Category: Reflections Articles

“Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?”

1 Corinthians 15:29

The verse above is admittedly a difficult passage to understand. It is a passage that has been wrested from context to defend a practice without Bible authority. For example, the Mormon church engages in the practice of baptism by proxy. One of the duties of those Mormons who desire to go to a Mormon temple, is when there to be immersed on behalf of someone who has died. In fact, the Mormon’s intense interest in geneological records is to identify those who have died in past generations, that they may be baptized in water by proxy.

Continue reading “1 Corinthians 15:29, An Explanation” →

In Knowledge of the Holy, A.W. Tozer attempts to reconcile the seemingly contradictory beliefs of God’s sovereignty and man’s free will:

“An ocean liner leaves New York bound for Liverpool. Its destination has been determined by proper authorities. Nothing can change it. This is at least a faint picture of sovereignty.

“On board the liner are scores of passengers. These are not in chains, neither are their activities determined for them by decree. They are completely free to move about as they will. They eat, sleep, play, lounge about on the deck, read, talk, altogether as they please; but all the while the great liner is carrying them steadily onward toward a predetermined port.

“Both freedom and sovereignty are present here, and they do not contradict. So it is, I believe, with man’s freedom and the sovereignty of God. The mighty liner of God’s sovereign design keeps its steady course over the sea of history.”

Douglas G. Gerrard

The illustration above is relatively accurate, though limited as illustrations always are. It is true that God’s sovereignty has predetermined the victory of righteousness over evil.

It is equally true that God has granted each man free will in his life. However, there is one thing that is not noted in the story. It is possible, first, for a man to choose not to board the ship, and then for a man to jump off the ship, of his own free will, thus not reaching the destination! (cf. Mark 16:16; 2 Peter 2:21-22).

I recently came across an interesting sermon outline by Mark Copeland with the above title. There were five major points in the sermon that I thought were very good, and wanted to share with you in article form.

In Revelation, chapters 2 and 3, the Lord wrote letters to seven different churches, some of which could be categorized as weak, and some as strong. One church in particular serves to make an important point. The church at Sardis, (cf. Revelation 3:1), was admonished by our Lord, “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” A congregation can have a nice building, have many members, can have a lot of “program”, and can run smoothly and still be dead.

The better way of gauging the relative strength of a church is by determining whether the congregation has the characteristics of the church as revealed in the New Testament. There are terms such as “body”, “family”, “temple”, “kingdom”, “bride”, that establish principles which are the foundation of strength among God’s people.

Continue reading “The Measure of a Strong Church” →

In Valladolid, Spain, where Christopher Columbus died in 1506, stands a monument commemorating the great discoverer. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the memorial is a statue of a lion destroying one of the Latin words that had been part of Spain’s motto for centuries. Before Columbus made his voyages, the Spaniards thought they had reached the outer limits of earth. Thus their motto was “Ne Plus Ultra,” which means “No More Beyond.” The word being torn away by the lion is “Ne” or “no,” making it read “Plus Ultra.” Columbus had proven that there was indeed “more beyond.”

Source Unknown.

Columbus did not know the half of it. So many today make the same denial with regard to life after death. They live their lives, “under the sun” (cf. Ecclesiastes 1:3), without any reference to God or eternity. But, there is life after death! As the Hebrew writer wrote, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Hebrews 9:27-28). For those saved, there is truly “Plus Ultra”… More Beyond!

(Note: Following is an email exchange I had last week. This man’s emails are reproduced exactly (with misspellings). Study with this man continues, as he has emailed again with a few quibbles and revealed himself more clearly as one who advocates homosexuality). His main contention is that “Love” is a good thing, and can not be abused. He ignored most of the arguments I made in the following email to him).

Saw your email on a Christian site that talked against homosexuality, so just wondered if you knew where there was anything against same sex romantic love as I can’t find anything on this in my bible.

Name Withheld

—–*—–*—–*—–*—–*—–

________,

I am glad to correspond with you regarding your question. In order to do so, I need some clarification.

Continue reading “A Conversation Regarding Homosexuality” →

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:16-17)

Here in the Colossian epistle, Paul gives several exhortations which are rather closely tied together. Simply, they are:

1. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly with all wisdom.
2. Teach each other by singing spiritual songs with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
3. Do all things by the authority of Jesus Christ.

Underlying each of these is an emphasis on the importance of doctrine in the life of those who name the name of Christ. Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

Continue reading “The Word of Christ” →

Ask that question, and you will get many answers. But, what does the Bible teach concerning this institution which had its part from eternity in the mind of God? The word translated “church” in our English Bibles comes from the Greek word ekklesia. The simplest definition derives from its etymology: ek (out of), klesis (a calling), hence a calling out, or in the noun form “the called out.” The term in the greek has no religious significance at all. In the New Testament the word is used to refer to any group of people called out for a specific purpose. For example, it is used of a democratically called body (cf. Acts 19:39), and of an unruly mob (cf. Acts 19:32, 41).

The term gains religious significance in that our Lord used it to refer to his redeemed; those He called out of the world, into His body. Jesus said, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). The expression denotes a relationship sustained with Jesus. The called out, or the church, consists of those who are saved, (cf. Acts 2:47); those who are “in Christ”, (cf. Galatians 3:27).

Continue reading “What is the Church?” →

In Philippians 2:12-13, the Apostle Paul exhorted Christians to “…as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” The text clearly shows that man has an obligation regarding his own standing before God. Though we are saved by grace, this does not excuse us from honest and diligent effort to obey God. He saves us, but we are sadly mistaken if we believe that He will save us without any effort on our part. Those who are unrepentant sinners will only suffer loss.

In the New Testament, there are two instances where a disciple is referred to as one who is “full of faith.” Stephen (Acts 6:5,8) and Barnabas (Acts 11:24) are the two men mentioned. The Holy Spirit chose two men who personify the apostle’s admonition to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Stephen suffered martyrdom because of his unflinching proclamation of the gospel of our Lord. In Acts 11, we are told that as a result of Barnabas’ preaching “a great many people were added to the Lord” (vs. 24). Barnabas continued steadfastly in his work, and was a great help and companion to Paul in his ministry.

Continue reading “Working Out Your Own Salvation” →

In 1 Chronicles 28, King David called all of the leaders of Israel, (captains, stewards and men of valor), to himself, and explained to them that Solomon had been chosen by God to follow him on his throne, and to build the temple. He told them that God had promised to establish Solomon’s kingdom “forever”, “if he is steadfast to observe My judgments and My commandments, as it is this day” (vs. 7).

In verses 8-10, he first addressed the leaders of Israel, and then Solomon, enjoining them to seek God and His will. Notice the passage:

Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God, be careful to seek out all the commandments of the LORD your God, that you may possess this good land, and leave it as an inheritance for your children after you forever. 9 As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. 10 Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it.

The phrase “be careful to seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God” is especially instructive to us.

Continue reading “Seeking the Lord” →

I recently came across a rather bizarre note concerning attempts being made in Austria to have a chimpanzee declared legally “human” for the purpose of legally protecting him from laboratory experiments.

The report states that “Animal rights activists and leading experts in several biological fields including primatology and anthropology are joining forces to uphold a case going before an Austrian court which seeks a declaration of ‘human status’ for a 26-year-old chimpanzee.” The activists want the chimpanzee, named Hiasl, to have a legal guardian appointed over him. Since only humans have the right to a legal guardian, they have to convince the court that Hiasl is, in fact, human.

Continue reading “Is the Chimp Human?” →

It was F.B. Meyer, I believe, who once said that when we see a brother or sister in sin, there are two things we do not know: First, we do not know how hard he or she tried not to sin. And second, we do not know the power of the forces that assailed him or her. We also do not know what we would have done in the same circumstances.

Stephen Brown, Christianity Today, April 5, 1993, p. 17.

The point is not to ignore or tolerate the sin of a brother. Paul admonished the Corinthians for their acceptance of immorality into the church, (cf. 1 Corinthians 5), and instructed them to “deliver such a one to Satan.”

However, that same individual, upon his repentance, received Paul’s pity. “Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him” (2 Corinthians 2:8).

Our approach to the sinner should be one of humility and compassion, even as we seek to discipline him in his sin. “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).

The story is told of a daughter who asked her mother why she always cut the end of the roast off before cooking it in the pan. The mother didn’t know, that was the way her mother always did it. So, they called the grandmother, and asked her why she always cut the end of the roast off before cooking it in the pan. The grandmother said, “Because my pan was too small!”

There are two great dangers with tradition. (Though there is nothing wrong with tradition per se). First, if a person follows tradition blindly, without knowing why, he may be led to do something that is unscriptural. Something with which God is not pleased. Just because “that is the way we have always done it,” does not mean that it is acceptable to God!

Second, there is always the danger of elevating a tradition to a commandment. Jesus warned of this in Matthew 15, “And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrine the commandments of men” (vs. 9).

Many times we do things the way we do because it is a good way to do them. This is fine. But, we need always to be sure that our ways are God’s ways. And, we need to realize if our traditions are only our preferences, and if there are other, scriptural ways of doing the same things, we must not condemn others for expressing preferences that differ from our own.

You have embraced the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and have determined to accept Him as your Savior. As such, you have determined to turn away from past sins, have confessed Christ as Lord of your life, and have put Him on through baptism in water for the remission of sins. In short, you have begun the Christian walk.

Some of you have been on that path longer than others. Whether you are a newborn babe in Christ, or already have developed some maturity in your walk, there are certain suggestions I would like to make that will benefit you in your profession as one of God’s children.

Continue reading “Suggestions to Young Christians” →

I recently came across a very interesting and informative article written by Ken Ham on the Answers In Genesis website. The title of the article is, Creation: ‘where’s the proof”, and it can be found in its entirety at the following URL:

click here for link.

Consider the following quote from the article:

Creationists and evolutionists, Christians and non-Christians all have the same evidence—the same facts. Think about it: we all have the same earth, the same fossil layers, the same animals and plants, the same stars—the facts are all the same.

The difference is in the way we all interpret the facts. And why do we interpret facts differently? Because we start with different presuppositions. These are things that are assumed to be true, without being able to prove them. These then become the basis for other conclusions. All reasoning is based on presuppositions (also called axioms). This becomes especially relevant when dealing with past events.

The premise of the article is interesting. The writer notes that in arguing whether man was created or evolved, many want to “leave the Bible out of it.” In other words, they would be willing to listen to the claims of Christianity, but first they need to see real proof regarding God’s existence.

Continue reading “Same Facts … Different Interpretations” →

“Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, ‘Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. 8 And the LORD, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed’” (Deuteronomy 31:7-8).

Consider the implications of Moses’ words to Joshua. He would take over the rule of the people of God, to lead them into the promised land. There would be many battles, many hardships, and (as it turned out due to the unfaithfulness of the people) many setbacks in his time as the leader of Israel. The words, spoken in front of all the people, were designed not only to bolster Joshua’s courage, but to present him to Israel as God’s chosen leader over them. The path taken would not be easy, but the victory of Israel was assured due to God’s presence. “He is the one who goes before you.”

Continue reading “Be Strong and of Good Courage” →