Sheep and Goats

There are things a person ought to know about God. In fact, we ought to know all we can about God in view of the fact that, "The LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture." (Psalms 100:3 NKJV)

In many ways, life is a great mystery. There is only so much we can know about it but the one thing that is certain is that we came from God. It is either that or the Bible is a lie. It is either that or life came from non-living matter (which, I might add, brings another question—where did the non-living matter come from).

Solomon, by inspiration, wrote, "Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed…Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it." (Eccl. 12:6-7 NKJV) One day we must all give an account of our lives before God. This is the fate God has destined for us.

"For it is written: 'As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.' So then each of us shall give account of himself to God." (Rom. 14:11-12 NKJV)

God is only going to make two divisions on the Day of Judgment and all those who have ever lived will be placed in one division or the other. "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left." (Matt. 25:32-33 NKJV) Of the goats set on the left hand Jesus says, "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.'" (Matt. 25:41 NKJV) He goes on and says, "These will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Matt. 25:46 NKJV)

This brings me to Psalms 7:11, the subject of this piece, goats. The entirety of Psalms 7:11 reads, "God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day." (NKJV) With God man is either justified (we might say made righteous or forgiven) or else he must go into the category of the wicked. Man is either a sheep or a goat as God gives no other options.

Does this mean that by man's standards, or yours or mine, that all the wicked are what we Americans normally think of as wicked men? Not at all! Many are great guys or gals in that they are honest in their dealings, reliable, kind and thoughtful of others, friendly, do a lot of good deeds, and are often very likable people and fun to be around. Often their only discernable fault is that they have left God out of their lives, but you see that is as big as it gets. How does one leave his Creator out of his life and not give him any thought or honor or respect? How does one live his life as though God does not matter?

What if we treated a mother or father, a son or daughter, a wife or husband this way? What then? Could it be said we love them, that we respect and honor them, and that we care about them?

When we treat God like he is nothing to us and he does not matter, how can we think we are going to be seen as sheep in his eyes? We have obviously shown we are not concerned about him. We have treated him with contempt whether we set out to do it intentionally or not.

When we treat God this way, we deeply offend him and figuratively kick sand in his face. Can we blame him if he is angry with us? The Bible teaches God has feelings as well as man does (Gen. 6:6). We hurt him when we do not care about him. Have you ever had anyone you love treat you that way? You love them, but they treat you in such a way so that you know by their actions they really do not care about you. If so, you know a little about how God must feel when a man casts God from his life or will not allow him to enter in.

Remember John 3:16? God loves us, and we treat him as though he was to be avoided at all cost, as though he was evil. No, we may not do these things intentionally, but that does not change the reality of our actions.

I memorized Psalms 7:11 because I felt it was something I needed to keep in mind. God is longsuffering with us, not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9), but the fact that my life or your life is seemingly going along well does not mean God is well pleased with us. It may only be that in God's goodness he is exercising forbearance and longsuffering in an effort to lead you or me to repentance (Rom. 2:4 NKJV).

I don't care how much your friends think of you, they do not love you like God does, and they are utterly powerless to save you. Neither are they going with you the day you die. We all die alone. Even on D-Day, when men were dying all over the French beachheads during WW II, each had to make the trip to eternity alone, whether a human hand held their hand or not. Many left for eternity that day, but each went alone. The only friend man has capable of being with him through his darkest hour is God.

When that day comes, and it may sneak up on you unexpectedly and early in life, and it will certainly come late in life, do you want to face an angry God? Are you able to take on God and win? Do you want to be foolish enough to try that?

Psalms 7:11b is very short, just a few words. The message is powerful and ought to be life changing. Is it going to change your life? If your attitude toward God and his word needs changing, and you do not change, then you are sure to face an angry God. We do not want to be a goat on that day.

Man has been given free will and gets to choose the road he/she will take with all the consequences that come with that. Put another way, man gets to reap what he has sown (Gal. 6:7) and will indeed do so. "The way of the unfaithful is hard." (Prov. 13:15 NKJV) It is a way that is too hard for me to travel intentionally. I cannot take on God and win. It is my hope for you who read this that you come to the same conclusion for yourself. One has not known terror until he faces an angry God on the Day of Judgment.

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How Does One Get Into The Church Christ Built

Not a single denominational church was built by Christ, for he built his church, one and only, in the first century hundreds of years before any denominations came into existence. The New Testament scriptures, after the gospels and Acts chapter 2, all refer to the church as a then-existing institution. Paul wrote to various churches in some of his epistles. John in the book of Revelation wrote to the seven churches of Asia. The church Christ built was established in the first century, not during the Reformation or the centuries thereafter.

The question men and women need to be seeking an answer to today is not how do I get into this denomination or that one, but how do I get into the church Christ built? Don't ask how do I become a Baptist or a Methodist or any other such thing, but how do I become a Christian? How do I enter into Christ's church?

Being in the church Christ built is an entirely different thing than being in a denomination. One can be in a denomination and yet outside the church Jesus built. If being in a denomination is the same as being in the church built by Jesus, then the denomination has no reason for existence and should drop its denominational name and associations and just call itself what it would be under those circumstances--the church of God, the church of Christ, the church, or some other scriptural name or designation. It would be "the church" and not "a denomination." It would be the church Christ built.

Generally speaking, almost all denominations admit they are not essential, for most freely admit that one can be in another denomination other than their own and be saved, thus making the one they are in non-essential. This is also an unintended confession that they are not the church Jesus built, for his church is essential. We need to let that thought sink in.

Many say Jesus is all that matters; the church does not matter. Why do they say that? Because they have a denominational concept of the church. I am the first to agree that there is not a denominational church on earth that matters, and every one of them ought to cease their existence. But, that is a far cry from saying that the church Christ built does not matter.

In this article, I am not concerned about how one gets into X, Y, or Z denomination, but with how one gets into Christ's church. Certainly, there are steps to be taken as there are steps to be taken before one can enter any institution. One must be made aware of the institution, what it does, and what purpose it serves before any desire can be created to be a part of it. So it is with the church Jesus built.

The church built by Jesus matters so much that you cannot be saved outside of it, without becoming a member of it. It is "the church of God which he purchased with his own blood." (Acts 20:28 NKJV) If you are outside that church, it means you were never purchased with the blood of Christ. It means you are not a part of the body that he is saving. "He is the Savior of the body." (Eph. 5:23 NKJV) What body? "He is the head of the body, the church." (Col. 1:18 NKJV) The church is the spiritual body of Christ of which he is the Savior. It is the body he is saving.

Christians are "members of his body, of his flesh and of his bones." (Eph. 5:30 NKJV) "You (Christians--DS) are the body of Christ, and members individually." (1 Cor. 12:27 NKJV) One is either in that body or he is not; you are either inside or outside, and where you are makes all the difference for salvation. Yes, the church matters. It is not Jesus yes and the church no.

The church is what Jesus gave himself for on the cross. "Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Eph. 5:25-27 NKJV)

Salvation is in Christ, which is the same as saying in his body, the church. "Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." (2 Tim. 2:10 NKJV) In Christ, one is a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). In Christ, are found all spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3). "In Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ." (Eph. 2:13 NKJV) That is in Christ and not out of him. The list could go on and on, but the point is that to be "in Christ" is absolutely essential to salvation, but to be in Christ is to be in his body, the church. The church is thus essential.

One cannot join the church Christ built. God adds the man or woman to it under certain conditions. "And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:47 NKJV). Who was added to the church? Those who were being saved. Who then is in the church? The saved. Who is outside the church? The unsaved.

Does God just add whoever he pleases to the church unconditionally? If so, it would not be a man's fault if he failed to obtain salvation. There would be nothing he could do about it as it would be entirely in God's hands. It does not work that way. At the close of the first gospel sermon ever preached, Peter exhorted the crowd saying, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." (Acts 2:40 KJV) Other more modern translations use the words "be saved," but the thought is the same. It is up to the individual. The individual has something to do. Salvation is not unconditional, and God does not save men adding them to the church unconditionally.

Does this mean that all who are in the church are saved? No, for some go astray and live in sin and hypocrisy, in indifference and unconcern, without a deep abiding faith and love, who have fallen away. It does mean, however, that you must be in the church to be saved, for that is where those who will be saved are placed by God.

Upon hearing the gospel, before one can be added to the church, before God will do the adding, one must believe what he has heard. Paul defines the gospel by which we are saved if we believe in 1 Cor. 15:3-4, "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he arose again the third day according to the scriptures." (NKJV) This correlates with Peter's confession of Christ in Matt. 16 when Christ asked, "But who do you say that I am?" (Matt. 16:15 NKJV) Peter's reply was, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matt. 16:16 NKJV) Jesus then says, "On this rock I will build my church." (Matt. 16:18 NKJV) It was by the resurrection that Jesus was "declared to be the Son of God with power … by the resurrection from the dead." (Rom. 1:4 NKJV) Thus, one must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died for our sins and was raised from the dead.

Jesus Christ as the Son of God is the foundation upon which the church was built, "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (2 Cor. 3:11 NKJV) He is the "chief cornerstone" (Eph. 2:20 NKJV) of the church. So a man must believe these things about Christ to be saved. Faith, then, is essential. We are "living stones" (1 Peter 2:5 NKJV) being built up as "a spiritual house" (church - DS) (1 Peter 2:5 NKJV) upon the foundation that has been laid--on Christ Jesus.

But, is this faith enough by itself? No, and all know it who are honest. Why do I say that? Because on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, when Peter preached Jesus to the Jews, he did not once command them to have faith in Jesus. Why not? He did not need to, for their faith became evident when they cried out to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "'Men and brethren, what shall we do?'" (Acts 2:37 NKJV) Make no mistake about it, these Jews believed everything Peter preached that day in preaching Jesus.

Here is my point—if we are saved by faith alone, why not dismiss that crowd on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, dismiss them and all go home? If we are saved by faith alone, there is no need for any further instructions as to how to become a child of God, a Christian. There is no need for further instruction on what is necessary to be saved. When the men ask "what shall we do," why not tell them to go home now and just continue to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and Savior of the world?

The answer is simple enough for an honest man. Faith was not all that was necessary. Peter tells them to, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." (Acts 2:38 NKJV) There are many who say that yes, in order to be saved, one must also repent of one's sins. However, that is where they want to stop. They want to separate repentance from baptism in the passage and gladly ignore the fact there is a coordinating conjunction there, the word "and," that joins the two words, making one just as essential as the other. That separation will not work. Peter said they must do both. If repentance is essential for the remission of sins, the passage teaches that baptism is also.

Denominations do not practice this, nor do they believe it. But, remember this article is not about how to get into a denomination. It is how to get into Christ, which is the same thing as getting into his body, the church. None of us should care how to go about getting into a denomination. Who needs one? It is the church Christ built into which one must enter for salvation.

The only man prepared to enter into Christ where salvation is found, to enter his body, which is the church, is a penitent obedient believer. He/she is obedient in the sense the person is willing to obey as he/she learns the Lord's will, which at this point is repentance and baptism.

In the Great Commission, the apostles were instructed to baptize only one group of people--those who were made "disciples." (Matt. 28:19 NKJV) One can only know whether or not a person who presents himself for baptism is a believer by asking him. This brings us to another element essential for salvation--the confession of Christ. "With the mouth confession is made to salvation." (Rom. 10:10) Timothy was said to "have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (1 Tim. 6:12 NKJV) It is the good confession Christ witnessed before Pontius Pilate (1 Tim. 6:13), which was that he was "the Christ, the Son of the Blessed" (Mark 14:61-62). See also Acts 8:36-38.

Thus, the steps into Christ are (in order) faith, repentance, confession of Christ, and finally baptism into Christ. How does one get into the body of Christ, the church? "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body." (1 Cor. 12:13 NKJV) "Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus ....” (Rom. 6:3 NKJV) "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Gal. 3:27 NKJV) There is no such thing as a Christian in the New Testament that was not baptized for the remission of sins. Why do I say that?

(1) Baptism was for the remission of sins. (2) It was into Christ. (3) Christ commanded it (Mark 16:16, Matt. 28:18-20, John 3:3-5). (4) Peter commanded "every one of you" to do it. No exceptions on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2. Paul said to the Corinthians "we were all baptized into one body" (1 Cor. 12:13 NKJV), no exceptions. (5) The churches of Judea were "in Christ" (Gal. 1:22, 1 Thess. 2:14). A church can only be in Christ as the membership is in Christ; that comes by way of baptism.

The individual who complies with the conditions that God gave will be added by God to the church, for the same process that makes one a Christian adds him to the church when done from the heart. Only God can know whether or not one truly believes in Jesus from his heart. Only God can know if a man has repented from the heart of his sins. These things being true, a man can by all appearances go through the steps essential to salvation, but God only knows the sincerity of the heart.

I cannot add you to the church even if you by all appearances seem to meet God's qualifications. That is God's business, not mine nor man's. Since I cannot know or judge your heart, I have to assume your sincerity and honesty and accept you as a child of God, a living stone in God's church. I would want the same treatment from you. A faithful Christian will never deny such a one the right hand of fellowship.

I would remind the reader in closing that to be in Christ is the same as being in his body, in his church, and that is where salvation is found, in the body of Christ. "He is the Savior of the body." (Eph. 5:23 NKJV) How does one get into the church Christ built? The Bible provides the answer. Denominations do not.

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Abel Versus Cain's Sacrifice

Abel, the son of Adam and Eve, is the first person listed among many, in Hebrews chapter 11, commended by the Holy Spirit for their faith. Of Abel it is said, "By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks." (Heb. 11:4 NKJV) Men have long been troubled by this passage trying to figure out why Abel's sacrifice was pleasing to God while his brother Cain's was not. That is the topic of this article.

In Gen. 4:2-5 we read about the offering as follows: "Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in the process of time, it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell." (NKJV)

It is worthwhile to read what followed, seemingly not long afterwards, in a conversation between God and Cain. "So the Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.'" (Gen. 4:6-7 NKJV) It doesn't seem like a lot to go on, these few verses, but there is more here than meets the eye when one begins to meditate on what we are told.

First, I ask the question of how Abel and Cain knew anything at all about sacrifices and offerings to God. Where did such a concept of making offerings to God come from? How did the idea of such a thing even enter their minds? We do not think about things of which we know nothing. My grandparents died in the nineteen sixties. How much time do you think they spent thinking about computer coding. They never heard of a computer. It was impossible for them to conceive such thoughts living when they did and so I ask again where did Abel and Cain get the idea about making an offering to God (the writer of the book of Hebrews calls it a sacrifice)?

The answer has to be that such information was supplied by God himself either in direct speech to them or through commandments given to their parents (Adam and Eve) and thus passed on down to them from parent to child. That God spoke directly with not only Adam and Eve but also with Cain we see from Gen. 4:6-7 and Gen. 4:9-15. Jesus, in the New Testament, in Luke 11:49-51, includes Abel with the prophets so we know God spoke to him as well. A prophet was one who proclaimed God's will and not just necessarily one who only foretold things to come. The point being, ideas have to have a source. The source was God either directly or indirectly.

Furthermore, I would add that without direction from God how could Abel know it would please God to kill an animal as a sacrifice? Adam and Eve were directed while in the Garden of Eden to eat of herbs and the fruit of trees (Gen. 1:29) and when driven out of the garden they were to eat of the herbs of the field (Gen. 3:18). Nothing was said, that is revealed in scripture, about killing animals in those early days of man's existence on earth. Thus for Abel to take this bold step God must have revealed to him that it was okay to do so.

We are thus at the point where I believe God gave directions for making offerings/sacrifices. I think this can be further confirmed by a passage found in the New Testament--Rom. 10:17. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (NKJV) How can you have faith when you are flying blind without any word from God? Is an "I think so" or an "it seems to me," faith? Is that the definition of faith? That is opinion, not faith.

The writer in the book of Hebrews (11:4) says Abel's sacrifice was by faith. When one acts by faith in the Bible he is acting in confidence, not in doubt. He is not guessing or hoping. Well, how could Abel be so confident about his sacrifice? There is only one way and that is if he had received instructions from God as to how to sacrifice. That would include the procedure for doing so and also what it was that was to be sacrificed. In following what he was told he would have no doubt about the acceptability of his sacrifice. If you are just guessing or hoping your offering will be pleasing how can it be said you are acting by faith?

Why is it that there is no text saying that Cain's sacrifice was "by faith?" Could it be because it was not? Could it be because Cain had personal doubts about it himself? Why was it that Cain did not sacrifice "by faith?" Surely, if Abel was able to sacrifice "by faith" Cain should have been able to do likewise. Had Cain made a sacrifice "by faith" would God have been displeased?

The Bible says God "did not respect Cain and his offering." (Gen. 4:5 NKJV) One has to ask why not? If both were doing the very best they could, why not? Could it be that Cain was not doing the best he could? God asks Cain, "Why are you angry?" (Gen. 4:6 NKJV) God's rejection of his offering had made Cain angry. God then says to him, "If you do well, will you not be accepted?" (Gen. 4:7 NKJV) Evidently, then, Cain had not done well. But, he could only know how to do well if he had information as to how that was to be done. It is implied he could have done well. Thus again we see that both Cain and Abel must have had information about making sacrifices (offerings) that would please God and Cain had failed to follow the instructions.

By means of his sacrifice (and the manner in which it was made--by faith), it is said that Abel "obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts." (Heb. 11:4 NKJV) This was not said of Cain but I ask the question, "could it have been?" Was it impossible for Cain to make an acceptable sacrifice? That Cain knew all he needed to know to make such a sacrifice is self-evident. God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). Cain's failure was just that--Cain's failure. He had none to blame other than himself.

Why is it said that Abel was righteous? The Psalmist said, "all your commandments are righteousness." (Psalm 119:172 NKJV) In his sacrifice it seems Abel was obeying a command from God as to what to sacrifice. Do not misunderstand. No man is righteous on his own merits for all sin but neither can a man or woman be righteous and not obey God's commands. But this passage from Psalms, combined with the Hebrews 11:4 passage, is just another indication that Abel was being obedient to God in his offering.

1 John 3:12 throws some additional light on why Cain murdered his brother Abel. "Cain...was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous." (NKJV) When God failed to respect Cain and his offering it threw Cain into a rage. He later killed Abel out in the field due to his anger and jealousy. The text in 1 John says the motive was "his works were evil and his brother's righteous." (NKJV) His works, his offering, did not have to be evil. Even a tiller of the ground could find a way to make an animal sacrifice. He could have if he would have.

Rather than find repentance when God spoke to him in Gen. 4:6-7, a time when God was giving him, we might say, a second chance to do right, Cain goes off instead and commits murder giving full vent to anger, hatred, and jealousy. He lived not for God or even for his own family. He sought vengeance on Abel when it was not Abel but God who rejected his offering.

This is a good time to make a point about faith and what it is. Faith that is pleasing to God is not faith in God's existence alone. God spoke to Cain. Cain had no doubt about God's existence. He did not need faith in God's existence for he had firsthand knowledge of it. So, faith that God lives is not saving faith. There is more to it than just that. "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble!" (James 2:19 NKJV) Do we believe Cain and the demons were saved? If not we need to continue to study to learn what saving faith is. It certainly involves more than just believing God exists in the heavens.

The writer of the book of Hebrews says of Abel that he "obtained witness that he was righteous." (Heb. 11:4 NKJV) Jesus declared him righteous in Matt. 23:35. He became such by faith. Abel died a righteous man. He was a man of faith who heard God's word, believed it, and obeyed it. There is no saving faith where a man simply hears God's words with the ear and then goes off in disobedience doing his own thing. A man of faith trusts God's words for God spoke them and thus they are trustworthy. In obeying them one is obeying God and manifesting faith in him.

We do not know what all Abel knew about sacrifice to God but we do know he followed by faith what he had been told and did not deviate from it for his trust was in the one who had directed him. The lesson for all of us--trust what God has told us in his word and do it for in doing it we will be "by faith" acting as did Abel. Don't go off and live a life of "it seems good to me and so God must be pleased." Do what he says, not what you think he should have said, or what seems satisfying to you personally. Remember his words, "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord." (Isa. 55:8 NKJV) 

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Misunderstanding The Grace of God

Several years ago I submitted an article to an online site that said it was a Christian article directory.  It was a short article entitled "Receiving the Gospel."  It was deemed to be unfit for a Christian article directory.  The editor of the directory said to me in an e-mail that he believed man was saved by grace without baptism which, in the context of the article submitted, meant without obeying Peter's directive on the Day of Pentecost as found in Acts 2:38.

His position was not uncommon then or now.  Millions of people have read Paul's statement in Eph. 2:8-9, "for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (NKJV) and said,  "okay, that is it, end of the story."  There is no need to study further.

I want to say first of all that is a poor approach to God's word to isolate and elevate part of his word over and above the rest of his word.  That approach makes you and me judge over the word; we make ourselves God and decide what is vital in the word and what is not.  Jesus when tempted by the devil said that "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." (Matt. 4:4 NKJV)  That’s "by every word … of God," not just by the words of one's choosing.

In the second place, it needs to be pointed out that nearly every single person who claims to be a Christian believes salvation is by grace through faith, including myself.  Is there a person on earth who thinks he has always done the right thing and never sinned?  I can name many of my sins.  Some of them have been an embarrassment to me, all of them of which I am aware have lowered my self-esteem, some have hurt others, all have hurt my relationship with God.  I will never be the person I could have been due to the sin in my life.  How about you, if you are honest, how about you?  Yes, we are saved by grace for we are undeserving of salvation.

Grace is often defined as unmerited favor, the unmerited favor of God toward man, and that hits the mark pretty close to dead center.  When one knows he is a sinner he knows that on his own merits, he does not deserve salvation.  I have often thought I needed to be punished, could almost wish I could do it myself.  There is no thought of deserving anything other than that—punishment.

Grace encompasses all the good things God has done for us in bringing us salvation.   When God sent Jesus into the world was that not an act of grace?  When Jesus went to the cross for us shedding his blood for our salvation was that not God's grace? 

When God gave us his word was that not an act of grace?  When God confirmed his word by signs and wonders in the first century allowing us to know that it was God giving the word was that not an act of grace?

There is a passage in Rom. 2:4 that bears on the thing I am trying to get at.  It says, "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" (Rom 2:4 NKJV)  Is this not God's grace?  Is not his goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering toward us that we might repent of our sins God's grace?

Peter says, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV)  Is this not grace?  Just God giving us time to get our life in order is that not grace?  Yes, we are saved by God's grace working in so many different ways for our salvation without which we could not be saved, none of us.  

But here is my problem with those in the denominational world on the subject of grace.  Their idea is that one is essentially saved by God's grace alone without man being under any obligation to do anything.  They see grace as unconditional, dependent only upon faith.

They reject baptism as essential to salvation.  I see it as another aspect of God's grace.  If God tells me to do something to have my sins forgiven ("repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins"--Acts 2:38 KJV) he was under absolutely no obligation whatsoever to give me that option whereby my sins could be forgiven.  I was shown grace by him telling me what to do and giving me a promise that upon doing it my sins will be forgiven--that to me is an act of grace on his part.

Denominationalists argue that it is not, that it’s works.  Their idea is that there is nothing you can do for salvation other than depend on God's grace with the idea being that it is a kind of a one-time packaged deal given to you at the point of belief by which you are then and there saved without any further action on your part.  Lest anyone misunderstand I am talking about initial salvation.

That thinking reminds me of a Christmas gift I received in the past.  I received a gift card.  To use it I had to get in the car, drive a distance, take up my time and make an effort, find what I wanted, drag it up to checkout, haul it out to the car, drive home, and unload it.  Nevertheless, I saw the gift card as an act of grace on the part of the giver.  I never once said, "This is work, not a gift."  In fact, I will take all of the gift cards you want to give me and praise you for your grace towards me despite the fact I will have to put forth a little effort to get the benefit of them.  

Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." (Matt. 7:21 NKJV)  When Peter said, "repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38 KJV), when Ananias told Saul, "arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins" (Acts 22:16 NKJV), I wonder was that the will of the Father in heaven?  Was that grace?  What do you think?  Can you be saved without doing the will of the Father?  Jesus says no, most denominational people say, in the case of baptism, yes.

But, let me talk a little about salvation by grace through faith versus salvation by works.  Paul talks at length about this in the book of Romans and in Galatians.  Under the Law of Moses, a man was required to keep the law perfectly to be saved.  None could do so, thus obviously none could be saved on that basis.  

This was true of the Law of Moses, but it is just as true of any law that a perfect God might give to mankind.  Paul says, "For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law." (Gal. 3:21b NKJV)  John says much the same to us for in speaking to Christians he says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8 NKJV)  Sin is a transgression of the law of God, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." (1 John 3:4 KJV)

God has a law today.  He has always had a law.  Today's law is the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2, 1 Cor. 9:21).  But, no matter how much we might desire to do so and despite our best efforts, we cannot keep the law of Christ perfectly any more than the children of Israel could keep the Law of Moses perfectly, thus if there is to be salvation it must be by grace, which it is.

Does this then mean that man can ignore Jesus' commands and disbelieve the things Jesus said whether he said them directly or indirectly (through the inspired writers of the New Testament)?  If grace comes through faith, what kind of faith is it that will not believe that which has been spoken or written by inspiration?  If the Lord speaks and I claim to be a man of faith, will I not believe his words?  Grace comes through faith (Eph. 2:8), but does it come through a faith that disbelieves those things plainly written?  The language the inspired writers used about baptism is too clear for misunderstanding as to its purpose.    

Let us take a closer look at Paul, who wrote a great deal about salvation by grace and faith.  (We act as though that is all he wrote on the subject of salvation.)  The very same man that wrote Eph. 2:8 ("for by grace you have been saved through faith") also wrote Gal. 3:26-27, "(26) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (NKJV)  Many, perhaps even most in denominational churches, taking the smorgasbord approach, will take verse 26 and leave off verse 27.  That cannot be done by a man of genuine faith.  The man of faith believes all God has said on a subject.  The denominationalist says you put on Christ at the point of faith, mental assent.  Paul says not so.  Paul says by grace I have been saved through faith and then tells me I put on Christ in baptism, not before baptism.  Will I believe all Paul said or just what I want?

But, here is the clincher that destroys all arguments that attempt to separate baptism from grace.  Paul, who, remember, said "by grace you have been saved" (Eph. 2:8 NKJV), writes in 2 Tim. 2:1, "You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." (NKJV)  Where is saving grace found?  In Christ Jesus.  Okay, how does Paul say we get into Christ Jesus?  He says, "Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" (Rom 6:3 NKJV)  And he makes the same statement in Gal. 3:27 when he says, "as many of you as were baptized into Christ." (NKJV)  Anyone who can put two and two together can add the same here.

Paul said the same thing earlier in the book of Romans when he said that we are "justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Rom 3:24 NKJV)  A person thus seeking to be saved by the grace of God ought to get into Christ Jesus where redemption is found; there and there only will he find grace and salvation.  The New Testament tells us too clearly to misunderstand how to get into Christ.

In Christ, there is salvation (2 Tim. 2:10), eternal life (Rom. 6:23), a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17), every spiritual blessing (Eph. 1:3), forgiveness (Eph. 4:32), the promise of life (2 Tim. 1:1), redemption (Rom. 3:24), being alive to God (Rom 6:11), and grace (2 Tim. 2:1).  When we are baptized, we are baptized into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13).  One who has not been baptized is outside the body of Christ and thus outside all of the blessings that are found only in Christ.  All good things are found in Christ, not out of him.  That includes grace as clearly shown for all who will accept 2 Timothy 2:1.

Bible faith by which God's grace comes is a faith that believes what God has said so strongly that he does not question it, but if God has said it, the matter with him is settled.  The true man of faith does not need to hear a passage on baptism but once, and whatever is said on that topic, he immediately believes and is ready to obey, if he has not already done so.

Yes, it may take some study to see how all of the things by which God has said we are saved work together in a harmonious whole, but if it is said by God or one of his inspired messengers that we are saved by baptism (1 Peter 3:21), or receive forgiveness of sins in baptism (Acts 2:38), or put on Christ in baptism (Gal. 3:27), then a genuine man of faith says immediately "it is so."  They do not argue about how it is not so.

Paul himself was saved by grace, as we all are, yet he was not saved before baptism by grace alone.  Hear his personal story.  On his way to Damascus to persecute Christians, as one who did not believe, the Lord confronted him and he was made a true believer and repented of his sins.  Luke tells us when confronted by the Lord that Saul (Paul) trembled and was astonished (Acts 9:6).  He was told by the Lord himself to "go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." (Acts 9:6 NKJV)

Denominational doctrine almost across the board, meaning no matter what group you are talking about, has him now saved.  He believes and has repented and "by grace are ye saved through faith" (Eph. 2:8 KJV) so they see him as saved.  The trouble of it is, is that Jesus told him he had to go into the city where it would be told him "what you must do." (Acts 9:6)  So, whatever he must do has not yet been told him at the point of faith and repentance.

Then we see that for the next 3 days this saved man (?) is living in misery rather than rejoicing in his salvation.  Luke says, he "neither ate nor drank" (Acts 9:9 NKJV) during that whole time; why not?  Is it not because he does not yet know what it is he "must do?" (Acts 9:6)  I might add the thing he must do, whatever it was to be, was related to having his sins forgiven.  How do I know?

Saul already knew what the future held for him for in Acts 26:16-18 he says Jesus told him when he appeared to him on the road to Damascus.  He knew he would be God's servant and sent to the Gentiles to preach even before entering the city of Damascus. (Acts 26:16-18)  That was not going to be the thing he was going to be told he must do when he entered the city of Damascus, for that he already knew.

What was it he was told he must do?  Ananias told him, "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16 NKJV)  He was told to be baptized to wash away his sins.  That was what he must do.  So here we have a man saved by grace and we know exactly how he was saved.  He had faith, he had repented of his sins, and he was baptized to wash away his sins.

Was he saved by grace?  Yes!  When he obeyed he was saved by God's grace for he was then in Christ where salvation is found.  His sins had been washed away by the grace of God for he had believed and obeyed God.

Do you want to be saved by grace?  You can try it the denominational way if you so desire but my advice to you would be that I would try it the Bible way by doing what Paul did.  You cannot go wrong doing that.

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Misreading Reality

After Judah and Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Babylonians and the people deported, and carried away captive back to Babylon, the remnant remaining defied God and left for Egypt. The Bible says, "for whatever things were written before were written for our learning" (Rom 15:4 NKJV) and there is certainly a lesson to be learned from the way that remnant misread reality, a lesson to be applied in our time. Because of their misperception, they experienced catastrophe.

After Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem and destroyed the city he carried away captive, back to Babylon, most of the people who remained alive, but left some of the poor people of Judah with a man named Gedaliah to govern over them. When Jews who had been scattered roundabout heard about Gedaliah, being left to govern, they returned to Judah (Jer. 40:11-12). However, a plot was hatched by the king of the Ammonites to have Gedaliah murdered (Jer. 40:14), which took place (Jer. 41:2-3), creating great fear among the Jews, fearing that Nebuchadnezzar would seek revenge on them for this killing even though they had nothing to do with it (Jer. 41:17-18).

Their desire was to flee to Egypt where they thought they would be safe. They sought out Jeremiah to inquire of the Lord what they should do. This he did, the Lord telling them if they would remain in Judah it would go well with them, he would save them, but if they were to go to Egypt "then it shall be that the sword which you feared shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt." (Jer. 42:16 NKJV)

Here is our first lesson written for our learning—sin deceives. They did not believe Jeremiah, "You speak falsely!" (Jer. 43:2 NKJV) We are now some 40 chapters into Jeremiah. Jeremiah has been prophesying to them for years about Nebuchadnezzar and his prophecies have all come to pass. Is he, Jeremiah, now to be judged a liar? They have every assurance he is speaking the truth but they cannot accept it. Why not?

Certainly, it is a lack of faith but why? It is hard to trust one you have been away from for so long. They had been steeped in idolatry which is why Judah was destroyed by the Babylonians, God calling Nebuchadnezzar his servant (Jer. 25:9). He was God's instrument to punish. They had come to trust in their idolatry, as we shall see as we continue on. They had lost trust in God. Jeremiah was God's spokesman.

The writer of the book of Hebrews warns of being "hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." (Heb. 3:13 NKJV) The prodigal son of Luke 15 thought things were going well, until they weren't. The Bible says "when he came to himself" (Luke 15:17 NKJV) he repented (verses 18-19). There is a sense when one gets caught up in sin that he does not think right, he is reading life wrong, judging matters incorrectly, thinking wrong, but he/she does not think so. Sin is deceitful.

Sometimes one's life has to be almost destroyed before you can get the person to change their thinking. The Jewish people finally got out of pagan idolatry once and for all but at what an awful price. In our own time, we see how the Japanese got out of Emperor worship and the Germans out of Nazism but it took destruction to bring it about.

"The heart is deceitful above all things." (Jer. 17:9 NKJV) "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (Pro. 14:12 NKJV) Both of these passages assuredly apply to the Jews of that time but they also apply to you and me today. Our heart tells us this or that but how reliable is it? We are persuaded we are doing the right thing but are we? These Jews were sure going to Egypt was the right move.

Upon the arrival of the remnant of the Jews in Egypt and their settlement, Jeremiah continued to speak to them God's word. "Why do you commit this great evil against yourselves … in that you provoke Me to wrath with the works of your hands, burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt." (Jer. 44:7-8 NKJV)

Hear their reply.

"Then all the men who knew that their wives had burned incense to other gods, with all the women who stood by, a great multitude, and all the people who dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying: "As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you! But we will certainly do whatever has gone out of our own mouth, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, were well-off, and saw no trouble. But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine." (Jer. 44:15-18 NKJV)

Yes, they badly misread reality. They thought the good life they had enjoyed was because of their idolatry. The reality was it was because of God's great patience and longsuffering, granting them time and opportunity for repentance but they could not see that. They did not know "the goodness of God leads you to repentance." (Rom. 2:4 NKJV)

Herein lies the final lesson to be learned. It can be difficult at times to read reality. Things that seem to be one way may be just the opposite. Job had an awful time with this. What is going on? We do not know why things happen. We may misjudge and misunderstand. Things can be very deceiving. One thinks of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16. The rich man was receiving God's blessings, an abundant harvest. Did this reflect God's approval of his character? To ask is to answer. But, at the time it may well have seemed that way.

The poor man in that account, did his state reflect his spiritual status? Again, to ask is to answer. It would be easy to misjudge reality, looking at this case, if one was not privy to the whole story as given in the scriptures.

The lesson to be learned is that we cannot depend on our wisdom and judgment to direct us in life. Just because a thing seems right, whatever it is, does not make it right. God's word must direct us, believing and obeying is the only answer to life.

Solomon nailed it in closing out the book of Ecclesiastes when he said:

"The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Eccl. 12:13 ESV)

This was the failure of the Jews of Jeremiah's day, they did not do that. May it not be our failure in our day.

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If We Died With Him—Died How

2 Tim. 2:11 is another often overlooked passage on the teaching that baptism is essential for salvation.  It reads, "For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him." (NKJV) How does the Bible teach that a man dies with Christ? 

“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him." (Rom. 6:3-8 NKJV) 

What if, however, we do not die to sin in baptism (we refuse to be baptized)?  The text says, "He who has died has been freed from sin."  Thus if there is no death to sin in baptism there is no promise of life for there is no freedom from sin.   To refuse to be baptized for the remission of sins is a dangerous, even deadly, thing—a thing that holds no promise of life.

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Healing For The Brokenhearted

"Reproach has broken my heart and I am so sick. And I looked for sympathy, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none." (Psalms 69:20 NASU) Read in context one sees clearly that this passage of scripture refers to Jesus toward the very end of his life on earth when facing the cross and perhaps, very possibly, on the cross itself. The heart has been broken to the point of sickness.

Is there a person whose heart has never been crushed with sorrow, one whose heart has never been broken? Most of us who are older have experienced it and sooner or later almost everyone will if they have not already. There are the tears that flow freely and that once in motion cannot be stopped until the well has run dry but the well soon fills back up and there they go again as though they cannot be stopped. Only the utmost strength of the will can hold them back, a will that seems to be in a life-and-death struggle with the heart.

Food no longer matters. The heart is too ill to even think of food. Hunger has vanished, so one can go days with barely a bite, and it matters not in the least, for the heart is sick. The stomach feels as though it has taken a body blow. All the breath has been sucked out of one's being. Nothing matters any longer, nothing at all, all feeling is gone, and whether it be life or death matters little to none.

There is no longer any fear, for fear has been struck down. The worst fear has achieved victory so any other thing that could come along would be but nothing. There is no longer anything to fear. The only emotion left is heart-wrenching sorrow. The heart is numb and immune to further pain or insult. Do what you will to me, it matters not.

The greatest hurt in the world is a broken heart. Nothing hurts worse than to have one's heart crushed. It often comes from those we love most making the hurt almost unbearable. We love them greatly and thought they loved us as well and then they desert us as though we were little to nothing to them.

But there are other avenues for broken hearts as well. A parent loses a child to death or a spouse is lost. A healthy vigorous young man goes off to war and comes home with injuries so severe as to make a normal life impossible and hopes and dreams for the future are squashed. His heart is broken but also that of his loved ones.

The elderly go into nursing homes, they know it is to be permanent, and it seems family do not care or love them anymore. The heart is broken. Deep sorrow and sadness seem to be all that is left and old people are not supposed to cry. But the heart is broken.

Can a broken heart be mended? At the time it seems life will simply stop and that the heart will never recover. Nevertheless, hearts can be healed even though a scar may always cover the wound that was received. Scars are eventually forgotten in the sense that the day comes when they no longer interfere with everyday life and life goes on.

The Bible teaches that Jesus too suffered from a broken heart just as we have. Jesus has often been called the man of sorrows based on Isa. 53. Listen to a little of the prophet Isaiah as he talks about Jesus as he foresees the future. "He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him." (Isa. 53:3 NASU) Why do you think Jesus was a man of sorrows? Was it physical affliction? Was it poverty? It was a heart man broke.

The Psalmist says, speaking of Jesus prophetically, "But I am a worm and not a man, a reproach of men and despised by the people. All who see me sneer at me." (Psalms 22:6 NASU) John says, "He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him." (John 1:11 NASU) Was the heart of Jesus broken? When for the last time he saw Jerusalem from a distance as he was about to enter therein it is said, "He saw the city and wept over it." (Luke 19:41 NASU) Broken hearts weep, not hearts filled with joy.

Yes, Jesus knows what it is to shed tears of sorrow and to have his heart broken. In fact, he knows all about us for he "likewise also partook of the same" (Heb. 2:14), that is flesh and blood. He was "tempted in all things as we are." (Heb. 4:15) "He had to be made like His brethren in all things." (Heb. 2:17 NASU) Yes, it may be that the cause of our broken heart may differ from the cause of Jesus' broken heart, but is not a broken heart a broken heart? Is pain, not pain? Is sorrow not sorrow? Must one's heart be crushed by a particular thing to call it a broken heart?

Can God help us mend? God understands that in this life there are things that are too big for us to deal with alone. We are put in a position where we cannot act proactively for we have lost that power. Events have overwhelmed us. We need outside help.

What can God do? We might respond, what is there that God cannot do? Do you believe God can and does intervene in the affairs of men? If he does not, why then do you pray?

Let me quote a passage to you from Psalms 34:18-19 (NASU), "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all." In this passage, God is talking to his children. Are you a child of God? If so, there is help. There are three things from this passage that must be considered.

(1) Am I a righteous person? If I want God to hear my prayer and help me then if I am not a righteous person I need to take the steps necessary to become one. Obeying the gospel from the heart is the remedy for that if one has never done so. For those who have obeyed the gospel but have not been faithful then to be a righteous person, one needs to repent, pray for forgiveness, and seek to live righteously henceforth. For those who are faithful, they need to believe the Lord is near them and will deliver them out of their affliction. They need to pray sincerely that if the affliction cannot be removed it will at least be made bearable. James says, "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16 NKJV)

(2) In the second place God is not far from a person whose heart has been broken. That is what the text says. We need to believe that. How can we say we believe the Bible and yet not believe this? His desire is to lift us up again and renew life within our spirit, to get us to where we want to go on living again. We need to seek him in his own appointed way to enable him to do this for us. So, the point is this--we have something to do with our healing. We can reach out to God, we can seek him.

(3) The Psalmist says, in the third place, while the righteous have many afflictions God will deliver them out of them all. What does this mean? It means things will get better. The heart can and will be mended in God's own time. When things are at their worst, there is about to be a change, gradual though it may be, for God is a deliverer--a change for the better is on its way.

The Psalmist says in Psalms 147:3, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." (NASU) Jesus says of himself, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because he has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor, He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To preach deliverance to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord." (Luke 4:18-19 NKJV) God is able. We need to trust him as to how best to do it and in his own time frame.

Broken hearts bring us extreme suffering but also restless turmoil and the absence of peace. Sleepless nights come and go. The mind is continually agitated and at war and we feel as though we cannot stand another day of it. As God can heal the brokenhearted he can also restore to us peace and comfort. Paul says that God the Father is, "the Father of mercies and God of all comfort." (2 Cor. 1:3 NASU) Comfort is to be understood not as an easy chair or soft bed but comfort of heart and soul. God is the source.

Solomon wrote many years ago by inspiration when he said in Prov. 3:1-2, "My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you." (NASU) It is needful for a man or woman to walk with God to get his help. One of the greatest blessings a man of God has is peace to overcome the turmoil of life. The righteous soul may have many troubles and sorrows but peace is with God. He helps his children and can bring comfort to troubled souls.

We often pray but fail to take into account, if God is to help us, some things that are necessary on our part. John says, "Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight." (1 John 3:22 NASU) Have we led that kind of life--keeping his commandments and doing those things pleasing in his sight? If not, will we repent and begin to live that way? Will we obey God? If so John says "we receive from Him" whatever we ask.

What is it we ought to ask for if our heart is broken? Should we ask that past history be altered? Is that what John is speaking about, altering history so the broken heart will vanish that way? We know better. We can ask God to help us heal and go on with life, and if we are faithful and obedient, and love him as we should, we have his promise of help as per John's statement.

God is the God of peace. (Rom. 15:33) Paul, in speaking to God's children, says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7 NASU)

The turmoil of the broken heart can be healed. Live faithfully and trust God. He will answer your prayer. "Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all." (2 Thess. 3:16 NKJV) When the scripture says give you peace in every way, that includes overcoming heartbreak.

Christians are told to "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 4:16 NASU) One needs grace to heal a broken heart. It is a time of need. The Holy Spirit speaking through James says, "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray." (James 5:13 NAS) Let us pray at the throne of grace for God's power to heal our broken hearts.

In God, we find healing, comfort, and peace, and those things are worth more than the weight of the world in gold. They are ours for the asking if we will but believe and obey God and ask him for grace in our time of need.

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Fear God

I have often heard it said that a Christian should have no fear of God. It is a statement that needs examining.

John indeed says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." (I John 4:18 NKJV) It is true that every Christian can have fear banished from his life for love can overcome fear.

A few verses later John says, "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments." (1 John 5:3 NKJV) This freedom from fear is available to any Christian living a faithful and dedicated life, one who is observing all the commandments of God as best he can, who truly repents when he does transgress, who puts God first in his life in every respect. Such a person fears neither man, death, nor the judgment.

Paul was such a man. Near the end of his life he says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." (2 Tim. 4:7-8 NKJV) Paul was confident concerning the judgment and did not fear it. He had lived his life in such a way as to have no fear of God in that great day to come.

One is also reminded of the stories of the early martyrs of the church who rather than deny the faith allowed themselves to be burned at the stake during the Roman persecutions. These men and women were fearless and their love perfected. It ought to be the goal of all Christians to have this kind of faith in God and love for God that would lead us to become martyrs too if need be.

The point to be made is that this freedom from fear, this perfect love that casts out fear, is for a certain class of Christian--the totally dedicated and faithful one, the obedient one. It is a goal to be sought after but also a goal that is obtainable by all if they are willing to make the necessary commitment and sacrifices in their lives.

However, most of us do not consider ourselves to be the spiritual giant Paul was. It is not easy to be all that we ought to be. Paul said to the Corinthian Christians, "And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal." (1 Cor. 3:1-3 NKJV)

Since our subject is the fear of God, I ask did the Corinthians at this stage of their lives have anything to fear? Were they guilty of unforgiven sin at the time Paul wrote the letter? The book of First Corinthians is a book that lists sin after sin for which Paul rebukes them.

In the second letter to the church at Corinth Paul speaks of their repenting. He says, "Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance." (2 Cor. 7:9 NKJV) He goes on to say, "Godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation." (2 Cor. 7:10 NKJV) It sounds much like repentance was a requirement for their salvation, meaning, of course, that there was a period of time in which these Christians were not in a saved state, a time when they had sinned but had not yet repented.

Another example of the same sort of thing was Simon the sorcerer as found in Acts 8 where Peter tells him, "You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you." (Acts 8:21-22 NKJV) For the person committing sin or living in sin, there needs to be a fear of God. Without such fear, can they ever be led to repentance? Simon needed repentance in order to obtain forgiveness. As Christians who are guilty of sin from time to time we need godly fear that leads us to repent.

The subject also needs to be looked at from another angle. I know of no man who holds a position of authority whose authority will be respected and honored unless there are some negative consequences to be suffered for dishonoring his authority. Law without punishment for its violation will not be obeyed and thus practically speaking ends up being no law at all.

A teacher who will not discipline those who disobey the classroom rules will have utter chaos in the class if he or she lets it go on indefinitely. A boss who is not obeyed is really boss of no one, a boss in name only.

In our own country we have laws against illegal immigration. When those laws are not enforced we end up with millions of illegal immigrants in our country. There must be some fear of authority for there to be any authority and that fear only comes if there are real consequences for disobedience, for breaking the law. (I use illegal immigration not as a political statement but because it illustrates so vividly what happens when there is no fear of law, thus of the one who gave the law.)

Those who speak of reverence for God, which we certainly should have, too readily leave out the element of godly fear, or so it seems to me. We should reverence God but how can there be reverence for God without godly fear? A family where children have no fear of breaking the rules is a family where the children run amuck, who are out of control, disrespectful, and disobedient. Every parent worth their salt has some kind of punishment for their children who break the rules. Yes, the kids love their parents, but the fear of punishment also plays a major role in their obeying the rules. Is it any different with us in our relationship to God?

If asked to define reverence, most would likely use words like respect, honor, deference, and veneration, but too often leave out any mention of fear. Godly fear is an essential element of true reverence for God. This kind of fear is not a contradiction of 1 John 4:18. In fact, godly fear leads to the banishment of the fear described in 1 John 4:18, for it leads to a faithful life. Is it possible to live a faithful life without any fear of God?

Observation of life shows us many who have no fear of God whatsoever. The fact that a man has no fear of God does not prove he is a man whose love has been perfected. Many who lack fear of God are atheistic and godless men. They are those who should fear God but who do not.

What does the Bible say and teach about fearing God? Noah is the earliest man we read about in the Bible of whom it is said he had godly fear. In the book of Hebrews, the eleventh chapter, the chapter known as the faith chapter, it is said of Noah that, "by faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household." (Heb. 11:7 NKJV) You can interpret that any way you want, but what I get out of it is that Noah was afraid not to build the ark. Why, because he believed God, he feared God.

A man who believes God today concerning what he has had to say about the judgment to come and eternal punishment and orders his life accordingly will simply be following in the footsteps of Noah who acted out of godly fear.

Moses in recounting the events at Mt. Sinai says the people spoke to him the following words at that time, "Now therefore, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the Lord our God anymore, then we shall die. For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?" (Deut. 5:25-26 NKJV) They were fearful for their lives because of what they were seeing and hearing. What was God's response?

Three verses later, God says, "Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!" (Deut. 5:29 NKJV) God is saying that His people ought to fear Him for their own good. Has that changed today?

There is an interesting passage in the book of Jeremiah dealing with this subject. God speaking says, "They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me." (Jer. 32:38-40 NKJV) The fear of God is for our good and will help keep us faithful, for that is what God is saying.

God makes it clear that fearing Him is not an evil thing as some seem to feel that it is today. Some talk like they think God is just Big Daddy. That kind of attitude is very disrespectful. God is not one of us. He is not a man. When we see God, we will be on our knees. We do not bow down to men. "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." (Rom. 14:11 NKJV, see also Isa. 45:23) Being in God's presence is not like going to grandfather's house.

The Psalmist says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Psalms 111:10 NKJV) Solomon said, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge," (Prov. 1:7 NKJV), "is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death," (Prov. 14:27 NKJV), "by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil." (Prov. 16:6 NKJV)

What is the whole duty of man? Solomon concluded in Eccl. 12:13, NKJV, that it was to "fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all" or as the old King James Version put it, "this is the whole duty of man."

What are the blessings to those who fear God? "The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them." (Psalms 34:7 NKJV) "Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him." (Psalms 34:9 NKJV) "Surely his salvation is near to those who fear Him." (Psalms 85:9 NKJV) "For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him." (Psalms 103:11 NKJV) "As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him." (Psalms 103:13 NKJV)

The Psalmist said, "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him." (Psalms 89:7 NKJV) One wonders, has that changed? Was it ever meant to change?

Well, how about the New Testament? We can have no higher authority than Jesus who said, "I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell: yes, I say to you, fear Him!" (Luke 12:5 NKJV) Paul says we are to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Phil 2:12 NKJV)

Paul again says we are to perfect holiness "in the fear of God." (2 Cor. 7:1 NKJV) One of the reasons Paul gave for preaching the gospel, in his own words, was "knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men." (2 Cor. 5:11 NKJV) The writer of Hebrews says, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Heb. 10:31 NKJV)

Peter, in fact, commands us to fear God. He says, "Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." (1 Peter 2:17 NKJV)

The last verse I will use is Rev. 14:6-7, NKJV, "Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth--to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people--saying with a loud voice, 'Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.'"

I believe the Bible is as clear as it can be that man is to fear God. Call it godly fear if you will, for that is what it is. It is the kind of fear that helps a person stay faithful. It is the fear that Noah had and that we all ought to have. The foolish man is the man who does not fear God. Such a man lives for himself and fears not to disobey God.

In Rom. 3:18, NKJV, Paul says of those who he has been describing as sinners, talking about their nature and what they had done, "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

Yes, reverence God, but also understand what is included in that--godly fear. Godly fear, as stated in the beginning of this article, can lead a man to that state described in 1 John 4:18 where fear is banished for love has been perfected--perfected by the kind of faith and obedience that Noah and Abraham had. "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments." (1 John 5:3 NKJV) Such a man ceases to fear, for he is faithful to God. He would fear to be unfaithful.

Yes, this seems to be a contradiction to say fearing God leads one to not fearing Him. That being said, that is the way it is. No one would even become a Christian if they did not fear God. Their sins would not bother them. They would become their own God and live as they pleased just as long as they could stay out of jail. I close by saying that is the way many do. Do you want a better world? Get mankind to fear God.

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