Category: God’s love

Iniquity Not Yet Full #7

Sunday, May 18, 2014

“But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full” (Genesis 15:16 KJV).

Today’s Scripture expressly declares why the God of the Bible “takes His time” when dealing with sinful mankind.

Israel’s religious leaders abuse God’s prophet Stephen, biting him and throwing him out of Jerusalem. Finally, the mob throws stones at him until he dies. With God’s wrath on mankind literally moments away, the greatest dispensational change to ever “grace” God’s dealings with man, occurs.

Saul of Tarsus—leader of Israel’s opposition to Christ and His little flock, holder of the clothes of Stephen’s murderers in Acts chapter 7—personally met the Lord Jesus Christ in Acts chapter 9. As Saul was traveling to Damascus to persecute more Messianic Jews, the risen, ascended, and glorified Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Saul from heaven. There, Saul experienced God’s love, mercy, and grace; he trusted Jesus Christ alone as his personal Saviour, and became the first member of the Church the Body of Christ. Jesus Christ commissioned him as the Apostle Paul; thereafter, Paul had another extreme ministry—Jesus Christ crucified for our sins, buried, and resurrected (Acts 20:24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

Years later, Paul wrote of himself: “Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief [first]. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting” (1 Timothy 1:13-16).

In order to have mercy on Israel, God had to suspend her prophetic program. To save Saul of Tarsus, God had to begin a new dispensation, a new set of instructions to mankind, a new program, one He had in mind from before creation but had kept secret—the mystery program, or “the Dispensation of the Grace of God” (Ephesians 3:1-11). God delayed His wrath again….

Iniquity Not Yet Full #4

Thursday, May 15, 2014

“But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full” (Genesis 15:16 KJV).

Today’s Scripture expressly declares why the God of the Bible “takes His time” when dealing with sinful mankind.

Imagine your “pet peeves,” every thing that annoys you. Now, visualize the other seven billion people in the world carrying them out, right in front of you! Billions upon billions of people doing exactly what you hate, for you to see and hear, essentially “rubbing your nose in it!” How long could you handle it? A few seconds, at the most? (Unlike God, who has seen and heard more offensive words and deeds than you will ever see or hear in your earthly life, you could not handle 6,000 years of it!)

The God of Scripture is often slanderously decried as being a cruel, bloodthirsty, tyrannical sadist (Someone who enjoys bullying humanity and takes pleasure when they suffer). All the people whining in this regard have never bothered to consider exactly what horrendous occurrences He witnessed before He inflicted such punishments as described in the Old Testament. These Bible critics never pause to ponder the days, decades, centuries (!), and millennia (!), that His wrath was held in abeyance. They never bother to realize that His mercy and grace was free to anyone who wanted it.

Previously, we saw six instances of God’s longsuffering in the Old Testament. Today’s Scripture demonstrates how He gave the Amorites 400 years to reform (today’s Scripture). By the way, God says He evicted them and installed Israel in their land because the Amorites never improved (Exodus 23:23-25)! Those who complain about a “cruel” Old Testament God need to hush and read the Bible, lest they continue to “speak evil of those things which they know not” (Jude 10).

After 4,000 years of dealing with sinful man, JEHOVAH God came in human flesh, Jesus Christ. He preached to Israel for three years, but they mostly mocked and ignored Him (He knew they would ultimately crucify Him). Israel did not want anything to do with Him. Again, He could have wiped them all out with one quick spoken word, but, again, His grace and mercy delayed His wrath….

God is Love

Friday, February 14, 2014

“…God is love… God is love… We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:8b,16b,19 KJV).

The word “love” is used very flippantly in today’s world. Of the many who speak about “love,” few know what it is. On this Valentine’s Day, we offer sound doctrine from God’s Word to correct the misunderstandings of what love really is. What is love, according to God’s Word?

Today’s Scripture says that “God is love”—God does not simply love, but His very nature is love. What does that mean? In 1 John 3:16, we read: “Hereby we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:” Our Apostle Paul put it this way: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God’s nature is love—selfless, self-sacrificing!

God’s Word defines love and charity in 2 Corinthians 12:15: “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.” Love is seeking the best interest of others, even if it costs you something (time, energy, resources, et cetera). Charity is love in deed (demonstrated, manifested in action). God loved us, so He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. It cost God the Father His Son, and it cost God the Son His life. What a selfless act!

Our nature in Adam is selfish, but our nature in Christ is not. Paul declares, “the love of Christ constraineth us” (2 Corinthians 5:14). We who have trusted Jesus Christ alone as our personal Saviour, our Christian lives are driven and motivated by Christ’s love for us, not our love for Him. It is this unselfish love of Christ working in us that causes us to look on the things of others, to seek their edification and their benefit, not ours (Romans 13:8-10; 1 Corinthians 10:24; Philippians 2:1-11). This will result in charity, our selfless actions reflecting that love of Christ (2 Corinthians 12:15).

As the lost world observes our Christian service, they will see, “God is love.”

*Adapted from a larger Bible study with the same name. The Bible study can be read here or watched here.

Tips to Timid Timothy to Tolerate Troubling Times #10

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

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

We have often heard the expression “timid Timothy,” but have you ever wondered why he was timid?

For many years, Timothy faithfully served as a coworker of the Apostle Paul in the ministry of God’s grace (Philippians 2:19-23). Satan knew that he could not get Timothy to change God’s Word (that is, compromise the message for the sake of appeasing the false teachers). Timothy showed no interest in joining Satan’s program and propagating his deception.

Nevertheless, Satan’s policy of evil has many schemes and scams, and if one “wile” is unsuccessful, he will simply resort to implementing another. For the Christian soldier who will not give in to false teaching, the devil will use troubling circumstances to distract the Christian, to cause him or her to lose sight of God’s love, God’s peace, and God’s strength in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:35-39). As long as the Christian is confused and miserable, he or she will grow weary (as Timothy eventually did), and then quietly surrender and retreat (and then Satan has one less person opposing him and his policy of evil, which was his goal from the beginning!).

Indeed, Satan is operating a most strategic military plan, but our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, is far wiser. He anticipated all of Satan’s moves, but Satan did not foresee His moves (1 Corinthians 2:6-8). The Bible says God kept one secret from Satan, and Satan thus participated in his own defeat (Colossians 2:14,15)! Had Satan really known what God would do with Calvary’s finished crosswork, he would have never, ever influenced Israel to kill Jesus Christ.

Howbeit, Satan did encourage Jesus’s crucifixion, and now through that shed blood of Jesus Christ, God can save us from Satan. By faith alone in Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork, we can have our sins forgiven. By faith alone in God’s Word to us (Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon), we can remember who we are in Jesus Christ (today’s Scripture), and thus draw on God’s power to tolerate all of life’s troubling times. 🙂

Tips to Timid Timothy to Tolerate Troubling Times #8

Sunday, December 8, 2013

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

We have often heard the expression “timid Timothy,” but have you ever wondered why he was timid?

In today’s Scripture, the Bible explains how a mature Christian is to think during difficult times:

  • “THE SPIRIT OF POWER.” This is God’s power, not our power. “And he [Jesus Christ] said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9,10). Always be conscious of God’s power given you in Christ, lest your troubles cause you to doubt His Word to you (Philippians 4:13).
  • “THE SPIRIT OF LOVE.” This is God’s (great) love for us, not our (weak) love for Him. “For the love of Christ constraineth us…” (2 Corinthians 5:14): Jesus Christ’s immeasurable love for us demonstrated at Calvary (Romans 5:8) compels us! Always be conscious of God’s love for you in Christ; otherwise, your dire circumstances will cause you to believe that God does not love you (Romans 8:35-39). God’s love for you is further discussed below.
  • “THE SPIRIT OF A SOUND MIND.” This is God’s mentality in troubling times, not the world’s “wisdom.” While God does not cause our troubles, we can let Him use them to our advantage and for His glory. Romans 5:3-5: “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Always be conscious of how God has given you His mind in Christ. In the form of the Holy Bible, “we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16)….

The Great Things The Lord Jesus Hath Done #6

Friday, October 11, 2013

“And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel” (Mark 5:20 KJV).

Who is this man, and what “great things” hath the Lord Jesus done for him?

While the story of the exorcism of the Gadarene (today’s Scripture) was indeed literal and should be believed as historical fact, it should also be understood as typical of (illustrative of) redeemed and restored Israel (prophetic fact). Whenever Jesus Christ cast out devils during His earthly ministry, it was literal, physical, visible proof for all Israelites to see and recognize as fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Remember, “for the Jews require a sign” (1 Corinthians 1:22a). In Israel’s program, the preaching of God’s Word was accompanied by miracles that validated those words of God.

The Bible says the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles preached, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17; Matthew 10:7; Mark 1:14,15). This was “the Gospel of the Kingdom” (Matthew 9:35), and miraculous demonstrations—casting out devils and healing the sick—followed its proclamation (Matthew 10:5-8; Mark 16:17-20; Luke 8:1; Luke 11:20; Acts 2:22; Hebrews 2:3-5; Hebrews 6:4,5). In that earthly kingdom of Jesus Christ, there would be no sickness or evil spirits.

“And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land” (Zechariah 13:2). When Israel’s Messiah would come, He would rid her and her land of satanic captivity. Every time Jesus cast out devils, He was evicting Satan’s minions (although Israel rejected Jesus’ efforts; Matthew 12:24-32; Mark 3:22-30). Since Israel rejected Christ at His First Coming, and refused to let Him cleanse them and their Promised Land the first time (just as the Gadarenes asked Jesus to leave), Zechariah’s prophecy will not be completely fulfilled until Christ’s Second Coming (Revelation 20:1-3).

Let us now conclude the narrative and see Israel’s (future) restoration to her God….

The Great Things The Lord Jesus Hath Done #5

Thursday, October 10, 2013

“And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel” (Mark 5:20 KJV).

Who is this man, and what “great things” hath the Lord Jesus done for him?

The devil-possessed Gadarene of today’s Scripture is a perfect picture of the nation Israel when her Messiah, Jesus, came to her, saying, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24; cf. Matthew 10:6).

This Gadarene has been possessed of devils for a long time, just as Israel has been in satanic captivity for centuries. The Gadarene lives out in the mountains and wilderness, just as Israel is “in the wilderness,” spiritually speaking—she has wandered far from JEHOVAH’S ways. Just as the devils have corrupted the Gadarene’s mind so he cannot think properly, so Satan has used apostate religious tradition to prevent Israel from having the mindset God had given to her through the Old Testament Scriptures.

As the Gadarene is physically naked, so Israel is destitute of God’s righteousness (spiritual clothing). One can neither tame the Gadarene nor “stiffnecked” Israel. The Gadarene prefers to live in and among tombs; Israel is content to physically live while remaining spiritually dead in her trespasses and sins.

The Gadarene screams, drawing attention to his devil-inspired lifestyle that led to ridicule, just as Israel’s sinful behavior grabbed the attention and generated mocking from the Gentiles. Neither the Gadarene nor the nation Israel can free themselves from Satan’s power. It is this very nation Israel for which Jesus Christ has come to die, so that He may give them a new life when He resurrects!

For a long time, the Gadarenes have heard of the wild man living nearby. No one can help him—humanly speaking, he literally is hopeless and helpless. The only Person who can deliver him from such a miserable existence is the one and the same Person who alone can save his nation… and this former miracle He will perform to demonstrate He can also accomplish the latter….

Reconciliation, Imputation, and Salvation #4

Thursday, June 20, 2013

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV).

Soul salvation from everlasting hellfire is the Holy Bible’s most important doctrine, so let us be particularly careful with today’s Scripture.

Satan had already declared war on his Creator God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, mankind, the Lord’s ally, willfully switches sides and becomes Satan’s servant by submitting to his will! Sin infiltrates planet earth, as it had the heavenly places sometime earlier.

Adam and Eve know they are now in a major dilemma. Genesis 3:7 says they, in a feeble, desperate attempt, try to cover their sins by gathering fig leaves and sewing them to make aprons for their now naked bodies (the first act of religion, or as a dear Christian brother calls it, “Operation: Fig Leaf!”). In the coolness of the day, as the voice of the LORD God rings out, Adam and Eve flee and hide amongst the trees (verse 8). Sinful man cannot and will not approach his righteous Creator God, so man’s Creator will come and find him!

After the LORD God brings Adam and Eve to accountability, He declares to Satan, the serpent: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (verse 15). We will discuss this important verse later, but let us focus on verse 21 for now: “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” The LORD God graciously provided a solution—a blood sacrifice—to Adam and Eve’s sins, for their attempt to “cover up” their own sins with fig leaves was useless! Note that they never asked for His help either.

Some 4,000 years later, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). That love that sent Him looking for Adam and Eve, motivated Him to come seek us “hiding amongst the trees,” and to offer another blood sacrifice—Himself….

The End of Job, Israel, and the LORD #4

Saturday, April 27, 2013

“So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses” (Job 42:12 KJV).

During the Tribulation period, the nation Israel will gain valuable insight from today’s Scripture….

When one trusts the Lord Jesus Christ alone as personal Saviour, the Holy Spirit takes this individual and baptizes him or her into the Church the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). He or she is no longer in Adam, but “in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17): this is the new nature, the new identity, the new position the Christian has before God. Lost people even sense a change in the person, and thus, family and “friends” are no longer comfortable around the person. Every Christian has felt that division—(lost) family and “friends” now avoid them.

There is neither fame nor fortune in being a King James Bible-believing Pauline dispensationalist. If one takes a stand for Jesus Christ, and especially for His sound doctrine, family and “friends” will scatter and “depart far hence.” Yes, dear Christian brethren, we have lost the world and its approval, but we have gained much, much more valuable things. We are “known of God” (Galatians 4:9), we are “blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3), and we are “complete in [Christ]” (Colossians 2:10). We have the Lord’s unconditional love, His grace, His forgiveness, His life—possessions that will last forever!

Just as believing Israel will suffer great loss for Jesus Christ’s sake during the Tribulation (as Job did), they will be restored even more in Christ’s earthly kingdom (as Job was; today’s Scripture). Likewise, we members of the Body of Christ, will lose family, “friends,” fame, and fortune for being Christians zealous of sound Bible doctrine, but we too will be rewarded one day—we will inherit the government of the heavenly places (Romans 8:17; Ephesians 2:6,7; 2 Timothy 2:10-12), just as believing Israel will inherit the government of the earth (Matthew 19:27-30; Revelation 3:20,21).

Beloved, like Job, let us patiently wait for “the end of the Lord….”  🙂

A Lesson Straight from the Dog’s Mouth

 Tuesday, April 23, 2013

“For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again” (Psalm 78:39 KJV).

Your earthly life is short—your opportunity to accept eternal life is just as brief….

Recently, I suffered a dog bite on my right-hand wrist, resulting in my first-ever emergency room visit. My wrist was swollen and moving my fingers was difficult. Still, in just a few hours, I was at college presenting my 45-minute thesis proposal; it was challenging with the use of one arm, but by God’s grace, I did it.

For the last five days, I have had to depend entirely on my left hand for everything. My handwriting is reminiscent of first grade (I am right-handed). Common daily tasks are now very cumbersome. Much schoolwork and ministry work cannot be completed right now. I took my right hand for granted—how I miss using it! As long as infection remains absent, and I do not lose the hand (due to the dog’s oral bacteria), I hope to be using it again soon.

We all take common things for granted: we become so comfortable with them—possessions, income, health, family and friends, et cetera—we lose sight of their real value and how blessed we are to have them.

Beloved, take not your blessings for granted. Above all, never take eternal life through Jesus Christ for granted. Many precious souls around the world are spiritually dead and lost in sin, headed for eternal hellfire, but they do not realize their dire state until physical death instantly quenches their breath, and seals their fate forever. They are ignoring the gift of God’s grace, love, peace, forgiveness, and salvation through Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork. Be not of this sort! What God wants is your faith alone in Jesus Christ and His finished crosswork as sufficient payment for your sins. Why not trust Jesus Christ alone as your personal Saviour, right where you are?

Your earthly life is short (today’s Scripture), and physical death will end it, so take not God’s offer of salvation for granted. Remember, as the dear Christian brother said, “Eternity keeps you where death finds you!”