Bible Ballistics: Alert? Pt. 2, March 23, 2014 Vol.3 #19

Continuing our discussion from last week, ‘Is the belief in the ‘Trinity’ essential to salvation?’  Our questions deal with the relationship of the Holy Spirit to salvation. We must realize that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the ‘trinity’ and that He is a ‘person’ of the Godhead and has a distinct part in our salvation.

This principle is partially addressed in Romans 8:9, which we discussed last week, but is also seen in other references, some of which we’ll consider today.  I hope these will help us see the work of the trinity in bringing men to salvation.  God initiates salvation; He initiates this work in us—Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

John 6:44,  “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” 

John 3:5-8, “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. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

John 8:23-24, “ And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”

And John 14:6, “ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

John 1:13, “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

The new birth comes via the Holy Spirit.  When we are born of the Spirit, He comes to reside in our heart.  We receive the New Covenant and become ‘sons of God’.  Ponder these things.

Now the other part of our question.  “What about the people who have never heard the gospel message?”  “Will all people need to ‘be saved’ to go to heaven, or are they exempted because they have never heard?”

If we are saved only by Jesus, if there is only one way to the Father—that being Jesus, what about those who have never heard?  To answer to this question is imperative, as it either makes us responsible to share the good news of the gospel of Christ, or it removes all obligation to evangelize the lost peoples of the world.  It’s either the reason we send missionaries (or go ourselves when sent) throughout the world, or the reason that we remove ourselves from all obligation to share God’s truth.  How, you might ask, does this work?  Well, if there is an exemption for those who have ‘never heard’, then we are doing the world a disservice to spread the gospel, and cause them to incur the judgment of ‘having heard’.  Follow with me as we look at Romans 1, the ultimate passage in regard to this question.

Romans 1:16-32, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18 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, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 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. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 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: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” 

We see here the progression of sin.  When men reject God, the spiral is never upward, but always downward into more and more sin. But God continues to speak to them through HIS creation (verses 19-20) when they reject His person and His Word.  God also says here, that when men willfully reject His knowledge, He accommodates their desire to reject Him; but when men walk away there are generational consequences.  They are responsible and so are we.

Romans 14:12, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

This initiator of salvation is still reaching out….

Jeremiah 29:13, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.“  God is faithful to reveal His truth to those who seek Him.

So, praise God for His grace and mercy, which He sends to the world, delivering the Good News of the Gospel, through His servants, to those who have been led into this spiral of sin & rejection. We are obliged to share (Matt 28:19-20) wherever God may lead us–because there are no ‘exemptions’.  And we are obliged to support those called to places and ministries when and where we cannot go.
When God saves us and reveals His truth to us, we are responsible to reach the ‘unreached’– with our time, our talents and our resources as God leads us.  To give sacrificially to missions—at home and abroad.  We are responsible to share the Gospel wherever we are—first in our homes, then our jobs, neighborhoods, schools, sports venues, and every circle of influence that God opens to us. Reaching out to the countless masses that are rejecting God even now with those resources at our disposal.

I hope this will give food for thought, and that you will have a renewed urgency to share the truth of the Gospel.  That you will see your responsibility to share this ‘ONLY WAY’—Jesus, because there are no exemptions. I invite you to spend some time this week thinking on Romans 1 and what it means to YOU.

If you have questions you can email them to me, message me on the Facebook page or Blog website anytime.  I pray that this has been helpful, and may God lead you in all your ways.

Bible Ballistics: BBs  #44  Victory in Perilous Times

Continuing with our thoughts from Wednesday, with “perilous times” often comes fear.  What do we do?  First, we must remember that fear is simply an emotion—the question is do we control our emotions or do we allow them (fear) to control us.

2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

The God who saves us has given us ‘the spirit’ of ‘power’, ‘love’, and a ‘sound mind’, not ‘fear’.  How do I live in light of this assurance?  Well, as usual, let’s allow scripture to answer.

Romans 8:28-29a, “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. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, ….”

Portions of Romans 8:37-39, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

So? Here’s our shot for the day.  Remember, no matter the trial, or persecution, or discouragement,

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”   1 John 4:4

WE WIN!!!! 

Keep yourself IN HIM,

because HE is IN YOU!!!

Bible Ballistics: “BBs”   #43

As I’ve said before, “saying so, don’t make it so”.  If our life doesn’t match our words we need to check out our heart and mind.  Because what we really believe will come out in our words and actions.  It grieves my heart to see so many, so influenced by the world, speaking and acting like the world rather than the God and the Word, which we claim to believe and follow.

2 Peter 3:11 says, “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,”  (conversation meaning lifestyle, not just words)

2 Timothy 3:1, describes our times,  “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”

And living in those perilous times we are!!  When speaking the truth may cost you not only ridicule, but job, family, friends and yes, even imprisonment.  We’ll stand for whatever the latest ‘buzz’ word of the day is, but are we really willing to stand for Jesus with lives of ‘holiness’ and ‘obedience’ to HIS Word?  To not only say we’re ‘Christians’, but to live like it?  Why?  Because—

2 Timothy 2:19,  “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 

If you claim it—LIVE IT!!!

And 2 Timothy 3:19, ” Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

So?  Here’s our shot for the day—?  Live right for Jesus, and expect to pay the price in perilous times—they’re here!!!

So?  ??????  Look up!!!

Get ready.

Be ready.

Stay ready.

Because—

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”  Luke 21:28

Bible Ballistics: Alert?  March 16, 2014 Vol.3 No.18

As we’ve been talking about heartache and friendship, I hope it’s been an encouragement to you.  I was doing things around the house the other day and heard that familiar ‘beep beep’ of the EAS (Emergency Alert System) and kept waiting for the message that usually accompanies it and it didn’t come.  It made me think of the Lord’s return, and that when HE returns (whether we refer to the rapture or the second earthly return) the time to prepare will be over.

There are a couple of questions that have come in that I’d like to tie in to the example above, for when Jesus returns, time for evangelizing and defending our faith will cease.  We need to be wise stewards of the time that we have as we seek HIS face through the word and prayer.  There are three questions from Jarred that I think fit together well and I will address them this week, and as I am sure I can’t offer adequate responses in just one article, we will continue the article next week.

Question: “Is the ‘trinity’ in the Bible and is this an important issue.”  The second, I think is a parallel issue and that is: “What about the people who have never heard the gospel message?”  “Will all people need to ‘be saved’ to go to heaven, or are some exempted because they have never heard?”  Good questions and pertinent especially in the days we are living in.

To begin, the word “trinity” is not itself in the scripture but the principle of the ‘three-in-one’ God is.  The best place to begin is at the ‘beginning’.

Genesis 1:1-2, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

Here we see the ‘Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost’ at creation. God the Father and God the Spirit.  But where is the Son?  The only reference to the ‘Son’ in Genesis 1 is implied in verse 26,

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” 

We see plurality in these three pronouns, us-our-our, yet we don’t see a specific mention of the Christ Jesus until the New Testament.

John 1:1-3 says, “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” 

Here John tells us that Jesus–the Word- was with God, in the beginning, and that HE ‘WAS GOD’. John also credits Jesus’ very presence at creation, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”  Jesus the creator!!  Paul also confirms this in several places, one being Colossians 1:16-17, (speaking of Jesus),

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

He not only created all things but holds them all together, as it’s also revealed in Hebrews 1:2-3,

“Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:”

This same Jesus, who died for our sins, is the creator of the universe, with God the Father and the Holy Spirit (also called the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ).

What does the Holy Spirit have to do with the equation?  Besides being an integral part of creation, He is the imparter of the “New Covenant” as introduced in Ezekiel 36:25-27,

“Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” 

God promised to put “HIS Spirit” within those who trust Jesus.  Paul clearly restates this in Romans 8:9,

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” 

And Colossians 1:27, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit…..  Three in one—Three personalities, ONE GOD.  A better term would be ‘triunity’ instead of ‘trinity’.  “Trinity” can mean three people or things in a general sense but is applied to God in most cases as the three personalities of the ‘God Head’.  Triunity, referring to the ‘triune’ Godhead, is more easily understand than ‘trinity’, sometimes taken to mean ‘three Gods’, but we serve and obey–ONE GOD.  The Father, Son and Holy Spirit/Ghost.

So, to answer our first question,

the ‘trinity’ is the biblical doctrine of the

Father,

Son and

Holy Spirit—

three in one.

ONE GOD—

three distinct personalities,

and/or functions to bring us to Himself.

Equal in power and deity.

The other part of our question deals with the necessity to believe in this for salvation and we’ll pick up with that next week.  If you have questions that you’d like to submit, you can email them to me, or send a personal message on the Facebook page, or the Blog website, and we’ll try to answer one each month.  I hope this will give you food for thought this week.  In whom do you trust?

Bible Ballistics: “BBs”    Real Friends ??  #42

I’d like to take a ‘spin-off’ on friendship today, by asking  ‘What does a real friend look like?’  As always let’s go to God’s Word for the answer.

Zech. 13:6, “And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.” 

This Old Testament verse is referring to the greatest friend—Jesus.  The one who gave Himself for us!! A friend gives of himself, sometimes even unto death.  We have heard so many stories about wars and conflicts and those who made the ultimate sacrifice intentionally for the benefit of others.  That’s what Jesus has done for US.  What a friend does!!  Yet, Jesus always spoke truth and never apologized.

Proverbs 27:6, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

True, real friends are the ones who tell you what you ‘need’ to hear, even when you may not ‘want’ to hear it.  A real friend is ‘faithful’ to speak truth to you, instead of deceitful flattery just to cause you to like them.  It also means I need to share honestly with those that I care about—not ‘brutal’ honesty–but kindly openness with integrity and respect for others’ feelings.   As it says in Proverbs 25:11,

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” 

To say the ‘right’ thing, at the ‘right’ time is a gift from God. And we can only experience this as we yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit of God, as Gal. 5:16 says,

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not   fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

So??  Walk in HIS Spirit

and be a ‘real’ friend.

Be one—

to have one!

How are you measuring your friends?

Yourself?