful force in the Middle East from 1750 B.C. until 1200 B.C.
However in secular History prior to the late 19th century, nothing was known of
the Hittites outside the Bible, and many critics alleged that they were an invention
of the biblical authors.
In 1876 a dramatic discovery changed this perception. A British scholar named A.
H. Sayce found inscriptions carved on rocks in Turkey. He suspected that they might
be evidence of the Hittite nation. Ten years later, more clay tablets were found
in Turkey at a place called Boghaz-koy. Ultimately it was verified by continued
archaeological investigations that indeed the finds by A. H. Sayce were absolute
proof of the Hittite people and Nation…
The discovery also confirmed other biblical facts. Five temples were found containing
many tablets with details of the rites and ceremonies that priests performed. These
ceremonies described rites for purification from sin and purification of a new temple.
The instructions proved to be very elaborate and lengthy. Critics once criticized
the laws and instructions found in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy as too
complicated for the time it was written (1400 B.C.). The Boghaz-koy texts along
with others from Egyptian sites and a site along the Euphrates called Emar have
proven that the ceremonies described in the Jewish Pentateuch are consistent with
the ceremonies of the cultures of this time period.
Example Two:
The Walls of Jericho
According to the Bible, the conquest of Jericho occurred in approximately 1440 B.C.
The miraculous nature of the conquest has caused some scholars to dismiss the story
as folklore. Does archaeology support the biblical account?
Over the past century four prominent archaeologists have excavated the site: Carl
Watzinger from 1907-1909, John Garstang in the 1930's, Kathleen Kenyon from
1952-1958, and currently Bryant Wood. The result of their work has been remarkable.
First, they discovered that Jericho had an impressive system of fortifications.
Surrounding the city was a retaining wall fifteen feet high.
At its top was an eight-foot brick wall strengthened from behind by an earthen rampart.
Domestic structures were found behind this first wall. Another brick wall enclosed
the rest of the city. The domestic structures found between the two walls is consistent
with Joshua's description of Rahab's quarters:
Joshua 2 v 15
“Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the
town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.”
Archeologists also found that in one part of the city, large piles of bricks were
found at the base of both the inner and outer walls, indicating a sudden collapse
of the fortifications. Scholars feel that an earthquake, which may also explain
the damming of the Jordan in the biblical account, caused this collapse. The collapsed
bricks formed a ramp by which an invader might easily enter the city:
Joshua 6 v 20
“So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass,
when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great
shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every
man straight before him, and they took the city.”
Of this amazing discovery Garstang states,
"As to the main fact, then, there remains no doubt: the walls fell outwards
so completely, the attackers would be able to clamber up and over the ruins of the
city."
This is remarkable because when attacked city walls fall inward, not outward. A
thick layer of soot indicates that the city was destroyed by fire as described in:
Joshua 6 v 24
“And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and
the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the
house of the Lord.”
Kenyon describes it this way.
"The destruction was complete. Walls and floors were blackened or reddened
by fire and every room was filled with fallen bricks."
Archaeologists also discovered large amounts of grain at the site. This is again
consistent with the biblical account that the city was captured quickly. If it had
fallen as a result of a siege, the grain would have been used up.
According to:
Joshua 6 v 17
“And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord:
only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because
she hid the messengers that we sent.”
The Israelites were forbidden to plunder the city, but had to destroy it totally.
Although the archaeologists agreed Jericho was violently destroyed, they disagreed
on the date of the conquest.
Garstang held to the biblical date of 1400 B.C. while Watzinger and Kenyon believed
the destruction occurred in 1550 B.C. In other words, if the later date is accurate,
Joshua arrived at a previously destroyed Jericho. This earlier date would pose a
serious challenge to the historicity of the Old Testament.
Dr. Bryant Wood, who is currently excavating the site, found that Kenyon's early
date was based on faulty assumptions about pottery found at the site. His later
date is also based on the discovery of Egyptian amulets in the tombs northwest of
Jericho. Inscribed under these amulets were the names of Egyptian Pharaohs dating
from 1500-1386 B.C., showing that the cemetery was in use up to the end of the late
Bronze Age (1550-1400 B.C.).
Finally, a piece of charcoal found in the debris was carbon-14 dated to be 1410
B.C.
The evidence leads Wood to this conclusion.
"The pottery, stratigraphic considerations, scarab data and a carbon-14 date
all point to a destruction of the city around the end of the Late Bronze Age, about
1400 BCE."
Thus, current archeological evidence supports the Bible's account of when and
how Jericho fell.
Along with these two examples, archeology has also verified: Sodom and Gomorrah,
the House of David, etc…….
These physical proofs of the truth and accuracy of the Bible are great.
But returning to my original scripture text, OUR salvation should not be based on
these facts, these facts of sight.
For what if archaeology discovers absolute proof of the Ark of Noah, and all the
physical, organic matter verifies the Bible account. All the animals, etc…
Many believe; THEN SUDDENLY IT IS EQUALLY PROVEN THE ARCHEOLOGY FIND WAS ALL A FARCE,
A CANARD, A DECEPTION???
Faith based on human wisdom, and human sight can be manipulated and cause final
destruction of weak or immature belief!
Genuine and honest archeology can be a “good” indication of the truth of the Bible,
but it is still only an indication; God Himself is the only absolute validation
of the authenticity of the Holy Bible!!!
***Archaeology helps us improve our understanding of the Bible.
***Archaeology helps illustrate and explain Bible passages. The events of the Bible
occurred at a certain time, in a particular culture, influenced by a particular
social and political structure. Archaeology gives us insights into these areas.
Archaeology also helps to supplement topics not covered in the Bible.
But at the end of the day as in all human disciplines; archaeology and all others
must be in submission to faith and faith in light of God’s inerrant, infallible
words the Bible!!!!!!!
Eternal faith will only increase by further archeological finds whatever the final
outcome may be, but weak, immature, wavering faith may be destroyed by such reliance
on “sight” that archeology potentially can give us…….
Answered by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
August 2, 2007
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Question: In the N.I.V. interpretation Romans 11:32. This scripture is difficult.
It would seem to imply that God had people to become disobedient so He could show
His mercy on mankind once they discovered they were disobedient and ask for mercy
(or forgiveness ).Of course God allows people to make their own choices. Please
explain.
First, forgive my educator’s eye on your statement; but the New International Version
(NIV) of the Bible is not a interpretation it is a translation.
A translation is an attempt simply to put the original language into another language;
without deciding the words collective meaning…
An interpretation may not even be a translation; it is simply an attempt to understand
the meaning of the written words collectively.
The NIV is only an attempt to put the Biblical words into English words, it is not
an attempt to explain the meaning…
To study the Bible it is far superior to use a genuine “translation” over one which
makes the “interpretation” for you…
The NIV, is just one of many versions of the Bible dedicated to being as accurate
as possible in translating the original languages into our English language…
Romans 11 v 32
“For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them
all.” NIV
Romans 11 v 32
“For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.”
KJV
In light of the context of this text, and considering it in the context of the scriptures
collectively; the meaning is this:
Part A...” For God has bound all men over to disobedience”
God knew from before creation (His: foreknowledge) that all humans would fail to
stay sinless; that all humans would sin…
Romans 3 v 23
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” KJV
Isaiah 53 v 6
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and
the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” KJV
He, God knew, even from our Mother’s womb WE WOULD ALL SIN…
Psalms 58 v 3
“Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward and speak
lies.” NIV
To give you and example of an interpretation, this prior verse interpreted by me,
means:
“From our (all humanity) birth, we all have sinned even before our physical birth!!!”
Part B…” so that he may have mercy on them all.”
Since all of us have and will sin; only by God’s mercy and grace can anyone be saved!!!
The entire meaning:
Since God knew we would all sin, and that we could not save or redeem ourselves;
GOD PROVIDED HIS SON’S ATONING SACRIFICE FOR ALL, that all WHO WOULD ACCEPT AND
LOVE HIM WOULD BE SAVED…
Ephesians 2 v 8-9
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast.” KJV
So, first your text refers to God’s foreknowledge of all humanities’ sinfulness;
then it speaks of His mercy being the only source for their, OUR forgiveness and
salvation…….
Of course there is one exception; Jesus in His Humanity never sinned!
Hebrews 4 v 1
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
Submitted by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
July 30, 2007
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Question: What do you think about the possibility of a one world government? And
also the possibility of a new world order?
Matthew 24 v 4
“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.”
*******Absolutely I believe in not only the possibility of a One World Government,
but in the reality of it coming soon!
The world is like a stage, History is practicing over and over again for that final
Worldcontrol and that final World ruler.
Matthew 24 v 6-12
“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for
all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7. For nation shall
rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and
pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8. All these are the beginning of
sorrows. 9. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you:
and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10. And then shall
many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11.
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12. And because iniquity
shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”
God through Daniel has given us an understanding of this WORLD STAGE…
There have been four empires that have ruled the known world;
1) Babylonia, modern day Iraq. Ruled over Judah from approximately 605 BC to 539
BC.
Daniel 2… Head of the Statue
Daniel 7…Vision of the Beasts---Lion
2) Medo-Persia, in 539 BC took control of Babylonia without a fight. Ruled over
Judah 539 BC to 332 BC.
Daniel 2…Chests and Arms of Statue
Daniel 7…Vision of the Beasts---Bear
3) Greece, In 332 BC Alexander the Great conquered Persia. Greece ruling Judah from
332 BC to 63 BC.
Daniel 2…Belly and Thighs of Statue
Daniel 7…Vision of the Beasts---Leopard
4) Rome (scholars believe; Bible does specify), in 63 BC Jerusalem was conquered.
If scholars are correct, Roman ruled over Judah from 63 BC through the time of Jesus…
Daniel 2…Legs and Feet of Statue
Daniel 7…Vision of the Beasts---Terrifying Beast
Most prophetic scholars, and I would agree; the final One World Government will
be a type of Roman rule; a renewal of the Roman Empire…
A governmental entity founded in Euro-Asia, which literally controls the entire
planet…
Be it a outgrowth of the United Nations or some similar organization; it will control
the world governments…
To date, the United Nations has set up what it considers International Laws , that
if enforced will take away the ultimate authority of local governments and delegate
them in the name of “World Brotherhood and Acceptance” to International Law.
*The United Nations has passed resolutions or laws protecting abortion as an international
method for birth control.
*The United Nations has set goals for international education, taking that responsibility
away from local governments and subverting the authority of parental rights to educate
their children as they see fit.
*The United Nations has approved measures that would internationally take away the
right of individual people to bear arms.
*The United Nations has passed and proposed rules that would limit family size,
environmental rules that take rights away from individuals, have suggesting taking
rights away from land or property owners, and that all countries’ military powers
be delegated to a United Nation Peace Force…
If the United Nations or any other entity has or will have the power and authority
to enforce compliance of these resolutions on all self-governing bodies; THEN THERE
WILL BE NO SUCH THING AS A SOVERIGN NATION; WE WILL ALL BE PART OF A “ONE WORLD
GOVERNMENT”!!!
People will be registered who oppose absolute compliance acceptance of such laws,
and they will be taken care of. Homes, stores, Churches will be raided and taken
care of…
There are people in our government today, that sincerely believe the United States
of America should surrender it’s God given sovereign rights to the United Nations
to promote World Peace and Harmony…
One day, somehow, probably very subtly, there will be a One World Government, established
in the name of universal peace and tolerance and in that day the USA will be a mere
puppet on the International scene…
The Hitler’s, the Sedum Husain’s, all those wanting a New World Order and all the
other petty and big name tyrants of this world have been just a dress rehearsal;
for the one who will come and rule with bloody hands, deceiving many; and destroying
much humanity……
Matthew 24 v 13
“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
The only way to be prepared for the future, is to study, know, ***BELIEVE***, understand
the Bible, and ***DO*** WHAT IT SAYS!!!!!!!
James 1 v 22
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
Jesus says:
Mark 13 v 33
“Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.”
Submitted by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
July 27, 2007
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Question - Harold, Thanks for the reply. In light of Luther's consideration
of certain books of the Bible (James, Heb. etc), how does this impact the credibility
of his "sola scriptura" position? If the father of the reformation itself
does not know (or readily accept after 1500 years) what scripture is or isn't
how can we lend any credibility to his claim of using the scripture alone as our
sole rule of faith? If his advice in the end was to leave the canonicity of James
or any other book to "the individual Christian conscience", where does
this leave the Protestant position of using "only the Bible"? Today, if
one decides to disregard a book of the Bible as "questionable" as to it's
inspiration/authority, where are we left to put our faith, if not a human authority,
as to WHAT IS scriptura?
Valid question…
As I attended Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri; I encountered
a student with a faith issue…
He had said he had been a Christian since his childhood, and accepted the call to
the ministry in his teens. He had been quite excited with plans to attend seminary
as soon as he completed his undergraduate work.
However, here he stood on the second floor hallway of a great Theological institution;
and questioned anything and everything he had ever ‘thought’ he believed about the
Bible. Why?
*Textual criticism, *Source criticism, *Documentary hypothesis, *Form criticism,
*Redaction criticism, *Socio-historical criticism, *Rhetorical criticism, *Narrative
criticism, *Tradition history,*Psychological Biblical Criticism, *Linguistic Criticism,
and *Canonical Criticism, etc, etc, etc…
Seminary prepares ministerial students to deal with all manner of challenges to
the authenticity of the Bible. Many of these criticisms raise valid concerns; concerns
that genuine believers must acknowledge, and even deal with within their own individual
faith.
The ultimate goal of being trained in these biblical criticisms is to enable the
minister to respond to peoples’ legitimate questions about the Bible.
The young man I spoke about could not reconcile his new doubts with his alleged
faith; he left seminary and the ministry…
Luther believed profoundly in the scriptures, in our present day Holy Bible; but
he was an honest man, a sincere man; and would not deny or disguise his doubts,
to make it ‘appear’ that canonicity was absolutely agreed upon by all…
“Sola Scriptura”, scripture alone; is only superficially affected by Luther’s doubts,
or by anyone’s doubts!
Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote:
“There lives more faith in honest doubt, believe me, THAN IN HALF THE CREEDS.”
***The truth and reality of the Bible is not based on blind faith; but rather by
the honesty and integrity of those called of God; guided by the Holy Spirit…
***We are neither saved by what we ‘know’ or clearly see as facts, nor is the Bible
God’s inerrant, infallible scripture by what we all see as agreed upon;
2 Corinthians 5 v 7
“(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”
If we could all agree the 66 books of the Old and New Testament were absolutely
God’s word; we all would be living simply by sight, by facts…***It would take no
thinking or faith on our part at all…
We would be like the Pharisees or legalists; simply following rules 1-10 and we
would be saved.
Instead we are saved by grace through faith; and in the end each of us, each individual
is responsible for what and how we choose to believe.
Hebrews 11 v 1
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
I can testify I know the Canonicity of our sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments
is without question absolutely authoritative and inspired solely by GOD HIMSELF!!!!!!!
Do I have questions, potential doubts; yes I do. But by faith in God Himself, not
in Luther, not in my training or education, or in any other Christian or Theologian;
but by faith in God I believe in the Bible.
***FAITH is knowing in spite of our doubts; Faith is knowing in spite of our questions;
Faith is testing all things, to prove or disprove their validity; and then living
and doing by what we believe…
1 Thessalonians 5 v 21
“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
Luther once answered to the question,
“Do you feel saved?”
“No, but God is greater than my feelings!”
God and His Holy Bible are greater than any human doubts or fears.
I Harold Chris Smith willingly stake my ETERNAL SOUL on the authenticity and canonicity
of the BIBLE and all that God teaches me through it’s pages, and on absolutely nothing
else !!!!!!!
Romans 10 v 17
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
I close with:
Isaiah 55 v 11
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto
me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the
thing whereto I sent it.”
Luther had doubts, but his faith assured him, just the same:
“Sola Scriptura!!!!!!!”
Submitted by: harold chris smith, a “born again” believer…
July 19, 2007
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Question: Martin Luther is recorded to have called the book of James "an epistle
of straw". Did he accept it as inspired, authoritative and legitimately part
of the Bible canon?
In the time of Martin Luther many people had doubts about the books of the Canon.
*So his personal questioning of certain books and their authenticity was normal
for his Historical setting.
One way to measure his concern about the Epistle of James is by considering his
translation of the Bible.
Martin Luther translated the Bible into German during the early part of the 16th
century, first releasing a complete Bible in 1534. His Bible was the first major
edition to have a separate section called Apocrypha. Books and portions of books
not found in the Hebrew Tanakh were moved out of the Old Testament to the Apocrypha
section. Luther placed these books between the Old and New Testaments because he
and many others did not believe them to be absolutely canon worthy. Often they are
called inter-testamental books.
As for the New Testament books Luther did have some personal doubts of the canonicity
of four books found in our New Testament Canon.
His concerns were with the: Epistle of Hebrews, Epistle of James, Jude, and the
Book of Revelation.
***He did not put them in a separate section, but he did move them to the end of
the New Testament.
So though he had some personal doubts, he did include James in his translation of
the Bible; and specifically part of the New Testament.
That is significant!!!
In 1520 Luther did write:
“…I will say nothing of the fact that many?? assert with much probability that this
epistle is not by James the apostle, and that it is not worthy of an apostolic spirit;
although, whoever was its author, it has come to be regarded as authoritative.”
In most seminaries today, including mine; authorship of most books of the Bible
has been questioned. It was a tradition in the years during which the Bible was
written and compiled to name books after important and well known personages; whether
they had anything to do with the writing of the book or not. The ancients supposed
this somehow lent legitimacy to the contents of the book.
So for Luther to question the authorship of any book or books of the Bible is a
genuinely scholastic practice for Theologians and sincere believers alike!
Luther further stated about James:
“Though this epistle of St. James was rejected by the ancients,?? I praise it and
consider it a good book, because it sets up no doctrines of men but vigorously promulgates
the law of God. However, to state my own opinion about it, though without prejudice
to anyone, I do not regard it as the writing of an apostle;…”
Reason One, Luther did not believe it was actually written by James the Apostle.
Reason Two, Luther believed it contradicted the teachings of Paul.
Luther stated:
“In the first place it is flatly against St. Paul and all the rest of Scripture
in ascribing justification to works:
James 2 v 24
“Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”
It says that Abraham was justified by his works when he offered his son Isaac.
James 2 v 21
“Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son
upon the altar?”
Though in Romans 4[:2–22] St. Paul teaches to the contrary that Abraham was justified
apart from works, by his faith alone, before he had offered his son, and proves
it by Moses in:
Genesis 15 v 6
“And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”
Now although this epistle might be helped and an interpretation?? devised for this
justification by works, it cannot be defended in its application to works:
James 2 v 23
“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed
unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”
For Moses is speaking here only of Abraham’s faith, and not of his works, as St.
Paul demonstrates in Romans 4. This fault, therefore, proves that this epistle is
not the work of any apostle.”
So Luther believed at one time…
He later reconciled this problem by realizing, that people can never be saved by
their works; but faith being genuine must produce good works…
Reason Three, Luther says it does not outright preach Jesus Christ.
“…its purpose is to teach Christians, but in all this long teaching it does not
once mention the Passion, the resurrection, or the Spirit of Christ. He names Christ
several times; however he teaches nothing about him, but only speaks of general
faith in God. Now it is the office of a true apostle to preach of the Passion and
resurrection and office of Christ, and to lay the foundation for faith in him, as
Christ himself says in:
John 15 v 27
“And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.”
All the genuine sacred books agree in this, that all of them preach and inculcate
[treiben] Christ. And that is the true test by which to judge all books, when we
see whether or not they inculcate Christ. For all the Scriptures show us Christ,
Romans 3 v 21
“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed
by the law and the prophets;”
and St. Paul will know nothing but Christ,
I Corinthians 2 v 2
“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”
Whatever does not teach Christ is not yet?? apostolic, even though St. Peter or
St. Paul does the teaching. Again, whatever preaches Christ would be apostolic,
even if Judas, Annas, Pilate, and Herod were doing it.”
Luther’s main concern was that James declared the teachings of Jesus Christ without
magnifying and drawing absolute attention to Jesus Christ. *James to him, described
the truth without making clear the person who IS THE TRUTH!!!
Reason Four, Luther believed that James focused on the law and works of individual
righteousness; rather than on grace and Jesus’ works of righteousness upon the cross.
Luther:
“But this James does nothing more than drive to the law and to its works. Besides,
he throws things together so chaotically that it seems to me he must have been some
good, pious man, who took a few sayings from the disciples of the apostles and thus
tossed them off on paper. Or it may perhaps have been written by someone on the
basis of his preaching. He calls the law a “law of liberty”:
James 1 v 25
“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being
not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his
deed.”
Paul calls it a law of slavery, of wrath, of death, and of sin."
To Luther the Epistle of James preaches the Law, not the Gospel of Grace of Jesus
Christ!
Luther, the scholar he was; describes the epistle as ‘chaotic’; implying it could
not be authentic because it was not written by a scholarly hand. **Which of course,
none of the original apostles were well trained in writing; only Paul was…
Reason Five, Luther assumed the book was allegedly written by James the brother
of John:
Matthew 4 v 21
“And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee,
and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and
he called them.”
That being the case; James had already been martyred by the time the Epistle of
James had been written. *James then, COULD NOT BE THE AUTHOR…
Acts 12 v 2
“And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.”
However most Biblical scholars ascribe authorship to James the brother of Jesus,
so at this point Luther was clearly mistaken.
Matthew 13 v 55
“Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren,
James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?”
James the brother of Jesus became the head of the Jerusalem Church; and certainly
was alive to author the Epistle of James…
Acts 15 v 13
“And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren,
hearken unto me:”
All my quotes from Martin Luther can be found in the English translation of “The
Works of Martin Luther”.
Indeed he called the Epistle of James, an ‘epistle of straw’; simply meaning it
was less likely to be authentic than the other epistles that were firmly reliable,
clearly epistles of brick; absolutely genuine…
In the end however, Luther clearly and without question left the canonicity of the
Epistle of James up to the faith of each individual Christian; deeming it, if not
real, STILL A BOOK OF SIGNIFICANT BIBLICAL IMPORTANCE!!!!!!!
Answered by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
July 18, 2007
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Question : Hello there, I need some help on understanding a verse. It kind of got
me worried and I just cant stop thinking about it. "But I say unto you, That
every Idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day
of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt
be condemned. Does this verse apply to all believers too? help me understand this
verse. God bless.
Matthew 12 v 36-37
“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, theyshall give account
thereof in the day of judgment. 37. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and
by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
***This is a fact for all those who reject Jesus Christ as their LORD, GOD and SAVIOR;
and it is a WARNING for those who are genuine “born again” BELIEVERS…
Every person not covered by the glorious, merciful, forgiving, and gracious shed
blood of JESUS CHRIST will be absolutely judged for every minute evil action and
every seemingly insignificant idle word that potentially can do evil; THAT THEY
DO, THINK, OR SAY!!! JUDGMENT DAY!!!!!!!
For the person who LOVES JESUS CHRIST, there is no such judgment day for their sins…
Psalms 103 v 12
“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions
from us.”
To be a Christian is to have your past, present, and future sins removed for ever!!!
***Jesus’ blood covers them and THEY (YOUR SINS) ARE NO MORE!!!!!!!
Isaiah 1 v 18
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as
wool.”
As true Christians, we are as white as snow; ABSOLUTELY PURE IN GOD’S SIGHT!!!
Revelation 1 v 5
“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the
dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed
us from our sins in his own blood,”
***JESUS CHRIST has stripped, wiped our sins away: NEVER TO BE SEEN BY GOD AGAIN…….
Judgment Day for the Christian is not God discussing with us our sins, our failures;
but rather our accomplishments, our good works, and the rewards He will bestow on
us… Judgment Day is the day Christians receive their crowns, their gold medals;
Judgment Day for the unrepentant is a day of damnation for eternity…
Though we will not be judged for our sins; still it is our goal, our desire, our
obligation of love NEVER TO SIN AGAIN…
The text you are concerned about, and all Christians should be; is a warning to
us!!!!!!!
True we are set free from the eternal punishment for our sins, our foolish, foolish
idle words and thoughts; yet our hastily said words, our foolish jokes, unthoughtout
statements, our condemnations of others, DO AFFECT THE PEOPLE JESUS DIED FOR!!!
He died for all sinners!!!!!!!
The Bible over and over again warns us of the miss-use of our tongue…
Psalms 5 v 9
“For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness;
their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.”
Psalms 10 v 7
“His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and Fraud: under his tongue is mischief
and vanity.”
Psalms 15 v 3
“He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh
up a reproach against his neighbour.”
Psalms 34 v 13
“Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.”
Psalms 39 v 1
“I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep
my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.”
Psalms 52 v 2
“Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully.”
Proverbs 15 v 2
“The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out
foolishness.”
Proverbs 18 v 21
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat
the fruit thereof.”
We as Christians can both draw people toward JESUS CHRIST and ETERNAL LIFE, and
by our impassionate, insensitive, judgmental, condescending words; we can push them
away and send them towards DEATH and ETERNAL DAMNATION…
So, though we will not be judged or condemned for our words; others may very well
respond to our words and our idle deeds and their eternity ‘may’ depend on it!!!!!!!
***Share not Jesus Christ, and they may be lost because of YOUR, OUR silence…
***Condemn, ridicule, bitterly judge others; and they may never see the LOVE OF
JESUS CHRIST…
***Foolish banter and worthless words may suggest OUR GOD OR FAITH IN HIM IS FOOLISH,
OR WOTHLESS…
***Share in the LOVE and HUMILITY of JESUS CHRIST; and one day you may have a new
brother or sister in JESUS CHRIST!!!
Warning how you speak may affect the eternity of others…
Be Aware!!!!!!! AND BEWARE!!!
Submitted by Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc July 10, 2007
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Question: I am reading Numbers 13:1-33 about the Lord telling Moses to send men
to spy on Canaan, but I would like to know what is this chapter is really about,
as for understanding its significance. Please explain exactly what vs.33is actually
saying and the understanding that is to be interpreted from its reading. I would
appreciate your explanation of this particular chapter.
Numbers 13 v 32-33
“And they brought up an evil report of the land which they hadsearched unto the
children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is
a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in
it are men of a great stature. 33. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak,
which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we
were in their sight.”
The phrase “men of great stature” comes from the Hebrew words: anshey middoth, meaning:
exceedingly tall men.
“Giants” comes from the Hebrew word: nephilim, literally suggesting: a robust, sturdy,
warlike race of men of great stature. Again, very tall…
Genesis 6 v 4
“There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons
of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same
became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.”
The word “giants” is still the word: nephilim, coming from the root word naphal
which has nothing to do with size. It means: “he fell”; the nephilim first and for
most are people born of this earth, lost, having no interest in the true God…
The Unger Bible Dictionary says this about the Nephilim: “They were thought of to
be giants, the offspring of human women and fallen angels…”
This really is only a legend, a commonly believed myth or story about the origin
of these Nephilim; which ultimately lead to the adding to the understanding of the
word.
Adam Clarke says this:
“That there have been giants at different times, in various parts of the earth,
there can be no doubt; but that there ever was a nation of men twelve and fourteen
feet high, we cannot, should not believe.”
Goliath appears to have been at least nine feet high: and from context it seems
apparent his height was considered unusually tall by the Israelites. Thus it does
not seem likely that they ever had encountered a race of giant beings; but rather,
simply a people who’s average height was far greater than their own.
Many believe do to the hardships that the Jews experienced while in servitude of
Egypt for 400+ years, that though they had greatly flourished in numbers; none-the-less
their physical stature had been greatly underdeveloped…
Thus a nation like the Amalekites might appear extraordinarily tall and robust to
the people of Israel…
In a very dramatic sense the perception that the inhabitants of Canaan were giants,
points to the gigantic task the people of Israel had in taking their promised land
from the present residents…
Difficulties that are in the way of our promised land, or of salvation, are magnified
with every danger and difficulty, and fills the heart with discouragement. A giant
task creates perceived gigantic road blocks in our way…
But focus and trust in God, an active faith in the power and promise of God; make
all things possible…
Philippians 4 v 13
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
I have no doubt the people Israel encountered, were very fierce powerful men of
great stature, they were much taller than most the Israelite men; but they were
only giants in the sense that they were a mighty road block in the way of God’s
chosen people receiving their Promised Land…
Absolute faith and trust in God, can help us all overcome the giants we encounter
every day in our own lives…….
Temptation
Sin
Loss
Suffering
Persecution
Discouragements
Failure
Sorrow
Depression
Etc, Etc, Etc…
***Whether perceived or real, God can and will give us the grace and power to overcome
all our giant obstacles and tasks …….
Submitted by: Dr. Harold Chris smith, sbc July 13, 2007
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Question: A Christian volunteer told me that competition is a sin, because the object
is to jump higher, run faster, etc. which leads to pride. He also said that it leads
to the "Jack is better than Tom". I believe however that competition is
about bringing the best out in yourself. And as for the jack is better than tom,
it's like saying that the redwings are better than the avalanche. Are they more
superior No of course not. The redwings are better in scoring, taking advantage
of powerplays. That's what it means. Do you agree with me or him? He for the
most part believes it's wrong because of pride. Thank you! God bless. 06/10/2007
Lets get something straight first, the Detroit Red Wings are SUPERIOR! ***I was
born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, so I just had to say that. But I am just kidding,
both teams are good teams.
Proverbs 16 v 18
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
Churches often have Sunday School contests to increase their morning attendance.
Often this, includes competition between one side of the Church and the other, men
against women, boys against girls, Sunday School Class against Sunday School Class,
all to attract new visitors to Church. Many times this includes individual competition
against other individuals.
One time, I was in such a competition at my home Church, Caruthersville Church of
the Nazarene in Caruthersville, Missouri. The side I ‘happened’ to be on, won the
next Sunday. Why, I had finally got several of my friends to take a chance and visit
my Church. Did I feel superior to anyone, do I today? No of course not!!!
Then as now, I believed God was the one that gave me the friends, gave me the opportunities
to invite people, gave me the willingness and desire to expend the time and energy
to do so, etc, etc, etc… Or, in human terms, I FELT LUCKY…
Yes, competition can lead to pride; but that does not mean “competition is a sin.
Is singing the best you can in a choir, a sin, when YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE BELIEVE
YOU HAVE THE BEST VOICE? No of course not!
Should you tone down your God given ability, so that others might not feel so jealous,
or so lacking in their own abilities, or even coveting your ability? Would it not
make sense to sing a little out of tune, a little flat, so not to tempt others to
sin themselves? Isn’t tempting another to sin, a sin? Whether competition in the
Church setting, the sports world, or in business or life in general, competition
is natural to the world we live in…
Do we pick the pastor for our Church that is the ‘best’ of the potential candidates?
Or do we pick the one that speaks in a monotone voice, seems to not really care
about his calling, simply so we don’t hurt his feelings?
The answer, competition can lead to pride, and yes pride leads to sin and ultimately
to destruction. We however cannot dismiss the qualities of competition just because
man’s fallen sinful nature would corrupt such endeavors.
You are right , a proper understanding and attitude towards competition can indeed
lead a person to “BE ALL THAT THEY CAN BE”, and that is exactly what God wants for
each one of us!!!
Take Paul for instance:
1 Corinthians 9 v 24-26
“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?
So run, that ye may obtain. 25. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate
in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth
the air:”
Paul points out there are qualities to be found in competition, and there are reasons
to compete. Paul insists to those Corinthians in our text, who wanted to take the
easy way that no man will ever get anywhere without the sternest self-discipline.
Paul was always fascinated by the picture of the athlete. An athlete must train
with intensity if he is to win his contest; and Corinth knew how thrilling contests
could be, for at Corinth the Isthmian games, second only to the Olympic games, were
held.
Furthermore, the athlete undergoes this self-discipline and this training to win
a crown of laurel leaves that within days will be a withered chaplet. How much more
should the Christian discipline ourelves to win the crown which is eternal life.
Life is a battle.
As William James put it,
"If this life be not a real fight, in which something is eternally gained for
the universe by success, it is not better than a game of private theatricals from
which one may withdraw at will. But it feels like a fight--as if there were something
really wild in the universe which we, with all our idealities and faithfulnesses,
are needed to redeem."
Competition teaches self-discipline, which includes practice, patience, and more
practice. Competition teaches endurance, keeping up the good fight, continuing though
all odds say: give up. Rest, relax, why tax yourself?
Why, because there is something to be gained by continuing on, by COMPETING TO YOUR
FULLEST POTENTIAL!!!
A flabby soldier cannot win battles; a slack trainer cannot win races. We must regard
ourselves always as people engaged upon a campaign, as people pressing onwards to
a goal. Indeed this is what motivates us to be the best we can be. Without such
qualities gained from competition, we would just take life, and God for granted.
If a person is going to do their best work in anything they must bring to it a body
as fit as they can make it. We have to discipline our minds; it is one of the tragedies
of life that people may refuse to think until they become incapable of thinking.
We can never solve problems by refusing to see them or by running away from them.
We must discipline our souls; we can do so by facing life's sorrows with calm
endurance, its temptations with the strength God gives, its disappointments with
courage.
Competition in good clean sports, etc; can teach us these things, can develop in
us the qualities and attributes that will help us succeed in this life, and the
one most certainly to come…
Competition can teach us how to live victoriously in defeat or disappointment, and
how to receive praise and success in humility and grace. How to hurt with those
who hurt, and how to enjoy success properly and as God would have us to.
Ultimately, as God’s words will save many, and others will be turned off by those
same words; so too, some will become prideful, and self-absorbed by competition,
others by the spirit that is in them, will grow and mature as humble and successful
persons by what they learn and experience from that same competition.
We cannot save others unless we master ourselves. Sigmund Freud once said,
"Psycho-analysis is learnt first of all on oneself, through the study of one's
own personality."
The Greeks declared that the first rule of life is,
"Man know thyself."
Certainly we cannot serve others until we have mastered ourselves; we cannot teach
what we do not know; we cannot bring others to Christ until we ourselves have found
Him.
Competition in secular things, can teach us to control our self-desires, and promote
in us self-discipline and endurance that leads to our ability to help ourselves
and others, physically, intellectually, and far more importantly: SPIRITUALLY…
As in most things, its what we make of a thing, that determines if it is of value.
We can learn much from good competition, but our hearts must be willing to learn
and accept the good lessons, otherwise we can be deceived by our own hearts and
learn nothing but selfish, self-absorbed lessons that help nothing…
Competition is not a sin, how we individually or collectively respond to what we
learn from it, can be…….
Submitted by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
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Question: Please explain Act 3: 1-8. Give any examples that can be applied today.
Acts 3 v 1-8
“Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being
the ninth hour. 2. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried,
whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask
alms of them that entered into the temple; 3. Who seeing Peter and John about to
go into the temple asked an alms. 4. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with
John, said, Look on us. 5. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something
of them. 6. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give
I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7. And he took
him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones
received strength. 8. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them
into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.”
Peter and John used to go up to the Temple at the hour of prayer at three PM in
the afternoon, and a man who had been lame from the day of his birth was in the
habit of being carried there. Every day they used to put him at the gate of the
Temple which is called the Beautiful Gate, so that he could beg for alms from the
people who were going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into
the Temple he asked to be given alms. Peter fixed his eyes on him with John and
said, "Look at us." He paid attention to them because he was expecting
to get something from them. Peter said to him, "Silver and gold I do not possess,
but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth walk!"
And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up. Immediately his feet and ankle
bones were strengthened, and he leaped up and stood and walked about; and he went
into the Temple with them, walking about and leaping and praising God.
The Jewish day began at 6 AM in the morning and ended at 6 PM in the evening. For
the pious Jew there were three special hours of prayer -- 9 AM, 12 noon and 3 PM.
They agreed that prayer was effective wherever it was offered; but they felt that
it was doubly dear when offered in the Temple courts. It is very interesting that
the apostles kept up the customs in which they had been raised. It was the hour
of prayer and Peter and John were going into the Temple to observe it.
A new faith had come to them but they did not use that as an excuse for a license
to break their old traditions. They were aware that the new faith and much of the
old discipline could walk hand in hand.
In the East it was the custom for beggars to sit at the entrance to a temple or
a shrine. Such a place was considered the best of all stances because when people
are on their way to worship God they are disposed to be generous to their fellow
men.
W. H. Davies, the poet, tells how one of his vagrant friends told him that, whenever
he came into a new town, he looked for a church with a cross on the top and began
to beg in that area. Love of God and love for man must ever go hand in hand.
This incident brings us face to face with the question of miracles in the apostolic
times. There are certain definite things to be said.
Such miracles did happen.
Acts 4 v 16
“Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been
done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny
it.”
The Sanhedrin knew that they must accept the miracles. The enemies of Christianity
would have been the first to deny miracles if they could; but they never even tried.
Do these miracles occur in our modern era?
Certain theories have been made by many Theologians.
(a) There was a time when miracles were necessary. In the apostolic age miracles
were looked-for as a guarantee of the truth and the power of the Christian message
in its initial entrance into the world.
(b) At that time two special circumstances were met.
First, there were living apostolic men who had had an unrepeatable personal intimacy
with Jesus Christ.
Second, there was an atmosphere of expectancy when faith was in its floodtide. These
two things combined to produce effects which were unique.
Of course these two theories are based on the belief that such miracles no longer
occur.
I believe they still do in many ways. It is the simple fact that any doctor or surgeon
can now do many things which in apostolic times would have been regarded as miracles.
God has revealed new truth and new knowledge to men, and through that revelation
they are still performing miracles. As a great doctor said,
"I bandage the wounds; but God heals them."
Our modern societies are characterized by cynicism, amazing technological advances,
and a lack of expectancy of the miraculous! This is why in our modern societies
especially in Western societies though MIRACLES STILL OCURR, they are not as readily
seen as in previous ages.
Jesus did not do many miracles in Nazareth, why?
Matthew 13 v 58
“And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”
Notice, it does not say He couldn’t do the miracles, but rather He didn’t do many
miracles because of their unbelief (skepticism- cynicism). Our present cynical world
is not worthy of such signs…
Matthew 12 v 39-40
“But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after
a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40. For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall
the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
In general our faith will be based on our ultimate belief in the resurrection of
Jesus Christ or lack of belief in it. But in many, many third world counties missionaries
after missionaries report miraculous healings. The blind receiving their sight,
the deaf receiving their hearing. Amputees having new arms and legs growing back.
Cancer patients being healed. Dead rising from their graves, the list goes on and
on…
Some churches in our own country report such miracles happening during their services.
I personally have experienced at least three such miracles.
My fiancée of 27 years ago told me something I needed to consider. ***Her doctors
had told her she could never, ever have children. She had never had a period in
her life, and prior to becoming a Christian she had experiences that verified she
could not have children. I was not concerned about having children, I just loved
her. ***But I was irritated that she assumed God could not or would not work such
a miracle in her life. I told her God CAN DO ANYTHING!!!!!!! We were married soon
after that. And the first Sunday service we went to as Mr. and Mrs. Smith; guess
what? My wife came back from the bathroom, and VERY EXCITED SAID: “I HAVE A PERIOD!”
Three weeks after our marriage SHE HAD CONCEIVED… ***Today we have two sons aged
23 and 21…
A very similar miracle happened to a friend of my wife’s. This lady was healthy
but her and her husband had tried for years to have children without any success.
Finally they tried all types of modern options, fertility drugs, artificial insemination
etc. *Nothing worked, and the doctors talked about adoption. My wife one day shared
with me her friend’s story. I prayed for her, that if it be God’s will that she
would conceive. A week later, the doctors had no idea how it could have happened,
but she too had conceived. When we last saw her she had a ‘little’ buddle of joy
that she loved so very much…
While driving home from Michigan State University, my car began to clang. I stopped
at a gas station that informed me my tie-rod was completely disconnected and must
be fixed. Well not wanting to appear ignorant, I pretended to know what a tie-rod
was. I got in my car, and drove 80 miles to my parent’s home in Detroit. As I pulled
to a stop in my driveway, my car veered hard to the left. However I was pulling
to a stop, so I simply stopped. My brother-in-law Willie Baker who was a member
of a professional NASCAR pit crew happened to be at my house. ***He checked it and
said: “There is no way you could have driven it home!” ***But I had, and besides
the prior clang, I never had a problem until 80 miles later I pulled to a stop,
safe in my own driveway…….
For the Christian there are still miracles on every hand if WE have eyes of faith
to see with. For those who have faith no explanation is necessary.
For those who are cynical NO EXPLANATION IS POSSIBLE!!!
God simply wants us to help each other the best we can, whether by supernatural
miracles, miracles of knowledge, or the miracle of loving our fellow man; it is
up to each one of us!!!!!!!
Submitted by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
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Question: my business partner and I have a mutual friend, he is often in financial
disarray, and constantly ask for help in some way from us or our other friends either
financially or in favors. For example his electricity is cut off today because he
was late paying because he was fired and did not save any money (he is out of work
often) my partner says it is not helping to bail him out all the time I feel god
has given me more than enough I should share it can you point us in the right direction
or is each situation different. This seems to be a cyclical problem he has gone
to church but I am not sure how to best show love to him. he has a hard time taking
advice from us I think because we are all the same age and all grew up together.
I do pray for him
Your business partner is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ about assisting your mutual friend…
Consider all the times Jesus has stood at your door knocking, asking you to allow
Him to save you. How many times we all have rejected His pleas of love, over and
over again. All the times our lives have been in disarray, all the times we have
foolishly or ignorantly gotten ourselves in trouble.
***What if Jesus said, “enough is enough; I’m only enabling you to continue in your
sinful ways. Grow up and learn your lesson without my help.”
Without His loving help WE WOULD ALL PERISH!!!
Jesus responds to Peter’s question about forgiveness:
Matthew 18 v 21-22
“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me,
and I forgive him? till seven times? 22. Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee,
Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
Peter is saying: ‘if my friend keeps doing stupid stuff to me, how long must I put
up with him, and forgive him?’ Jesus response of love is, ‘Every time he genuinely
asks to be forgiven.’
That may seem to be allowing the friend to continue in his sinful behavior, but
Jesus’ first rule is TO SHOW COMPASSION…
Another example is:
John 8 v 11
“She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go,
and sin no more.”
The crowd caught a woman in the act of adultery, and legitimately according to the
Old Testament laws the penalty for her actions were: death by stoning.
Jesus chose first to show her COMPASSION, by not condemning her. Secondly, *He confronted
her sinful behavior and told her to sin no more!!!
***He didn’t just help her, He made clear in love, that her behavior needed to change.
Jesus said as Christians we are:
Matthew 5 v 14A
“Ye are the light of the world…”
As light, we have three basic purposes:
1) We are to assist people in making it through this life. (by giving a loving helping
hand),
2) We are to warn of danger. (warn of the consequences of sin, or other simply foolish
behavior),
3) We are to shed understanding on how to overcome sinful behavior, or foolish behavior.
(sharing Christ, sharing appropriate behavior)
And we are to do these things whether they really listen to us or not…
Ezekiel 3 v 11B
“…and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord God; whether they will
hear, or whether they will forbear.”
So whether the person will listen to your ‘loving’ advise or not, it is your duty
to help the best you can, and to confront the causes of their on going needs as
often as you help!!!
***However Jesus will not always turn the other cheek, one day He will judge the
living and the dead!!!
As a Christian you are a steward of all that God gives you, your life, your time,
your family, friends, your money etc…
So in dealing with your friend, consider your responsibility of good stewardship.
Show compassion, and confront any issues that your friend is having problems with.
***Be sure however, and don’t take the easy road and assume your friend is at fault,
truly and genuinely listen to him.
If he is lacking understanding or skills, etc; then offer to assist him with those
needs. Set rules and guidelines for you assistance, if he honestly tries to follow
them, then continue to help him. If he says: ‘no, it’s my life’, then you might
have to let him get into more serious need before you help him again monetarily.
****Your not God, you can’t help everyone!
Give a fish, and a person eats for one day, teach the person to fish, and they’ll
eat for a life time…
You know your friend; listen to what the Holy Spirit is telling you, and YOU WILL
DO WELL.
Submitted by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
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Question: I do not understanding what Leviticus 15:16-17 is saying. Is it referring
to masturbation? I know it is not about sexual intercourse because it goes on to
explain that is verse 18. And I do not understand what it means by saying "unclean
until evening". Is it a sin to emit semen whether it be on purpose or let's
say while you're asleep? Does it require a sacrifice? Thank you for helping
me!
Leviticus 15 v16-17
“And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all
his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even. 17. And every garment, and every
skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean
until the even.”
In 541 AD we have the first recorded outbreak of the “Black Death”, the Bubonic
Plague. It is estimated that over ¼ of the Eastern Mediterranean population died.
Another outbreak occurred in 588 AD, reasonable estimates are over 25 million died.
The most widely known outbreak occurred in the 14th century between 1347-1350 AD
throughout Asia and Europe, over 1/3 of the Eurasian population died. In London,
England alone it is a conservative estimate that 4.2 million died in that city!
My point, Jewish people were being blamed as the cause and many of them were killed
by angry mobs. Why, because during the outbreaks it was noticed, few of the Jewish
population were coming down with the plague. As 1 out of 3, and 1 out of 4 humans
were dieing of the plague, it was extremely rare that a Jew would even get sick
from the plague, let alone die from it. During these years the average population
took a bath, maybe once a year.
***But the Jewish population because of their ceremonial laws on cleaning and food
preparation, bathed regularly and were very careful in the handling of their food
and the care of their water…
Most modern day scientists believe that the changes in hygiene habits and strong
efforts within public health and sanitation had a significant impact on the rate
of infection, and believe this to be the reason why “The Black Death” has not had
the impact on our present day population as it did on the world’s population before
the 17th century.
The text you chose is part of the Jewish ceremonial laws…
God’s main purpose for many of these laws was to promote healthy hygiene in the
ancient world.
The tern ‘unclean’ is generally understood in a mere legal sense, the rendering
a person unfit for sacred ordinances. In-other-words a person who had participated
in a sexual act that resulted in bodily fluid being released was not aloud to participate
in religious services because of the potential of transmitting germs and their potential
diseases. After washing very carefully a person was not allowed to participate (in
this incidence) until evening…This washing included any clothing that may have come
in contact with the bodily fluid…
***For the age of the Old Testament this law was very sensible for promoting appropriate
hygiene…
Is masturbation a sin?
***Very good question!!!!
Jesus says:
Matthew 5 v 28
“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed
adultery with her already in his heart.”
Jesus never wants us to lust after someone who is not our wife, so masturbation
if it is a result of lustful thoughts IS A SIN!!! Masturbation is a sin VERY COMMON
to humankind, both male and female…
1 Corinthians 10 v 13
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful,
who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the
temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
Man in the scripture referring to ALL MANKIND…
***We ALL STRUGGLE WITH SUCH THINGS…
I am not innocent!
John says:
1 John 1 v 8
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
John says for this sin or any sin, as Christians:
1 John 2 v 1B
“…And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”
Jesus Christ is our sacrifice, and He is our advocate…
The only sacrifice God wants of us is to repent of our sins and to Love Him with
ALL OUR HEART, BODY, SOUL, and STRENGTH…….
***I DO NOT BELIEVE WHAT WE DO IN OUR DREAMS IS A SIN, UNLESS WE MAKE ANY SINFUL
IDEAS FROM SLEEP A PHYSICAL REALITY WHEN WE ARE AWAKE…
If a thought or a dream seems inappropriate as a Christian for you, ask God to help,
and He will.
***Remember God created us, and He understands our struggles with hormones, and
sexual desires…
Better than we, He understands the extreme seductiveness of sin…
God bless you!!!
Submitted by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
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Question: if all food can be eaten even blood, why is it in acts 15:29 stated not
to eat on eat? is it only for the gentiles?
Acts 15 v 29
“That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled,
and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye
well.”
To understand this verse one must be clear what the council in Jerusalem was dealing
with. A significant number of Jewish-Christians were arguing that ALL CHRISTIANS,
both from a Jewish background and gentile background must observe the Mosaic Laws
in order to truly be devout followers of Jesus the Messiah (Christ). *These Jewish-Christians
thought it so important, they negated being SAVED by GRACE, and would have made
obedience to the Law of Moses mandatory for salvation in Jesus.
Christianity would have become a religion of ‘works of righteousness’ as prerequisites
to being a Child of God…
The apostles of course were Jewish themselves, and held the Laws of Moses in high
regard, as did Jesus when those laws were properly understood. ***But the apostles
realized a gentile did not need to become a practicing Jew in order to become a
Christian.
Acts 15 v 7-9
“And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men
and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the
Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8. And God,
which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as
he did unto us; 9. And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts
by faith.”
By proof, Peter spoke and pointed out that a great many gentiles had been ‘SAVED’,
and filled with the Holy Spirit without being made to follow the Mosaic Laws…
***That by hearing and BELIEVING BY FAITH, CONVERTS TO JESUS CHRIST WERE SAVED BY
THE LOVE, MERCY AND GRACE OF GOD!!!
***Not by obedience to the law, but by a LOVE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST…….
***BOTH Jews and Gentiles were saved the same way!!!!!!!
***The ONLY WAY!!!!!!!
Acts 4 v 12
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
John 14 v 6
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto
the Father, but by me.”
Yet Peter and the other apostles wanted to preserve respect for the Mosaic Laws,
while maintaining freedom in CHRIST…
So by prayer, discussion, and the leading of the Holy Spirit this early council
in the life of the Christian Church agreed upon the words of our main text:
“That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled,
and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well.”
One important note, the letter did not read you MUST OBEY THIS RULE TO BE A CHRISTIAN,
but rather in complying ‘you do a good thing!’
The Bible clearly teaches that part of OUR OBLIGATION OF LOVE, is to consider how
our behavior affects others.
1 Thessalonians 5 v 22
“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
Though something may not be wrong in the eyes of God, if a weaker Christian or a
non-believer consider it to be inappropriate, then as long as it would not be sinful
not to do, don’t do it for the conscience of your neighbor.
***Be respectful of their beliefs…
DO NOT HINDER THEIR WALK BECAUSE OF YOUR FREEDOM IN CHRIST JESUS…
1 Corinthians 10 v 28-29
“But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for
his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's,
and the fulness thereof: 29. Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other:
for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?”
***Certainly we as Christians need to abstain from all sin, especially that of fornication!!!
OF CERTAIN FOODS:
1 Corinthians 10 v 31-32
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of
God. 32. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the
church of God:”
We have freedom in JESUS CHRIST, yet our goal of LOVE is:
1 Corinthians 10 v 33
“Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit
of many, that they may be saved.”
***Consider others, consider what YOU believe to be healthy, proper moderation in
ALL THINGS.
Ask yourself:
What
Would
Jesus
Do???
WWJD…
And YOU WILL DO WELL…….
Submitted by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith. Sbc
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Question: I was recently reading 1 Corinthians 5:1-5. If a person in the church
is known for sure to be in an adultery or fornication relationship should their
be put out of the church? Please help me here urgently.
Important question!!!
1 Corinthians 5 v 1-5
“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication
as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's
wife. 2. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done
this deed might be taken away from among you. 3. For I verily, as absent in body,
but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning
him that hath so done this deed, 4. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye
are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5.
To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit
may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
***The answer is ‘NO’! Don’t put them out of the church…
First is this person a professing Christian? If they are there are additional factors
to consider as well as other scriptures you MUST reflect on.
Is the person in a place of authority in the church, Sunday School Teacher, Deacon,
Elder, or the spouse of someone in authority, etc?
*If so, the person in authority in the church who is the guilty person, should at
least temporarily be relieved from their position…
The Bible does have a procedure for Christians to follow in the case of a fellow
Christian’s sin.
Matthew 18 v 15-17
“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault
between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the
mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17. And if he shall
neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church,
let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”
Specifically the text says if a brother or sister in Christ sins against you, put
the procedure is valid for any Christian’s sin…
Procedure
1) You go to the Christian who is sinning, in LOVE, discuss with them what has been
discovered about their behavior. (if they are remorseful, and genuinely want to
repent, THEY ARE FORGIVEN!!!)
If they deny the truth, or refuse to respond in repentance, go to step two.
2) Take at least one or two other witnesses of their sin to the person, and again
in LOVE, confront the problem.
If they again refuse to respond to God’s grace, step three is necessary.
3) The problem should be taken to the church board, if after the board has confronted
the person, and if the person still will not respond, step four is necessary.
4) The professing Christian who refuses to repent from an actual sin, should be
treated as a non-believer…
***Not put out of the church, but as a seeker, given NO AUTHORITY OR RESPONSIBILITY
IN THE CHURCH, but LOVED AND PRAYED FOR AND TAUGHT THE REALITY OF SIN, THE NECESSITY
OF REPENTENCE, AND THE NEED FOR A ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED LOVE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS
CHRIST!!!
This is the gospel that should be taught to ALL OF US, in Sunday School, Bible Studies,
and our services as a whole!!!!!!!
WE MUST ALWAYS RESPOND IN LOVE!!!
***BECAUSE AS JESUS CHRIST DOES, WE MUST GENUINELY LOVE THEM…
The person who is not a Christian, MUST BE LOVED AS WELL!!!
Jesus is our example here:
John 8 v 10-11
“When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her,
Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11. She said,
No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no
more.”
***In LOVE ACKNOWLEDGE THE SIN, BUT DO NOT CONDEMN THE SINNER, SHARE IN LOVE HOW
GOD HAS SAVED YOU FROM YOUR SINS, AND HOW HE WANTS TO HELP ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE IN
NEED OF MERCY, LOVE, AND GOD’S FORGIVENESS…
SCRIPTURES WE ALWAYS NEED TO CONSIDER:
Matthew 7 v 1-5
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall
be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest
not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4. Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let
me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5. Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt
thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.”
We must always respond in LOVE, and we MUST ALWAYS JUDGE ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES,
NOT BY OUR OWN FEELINGS, OUR OWN MORALS, OR BY OUR COMMUNITIES ATTITUDES… Further
we MUST ALWAYS CONSIDER OUR MOTIVES FOR DEALING WITH THEIR SIN, AND MUST BE SURE
WE ARE NOT GUILTY OF OUR OWN SIN THAT WE HAVE NOT REPENTED OF.
Are we doing this because we love them, or because we are outraged at their sin?
John 7 v 24
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”
What we see or think we see or think we know may be wrong, BESURE YOU KNOW THE TRUTH,THEN
FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES IN LOVE!!!
***Our heart MUST BE A HEART OF LOVE and HUMILITY!!!
Always remembering ACCEPT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, THERE GO I!!!
Remember if you being a Christian, having the Holy Spirit within you, AND YOU STILL
SIN FROM TIME TO TIME, the unsaved have NO SPIRIT TO GIVE THEM THE POWER TO NOT
SIN…
That is who they are: Sinners…
In Love, and Compassion seek their redemption, always remembering how seductive
sin is for them and you, and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit which will never
contradict the Bible!!!!!!!
Submitted by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith. Sbc
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Question: Can you explain what Romans 3 vs. 9-20 is speaking of. Who is the author
speaking to. Is this talking about the character of God. Does it speak of the way
God views humans. I understand that God views all people the same and that only
through Jesus Christ do we have the forgiveness and the opportunity to be with God.
What happened to those who lived in the old testament times. Did the stay in the
grave until the time of Christ's death and resurrection to be saved?
Romans 3 v 9-20
“What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both
Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10. As it is written, There is none
righteous, no, not one: 11. There is none that understandeth, there is none that
seeketh after God. 12. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become
unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13. Their throat is an
open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is
under their lips: 14. Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15. Their feet
are swift to shed blood: 16. Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17. And the
way of peace have they not known: 18. There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are
under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty
before God. 20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified
in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
Paul is speaking to both the Jewish and gentile Christians in Rome.
The Jews always considered themselves in a special privileged position with God.
"God," they said, "loves Israel alone of all the nations of the earth."
"God will judge the Gentiles with one measure and the Jews with another."
"All Israelites will have part in the world to come."
When Justin Martyr was arguing with the Jew about the position of the Jews in the
Dialogue with Trypho, the Jew said, "They who are the seed of Abraham according
to the flesh shall in any case, even if they be sinners and unbelieving and disobedient
towards God, share in the eternal Kingdom."
Paul agreed that the Jewish people had a special relationship with God, especially
because they were given the responsibility of possessing the Old Testament scriptures.
Romans 3 v 2
“Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.”
***Paul however did not agree that simply being born a Jew freed you from the consequences
of violating those scriptures…
And that brings us to the text you have questions about. Paul quotes the very scriptures
the Jews had possession of to prove his point.
Psalms 14 v 1-3 (see also Psalms 53 v 1-3)
“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done
abominable works, there is none that doeth good. 2. The Lord looked down from heaven
upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek
God. 3. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none
that doeth good, no, not one.”
Paul quotes Psalms 14, and says ‘in God’s eyes it is plain: ALL PEOPLE SIN, ALL
ARE CORRUPT, NO HUMAN BEING DOES GOOD, NONE OF US (JEW or GENTILE ALIKE), NO HUMAN
BEING SEEKS AFTER GOD, OR DOES ANY RIGHTEOUS DEED.’
Paul is saying it is ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD, THAT ANY OF US SEEK TO UNDERSTAND
HIM, AND SEEK TO LOVE HIM. *That under our own power, and left to our own morality,
NONE OF US WOULD CHOOSE GOD ON OUR OWN…
If a person does any ‘real’ good, meaning they have no hidden agenda, it is God
who is motivating them to do it. John Wesley the founder of Methodism, calls it
‘previent grace’. The grace that God gives all people, the grace that motivates
to do good, to seek Him.
***But without that grace NO ONE WOULD DO GOOD, AND NO ONE WOULD SEEK AFTER GOD!
So the sweet little old lady down the street that does what seems to be good deeds,
yet is not a Christian, does those deeds ONLY BECAUSE OF GOD’S GRACE MOTIVATING
HER. *SHE WOULD NOT DO THEM ON HER OWN, EVER!!!
***Paul is saying NONE OF US WOULD, NOT him, NOT me, NOT Billy Graham, NOT you,
NO ONE…
Paul continues, that is why God gave us His LAWS, not that ANYONE COULD BE SAVED
BY OBEYING THEM, *BECAUSE NO HUMAN BEING EVER WOULD OBEY THEM ON OUR OWN, but the
purpose of the LAW was to show us, WE WOULD NOT AND COULD NOT OBEY THE LAW WITHOUT
A LOVE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST!!!!!!!
So whether we are born a Jew, or a non-Jew (a gentile: everyone else), we must ALL
HAVE THAT LOVE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.
***For all of us must be born again!!!!!!!
John 3 v 3
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man
be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Through this LOVE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST, AND OLNY THROUGH THIS LOVE RELATIONSHIP
WITH JESUS, CAN ANYONE BE SAVED!!!
John 3 v 16-17
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17. For God sent
not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him
might be saved.”
And Paul again wants to make clear in our text, this LOVE RELATIONSHIP IS MOTIVATED
BY GOD AND GOD ALONE, BY HIS GRACE, FOR WE WOULD NOT SEEK GOD EVER BY OUR OWN SINFUL
NATURE!!!
Ephesians 2 v 8-9
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Titus 3 v 5-6
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he
saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6. Which
he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;”
What about those who died before the time of Jesus?
They according to the Old Testament scriptures were kept in a holding place called
Sheol, or Hades. There all the dead stayed until the time of Jesus.
When Jesus was crucified, He went down to Sheol and brought back to heaven all those
Old Testament saints that would have loved Him, if they had known Him. And they
too, now LOVING HIM, WERE IMMEDIATELY WITH GOD THE FATHER IN HEAVEN…
The rest of the dead, those who will never LOVE HIM, will remain in Sheol, Hades,
UNTIL THE FINAL JUDGMENT…
***In the end God is a God of LOVE, MERCY, FORGIVENESS, and GRACE; and JUSTICE,
for HE is a RIGHTEOUS GOD…
Submitted by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Question: I know that when Jesus finally rose form the dead salvation was now available
to the world and the paradise section of Sheol/Hades had been emptied. However,
what happened to the Jews, or anyone in that sense, that were devoutly Jews, but
had no knowledge of Christ because the apostles had not been sent out? Example,
the Essene people.
Good question!
Acts 4 v 12
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is noneother name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
John 3 v 3
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man
be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
***Every person from the past, present, and future will be judged according to those
two texts!!!
Salvation is a love relationship with the person of JESUS CHRIST!!! Jesus says:
John 14 v 6B
“…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Jesus is the gate, the only gate that gives salvation!!!
Matthew 7 v 13-14
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that
leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14. Because strait
is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that
find it.”
Now what about the Essenes or anyone who has lived and died and NEVER had the opportunity
to hear about Jesus? Or those who in this life did not have the mental capacity
to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ?
What about Moses, Abraham, Elijah, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and all the Old Testament
followers of the one true God?
They, as we are saved by grace and grace alone, by a genuine LOVE RELATIONSHIP WITH
JESUS CHRIST!!!!!!!
THAT IS THE ONLY WAY!!!
We know that God is JUST, LOVING, MERCIFUL, and TENDER HEARTED. His statutes are
true and perfectly righteous…
You, I and many millions have been blessed with the opportunity to hear the Gospel
of Jesus Christ. For the Apostles and preachers have been sent.
Romans 10 v 13-14
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14. How then
shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe
in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”
Those who have outright rejected God in this life will be lost for ALL of ETERNITY.
Romans 1 v 18-22
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness
of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19. Because that which may be known
of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20. For the invisible
things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood
by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are
without excuse: 21. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as
God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish
heart was darkened. 22. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,”
***For those who have not rejected God, and have never heard the Gospel of JESUS
CHRIST, or by no fault of their own were not able to comprehend God’s provision
of forgiveness through Jesus’ blood sacrifice: THEY WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY
TO HEAR ABOUT JESUS, AND THEY WILL BE GIVEN MINDS TO COMPREHEND THE LOVE OF JESUS
CHRIST. ***AND THEN, THEY WILL BE GIVEN THE CHOICE TO SAY YES OR NO TO HIM. TO LOVE
HIM OR REJECT HIM, and so WILL THERE ETERNITY BE DECIDED!!!
John 6 v 37
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will
in no wise cast out.”
***God will provide opportunity for all to reject or to Love his beloved Son: Jesus
Christ!!!!!!!
And in the close of human history in this earthly realm, those who LOVE JESUS, and
those who eternally hate Him, will all acknowledge Jesus:
Philippians 2 v 10-11
“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things
in earth, and things under the earth; 11. And that every tongue should confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Submitted by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
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Question : Can any believer of Jesus hand out tracts, and or speak to someone about
Jesus, whether they are immature, or mature spiritually, living in sin or in disobedience,
backslidden or anything else? Can God still use what is said and be glorified as
well as bear good fruit?
The two word answer to your question is: “YES“ and “NO“…
***ABSOLUTELY every ‘true’ believer can in someway share the good-news of Jesus
Christ…
Matthew 5 v 14-15
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick;
and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”
The ‘Light” of Christ’s salvation in the born again ‘true’ believer IS MEANT TO
BE SEEN!!! In fact the text says, that ‘light’ by it’s very nature CANNOT BE HID…
So clearly God wants EVERY BELIEVER TO SHARE TO SOME DEGREE!
That is the “YES” answer. Now, what about the conditions you set forth?
Tracts are an excellent tool in sharing the truth about Jesus Christ. But the most
important tract is the one written upon your heart. A tract should never really
be a substitute for sharing from your heart, from your personal experience of what
Jesus has done for you. This is true whether you are a ‘new’, ‘immature’, or ‘mature’
Christian.*People want to know what God has done for you, the person they see in
front of them…
So first, a person must really be a Christian, this is the only foundation to sharing
God’s love.
John 3 v 5-7
“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water
and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6. That which is born
of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7. Marvel
not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”
In order to share any experience it is best that the one sharing HAS ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED
IT.
Paul was very knowledgeable about the Old Testament scriptures even before he Loved
Jesus, but when he first came to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior he spent time
in study and preparation.
Acts 9 v 19
“And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days
with the disciples which were at Damascus.”
Adam Clarke the great Christian Theologian says this about the days following Paul’s
conversion:
“Then was Saul certain days with the disciples— Doubtless under instructions, relative
to the doctrines of Christianity; which he must learn particularly, in order to
preach them successfully. His miraculous conversion did not imply that he must then
have a consummate knowledge of every Christian doctrine. To this day we find that
even the genuine Christian convert has a thousand things to learn; and for his instruction
he is placed in the Church of Christ, where he is built up on his most holy faith
by the ministry and experience of the disciples. Without the communion of saints,
who is likely to make a steady and consistent Christian; even though his conversion
should have been the most sincere and the most remarkable?”
Paul like all of us, will spend an eternity learning to understand God’s Love and
Grace.
Even Paul was discipled by other more mature Christians (Ananias and probably by
others as well) while he remained in Damascus, while he learned the doctrines of
his new faith so he could more maturely explain the truth of Jesus Christ. But even
as he spent time in study, he shared what he was able.
Acts 9 v 20
“And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.”
He immediately, as he was able, began to share what he did understand and what he
had experienced on the Damascus Road.
God calls all of us to study, even the most mature Christian.
2 Timothy 2 v 15
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Again tracts are good tools, but one really should understand and believe what they
say before sharing their content with other people. *Just because a tract claims
to be true, claims to share Christian doctrine, IT MAY NOT…
So if you are a young Christian seek advice from a more mature Christian, a pastor,
or Sunday School teacher, etc, before passing out tracts. *Study, study, study:
God’s holy Bible!!!!!!!
Now can a backslider, a carnal Christian, be a good witness? They cannot, by their
example. But again, NONE OF US ARE PERFECT EXAMPLES, NONE OF US…
God gives us this precious and unconditional promise:
Isaiah 55 v 11
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto
me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the
thing whereto I sent it.”
God’s word, God’s holy Bible CANNOT RETURN VOID, BUT WILL ACCOMPLISH THAT WHICH
GOD INTENTED…
If we are truly Christians, our lives may not live up to our faith, but if we share
God’s holy words with others, sincerely and genuinely; GOD WILL USE THEM TO REACH
THOSE AROUND US!!!!!!!
The good fruit always comes from God, not from our own actions.
True if we live the word:
James 1 v 22
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
Our example will lend more reality to our faith, but there is still great power
in the word of God!!!!!!!
Mark 9 v 38-39
“And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name,
and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. 39. But
Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name,
that can lightly speak evil of me.”
John saw a peson doing miracles and no doubt sharing about Jesus with others. John
did not like it because obviously this person was not being taught with the Apostles,
SO HOW COULD THEY SHARE?
***But Jesus said, let them continue, for even they will share some little morsel
that God can use to draw people unto Him!!!
***The ‘real’ Christian, can always share something that GOD can use to make known
His desire for the hearer!!!
God and God alone is the judge of what “good” fruit is, too often we judge by appearance
not by a righteous measurement. We see the outward, God sees the inner change of
man…
It is for God to judge our fruit, not others. Our good fruit is in the willingness
to share as we are able, in whatever state we are in. EACH will be judged by God
by the faith HE HAS GIVEN THEM, and by how WE USE THAT FAITH…….
ULTIMATELY NO ONE SHOULD BE FORCED TO SHARE, WE SHARE OUT OF LOVE, AND IF IT IS
NOT OUT OF LOVE, THEN IT IS JUST SOUNDING BRASS…
SHARE AS YOU ARE ABLE, AND GOD WILL DO THE REST…
Acts 2 v 47B
“…And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
Answered by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
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Question : This is very important I would like to know who the prophet is spoke
of in john 1:21, john 1:25, john 6:14, john 7:28 The Muslims believe this to be
Muhammad tell me why is it not? Also Deuteronomy 18:15-18 talks about the prophet.
Who is the prophet and when Jesus denies he is him in John that means he still had
not come yet. So please can you tell me these things I would greatly appreciate
it. God Bless you, thank you.
Good Question!!!
Deuteronomy 18 v 15-18
“The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy
brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; 16. According to all that thou
desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me
not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire
any more, that I die not. 17. And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that
which they have spoken. 18. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren,
like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them
all that I shall command him.”
John 1 v 21
“And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou
that prophet? And he answered, No.”
First, this prophet cannot be Muhammad because from context of the text referred
to; the PROPHET IS A JEW (from the midst of thee, of thy brethren), not an Arab.
A descendent of Isaac not Ishmael.
The Qur’an itself states that the prophetic line came through Isaac, not Ishmael:
Sura 29 v 27
“And We bestowed on him Isaac and Jacob, and We established the Prophethood and
the Scripture among his seed.”
Jesus perfectly fulfilled this verse, since he was from among his Jewish brethren.
Galatians 4 v 4
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman,
made under the law,”
Jesus was a Jew, a descendent of Isaac…
Secondly, the prophet referred to in Deuteronomy 18 and in John 1 verse 21 is clearly
referring to the Messiah Himself in light of the New Testament…
Acts 3 v 22
“For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise
up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever
he shall say unto you.”
Here in the book of Acts the Deuteronomy 18 prophet is understood by Luke as being
the long expected Messiah. JESUS!!!
Acts 3 v 26
“Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning
away every one of you from his iniquities.”
*Jewish tradition taught that Jeremiah or Isaiah would return before the Messiah
would come. For most orthodox Jews, this prophet refers to one of them.
John 1 v 25
“And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not
that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?”
So then, ‘not the Christ’:
John says: “I am not the Messiah.”
‘nor Elias (Elijah)’ John says:
“I am not Elijah.”
‘neither that prophet’
John declares:
“No I am not Jeremiah, I am not Isaiah.”
It is John the Baptist denying he is the prophet of Deuteronomy, NOT JESUS...
John 6 v 14
“Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of
a truth that prophet that should come into the world.”
Here in John chapter 6 verse 14 unmistakably the prophet is JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF!!!!!!!
Adam Clarke the great Christian Theologian says this of John chapter 6 and verse
14:
“This is of a truth that prophet— Spoken of, Deuteronomy 18:15, viz. the Messiah.”
Matthew Henry wrote this of this same text:
“Even the common Jews expected the Messiah to come into the world, and to be a great
Prophet.”
Jesus calls Himself a prophet:
Luke 13 v 33
“Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot
be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.”
The people saw Jesus as a prophet:
Matthew 21 v 11
“And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.”
Luke 7 v 16
“And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet
is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.”
Luke 24 v 19
“And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of
Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:”
John 4 v 19
“The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.”
John 7 v 40
“Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this
is the Prophet.”
John 9 v 17
“Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this
is the Prophet.”
We interpret the Bible not by other books, like the Koran but by the Bible itself.
***Once again the Bible declares JESUS to be the prophet that Moses is referring
to in Deuteronomy 18…
JESUS IS THE MESSIAH!!!!!!!
John 7 v 28
“Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know
whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know
not.”
Here in the final New Testament text you refer to, once again it is JESUS who is
vividly REFERRED to as THE ONE TRUE MESSIAH!!!!!!!
In order for the scriptures you referenced to refer to Muhammad, the Koran would
have to teach Jesus and Muhammad are the same person. Clearly that is NOT WHAT THE
KORAN OR THE BIBLE TEACH…
In the book: “The Splendor of God’s Word!!!”, chapters eleven through thirteen,
I discuss how Jesus and Jesus alone fulfills All of the Messianic passages found
in the book of Isaiah.
The Bible teaches that JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH IS THE ONLY ONE WHO FULFILLS ABSOLUTELY
EVERY PROPHECY IN THE BIBLE THAT REFERS TO THE MESSIAH!!!!!!!
JESUS IS, AND EVER WILL BE THE *ONLY MESSIAH, THE ONLY SAVIOR, SON OF GOD, AND GOD
HIMSELF!!!!!!!
Acts 4 v 12
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Answered by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
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Question : In Leviticus Chapter 10 -- Nadab and Abihy, two of Aaron's sons disobeyed
the Lord's sacrificial instructions by burning incense to Him incorrectly and
they were both consumed by fire sent by the Lord. When Moses asked Aaron why he
didn't eat the meat from the sacrifice in an acceptable place (it, the meat
had been burned on the altar instead of being eaten)Aaron said "Today two of
my sons offered the sacrifice for sin and the sacrifice to please the Lord and look
what has happened to me! Would the Lord have approved if I had eaten the sacrifice
for sin?" Moses was satisfied with Aaron's reply -- WHY was he satisfied?
Why didn't the Lord consume Aaron and his other two sons Elazar and Ithamar
for not eating the sacrificial meat?
Leviticus 10 v 1-20
“And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put
fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord,
which he commanded them not. 2. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured
them, and they died before the Lord. 3. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that
the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before
all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. 4. And Moses called
Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them,
Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp. 5. So
they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said.
6. And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover
not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon
all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning
which the Lord hath kindled. 7. And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle
of the congregation, lest ye die: for the anointing oil of the Lord is upon you.
And they did according to the word of Moses. 8. And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying,
9. Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go
into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for
ever throughout your generations: 10. And that ye may put difference between holy
and unholy, and between unclean and clean; 11. And that ye may teach the children
of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.12.
And Moses spake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were
left, Take the meat offering that remaineth of the offerings of the Lord made by
fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar: for it is most holy: 13. And ye
shall eat it in the holy place, because it is thy due, and thy sons' due, of
the sacrifices of the Lord made by fire: for so I am commanded. 14. And the wave
breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place; thou, and thy sons, and
thy daughters with thee: for they be thy due, and thy sons' due, which are given
out of the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel. 15. The heave
shoulder and the wave breast shall they bring with the offerings made by fire of
the fat, to wave it for a wave offering before the Lord; and it shall be thine,
and thy sons' with thee, by a statute for ever; as the Lord hath commanded.
16. And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin offering, and, behold, it was
burnt: and he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron which were left
alive, saying, 17. Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place,
seeing it is most holy, and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation,
to make atonement for them before the Lord? 18. Behold, the blood of it was not
brought in within the holy place: ye should indeed have eaten it in the holy place,
as I commanded. 19. And Aaron said unto Moses, Behold, this day have they offered
their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord; and such things have
befallen me: and if I had eaten the sin offering to day, should it have been accepted
in the sight of the Lord? 20. And when Moses heard that, he was content.”
At first glance it appears that NADAB and his brother ABIHU committed sins of COMISSION…***They
knew what they were going to do violated the sovereign statutes of God AND CHOSE
TO “DO THE WRONG” ANYWAY. Their sin was a sin of choice and action, THEY DID SOMETHING
SINFUL!
Their brothers Eleazar and Ithamar committed a sin of OMISSION. They were so afraid
because of what had happened to their brothers, that they foolishly chose NOT TO
DO SOMETHING. Their sin was a LACK OF ACTION, it was a deliberate sin, but it was
a sin of taking no action… It is consistent with Bible doctrine that these two types
of sins are handled differently.
Numbers 15 v 31
"Because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commandment,
that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him."
The general rule for a deliberate sin of commission was to expedite the judgment
and that it be severe and complete; the severity dependent on the sin itself. On-the-other-hand
the sin of omission, and I believe here in our text a sin of ignorance; had many
alternative judgments. **A sin of ignorance in that they knew they should obey,
but they did not realize doing nothing WAS ALSO A SIN…
Numbers 15 v 27-28
“And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first
year for a sin offering. 28. And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul
that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the Lord, to make an
atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.”
Leviticus 4 v 1-12
“And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2. Speak unto the children of Israel, saying,
If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord
concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:
3. If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then
let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish
unto the Lord for a sin offering. 4. And he shall bring the bullock unto the door
of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord; and shall lay his hand upon
the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the Lord. 5. And the priest
that is anointed shall take of the bullock's blood, and bring it to the tabernacle
of the congregation: 6. And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle
of the blood seven times before the Lord, before the vail of the sanctuary. 7. And
the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense
before the Lord, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour
all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which
is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8. And he shall take off from
it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that covereth the inwards,
and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 9. And the two kidneys, and the fat that
is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys,
it shall he take away, 10. As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice
of peace offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering.
11. And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his
legs, and his inwards, and his dung, 12. Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth
without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him
on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.”
Secondly, God was very aware of the circumstances of the second set of brothers.
God realized their fear and trepidation because of the deaths of their brothers
Nadab and Abihu. ***It was His compassion, mercy and ultimately His grace that allowed
for a different response to Eleazar and Ithamar sin of omission.
Romans 9 v 15
“For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will
have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
Exodus 33 v 19B
“…and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I
will shew mercy.”
Adam Clarke the great Theologian in fact would suggest their lack of action, WAS
NOT A SIN AT ALL. ADAM Clarke:
“The excuse which Aaron makes for not feasting on the sin-offering according to
the law is at once appropriate and dignified; as if he had said: “
God certainly has commanded me to eat of the sin-offering; but when such things
as these have happened unto me, could it be good in the sight of the Lord? Does
he not expect that I should feel as a father under such afflicting circumstances?”
Clarke continues:
“The argument used by Aaron had in it both good sense and strong reason, and Moses,
as a reasonable man, felt its force; and as God evidenced no kind of displeasure
at this irregularity, which was, in a measure at least, justified by the present
necessity, he thought proper to urge the matter no farther. THOUGH the punishment
of Nadab and Abihu may appear severe, because the sacred text does not specify clearly
the nature and extent of their crime, we may rest assured that it was of such a
nature as not only to justify but to demand such a punishment.”
God is just, God is righteous, God is absolutely good; HIS DECISION IS APPROPRIATE,
for He alone is GOD…
Third, Moses in our text heard Aaron’s reason for their sins of omission; and Moses
the prophet of God, the deliverer of God’s people; ACCEPTED IT. HE WAS CONTENT…
***Several synonyms for content are: SATISFIED, PLEASED!!! So those most involved
and most knowledgeable about the incident, God and Moses; allowed mercy in the sins
of omission by Eleazar and Ithamar and their Father Aaron…….
Answered by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
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Question: My question has to do with God's perfection. Perfection is defined
as, "Absolute, complete, having all the required or desirable elements, qualities
or characteristics." The bible talks a lot about God caring for us and for
him desiring and wanting us to know him. If he wants or desires something, that
means that he is lacking something, which would break this statement of him being
perfect because perfect is defined as lacking nothing. My friend posed this question
and I had absolutely no answer. I would appreciate some help!
Great Theological question!
***Your friend however made a common fallen-human error. Man does not define God,
nor can our linguistic or Theological definitions ‘perfectly’ define Him. At best
we can say: God and God alone is perfect.
***Therefore by definition and logic whatever God is defines perfection…
God=Perfection; Perfection=God…
Perfection is an attribute of God and God alone, consequently whatever makes God,
God; is also what makes perfection, perfection…
Job 36 v 3-4
“I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4. For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with
thee.”
God’s perfection is the STANDARD of which all perfection or attempts at perfection
are judged and defined.
The Stoics and the Jewish rabbis at the time of Jesus defined ‘perfection’ as completeness,
with an emphasis on lacking nothing. Both groups took it to the position that an
attribute of perfection as observed in God was that He was completely unaffected
by man, either for our plight of sorrow or times of joy. We as created beings affect
Him in no way.
Clearly as you pointed out, the Bible without a doubt teaches that God does care
about the human condition, and is most unquestionably affected by our lives.
Thus our definition of perfection MUST consider and include the reality of what
the Bible reveals about our beloved God…
If our definition contradicts the revealed word of God as found in the inerrant,
infallible declarations of God, THEN OUR DEFINITION MUST SURRENDER AND BE TRANSFORMED
TO FIT THE TRUTH OF GOD’S BIBLE!!!
Being complete, needing nothing; DOES NOT MEAN GOD CANNOT WANT OR DESIRE SOMETHING.
Man was created with a free-will, the ability to choose to love God (by help of
His grace), and given the responsibility to accept or reject Him and His Word (again
by the help of His grace). God CANNOT violate the ‘choice’ He gave us, nor can He
make us love Him. Yet He MOST certainly LOVES US!!!
John 3 v 16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
It takes a Godly love, to sacrifice His precious Son for OUR SAKE…
Romans 5 v 8
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us.”
Jesus did not die for His sake, His sin; but He died FOR OUR SAKE, OUR REDEMPTION,
OUR SALVATION!!!
That WE MAY BE COMPLETE…
Colossians 2 v 10
“And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”
God does not need us in eternity, HE CREATED US TO BE IN ETERNITY…
He does not need our fellowship, HE DESERVES OUR FELLOWSHIP…
He does not need our love, HE DESERVES OUR LOVE!
He does not need our worship, HE DESERVES OUR WORSHIP!
He is complete, we are only complete; if we truly love Him, and then that completeness
is still only a shadow of His perfection…
In the end God is perfection, and God through His Bible is the ONLY ONE THAT CAN
DEFINE HIMSELF!!!!!!!
***Perfection is what the Bible says it is, nothing more, nothing less…….
Answered by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
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Question : II Thessalonians 2:10-11 bothers me. Can you explain what this means?
God sends strong delusions? Can that be interpreted that if you reject Christ before
the rapture of the church, you will be remain blinded by the delusion from GOD during
the trib. Can that be interpreted that only those who never heard the word can be
saved during the trib? I sure need this cleared up!
2 Thessalonians 2 v 10-11
“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they
received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11. And for this cause
God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:”
Very good question!
Many Theologians believe that once the Church is raptured out of this world and
the Anti-Christ takes full control, that no further gentiles will be saved. They
had their chance during the “Age of the Church: the Age of the Gentiles”, but after
the rapture; God will send His Two Witnesses:
Revelation 11 v 3
“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand
two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.”
These two witnesses will help bring about salvation to a remnant of Israel who will
be saved during the Tribulation Period.
I believe many, both Jew and Gentile will be saved during the Tribulation.***However
this delusion will make it extremely hard for anyone to be saved after the Rapture…
If we think it is hard now to convince someone of the absolute Love and Sacrifice
of Jesus Christ, imagine what it will be like then!!!!!!!
Let’s discuss the meaning of our text.
“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they
received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
This is pretty straight forward, All who will eternally deny Jesus’ Love and Sacrifice
for them will be ETERNALLY DAMNED.
They have deceived themselves and though they will be forced to acknowledge the
truth:
Romans 14 v 11
“For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every
tongue shall confess to God.”
We will all acknowledge our SIN before God.
Philippians 2 v 10-11
“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things
in earth, and things under the earth; 11. And that every tongue should confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
That indeed Jesus is God and Savior to those who will voluntarily accept Him. By
free-will through God’s grace they, we, willing accept His Love. ***WE LOVE HIM
BACK!!!
ALL OTHERS ARE ETERNALLY DAMNED!!!!!!!
This brings us to verse 11, which appears more difficult than it really is.
“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe
a lie:”
This DOES NOT mean God literally sends a delusion to deceive the world. It means
through mankind’s constant and continual fervent defiance of God and His natural
spiritual laws, mankind has deluded itself and has chose to believe the lies of
the spirit of Anti-Christ instead of the truths of God…
John Wesley says this:
“Therefore God shall send them — That is, judicially permits to come upon them,
strong delusion.”
Romans 1 v 29-31
“Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness;
full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30. Backbiters, haters
of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31. Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable,
unmerciful:”
Being so corrupted by their OWN HEARTS of SIN, THEY EXCHANGED the TRUTHS of GOD:
FOR A LIE!!! ( by: Their own free-will)
Romans 1 v 25
“Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature
more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”
This is the exceedingly seductive delusion of which our text speaks. So seductive
the vast majority of people will NEVER COME TO A LOVE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.
Once the Church is gone (raptured), and the spirit of Anti-Christ is set loose on
this fallen world in a way it has NEVER BEEN BEFORE, it will be ‘ALL- most’ impossible
for people to be saved.
Knowing this, should it not be our joyous yet sober obligation of Love to share
with people Now, while the spirit and delusions of Anti-Christ are still restrained?
Ecclesiastes 11 v 6
“In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou
knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall
be alike good.”
Sow, share the Love of JESUS CHRIST, in the morning hours, throughout the day, and
late into the evening.
FOR the DAY is COMING, when IT WILL BE TOO LATE…
Submitted by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
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Question : Psalm 53 - what does this chapter mean? if I read the bible and see this,
could this be God's way of telling me that I am a reject since I used to terrorize
Christians?
Psalms 53
“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done
abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.2. God looked down from heaven
upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did
seek God. 3. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy;
there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 4. Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge?
who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God. 5. There
were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of
him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised
them. 6. Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth
back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.”
We are all fools, we have all rejected and said there is no God in our heart before
we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord, God and Savior…
WE ARE ALL BORN SPIRITUALLY DEAD, LOST… We all terrorize Christians before we become
one.
The first step towards salvation is recognizing this fact. To see how sinful we
are without faith in Him.
C.S. Lewis wrote :
“Look for yourself and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair,
rage, ruin, and decay.”
C.S. Lewis meant that EVERY HUMAN was full of HATRED, WAS LONELY, FULL OF RAGE,
THAT EACH AND EVERY HUMAN’S LIFE LEADS TO FAILURE AND RUIN; IF WE, YOU OR I NEVER
ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST…
Martin Luther says it plainly:
“Man must come to a knowledge of himself, be terrified of himself, and be crushed
as a prelude to receiving and appreciating God’s grace, forgiveness, and new life
in Jesus Christ.”
Again, Martin Luther is applying this to EVERY HUMAN BEING. ***We ALL, before we
accept Jesus Christ as our SAVIOR should LITERALLY BE ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIED at our
own sinfulness, and CRUSHED by who and what we are without Jesus in our hearts.
Self-knowledge is a prelude to a saving knowledge in Jesus Christ. We MUST FIRST
REALIZE WE NEED TO BE SAVED.
We like Paul, MUST come to the realization that WE ARE THE WORST OF SINNERS!!!
1 Timothy 1 v 15
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus
came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."
Breaking God’s law is like breaking a pane of glass, break or crack it anywhere
and the whole thing is RUINED…
James 2 v 10
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty
of all.”
***Therefore quite accurately WE ARE ALL HORRID SINNERS WITHOUT JESUS!!!
And one way we discover who we are is by God’s Holy Bible.
Palms 58 v 3
“Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward and speak
lies.” NIV
Palms 51 v 5
“Surely I have been a sinner from birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived
me.” NIV
We are all born rejects before God.
Romans 3 v 23
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
Thus we ALL NEED A SAVIOR! In reality we are not the rejected, but before we make
a choice to accept Jesus, WE ARE THE REJECTORS…
We reject God, we reject His law, we reject His Son, we reject His sacrifice upon
that blood drenched cross, we reject our responsibility for our own sin, WE REJECT
OUR NEED FOR A SAVIOR, AND WE REJECT ALL THAT IS HOLY!!!
Revelation 3 v 20
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the
door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
Jesus is waiting at the door of our heart, your heart; the ONLY REJECTION is if
WE WON’T OPEN THAT DOOR, OUR HEART, TO ALLOW HIM TO COME IN…
So no matter how bad we think we have been, if we genuinely want to change and let
Jesus come into our hearts as LORD, GOD, AND SAVIOR; HE WILL SAVE US, even me!!!!!!!
EVEN YOU!!!!!!!
ROMANS 10 V 9-10
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in
thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10. For
with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation.”
Jesus is faithful and true and by His grace will forgive you, me, anyone, if ONLY
WE GENUINELY ACCEPT HIS BLOOD SACRIFICE FOR US IN LOVE…
John 6 v 37
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will
in no wise cast out.”
He makes this offer to you, to the world today:
2 Corinthians 6 v 2
“(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation
have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day
of salvation.)”
He stands at the door of your heart, of EVERY HUMAN BEINGS HEART, WILL TODAY BE
THE DAY, YOU, WE, INVITE HIM IN??? *******IT CAN BE…
Answered by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
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Question : What does "we should be holy and without blemish" mean in Ephesians
1:4?
Ephesians 1 v 4
“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that
we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”
The key to understanding this text is the statement: ‘him in love’.
Some Christians believe as ‘born again’ believers, with the cleansing power of the
Holy Spirit within us, our inherited ‘desire’ or inclination to sin can be eradicated
in this life. These Holiness groups call this fdoctrine the: ‘Doctrine of Entire
Sanctification, the second baptism of the Holy Spirit. In this state of entire sanctification
the Christian lives a sinless life on this earth, here and now, and their lives
are examples of a sin-free life without the blemish of sin. Other Christian groups
would say we as Christians will sin in thought, word or deed EVERY DAY… And there
are all kinds of Christian groups in between.
Entire Sanctification----‘-----‘---‘------‘----‘----‘-----Every Day Sin
There are some groups like “The Way International”, a cult, that teaches since we
are saved by grace and grace alone, IT’S OK TO SIN, because by grace the Christians’
sins are all forgiven.
***It’s my belief the inclination to sin, or desire to sin is greatly reduced by
the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit within the Christian, however we ‘may’ still
sin. I mean: may, not will, but may sin.
First ‘true’ Christians do sin from time to time, not all the time but occasionally.
1 John 1 v 8
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
Second, with the Holy Spirit living within us we do have the power and all that
is necessary to NOT SIN…
1 John 2 v 1
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any
man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”
John says: ‘if any man sin’, undoubtedly implying that it is possible for a Christian
NOT TO SIN…*But at the same time plainly pointing out Jesus can still forgive our
sins as Christians. The bottom line is, though we have been given the grace and
power not to sin, all of us will, on occasion. ***Jesus only is without sin!!!
Hebrews 4 v 15
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
So then what does God mean that as Christians we should be Holy and blameless?
We return to the phrase in our main text: “him in love”. In the Sermon on the Mount,
Jesus shares His teachings for His disciples.
Matthew 5 v 1B-2
“…and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2. And he opened his mouth,
and taught them, saying,”
In this sermon to His disciples He defines a Christian’s perfection, a Christian’s
Holiness on this earth… Jesus begins by describing the Christian concept of Holiness:
Matthew 5 v 20
“For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness
of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
To truly be His disciple, to truly be a child of God; YOUR, MY RIGHTEOUSNESS MUST
EXCEED THE SO CALLED RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE ‘RELIGIOUS PEOPLE’. Its more than going
to church, its more than reading your Bible, its more than giving money, its far
more than saying you are His…….
(All of which ARE IMPORTANT)
It is about a change in your fallen nature.
Jesus says:
Matthew 5 v 21-22
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever
shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22. But I say unto you, That whosoever
is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and
whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but
whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”
The righteous MUST NOT KILL, but Jesus declares; not only must you not kill, but
YOU, I, MUST NOT EVEN SEE OTHER PEOPLE IN NEGATIVE TERMS. By your fallen nature,
you might see someone’s behavior as foolish, yet we should not in anger or frustration
lash out with intent to hurt or humiliate them by calling them a ‘fool’. *People
may be doing very foolish and wrong things, and we MUST RESPOND TO THE IMMEDIATE
NEED OF THE CIRCUMSTANCE.
***However, we must separate their acts of sin, from their value as God’s human
creations…
ALL HUMAN BEINGS HAVE GOD GIVEN VALUE!!!
Next Jesus goes on:
Matthew 5 v 27-28
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28. But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath
committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
Sin, imperfections are more than what we do; but our blemishes of sin are also what
we choose TO THINK ABOUT…***Sin is not just an act of disobedience to God’s will,
it is also the yearning to do it. Our change of nature, MUST BE A CHANGE IN OUR
THINKING…
Jesus says:
Matthew 5 v 38-39
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39. But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee
on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
To be His we need to live far above the typical human behavior. Don’t divorce simply
because you can. Don’t demand your rights before others, just because you have them.
Seek the welfare of all people; ALL!!!
Matthew 5 v 43-44
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine
enemy. 44. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do
good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute
you;”
It’s fallen human nature to love only those you have a reason to; but Jesus sets
the standard, He says LOVE ALL PEOPLE… Love not only your family and friends, your
neighbors and those who can help you and who agree with you; BUT LOVE EVEN THOSE
WHO DESPISE YOU, THOSE WHO HATE YOU, THOSE WHO WOULD GLADY HURT YOU, THOSE WHO WOULD
JOYFULLY KILL YOU, and those WHO WOULD HURT OR KILL THOSE WHO MEAN THE MOST TO YOU…….
Jesus says LOVE THEM ALL.......LOVE THEM ALL!!!!!!!
As God the Father does:
John 3 v 16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
That world that refuses to believe in Him, that world that He sent His only Son
to. ***That world that rejected His Son, beat His Son, mocked and spit upon His
Son. That world (you and I; all of humanity) that butchered His Son upon a cross.
THAT WORLD THAT ATTEMPTED TO SEND HIS SON HOME TO HIM IN A BODY BAG!!!!!!! God the
Father LOVES THAT WORLD…
Jesus as we killed Him, declared His love for us:
Luke 23 v 34
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they
parted his raiment, and cast lots.”
Adding sin upon sin, as Jesus cries out His LOVE FOR US, we gamble with His clothing…***Heartless
and proud of it…JESUS SAW US, AND HE STILL LOVED US!!!
To be perfect, to be Holy, to be without blemish; is far more than simply always
doing right…
Matthew 5 v 48
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
“him in love” Being Holy, being without blemish, being perfect as our Father in
heaven is, as our Savior Jesus Christ is; IS TO LOVE ALL THE HUMAN RACE AS THEY
DO; TO THE VERY DEPTH OF OUR BEING…
John 15 v 13
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
By service, by sacrifice, by sharing the Gospel of Love in Love, by doing ALL that
we can; and yes by giving up our right to life if necessary!
Jesus says: “Come and follow me”.
Matthew 7 v 21-23
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22. Many will say to
me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name
have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23. And then will
I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Jesus says:
Matthew 7 v 13-14
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that
leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14. Because strait
is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that
find it.”
“that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” This is the law and
the prophets…
Matthew 22 v 37-40
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38. This is the first and great commandment.
39. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Answered by Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
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Question : I am having trouble with some verses in the Gospels and can't seem
to reconcile them. Mark 15:25 and John 19:14-17. On the time of Jesus' crucifixion.
Was it the 3rd hour or the 6th. His trial finished up at the sixth hour... how could
he have been crucified at the third hour?
[ ***Most interesting question! ]
Mark 15 v 25
“And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.”
John 19 v 14
“And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith
unto the Jews, Behold your King!”
***You are not alone, most Theologians and Bible scholars have found it very difficult
to reconcile these two passages together.
John Wesley simply ignores the timing when commenting on these two texts, and so
do most others.
The Bible is the inerrant, infallible word of God. I came to a saving knowledge
of Jesus Christ through fervently reading and studying the Holy Bible. I always
acknowledged what I saw as possible contradictions, and spent many hours trying
to understand them.
Unfortunately most Christians have a tendency to deny their existence, or others
like Wesley simply DON’T COMMENT UPON THEM. Perhaps they are under the impression
if you deny or ignore the alleged contradictions; they will simply go away…
Adam Clarke suggests that the texts can be reconciled based on a miss-spelling by
Mark or those who copied his text. And this is quite possible because the manuscripts
we have of both Old and New Testaments do have ample examples of miss-spellings
and grammatical errors that in most cases DO NOT detract from the meaning of the
text.
Adam Clarke says:
“Commentators and critics have found it very difficult to reconcile this third hour
of Mark, with the sixth hour of John, John 19:14. It is supposed that the true reading,
in John 19:14, should be trith, the third, instead of ekth the sixth; a mistake
which might have readily taken place in ancient times, when the character g gamma,
which was put for trith, three, might have been mistaken for Greek episema, or sigma
tau, which signifies six. And trith, the third, instead of ekth, the sixth, is the
reading of some very eminent MSS. in the place in question, John 19:14.
See Bengel, Newcome, Macknight, Lightfoot, Rosenmuller, etc., on this perplexing
point.”
Clarke states about John chapter 19, the correct translation should be “three” not
six as it is usually translated, and he points out several of the MSS ( ancient
manuscripts ), do have it as “3” .
***I personally believe the problem is not with the Bible text itself, or a miss-spelling,
but rather something external to God’s Holy Bible.
At the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry the Jews separated time into four divisions
during the day. The first beginning at sunrise and extending 3 hours (The first
watch or called the first hour), the second division of 3 hours going to approximately
mid-day(noon)--- [The ‘Third’ watch or the Third hour], and the third division [Noon],
3 hours to approximately 3:00 PM (Sixth watch or the 6th Hour), and the fourth from
approximately 3:00PM to sunset.
The night was also divided into these four divisions of 3 hours each, beginning
at sunset and extending back to sunrise the next morning.
Mark is basically saying Jesus was crucified sometime between 9:00AM and Noon (the
3rd hour). And that Jesus died somewhere between NOON and 3:00PM (the 6th hour)
in agreement with John 19 verse 14…
If we realize that the 3rd hour or third watch over laps with the 6th hour or sixth
watch, there is no contradiction. ***What Mark is saying is that near the end of
the 3rd watch (about Noon) at the beginning of the 6th watch (about Noon) Jesus
was crucified. ***Considering how hasty and speedily this illegal trial was held:
John 19 v 14-17
“And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith
unto the Jews, Behold your King! 15. But they cried out, Away with him, away with
him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests
answered, We have no king but Caesar. 16. Then delivered he him therefore unto them
to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. 17. And he bearing his cross
went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew
Golgotha:”
As soon as the trial had ended, Jesus was sent off to be murdered upon that Roman
cross…
John Calvin writes this about the speed of Christ’s trial to His crucifixion:
“Thus, when the Jews saw that Pilate was wearing out the time, and that the hour
of noon was approaching, John says that they cried out the more vehemently, that
the whole day might not be allowed to pass without something being done…For it is
plain enough, that no sooner was he hastily condemned, than he was immediately executed;
so eager was the desire of the Jews to put him to death.”
Thus the acts of the trial before Pontus Pilate took place around the end of the
3rd hour/3rd watch (NOON), just as the 6th watch/6th hour began (NOON) and Jesus
was immediately crucified…
Mark is seeing the crucifixion as the end of the 3rd watch, and John from his perspective
is seeing it at the beginning of the 6th watch.
***Both are in agreement, the crucifixion happened around NOON ON FRIDAY.
One must realize the initial trial before the Sanhedrin occurred early Friday morning,
then Jesus was taken before Pilate. Then Pilate had Jesus sent to Herod. Then Herod
had Jesus sent back to Pilate. All this took some time even though it all took place
in Jerusalem. So the last of the trial with the climax of the crucifixion at NOON
is a very real time frame.
And of course we are dealing with approximates because the first hour or first watch
begins at sunrise, which is not the same time every day. So the third hour or 3rd
watch does not begin at the same time every day either. The truth is not always
easy, but it is still the truth just the same…
Never hesitate to ask the hard questions about your faith, in so doing, your faith
will surely grow…God wants us to think, He expects us to search for the TRUTH of
the scriptures, as often as possible.
2 Timothy 2 v 15
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Submitted by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
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Question : Ecc.9:5 says "the dead know nothing and have no further reward."
and 9:11 says "time and chance happen to all men." Are these only opinions
of the author of this book or is this true? If they are only opinions then how much
trust do we put into later Bible authors(Paul and Peter for example, seem to give
us a hope for life after death and a life that is directed by God rather than chance)?
Thanks!
Ecclesiastes 9 v 5
“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither
have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten”
Ecclesiastes is a book that many Christians have questions, and perhaps there exists
just as many answers to each of those questions as Theologians attempting to answer
them. With the Lord’s help I will suggest an answer.
“For the living know that they shall die:”---This I believe is quite clear, all
who are presently alive realize, that from the moment of our birth our bodies begin
to decay and ultimately will die one day. *Unless of course Jesus returns first…
Hebrews 9 v 27
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
This also can be a point of hope, knowing our time is limited, should encourage
us to make right choices immediately, realizing we do not know how much time we
truly have on this earth.
Proverbs 27 v 1
“Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”
James 4 v 15
“For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”
We should not wait to accept Jesus as our Savior, for our next moment may not come!
*So now is the time…
“but the dead know not any thing,”---The dead, those without Jesus Christ (whether
alive or dead), they know nothing about God, they understand nothing about His kingdom,
they have no spiritual wisdom or discernment at all. They will exist in eternity
but they will NEVER comprehend the glories of God and will never enjoy the fruits
of salvation, unless they are born again before their physical death, or before
Jesus’ second coming which ever comes first.
John 3 v 3
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man
be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
**Our text in Ecclesiastes may also be referring to the difference of the physically
Dead in Christ and the Lost who are physically Dead. Those who die in Jesus Christ
(Christians) will immediately go to be with God… Christians as they leave this earthly
realm, will NEVER lose consciousness, but will always be aware (conscious of self
and others)…
John 11 v 25-26
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in
me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26. And whosoever liveth and believeth
in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
Those who die lost will go down to Sheol, though some Theologians believe all the
dead go there until the resurrection. Sheol is described:
Psalms 28 v 1
“Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent
to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.”
In sheol (the pit), the dead will not hear God.
Psalms 30 v 9
“What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise
thee? shall it declare thy truth?”
In the pit the dead will not be able to praise God, or declare the truth.
Psalms 88 v 4
“I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:”
In the pit, the dead will have no strength.
Psalms 115 v 17
“The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.”
Again, the dead will go down to silence, suggesting no understanding, no knowledge,
no ability to think, or comprehend their existence.
Isaiah 38 v 18
“For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down
into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.”
Grave(Sheol, pit), cannot praise God, cannot experience joy, the dead have no hope
in God’s truth…
Some Theologians see Sheol as a place of unconsciousness, a place of nothingness,
where the dead await the resurrection of Judgment for the Lost, and the resurrection
of Reward for those who genuinely Love Jesus Christ…
Whether you believe all the dead go to sheol to await the resurrection or not; clearly
the teaching is the dead will not comprehend anything or know anything there…
That is what Solomon is referring to in our text in Ecclesiastes. He is referring
to the dead before judgment day. After the judgment, the Saved most certainly will
be eternally alive and conscious. The Lost will have no knowledge of the joys of
eternal life with God for they are eternally damned…
Psalms 1 v 6
“For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall
perish.”
Ultimately those who are Lost, though they exist for eternity, their lives will
have no meaning or value to themselves…
Ecclesiastes 9 v 11
“I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle
to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding,
nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.”
***Time and chance happen to us all. This is a human observation, Solomon has seen
from personal experience. The race is not always won by the fastest runner, or the
one who has prepared the hardest. Things happen, a person falls, trips on his own
shoe laces, gets sick, doesn’t show up, doesn’t really try; and the race is won
by another.
The strongest nation does not always win the battle or war. The wise do not always
get paid what they are worth, or receive the respect they deserve. Consider Jesus,
consider John the Baptist; both deserved much praise, but both were mocked, brutalized
and murdered by a world that should have honored them… Often the best person for
the job just doesn’t get picked for the situation; the person that should be seen
as a hero, instead, is seen as a fool, or perhaps just not thought of at all… Many
die in great obscurity, yet their artistry, or humanitarianism should have been
seen and praised by all…
Time and chance, in-other-words, from human wisdom; a person ‘happens’ to be in
the right place at the right moment, or ‘happens’ to be in the wrong place at the
wrong moment.
As Christians we know God is in control, yet often, even we, do not see or understand
in the least why certain people succeed and others who seem most deserving seem
to fail…
We live in a fallen world and often, the things around us seem quite perplexing
and indiscernible, and that is what Solomon is telling us…….
*******It is only through faith in Jesus Christ that we can know without a doubt:
Romans 8 v 28
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them
who are the called according to his purpose.”
We may not always comprehend why things happen the way they do, but as Christians
we can always know God will work all things out for our best interests…
I hope this helps…
Answered by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
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Question: Can you give me three reasons why Gandhi deserved to go to hell, aside
from the fact that he wasn't a Christian?
If Gandhi is in Hell, it HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM BEING OR NOT BEING A CHRISTIAN!!!
The Bible clearly states:
Romans 3 v 23
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
All have sinned, you, me, Gandhi, EVERYONE but JESUS CHRIST!!!
Hebrews 4 v 15
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
The wages of sin, WHAT WE EARN FOR THE LEAST OF SINS is DEATH:
Romans 6 23A
“For the wages of sin is death;…”
We all earn damnation by our sins, not by a religious title we claim to be or actually
possess. God as He stands at the gate of Heaven, is not waiting to hear to His question:
‘Why should I let you in?’ ; “I’M A CHRISTIAN”… He is wanting to hear something
far more important!!!
What we call the ’least’ sin to what we call the ‘worst’ sin, in God’s eye is just
SIN!!!
James 2 v 10
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty
of all.”
So EVERY HUMAN BEING is worthy from birth of absolute and eternal damnation…We are
born TOTALLY DEPRAVED…
Since we were created to be good, be obedient to the laws of God, to live perfect
lives, our good works are our natural obligation to our creator, to simply be ‘good’
does NOT AND CANNOT PAY THE PRICE FOR OUR PAST SINS.
Only a perfect, unblemished sacrifice without ‘sins’ can do that. That is why we
need a Savior… That Savior is JESUS CHRIST!
Acts 4 v 12
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
So no matter where you were born, what culture you are from, what religion you grew
up in, each and EVERY PERSON must one day accept and acknowledge JESUS CHRIST as
their LORD, GOD, AND SAVIOR, TO BE ETERNALLY SAVED…
As God stands at the gates to Heaven, as He asks the question: ‘why should I let
you in; He is waiting to hear from you, from me, from Gandhi, from everyone who
has sinned: “I have put my complete FAITH and TRUST in your beloved SON: JESUS CHRIST”…….
Romans 6 v 23B
“…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
No matter who you are or what you have accomplished in this life, you can ONLY RECEIVE
ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH THE SHED BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST…
Titus 3 v 5
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he
saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
Even Gandhi, like you and I must ultimately submit to JESUS CHRIST.
Ephesians 2 v 8-10
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10. For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we
should walk in them.”
We were created to do ‘good’ works, therefore no matter how humanitarian or noble
a person’s life may be, it is ONLY by a LOVE relationship with JESUS CHRIST that
a person will be allowed to enter the Kingdom of the AL Mighty God…
If Gandhi, or you, or I, or ANYONE rejects JESUS CHRIST, then Hell is where they
will go…
Hebrews 10 v 26
“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth,
there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,”
Once we are told the truth of the gospel of JESUS CHRIST, and if we will never accept
JESUS CHRIST, then and only then will we spend eternity in HELL.
***If a person goes to Hell, it is because God the all knowing realizes, that person
WILL NEVER ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR. Eternal judgment is the response
to an individual’s own choice to eternally reject God’s plan of salvation. That
of LOVING JESUS CHRIST!!!!!!!
To deny Jesus eternally is the unpardonable sin, the ONLY SIN THAT CANNOT BE FORGIVEN…
Matthew 12 v 31
“Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto
men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.”
Sin has a price, that price is ETERNAL DAMNATION, unless we allow JESUS to pay that
price for us…
Revelation 3 v 20
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the
door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
If Gandhi, or anyone denies the need of Jesus Christ to be their SAVIOR, and refuses
to open their door to their heart for JESUS to come in, that will be the cause of
their damnation, not what they or others may call themselves…
***Being a “BORN AGAIN” believer does make you a Christian, being called a Christian
DOES NOT SAVE YOU…Nor does being called a Christian make you a Christian. Nor MUST
YOU BE CALLED A Christian to be saved!
YOU MUST WHOLLY AND ABSOLUTELY LOVE JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD, GOD AND SAVIOR: TO
BE A “BORN AGAIN BELIEVER”!!!!!!!
John 3 v 3
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man
be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
One, did Gandhi Love Jesus as his LORD? Two, did Gandhi Love Jesus as the God? Three,
did Gandhi Love Jesus as his Savior?
Answered by Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
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Question : Is God a hypocrite? At the last judgment Jesus separates the sinners
and the fallen and will condemn all the fallen to an eternity of suffering in hell.
(Matt 25:31-34, 41, 46) This seems to contradict Jesus' earlier words where
we are told to forgive those who sin against us. Is God/Jesus being a hypocrite
in telling us to do one thing where he himself does not follow this rule? Surely
no sin, no matter how serious can warrant an eternity spent in unimaginable agony!
This is a real sticking point for me when accepting Jesus' teachings into my
heart.
First point, sin is anything that goes against the law of God. Sin is not against
us, we may feel the consequences of sin (someone lying to us, physically hurting
us, etc), but the actual act of sin is wholly and only against God Himself…
The law of God is like a sheet of glass, any breach, any crack anywhere in or on
it destroys the whole sheet.
James 2 v 10
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty
of all.”
In God’s eyes any sin, whether we as fallen humans see them as slight sins (a white
lie), or heinous sins (murder of an innocent); God sees them as the absolute breaking
of the whole law…
***His Law!!!!!!!
Second point, God calls us to forgive others, when and if they ask for forgiveness.
Matthew 18 v 21-22
“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me,
and I forgive him? till seven times? 22. Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee,
Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
Peter was not without warrant for his question. It was Rabbinic teaching that a
man must forgive his brother three times.
Rabbi Jose ben Hanina said,
"He who begs forgiveness from his neighbor must not do so more than three times."
The person having done the ‘wrong’, must sincerely ask to be forgiven…
Rabbi Jose ben Jehuda said,
"If a man commits an offence once, they forgive him; if he commits an offence
a second time, they forgive him; if he commits an offence a third time, they forgive
him; the fourth time they do not forgive." When the request for forgiveness
is clearly insincere, most rabbis taught, you need not forgive their wrong.
That’s the mentality that inspired Peter’s question. And to a certain degree it
was Biblical.
Amos 1 v 3, 6, 9, 11”
“Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will
not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing
instruments of iron:…6 Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Gaza, and
for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away
captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:…9. Thus saith the Lord;
For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment
thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not
the brotherly covenant:…11. Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Edom,
and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue
his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually,
and he kept his wrath for ever:”
In response to Peter’s legitimate question Jesus responds:
Matthew 18 v 22B
“…I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
In-other-words; you forgive them as often as they ask you to. As fallen human beings
we cannot see into the heart of men, so we must give EVERY PERSON a benefit of a
doubt who asks for it…
The key is they (the wrong doer) asks for the forgiveness. In the context of Jesus’
parable, He says this:
Matthew 18 v 26-27
“The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience
with me, and I will pay thee all. 27. Then the lord of that servant was moved with
compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.”
The servant, the wrong doer, the sinner falls on his knees; asking to be forgiven,
asking for another chance…The falling on his knees suggests the genuineness of his
request for forgiveness. At that, then the master responds with compassion and forgiveness,
NOT BEFORE…
***So asking for forgiveness is the prerequisite of being forgiven. As the gospel
clearly teaches, a person must know he/she is a sinner, and mourning over our sin,
ask Jesus to forgive us.
Matthew 5 v 3-4
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4. Blessed
are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
When we want to genuinely be forgiven for our sins, GOD WILL FORGIVE US!!!
Point number three, unlike man, God can judge us, because God DOES KNOW THE HEART
OF MANKIND…
Genesis 6 v 5
“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination
of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
Psalms 94 v 11
“The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.”
Proverbs 15 v 26
“The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: but the words of the
pure are pleasant words.”
Matthew 9 v 4
“And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?”
God, Jesus can pass sentence on us, judge us, condemn us; BECAUSE HE KNOWS OUR VERY
MINDS, OUR SOULS…….
Point number four, when we deny the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ, THERE IS NO
OTHER MEANS OF FORGIVENESS…
Hebrews 10 v 26
“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth,
there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,”
Once we know our need for redemption, once we realize Jesus died for our sins, and
we still REFUSE HIS LOVE, refuse to ask for His forgiveness; THERE IS NO OTHER MEANS
OF GRACE, NO OTHER WAY TO COVER OUR SINS, NO OTHER SACRIFICE OR PERSON WHO CAN FORGIVE
US!!!
Acts 4 v 12
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Point number five, consider Jesus sacrifice. All that God has provided for us, Christ’s
BLOOD SACRIFICE, His being butchered upon that rugged, coarse, splintery cross;
by: YOU and ME, by ALL SINNERS!!!!!!!
***YET SOME, MOST, WILL ETERNALLY REJECT HIM??????? ETERNALLY HATE HIM, ETERNALLY
MOCK HIM, ETERNALLY DESPISE HIS LOVE, HIS GRACE, HIS MERCY, HIS AUTHORITY AND HIS
FORGIVENESS…….
That is why they will be eternally damned. Not because God wants it so, but rather
because the ETERNALLY LOST, WILL:
ETERNALLY LOATHE GOD AND ALL THAT HE HAS DONE FOR THEM AND ALL THAT HE WOULD HAVE
DONE FOR THEM!!!!!!! THEY SEE HIM WITH REVULSION AND ALWAYS WILL.
***NOT BY AN ACT OF GOD, BUT BY AN ACT OF THEIR OWN WILL!!!!!!!
Salvation is a love relationship with Jesus Christ, and though we may not understand
all there is to know, LOVE CANNOT BE BOUGHT OR SOLD.
***LOVE IS A GIFT, AND GOD WILL NOT, AND YES, CANNOT FORCE ANYONE TO LOVE HIM…
All that He has done, and all that He will eternally do, the myriads of glorious
and miraculous blessings, will never take away the individual’s choice to love Him,
or to eternally reject Him.
Damnation in the end is a matter of CHOICE, a decision we each have to make.
1 Corinthians 13 v 9-13
“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10. But when that which is perfect
is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11. When I was a child,
I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became
a man, I put away childish things. 12. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but
then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these
is charity.”
No, God is not a hypocrite…
Peter 3 v 9
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but
is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should
come to repentance.”
Thus Jesus asks each of us by His Love, who love Him, to love our fellowmen. We
do this as we go into all the world sharing the Love of God in all that we do and
in all that we say:
James 1 v 22
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
Matthew 28 v 19-20
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever
I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
Amen.”
Anwsered by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
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Question : I have been a Missionary Kid all of my life, but this question has kept
me from really trusting everything about the Bible and about God when I get stumped
on this question: How can God love each one of us, know our history and our future-and
say that he is with us all of the time, when there are so many people in this world
that he says that He cares about them too?
John 3 v 16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Since you have been a Missionary Kid all your life, I’m sure you know the basics.
By definition God is omnipresent, everywhere (with one exception: at the final judgment
He will never again be in the presence of sinners). Or at least they will not comprehend
His presence. Omni-presence is the attribute of God by which He fills the universe
in all its parts and is present everywhere at once. Not a part, but the whole of
God is present in every place. This is true of all three members of the Trinity.
They are so closely related that where one is the others can be said to be, also.
Psalms 139 v 8
“If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou
art there.”
Jeremiah 23 v 23-24
“Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? 24. Can any hide himself
in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven
and earth? saith the Lord.”
1 Kings 8 v 27
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens
cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?”
Matthew 18 v 20
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst
of them.”
When it comes down to it, accepting God as God with all His Biblical attributes
is a matter of faith… No fallen human being, which is all of us, know or understand
God completely.
1 Corinthians 13 v 9, 11-12
“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 11. When I was a child, I spake as
a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man,
I put away childish things. 12. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then
face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
Until we are perfected in glory, it is impossible for us to comprehend God completely.
It is impossible for us to see Him or His love and attributes fully… So until Jesus
returns, until human history as we understand it draws to a close, most of what
we believe is a matter of faith not intellectual capacity to comprehend.
2 Corinthians 5 v 7
“(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”
Hebrews 11 v 6A
“But without faith it is impossible to please him:…”
Our belief and trust by faith is what pleases God, and what ultimately saves us…
Ephesians 2 v 8A
“For by grace are ye saved through faith;…”
Faith is a gift from God, and comes from reading and studying God’s Word the Bible…
Romans 10 v 17
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
By both studying God’s Word and attending God’s Church as often as possible we have
opportunity to grow in faith. By asking for faith in prayer, we can obtain more
faith…
Mark 9 v 24
“And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I
believe; help thou mine unbelief.”
The Bible tells us about God, who and what He is. ***But it is faith and God’s Holy
Spirit that bring us understanding and acceptance of those spiritual truths…All
the information and preaching in the world, in the universe for that matter, will
not change the necessity of FAITH.
In the movie the “Song of Bernadette”, this statement is ever-so-true: “For those
who do not believe no explanation is possible, for those who do believe (possess
faith) NO EXPLANATION IS NECESSARY”…
God has given each of us a mind, and He does want us to use them, which means we
sometimes may doubt, and we often may not understand; however in the conclusion:
Trust and obey for there is no other way……………………………………..
Answered by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
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Question : Jesus said -- John 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and you
want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and
does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks
a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.
There is a connotation of two families in this statement. The family of God and
the family of the devil. Is this a correct view? Also: Mat 13:38 and the field is
the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the
tares are the sons of the evil one; If this is the case. How are the sons of the
evil one my brothers?
Two families yet related families…
Since the fall of man, all have sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness.
Romans 3 v 23
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
We are all born spiritually dead, all of us; as such we are born into Satan’s family
of sinners…
John 8 v 44
“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was
a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth
in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the
father of it.”
From birth our only deserved inheritance is death and damnation. As sinners we are
all Satan’s children, not God’s children…
We only become children of God, if, and only if, we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord,
God, and Savior.
John 1 v 12
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even
to them that believe on his name:”
Only by possessing a genuine love relationship with Jesus Christ, can anyone legitimately
call themselves “children of God”!
So, by our physical birth we are related to ALL PEOPLE. By our spiritual birth,
our new birth, by our ‘born again’ experience we are spiritually adopted into the
family of God.
Though Moses is certainly a child of God, he still insisted upon his relationship
with those who had not accepted God.
Exodus 32 v 32
“Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out
of thy book which thou hast written.”
Moses felt such a family bond with the lost house of Israel, that he was willing
to be damned with them, if they could not be forgiven.
Paul also being a child of God, continued to have a family bond to those who were
lost.
Romans 9 v 1-3
“I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in
the Holy Ghost, 2. That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
3. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen
according to the flesh:”
Paul even calls them (the lost, the unsaved), his brethren! And he too loves them
so much, as a brother should, that he would be willing to give up his salvation,
if that could save his brothers and sisters who are still of the world; by nature,
by physical birth children of wrath…
Ephesians 2 v 3
“Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh,
fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children
of wrath, even as others.”
We are adopted children of God by the ‘new birth’ we have experienced through Jesus
Christ, and HIM ALONE!!!!!!!
Romans 8 v 15-16
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received
the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16. The Spirit itself beareth
witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”
As adopted children, by the ‘new birth’, we can call God Abba, literally calling
God: “Daddy”!!!
Romans 8 v 23
“And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit,
even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the
redemption of our body.”
That redemption coming by the Love, Grace, and Mercy of God.
Galatians 4 v 4-5
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman,
made under the law, 5. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive
the adoption of sons.”
So, if we have asked Jesus to be our Savior, and by His grace and His works have
repented of our sins; we are God’s children by adoption, and brothers and sisters
of ALL MANDKIND by physical birth…
Matthew 13 v 38
“The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the
tares are the children of the wicked one;”
Those who have not yet, or may never accept Jesus Christ and His blood sacrifice,
are still children of wrath, still doomed to an eternal damnation…Are still children
of the wicked one!
And as their “Saved” brothers and sisters, it is our OBLIGATION of GODLY (agape)
LOVE to SEEK THEIR SALVATION TO THE VERY BEST OF OUR ABILITIES!!!
John 15 v 13
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Jesus being our everlasting example, gave this model for ALL CHILDREN OF GOD:
Romans 5 v 8
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us.”
While we were still children of the devil, children of wrath, HATERS of GOD and
ALL that is HOLY; JESUS lived His life to save us, and ultimately died and raised
from the dead to redeem us.
And we as a adopted, everlasting children of God, should do all we can to seek the
salvation of our brothers and sisters who are still orphans and lost in sin…
Yes there are two families, but by God’s love we are all related; the real question
is: do we love our fellow man enough to share the eternal gospel of hope and love
with ALL, that ALL MAY BE GIVEN THE POWER TO BECOME: THE SONS OF GOD???
Answered by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
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Question: Deuteronomy 23:1 - He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy
member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD. This is truly
absurd.
***I must agree, on the surface this quote does seem VERY ABSURD.
Deuteronomy 23 v 1
“He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter
into the congregation of the Lord.”
Matthew Henry the Theologian says this about our text: “We ought to value the privileges
of God's people, both for ourselves and for our children, above all other advantages.
No personal blemishes, no crimes of our forefathers, no difference of nation, shuts
us out under the Christian dispensation. But an unsound heart will deprive us of
blessings; and a bad example, or an unsuitable marriage, may shut our children from
them.”
Matthew Henry implies that under the law of the Old Testament, our passage is right
and correct as we first understand it. That a person, literally a eunuch, is to
be denied access to the Congregation of the Lord. However under the New Testament,
Henry would assert, these personal physical blemishes will not bar us from the presence
of God, or His people the Church.
The real implication here is not a denial of access to God or the fellowship of
the believers, or precisely in our text the gathering of other Israelites; but rather
a sanction against such persons having a leadership role in the congregation. To
me this does not sound much better.
But John Wesley explains it like this:
“Nor is it strange that eunuchs are excluded from government, both because such
persons are commonly observed to want that courage which is necessary for a governor,
because as such persons ordinarily were despicable, so the authority in their hands
was likely to be exposed to the same contempt.”
John Wesley gives two, perhaps legitimate arguments for this practice.
One, he implies, because of their loss of male hormones, it has been observed by
many that, eunuchs do not have the innate or instinctive traits that are essential
for a person who is in charge of a nation or congregation…
Most likely his second point is far more valid. ***We live in an evil, sinful society.
A society that too often judges people by appearances, and stereotyping. I had a
pastor friend of mine say:
“A leader is not so much a leader because he or she has the ability or drive to
do so, but rather are leaders because PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO BE LEAD BY THEM.”
In-other-words, to be a leader you MUST BE ACCEPTED BY THE PEOPLE YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE
TO LEAD. If no one will listen to you as a leader, if people simply ignore whatever
you have to say, no matter how correct you are, your guidance is most likely doomed
to failure…
God deeply understands the workings of the sinful thoughts of men.
Genesis 6 v 5
“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination
of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
Psalms 58 v 3
“The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born,
speaking lies.”
Isaiah 53 v 6
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and
the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
God clearly understands the inner thoughts of men, our weaknesses, our prejudices,
EVERYTHING!!! And its not just some of us, but all of us that are FAR from PERFECT…
God wants to save us, in order for us to be redeemed, we must submit ourselves,
listen to the leaders HE puts in our lives.
God speaks to us in terms we can understand. For example God talks about slavery,
not because He approves of it, but because it is a reality in our human condition.
So He speaks to both the slave and the slave owner, and gives them, us, principles
that we should apply to our lives in those situations. God allows divorce on grounds
of adultery or unfaithfulness, not because He approves of divorce, but because of
His understanding of our fallen human condition, OUR INNER DEPRAVITY…
When He says that sacrificial animals must be unblemished, that the Temple must
be made of precious stones and luxurious materials; its not because He puts more
value on them, BUT BECAUSE WE PUT MORE VALUE ON THEM…
He does not see a deaf-mute, WE SEE A DEAF-MUTE. He does not see the drunkard, WE
SEE THE DRUNKARD. He sees the sin, but HE DOES NOT CONDEMN THE PERSON, WE DO. He
does not see a eunuch, WE SEE THE EUNUCH!!!
The majority of us see the eunuch, even the majority of Christians see the eunuch.
We see them as someone ‘unusual’, someone strange, someone different…
Yes it is absurd to judge people by the way they look, speak, smell, or by the clothes
they wear, or by their finances, or their stature or their education; BUT ‘WE’ DO
IT ALL THE TIME…
The absurdity is in us, not in God, or in His Holy Bible. ***But in our own sinful
and fallen natures…
And until we all realize and accept Jesus Christ, as OUR LORD, GOD AND SAVIOR, He
will continue to use principles that must deal with our own self-centered sinfulness
as fallen human beings…
And we will see it, and say: ‘how absurd’… We will see it, and continue to blame
Him…
Until the day, we recognize the truth, there is a God, and we must be cleansed by
HIM…
Much of what He says will sound absurd, because with human understanding we will
never be able to understand! And frankly, WE WON’T WANT TO!!!
Matthew 11 v 25
“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and
earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed
them unto babes.”
1 Corinthians 2 v 11
“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?
even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”
We may not always understand what the Bible says, or what God is trying to tell
us, but we can be sure, by faith; that what God says is for our good…We are not
saved by understanding, we are saved by grace through faith in HIM!!!!!!!
Ephesians 2 v 8
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God:”
***The only unblemished sacrifice that was of necessity according to God’s will
was His Son Jesus Christ!!! Who died and rose to give opportunity for us to be Saved…
Answerd by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
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Question : It seems like from scripture Jesus was looking forward to redeeming mankind
with God. If that is true though why did he ask if the cup can be taken from him?
And if Jesus was with God the father from the Beginning why would he not ask the
cup to be taken hundreds or even thousands of days before his crucifixion?
This is really a ‘deep’ Theological question, you show the sincerity of your quest
for God in asking it. I pray I can do your subject justice… Your question is centered
on the person of Jesus Christ, who is He?
Matthew 1 v 23
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall
call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
This establishment that JESUS was born of the virgin Mary, implies two things. One,
He was a human being, a man.
Hebrews 4 v 15
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
As a man JESUS was tempted as we are, yet the scriptures make clear He NEVER SINNED!
Secondly, since Mary His mother was indeed a virgin, His Father was God Himself…
Therefore He was called Emmanuel, God with us… Thus we get the concept or doctrine
that Jesus is ‘fully’ God, and ‘fully’ man. As God, Jesus is eternal, He had no
beginning and no end.
Revelation 1 v 8
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and
which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
Alpha the first letter of the Greek alphabet, and Omega the last letter of the Greek
alphabet, implying: JESUS always was and always will be. He is ETERNAL. He is the
ALMIGHTY, He is GOD!!!
Hebrews 13 v 8
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
So as Jesus awaits His arrest in the garden, He has two natures. That of being God
Himself, and the man facing death…
***Most certainly Jesus desired the salvation of mankind!!! That is why He became
a man, a human being…
1 Timothy 1 v 15A
“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came
into the world to save sinners;…”
Salvation for the lost is what He was ‘born’ for… Yet, as the time of the cross
came closer and closer, Jesus the man, as any man would, had apprehension. We live
to one day see God. Jesus from the beginning was with God the Father and God the
Holy Spirit, in perfect and intimate fellowship. As God, He understand better than
we can ever imagine, what separation from God would be like. As He prayed in that
lonely, cold garden, He pondered these things.
“Surely when all the sins of all of mankind are put upon me, My beloved Father,
and my beloved Holy Spirit MUST turn their backs upon me. For in their righteousness
they will not look upon SIN!!!”
And Jesus the man was terrified, oh so frightened. To be ripped from that eternal
love relationship, to experience the second death, for us…To experience damnation,
absolute separation from God, instead of us, in our place. To be utterly, even for
just a moment in time to be estranged from the Love, Mercy, and Glory of God was
almost unbearable for Him…
So He asked the question: “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from
me?”
You can almost hear Him, in a voice of complete desolation, perhaps only above a
whisper, while gasping for breath. “And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible
unto thee; take away this cup from me,” Abba, literally: ”Daddy”, “oh, if it be
possible, please, please, I cannot bear…”
Any man, anywhere, in the moment of his greatest challenge, in the moment of his
greatest sacrifice, in the moment of his perhaps greatest victory, is tempted to
say: ‘I can not bear it”. Jesus indeed thought and asked these very human questions,
yet He said, probably in a strong clear voice:
Mark 14 v 36B
“…nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.”
To the Glory of His name, and for the salvation of the lost!!!
Philippians 2 v 8
“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross.”
As a man He died, that we might live…….
Why did Jesus wait until the garden to ask these questions, because as any man,
its only when we are face to face with our own mortality, that we ask such questions.
In the end, it was not the cup of death that Jesus feared to bear the most, but
the Cup of Separation from His ETERNAL GOD…His God, His Father, His Holy Spirit,
that made ETRNITY WORTH LIVING!!! For Him, and for us…
Hebrews 12 v 2
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was
set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right
hand of the throne of God.”
Amen and Amen!!!
Answered by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
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Question : I'm confused about what the Bible says about not being embarrassed
of Jesus. That's a harsh word but I don't know if the things I've felt
in the past are embarrassment or just being afraid to speak up. I've been embarrassed
of family before, without any good reason, and it really made me feel bad.
This is an important question!!
Mark 8 v 38
“Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and
sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in
the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Luke 9 v 26
“For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man
be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of
the holy angels.”
To understand what Jesus is saying we must be aware of the context in which it is
spoken. Jesus declares three things to His apostles just before our text.
Mark 8 v 29
“And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith
unto him, Thou art the Christ.”
First, Jesus asks His closest disciples, ‘who do you think I am?’ Peter responds
by saying: ‘Thou art the Christ’.
Matthew 16 v 16
“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew completes Peter’s statement with the phrase: ‘the Son of the Living God.”
Peter is telling us in effect two aspects of who Jesus is.
*Jesus is the long expected Messiah (Christ), the anointed one of God. In addition,
Peter is declaring something that the Jews were not expecting. The Jews believed
that the long awaited Messiah would deliver them from the oppressive rule of all
their enemies. But the Messiah was an anointed man, a man and no more.
The predominant Jewish view of the moschiach (messiah/christ) is based on the writings
of Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, better known as Maimonides, or Rambam; he states:
"The Jewish Messiah is to be a mortal human being born to two mortal parents.
He is neither G_d, nor a man born of supernatural or virgin birth. There is nothing
in the Bible that states that the Messiah would be a god or G_d-like. The concept
of G_d becoming a man contradicts the Jewish belief that G_d is above and beyondtaking
on a human form and its limitations."
Thus when Peter says: ‘the Son of the living God’, Peter is literally saying: ‘JESUS
you are GOD, you are: YHWH. You are Jehovah!!!’
Jesus agrees with Peter’s confession of who He is by saying in:
Matthew 16 v 17
“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh
and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”
Jesus says: ‘God the Father has revealed this truth to you!’
Jesus is the Messiah and God in the flesh… If you are His disciple, His follower,
if you are a Christian today; YOU MUST BELIEVE JESUS is BOTH THE LONG EXPECTED MESSIAH
and is LITERALLY and without doubt GOD HIMSELF!!!
*If you question this, Jesus says: ‘you are ashamed of who I claim to be. You are
embarrassed by the teaching of me, as both Savior and God!!!’ To be ashamed in this
case, means you are ill at ease in acknowledging that Jesus is both Savior and God…
You think it inappropriate in believing this, or suggesting that others believe
it too…
Next Jesus says:
Mark 8 v 31
“And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be
rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and
after three days rise again.”
As our Messiah, Jesus MUST suffer, be rejected by the majority of the Jews, and
be found guilty of claiming to be God by their leaders, then be killed by crucifixion.
Ultimately in payment and for the punishment of the sins of all mankind…Then fulfill
all righteousness by raising Himself from the dead…
The Jews believed the Messiah would over power the world rulers of his time, and
bring in the eternal kingdom of God. He would crush his enemies by the mighty hand
of God, and no one would be able to stand against him. To the Jew of Christ’s time
and to the present day orthodox Jew, it would be a complete humiliation to comprehend
or even suggest that the Messiah would die by the hands of his enemies. It would
be unthinkable that the Messiah would die for humanities’ sins.
Again Jewish rabbis teach:
"We must recognize that the Moshiach is only a person who is a messenger of
G_d. He is not a redeemer, for redemption only comes from G_d. The Moshiach will
be like Moses...Moses served as a prophet...the Moshiach will serve that same function.”
“Moshiach will not atone for our sins. Every person must atone for his own sins.”
Jesus is saying, ‘a lot of what you have heard about me and my ministry on this
earth is wrong. I won’t physically defeat my enemies in glorious battles; in fact
I will be killed by them. Brutalized by them, be humiliated by them. In every way
I will appear to have been destroyed by them. Killed for your sins. YOU ARE UNABLE
TO PAY THE PRICE. I MUST PAY IT…’
Even today the idea that someone else MUST PAY FOR OUR SINS, is somehow repugnant,
embarrassing. Unbelievable!!!
Jesus says: ’if you are mine, you MUST BELIEVE THESE THINGS, you MUST BE WILLING
TO SHARE THESE THINGS WITH OTHERS, even if they laugh at you, persecute you, call
you stupid, ignorant, or intolerant fascists’…
‘This is who and what I am, YOU MUST ACCEPT THESE TRUTHS!!!’ ‘It may seem impossible,
scientifically unacceptable, BUT I WILL RAISE MYSELF FROM THE GRAVE’…
John 2 v 19, 21
“Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will
raise it up. 21. But he spake of the temple of his body.”
Are you ashamed of these facts, Jesus says, ‘I WILL BE ASHAMED OF YOU…’
And finally Jesus says:
Mark 8 v 34
“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto
them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross,
and follow me.”
As Christians we must be willing to deny ourselves; our goals, our dreams, our hopes,
our ambitions; for the sack of God and our fellow man. Even if those people hate
and abuse us…
The world teachers we live for self, we have rights, and we should demand what we
deserve. Jesus says:
Mark 8 v 35
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life
for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.”
The world and it’s earthly finite philosophies cannot and will not accept these
truths. To die to self is to live and to live for self is to die????????????????
The world DOESNOT COMPREHEND, NOR DOES IT WANT TO…
And Jesus sums it up, ‘if you are embarrassed by whom I am, and in my words, what
the Holy Bible says; I WILL BE ASHAMED OF YOU!!!!!!!’
God saves us as we are, if we are shy and introverted, quiet and rarely talk; he
will not demand of us more than we can bear.
***But He does demand belief in Him and His word the Holy Bible; anything less is
disloyalty to Jesus… Jesus demands loyalty, whether we can verbalize our faith or
not; He demands FAITH…
Hebrews 11 v 6
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must
believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
To be ashamed of Jesus is to inwardly and outwardly deny who He is according to
Him, and His holy word the Bible!!! We in the end are saved by grace and grace alone,
not by our actions.
Peter denied Jesus several times, yet, JESUS LOVED AND SAVED Peter…And if we at
times also appear to deny Him, by our actions, He will know our heart, our soul,
and HE will understand…
Peter never denied Jesus or His word in His heart; and only you and God know what
you really believe and accept. But if God can save me, He most certainly can save
you…
If you lack faith God will give it to you…
Matthew 7 v 7-8
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be
opened unto you: 8. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth;
and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
Romans 9 v 33
“As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and
whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
Romans 10 v 10-11
“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession
is made unto salvation. 11. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him
shall not be ashamed.”
2 Timothy 1 v 12
“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed:
for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which
I have committed unto him against that day."
Answered by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Question: What does it mean by "bless the Lord", "Bless God"....
and so on? Why do we need to bless God instead of God blessing us?
This is one of those questions that is really unique for me, because it is not a
question that I have ever asked myself… Its an interesting question. It’s a good
question!
I guess we should begin by defining what it means to ‘bless’ someone. According
to Dictionary.com to bless means:
1. to consecrate or sanctify by a religious rite; make or pronounce holy. 2. to
request of God the bestowal of divine favor on: Bless this house. 3. to bestow good
of any kind upon: a nation blessed with peace. 4. to extol as holy; glorify: Bless
the name of the Lord. 5. to protect or guard from evil (usually used interjectionally):
Bless you! Bless your innocent little heart! 6. to condemn or curse: I'll be
blessed if I can see your reasoning. Bless me if it isn't my old friend! 7.
to make the sign of the cross over or upon: The Pope blessed the multitude.
Some synonyms for bless are: exalt, hallow, glorify, magnify, beatify. To bless
the Lord means to give honor and glory to a Holy God. To pronounce Him, and Him
alone as ‘Holy”.
The root word that we get our word ‘holy’ literally means to be ‘different’. In-other-words,
God is Holy because He is the complete opposite of us, not having a polluted or
fallen nature.
He is ‘righteous’, angelic, blameless, charitable, commendable, conscientious, creditable,
deserving, devoted, devout, dutiful, equitable, ethical, exemplary, fair, faithful,
guiltless, holy, honest, honorable, impartial, innocent, irreproachable, just, laudable,
law-abiding, matchless, meritorious, moral, noble, peerless, philanthropic, philanthropical,
praiseworthy, punctilious, pure, reverent, right-minded, saintly, scrupulous, sinless,
spiritual, sterling, trustworthy, upright, virtuous, worthy…
On the other hand we are sinful and wicked…
Romans 3 v 23
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
Every human being no matter where they are, no matter how ‘goodly’ they seem, are
born absolutely and without EXCEPTION spiritually dead. When Adam and Eve chose
to doubt and disobey God and His word the Bible, mankind for all time inherited
the desire and inclination to sin. To do wickedly continually, that is are fallen
human nature. According to the Bible from our very conception we are sinners.
Psalms 51 v 5
“Surely I have been a sinner from birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived
me.” NIV
Again,
Psalms 58 v 3
“Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward and speak
lies.” NIV
Frankly, no human being is worthy of a blessing, we simply deserve whatever evil
happens to us, from the youngest babe to the oldest senior citizen. That may seem
harsh, but it is unfortunately the truth of who and what we are without being transformed
by a Love relationship with Jesus Christ…
Romans 6 v 23
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord.”
Death isn’t pretty and it comes in many ways and through many avenues and circumstances.
So it is only God, and Him alone that deserves all honor and praise, and glory,
we have earned only shame and judgment.
Psalms 150
“Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of
his power. 2. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent
greatness. 3. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery
and harp. 4. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments
and organs. 5. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding
cymbals. 6. Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.”
God has an eternal ‘right’ to our blessing Him. We all murdered His Son, Jesus Christ,
upon the Cross with our sins…
Yet He so loved us:
John 3 v 16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
He deserving all the blessings and all the glory was willing to give it up, that
we might attain the blessing. The blessing of salvation…….
Romans 5 v 8
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us.”
While we still denied His precious Son, while we beat Him, spate upon Him, mocked
Him, butchered Him with our moment by moment acts of disobedience and selfishness;
He gambled His son’s life away in hopes that at least some of us would repent and
be saved.***BE BLESSED…
Sea creatures were created with gills, their purpose was to live in the oceans and
waters of this world. If they are taken out of the water, or if they jump out of
there position in this world they die. Not because God hates them, but because it
was their function in this life to live in water. Their life was in the water… A
snow blower was invented and designed to blow snow out of the way. To clear a path
for it’s users. If the owner of the snow blower moves to the equator, it has no
purpose, it is ineffective. It’s life has no point. Salt has the properties of giving
taste to food, and slowing down the decaying process. But if, salt no longer functions
as it should:
Matthew 5 v 13B
“…but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth
good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”
It just simply no longer has a reason to exist. All things were created with a “blessed”
intention for their existence. And when they live that function, THEY ARE BLESSED
beyond all comprehension for us to understand! Man was created to glorify God, that
is who and what we were meant to be. When we live out that purpose in how we live
and acknowledge God, WE ARE TRULY BEING BLESSED TO THE FULLEST…
Psalms 100 v 1-5
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 2. Serve the Lord with gladness:
come before his presence with singing. 3. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is
he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of
his pasture. 4. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with
praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5. For the Lord is good; his mercy
is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."
God deserves our blessing because all that we have and all the good we are is because
of Him…
1 Samuel 12 v 24
“Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how
great things he hath done for you.”
Only ‘bless’ the Lord by serving Him, and the people of His creation. Consider how
much ‘blessing’ He has bestowed upon you?
Matthew 22 v 37-38
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38. This is the first and great commandment.”
Bless the Lord by loving the Lord, for He first Loved and ‘blessed’ you by His creation
and blood sacrifice.
1 John 4 v 19
“We love him, because he first loved us.”
Ecclesiastes 12 v 13
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments:
for this is the whole duty of man.”
Again fear God, meaning: honor Him, Glorify Him, THIS IS BLESSING THE LORD!!! Knowing
and understanding how unworthy we are of Him, or anyone ‘blessing’ us, makes the
joy of His BLESSING us all the more eternally sweet!!!!!!!
We may not always receive the blessings we think we want, but God promises:
Matthew 6 v 33
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you.”
Seeking Him with all our heart is the only blessing He wants from us. And if we
genuinely and fervently search for Him, HE WILL FIND US… And finding us, Jesus pronounces
the greatest of “BLESSING’ to us:
John 10 v 27-29
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28. And I give unto
them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them
out of my hand. 29. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man
is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.”
God deserves and has a absolute right to our blessing Him, we on-the-other-hand
deserve chastisement, and because of that we NEED His blessing, and He has gladly
given us His Son!!!!!!!
There is an old saying: ‘we can not see the forest for the trees’. Blessings are
all around us, the least we can do is Bless the Lord in return…
Answered by: Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc
