Category: Reflections Articles

In Romans 3:23, Paul affirmed, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This should be understood as a statement of fact rather than a necessary requirement for mankind. While it is true that we all have transgressed God’s commandments, we have free will and can choose not to succumb to any particular temptation which befalls us.

Jesus is the wonderful example to follow in this. The writer of Hebrews tells us, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (4:15). Each of us fail because there is a war waging within us. “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish” (Galatians 5:17). While  the apostle hits the nail on the head here, he also confidently affirms in the same context, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). Continue reading “(4 of 13) Shoring Up Weaknesses” →

The title covers a portion of our men’s Sunday study where we discussed the book of Proverbs, covering the topic “Wisdom Regarding Speech.” I appreciate Justin leading our study, and the good material which was written by Mark Copeland. Our study of Proverbs has been very good.

The material emphasized how important it is for our speech to be positive. After warning about lying, deceitful flattery, gossip and cursing, the material covered the type of speech that should characterize us as Christians. While that may seem to be evident, the book of Proverbs has some gems for us to consider.

The three points made is that our speech should consist of 1) Good, 2) Timely, and 3) Controlled words. Here is a very concise treatment: Continue reading “The Constructive Use of Speech” →

Our title is taken from Jesus’ words in Matthew 12:36, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.” While the context specifies words, the truth is that the concept of accountability is an integral part of God’s dealing with every aspect of mankind’s conduct — words, thoughts, and actions. The phrase Jesus used here, “they will give account” (apodid?mi logos), is defined by Thayer in this here as an “answer or explanation in reference to judgment.” “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:9-10). Continue reading “(3 of 13) Accountability is Important” →

Paul expressed an interesting principle about child rearing in Galatians 4. The purpose of the text was to show that in the fulness of time the Father sent Jesus to us to redeem us. We were as children, in bondage (slaves) to the elements of the world, until we became the heirs of God through Jesus. Here is the passage: “Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father” (Galatians 4:1).

The reason the illustration is valid is that it in some way equates how earthly fathers deal with their children, to how God deals with us. So, let’s quickly examine a few points to be made from this one verse. Continue reading “The Treatment of a Child” →

As Christians we are part of God’s family. God is the Father (Matthew 23:9), Christ is the elder brother (Romans 8:29; Hebrews 2:11), and we have our relationship with them through adoption (Romans 8:15; Ephesians 1:3-6). The importance of this spiritual family with God as its Head can’t be overemphasized. It is because of it that we have the hope of eternity. Our hope is through adoption, as through it we become heirs, “that we may be also glorified together” (Romans 8:17).

Since matters of eternity trump temporal ones, it is right to say that our spiritual family is more important than our physical one. This is not to minimize our physical family and relationships. Jesus Himself is a wonderful example in this. He dearly loved his mother. One of his last acts before his death was to instruct His disciple John to care for her after His death (cf. John 19:26-27). However during His ministry Jesus showed His spiritual priorities as His physical family came to see Him and speak with Him. One of His disciples told Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”  Jesus’ answer was one that every Christian should consider carefully. “But He answered and said to the one who told Him, ‘Who is My mother and who are My brothers?’ And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother’” (Matthew 12:48-50). Continue reading “(2 of 13) Knowing Your Brothers and Sisters” →

As we begin our new class this morning, I will start writing an article on each lesson to serve as a supplement to what we cover in the class.

The text of Proverbs 27:17 states, “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” This is the reading of the NKJ translation. The RSV puts it this way, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” The Amplified Bible (a translation and commentary in one) gets the general idea correct here in stating the obvious, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens [and influences] another [through discussion].” Continue reading “(1 of 13) Iron Sharpening Iron” →

Most are familiar with these words. It happened during a feast held by the last King of Babyon, Belshazzar. The Bible states that Belshazzar was the son of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 5:2). There is some dispute by scholars as to this meaning, with some believing this indicates that Belshazzar was a descendent of the great king. Regardless, Belshazzar knew what had happened to Nebuchadnezzar because of pride (as stated in 4:19-37), and refused to learn the lesson Nebuchadnezzar had learned.

In chapter 5, we have the details given by the prophet regarding Belshazzar’s feast. It was a great feast for “a thousand of his lords” (5:1). It was a pretentious display of the king’s wealth, and in verse 4 we read, “They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.” Continue reading “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin” →

The text of Mark 10:32-34 states the beginning of the final stage of Jesus’s life as he began his journey to Jerusalem where he would be crucified.

“Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him:  ‘Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles;  and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again’”

As Jesus had already spoken to them twice about His eventual death, no doubt his determination to go directly to the source of his opposition (Jerusalem) was both amazing (“they were amazed”) and troubling (“they were afraid”) to His disciples. For a third time Jesus declares His impending death, this time to the twelve as He took them aside. Continue reading “Jesus Predicts His Death” →

John the Baptist was born to the priest Zacharias and his wife Elisabeth about 6 months before the birth of Jesus. His parents were faithful to God as Luke noted, “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Luke 1:6). As with Jesus, great things were prophesied about John (cf. Luke 1:14-16), but we know only what Luke records about his early life. “So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel” (Luke 1:80).

John first appeared publicly as a prophet of God in Luke 3, in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign. We are told that “he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God”’” (Luke 3:3-6). His call for Israel to repent showed the purpose of his ministry to prepare Israel for the coming of the Messiah. Continue reading “John the Baptist” →

The wise man of Ecclesiastes emphasized that God wishes us to enjoy our lives here on earth. “I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13).

But, consider the verse that proceeds these two, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end” (11).

Men know about God. It is interesting that despite the continued assault from atheism, modern “rationalism” and those who have made a God out of science, most people still believe in God. It is in our hearts. It is not merely tradition, culture or superstition. It is how God has made us! Consider the wise man’s conclusion: Continue reading ““Eternity in their hearts”” →

It is interesting how often Paul would name his fellow workers in the gospel, heaping praise upon them and enjoining his readers to care for them and accept their help on Paul’s behalf. An example of this is found in Colossians 4:7-14, and giving short biographies of these men can be quite interesting and enlightening to us.

Tychicus: A frequent companion of the Apostle, Tychicus is mentioned 5 times in the New Testament. He was a Christian from Asia, and described by Paul as “a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:21). Paul sent him to Colosse with Onesimus (Colossians 4:7-9). And also Ephesus on two occasions, once during his first imprisonment, and then a second time near the end of his life, freeing Timothy to go to Rome (cf. 2 Timothy 4:9,12). We can see from these mentions just how faithful and helpful this Christian brother was to the great apostle. Continue reading “Accolades from Paul” →

1 Kings 16 relates the reign of perhaps the most evil ruler in the history of Israel, Ahab. He was the son of Omri, and reigned in Samaria for 22 years. Verse 30 states, “Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him.” Among the other sins he committed, married the evil woman Jezebel, the daughter of the king of Sidon (Phoenicia), and began serving and worshipping Baal. Following her influence, Ahab built a temple and altar to Baal in Samaria, and fashioned a wooden image to worship him. The historian relates, “Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him” (33).

This was also the time of Elijah, a man who was willing to stand up for God during Ahab’s reign. With God’s authority, Elijah said in Chapter 17, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word” (1). At God’s direction he hid from the bloodthirsty king as the drought commenced. Continue reading “Who Troubled Israel?” →

Last week while studying, in the background on the television was an old movie about the biblical characters in the book of Ruth. The  movie, “The Story of Ruth” was released in 1960, starring Elana Eden as Ruth, and Stuart Whitman as Boaz. The movie is described as an adaptation of the biblical story of Ruth, and that “The film explores themes of tolerance, acceptance, love, and faith.”

Do I suggest you watch the movie?  No, not at all. It is only a loose adaptation. Certainly not as ridiculous as the more recent Hollywood treatment of Noah, as an example, but no effort was made for “The Story of Ruth” to be an accurate representation of God’s word. Hollywood does not do a good job of following the Bible, something that should be obvious to all. Continue reading “The Real Ruth of Moab” →

The characteristics of love, expressed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, are outward, not inward. Less emotional, the love Paul describes is a demonstration of a charitable nature, concerned with others.

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

If you are a loving person you are longsuffering. Rather than quick to anger and judgment, you strive for patience and kindness in your interactions with others. Continue reading “Outward Expressions of Love” →

In Galatians 5 the apostle Paul describes the conflict between the lust of the flesh and the fruit that is developed in the child of God as we grow and mature, heeding the Spirit of God. Noting the works of the flesh first, (19-21), we will in this lesson describe and define the fruit of the Spirit, listed in verses (22-23). This is important, for in this context Paul assures us to, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (16).

Love

The Greek word agape  is the word that Paul uses here.  It is uniquely used in the New Testament to describe the highest expression of love for others. It is an unselfish love, motivated and informed as to what is best for others.  For example, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). It is the type of love we should have for God (John 4:15); for our brethren (1 John 2); for our wives (Ephesians 5:25); and even for our enemies (Matthew 5:44). It is not surprising that this heads Paul’s list. A love for God and for man is the basis of God’s expectations for us as we serve Him (Matthew 22:36-40). Continue reading “The Fruit of the Spirit” →