Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Ignorance is NOT Bliss! Part 2
"The legacy of unbelief is ignorance."
John MacArthur
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Yesterday, we saw that ignorance is not bliss when it comes to salvation.
In fact, ignorance of the Gospel leads to death, while knowledge and belief
in Jesus Christ lead to eternal life in Him.
Talking to unbelieving Jews, Jesus explained why they did not understand
His message, and trust in Him for salvation.
"Why is my language not clear to you?
You belong to your father, the devil,
and you want to carry out your father's
desire.
"If I am telling you the truth, why don't
you believe me? He who belongs to God
hears what God says.
The reason you do not hear is that you do
not belong to God."
John8:43-44a, 46b-47
Jesus did not mean that the Jews couldn't literally hear what He was saying
to them. He was carrying on a conversation with them, so obviously they could
hear him speaking.
He meant that they could not understand what He was telling them, because
they were children of the devil, and did not belong to Him.
They had not been given the gifts of understanding and knowledge by God, so
they could not comprehend what His message was. However, those who belonged to
God were able to hear and understand what He said to them.
"You, dear children, are from God and have
overcome them (those who don't acknowledge God),
because the one who is in you is greater than
the one who is in the world.
They are from the world and therefore speak
from the viewpoint of the world, and the world
listens to them.
We are from God, and whoever knows God
listens to us; but whoever is not from God
does not listen to us.
This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth
and the spirit of falsehood."
1 John 4:4-6
True teachers will speak God's words, and the Holy Spirit leads to sound
doctrine.
False teachers do not speak the words of God, only false doctrine.
The Gospel is foolishness to those who don't belong to God (natural man),
but salvation for those who are His (spiritual man).
"For the message of the cross is foolishness
to those who are perishing, but to us who
are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written:
'I will destroy the wisdom of
the wise; the intelligence of
the intelligent I will frustrate.'
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar?
Where is the philosopher of this age? Has
not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since in the wisdom of God the world through
its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased
through the foolishness of what was preached to
save those who believe.
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look
for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified:
a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to
Gentiles, but to those whom God has called,
both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God
and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's
wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger
than man's strength."
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
God gives "the called" wisdom and understanding and knowledge, so they
will be saved through hearing the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who
is their salvation.
The wisest man who doesn't believe spews nothing but nonsense when speaking
of God and His Word.
"God wisely established that men could not come to know Him
by human wisdom. That would exalt man; so God designed to
save helpless sinners through the preaching of a message that
was so simple the 'worldly wise' deemed it nonsense. From the
human side, salvation requires and comes only through faith."
John MacArthur
Jesus is our wisdom, righteousness, holiness, and redemption. We
can boast of nothing but Him.
"Brothers, think of what you were when you
were called. Not many of you were wise by
human standards; not many were influential;
not many were of noble birth.
But God chose the foolish things of the world
to shame the wise; God chose the weak things
of the world to shame the strong.
He chose the lowly things of this world and the
despised things -- and the things that are not --
to nullify the things that are, so that no one may
boast before Him.
It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus,
who has become for us wisdom from God -- that
is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.
Therefore, as it is written: 'Let him who boasts
boast in the Lord.' "
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
"God disdained human wisdom, not only by disallowing it as a
means to knowing Him, but also by choosing to save the lowly.
He does not call to salvation many whom the world would call
wise, mighty, and noble.
God's wisdom is revealed to the foolish, weak, and common, i.e.,
those considered nothing by the elite, who trust in Jesus Christ
as Savior and Lord. God clearly received all the credit and the
glory for causing such lowly ones to know Him and the eternal
truths of His heavenly kingdom. No saved sinner can boast that
he has achieved salvation by his intellect."
John MacArthur
"The redeemed not only are given salvation by God's wisdom rather
than by their own, but are also graciously given a measure of His
divine wisdom, as well as imputed righteousness, sanctification
from sin, and redemption by God in order that, above all else, the
Lord will be glorified."
John MacArthur
"The natural man does not accept the things
of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him,
and he is not able to understand them because
they are spiritually discerned.
The spiritual person judges all things, but
is himself to be judged by no one. For who
has understood the mind of the Lord so as to
instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ."
1 Corinthians 2:14-16
Believers can know the thoughts of the Lord through the Word and the Holy
Spirit.
Ignorance brings unbelief which leads to death, while knowledge and faith
lead to eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Ignorance is NOT Bliss!
There's an old saying, "Ignorance is bliss."
In other words, "What you don't know won't hurt you."
However, ignorance of "the truth" leads to death and separation
from God in an eternal hell.
Knowledge of and belief in "the truth" lead to eternal life in heaven
with God.
What is "the truth?" Jesus said He is "the truth."
"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth
and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me."
John 14:6
That's not a popular thing to believe in the world of political correctness
we live in today. How dare someone say there is only one way to God?
Jesus didn't just say he HAD the truth, but that He WAS the truth.!
Belief in Jesus as Savior is necessary for eternal life, and that belief or
faith comes only from understanding the Gospel, and knowing Him. This
understanding and knowledge come from God.
For example, Jesus, who said that "the Father and I are one," making Himself
equal to God, opened the minds of His disciples so they could understand the
Gospel and all of the Scriptures.
"Then He opened their minds so they could
understand the Scriptures."
Luke 24:45
Trusting and acknowledging God, and not going our own way,
helps us find the right paths to take in life.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3:5-6
The LORD gives insight to His people.
"Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord
will give you insight into all this."
2 Timothy 2:7
God gives understanding to His people so that we may know the truth --
God and the Father and His Son. We can know the truth only if we are
"in Him."
"We know also that the Son of God
has come and has given us understanding,
so that we may know Him who is true.
And we are in Him who is true -- even in
His Son Jesus Christ.
He is the true God and eternal life."
1 John 5:20
Zechariah was filled with the Spirit and prophesied (Luke 1:67) about his
son, who would be known as John the Baptist:
"... for you will go on before the Lord to
prepare the way for Him,
to give His people the knowledge of
salvation through the forgiveness of
their sins..."
Luke 1:77
While belief in Jesus leads to life, unbelief leads to death.
This belief comes from understanding and knowledge of the truth,
and ignorance leads to unbelief and ultimately death.
Next time, we'll look more closely at understanding and knowledge
and belief, as opposed to ignorance and unbelief.
Friday, April 26, 2013
"Preservation of the Saints"
A major theme throughout the Bible is God's sovereignty in salvation.
We can not do anything to attain it, but must depend on God and His grace
and mercy.
"The salvation of the righteous comes from
the LORD; He is their stronghold in time
of trouble."
Psalm 37:39
"Salvation comes from the LORD."
Jonah 2:9b
"For those whom God foreknew He also
predestined to be conformed to the likeness
of His Son, that He might be the firstborn
among many brothers.
And those He predestined, He also called;
those He called, He also justified; those He
justified, He also glorified."
Romans 8:29-30
If our salvation can be gained through our actions, then our salvation can
be lost through our actions. Scripture teaches that this notion is not true.
Salvation can not be lost by anything we do, because it comes from the new
birth the Holy Spirit gives to His people.
"Yet to all who received Him, to those who
believed in His name, He gave the right to
become children of God -- children born not
of natural descent, nor of human decision, or
a husband's will, but born of God."
John 1:12-13
A key doctrine of Christianity is "perseverance of the saints," A saint
is anyone who believes in Jesus Christ for salvation. A saint is expected to
"persevere" in his faith to the end, but he does so only with God's help.
"Preservation of the saints," is probably more accurate term, because God
keeps His children in Christ for all time. God has chosen us, called us, redeemed
us, and saved us, through Jesus, and will never let us go.
"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them,
and they follow me. I give them eternal life,
and they shall never perish; no one can snatch
them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is
greater than all; no one can snatch them out
of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
John 10:27-30
Yes, we must continue in the faith, but since faith is a gift from God
(Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 1:29), He will never turn us away.
"No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning.
No one who continues to sin has either seen
Him or known Him."
"No one who is born of God will continue to sin,
because God's seed remains in Him; he cannot go
on sinning, because he has been born of God."
John 3:6,9
This does not mean sinless perfection, but the Christian should live a life that
is characterized by obedience to God and His commands. It is a life that
is not characterized by sin.
God, who has saved us, will carry our salvation through to the end.
" ... He who began a good work in you will
carry it on to completion until the day of
Christ Jesus."
Philippians 1:6b
Once again, it is God who gives us strength to persevere to the end, and not
our own power that helps us stay faithful.
"He will keep you strong to the end, so that you
will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus
Christ. God who has called you into fellowship
with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."
1 Corinthians 1:8-9
"To Him who is able to keep you from falling
and to present you before His glorious presence
without fault and with great joy -- to the only
God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and
authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before
all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Jude 24-25
"The true believer will persevere because of Christ's firm hold on him."
NIV Commentary
"(Jesus said), And this is the will of Him who sent me,
that I shall lose none of all that He has given me, but
raise them up at the last day.
For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the
Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I
will raise him up at the last day."
John 6:39-40
Paul testified that nothing can separate believers from God and His love.
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons, neither the present
nor the future, nor any powers, neither height
nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
God Cares for His Children
Christians are to cast all their suffering, disappointments, trials, temptations,
and despair on God. He is faithful and will take care of us when we call on Him.
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty
hand of God so that at the proper time He may
exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him,
because He cares for you."
1 Peter 5:6-7
At the proper time, appointed by Him, God will lift up his children who
suffer and are obedient to Him (see Job).
"Cast your burdens on the LORD,
and He will sustain you;
He will never permit the
righteous to be moved."
Psalm 55:22
God hears our cries for help.
"For the LORD hears the needy and does not
despise His own people who are prisoners."
Psalm 69:33
God will bless our submissiveness to Him.
"Delight yourself in the LORD,
and He will give you the desires
of your heart.
"Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in Him, and He will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness
as the light, and your justice as the
noonday."
Psalm 37:4-6
"For the LORD loves justice;
He will not forsake His saints."
Psalm 37:28
God helps believers overcome temptation.
"No temptation has overtaken you that
is not common to man.
God is faithful, and He will not let you
be tempted beyond your ability, but with
the temptation, He will also provide the
way of escape, that you may be able to
endure it."
1 Corinthians 10:13
Monday, April 22, 2013
Redeemed!
"In the Bible, to redeem means to free someone from something bad by
paying a penalty, or a ransom."
NIV Commentary
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"For you know that it was not with perishable
things such as silver or gold that you were
redeemed from the empty way of life handed
down to you from your forefathers, but with
the precious blood of Christ, a lamb, without
blemish or defect.
"He was chosen before the creation of the world,
but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
Through him you believe in God, who raised him
from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith
and hope are in God."
" ... For you have been born again, not of perishable
seed, but of imperishable, through the living and
enduring word of God."
1 Peter 1:18-21, 23
Jesus paid for the sins of His people, with His blood, a perfect sacrifice
that God the Father accepted as payment for all the transgressions we would ever
commit.
Silver and gold (material things) come and go, but Jesus' precious blood
shed on the cross for His people, leads them out of the darkness of sin and into
His light.
Led by the Holy Spirit, we receive life when we hear and believe the word of
God.
" ....for all flesh is like grass and all its
glory like the flower of grass. The grass
withers, and the flower falls, but the
word of the Lord remains forever."
1 Peter 1:24-25a
**********
He paid the price to buy the freedom of people in bondage to sin and under
the curse of the law.
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law
by becoming a curse for us -- for it is written,
'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree'
-- so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham
might come to the Gentiles so that we might
receive the promised Spirit through faith."
Galatians 3:13-14
"Christ's death, because it was a death of substitution for sin, satisfied
God's justice and exhausted his wrath toward his elect, so that Christ actually
purchased believers from slavery to sin and from the sentence of eternal death."
John MacArthur
**********
" ... You are not your own, for you were bought
with a price."
1 Corinthians 6:19b-20a
God's people belong to Him, because they were purchased by the precious
blood of Jesus.
"He has delivered us from the domain of darkness
and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
Colossians 1:13-14
Believers are freed from slavery to sin by Christ's death, and given entrance
into the kingdom of God.
"The Greek word for 'forgiveness of sins,' is a composite of two words that mean
'to pardon' or 'grant remission of a penalty.'"
John MacArthur
**********
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,
that we might die to sin and live to righteousness."
1 Peter 2:24a
This is called substitutionary atonement. Christ took on the sins of His people,
and bore the punishment and penalty that satisfied a holy God. His righteousness
is imputed to us, and God views us as clean and holy, because of what Jesus did for us.
**********
The Christian's redemption came at the cross. Before we were even born, we had
been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, according to God's gracious and merciful plan.
We were chosen (Ephesians 1:4), foreknown (Romans 8:29), predestined (Romans 8:29),
and called (Romans 8:30) to salvation.
**********
Therefore, we were not redeemed because we believed, but we believed because
we were redeemed!
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