Category: God: The Father, the Son Jesus Christ, & the Holy Ghost

A Lost Love #9

Friday, July 28, 2023

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1 KJV).

Just the other day, an aged friend in ministry for several years now, shared with me the news of one of his recent undertakings. Let us see how his sentiments and efforts match those of Paul in today’s Scripture.

Though Paul attempted to preach the Lord Jesus Christ to every lost Jew in the synagogues of the Mediterranean world, he knew he could not force any of them to believe. In fact, when apostate Israel opposed him and his message, instead of lingering to quarrel with them, he respected their free will and departed to minister to others.

“Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles…. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium” (Acts 13:46,51). “They were ware of it [Jewish plot against them], and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:…” (Acts 14:6).

“…Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue” (Acts 18:5-7).

“And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus” (Acts 19:8,9). As far as the record of Acts is concerned, because of this exceptionally adverse reaction, Paul never again preached in a synagogue! He valued free will, and so should we.

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

A Lost Love #8

Thursday, July 27, 2023

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1 KJV).

Just the other day, an aged friend in ministry for several years now, shared with me the news of one of his recent undertakings. Let us see how his sentiments and efforts match those of Paul in today’s Scripture.

As Saul of Tarsus back in Acts chapter 9, the Apostle Paul met the Saviour Jesus Christ face-to-face. This was when he came to understand just how misinformed—just how lost—he really was. His righteousness meant nothing before God, so he was actually headed for Hell quite smug in his “goodness.” He was not good enough to merit Heaven, and he finally swallowed his religious pride. What mattered in eternity was God’s perfect righteousness available only by faith in Jesus Christ. If necessary, re-read Paul’s testimony in Philippians 3:1-11.

In today’s Scripture, Paul has been saved for roughly 25 years (internal evidence suggests he wrote Romans during the opening verses of Acts chapter 20). Ever since chapter 9 of Acts, he has been meeting and preaching to lost Jews in synagogues scattered throughout the Mediterranean world. These are the very people of today’s Scripture, who, like he as Saul of Tarsus had been, are satisfied in their works-religion (Judaism). “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:3).

Re-read Romans 9:1-3. Paul felt sorry for self-righteous Israel, and he so was troubled for lost Israel, but it was neither sadness nor anger (emotions) that made him preach the Gospel of Grace to them. It was his renewed mind, his admittance that the Bible was right, that caused him to share his Saviour with them. No matter how “good” they were in religion, regardless of how hard they tried to be godly, they could never save themselves from their sins because they were not perfect. Still, their hearts had deceived them, and, as they heard the Gospel of Grace from Paul’s very lips, they shut their eyes and ears to the truth so as to keep (emotionally) clinging to their vain religious system all the more….

A Lost Love #7

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1 KJV).

Just the other day, an aged friend in ministry for several years now, shared with me the news of one of his recent undertakings. Let us see how his sentiments and efforts match those of Paul in today’s Scripture.

Instead of spite (negative emotions) or “warm fuzzy feelings” (positive emotions), what stimulated Paul to conduct his ministry was sound Bible doctrine he believed in his heart or soul. Here are some facts that constituted his renewed mind. “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his [God’s] sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20). No matter how “good” someone’s religious performance appeared, the Law of Moses pronounced that person to be a sinner who fell short of God’s glory (verse 23). Sinners cannot reach that perfect standard of all that God is (everything He believes and does).

Consequently, every sinner has innately and automatically merited the following penalty: “…unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, [God will render to them; verse 6] indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;…” (Romans 2:8,9). This is man’s nature and destiny. His feeble efforts in religion (good works) indeed “clean up” the outward to some extent, creating an existence that imitates God’s life. Alas, his nature or inward makeup is unchanged. He is still dead in his trespasses and sins, separated from God’s life. As Saul of Tarsus in Judaism, the Apostle Paul knew all about this firsthand. Read Philippians 3:1-11.

Verses 7-9: “But what things [religious works] were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:….”

In today’s Scripture, Paul wanted lost Israel to learn this….

A Lost Love #5

Monday, July 24, 2023

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1 KJV).

Just the other day, an aged friend in ministry for several years now, shared with me the news of one of his recent undertakings. Let us see how his sentiments and efforts match those of Paul in today’s Scripture.

Consider how emotions can deceive Christians serving in ministry. For instance, the concept of an eternal Devil’s Hell might be deliberately omitted from “Gospel conversations/presentations.” Raw emotions lead these church members to suppose “no loving God would ever send people to such a horrible place!” Or, if they have loved ones depending on their religious performance to get into Heaven, they will not bother to share the Gospel of Grace at all, preferring to assume everyone will enter Heaven eventually. They care not to think their loved ones are on their smug way to everlasting punishment (where God’s justice will enforce His offended righteousness by punishing their self-righteousness). This is why and how the Gospel of the Grace of God is repeatedly compromised in denominational circles. It is not completely denied, just softened so it is not offensive. Or, the Christian might try to force a pure Gospel onto a person who has vehemently expressed no interest in believing. Emotions pronounce, “Keep talking, no matter how infuriated they get!”

Lost people have emotional attachments to their works-religions. For example, a loved one likely introduced them to that system, so to abandon it equates to disrespecting that person. It has been stated, “I will die a member of the religion of mom and dad.” They cannot bring themselves to admit the possibility their parents may have been wrong and deceased loved ones are actually in Hell right now. Furthermore, the error possibly stretches back centuries—many generations of one family, putting great pressure on the individual to shun Bible truth. To trust the Lord Jesus Christ alone might mean being barred from estate proceeds, social functions, and many other misfortunes. “I am doing the best I can, and I think I will make it into Heaven,” is nothing but their emotional seat trying to justify why they are in their spiritual position.

Instead of subjectivism, we need objectivism….

A Lost Love #4

Sunday, July 23, 2023

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1 KJV).

Just the other day, an aged friend in ministry for several years now, shared with me the news of one of his recent undertakings. Let us see how his sentiments and efforts match those of Paul in today’s Scripture.

Dear friends, we must constantly (!!) be on guard against emotional revolt, making sure our emotions do not dictate to us what we should think or do. Emotions are deceptive, so if we allow them to control us, we will live in a fantasy world as opposed to reality. For example, remember when you watched a television show or movie. Depending on the actions you saw and the dialogue you heard, you moved from feeling anger to feeling sadness to feeling happiness to feeling peaceful to feeling distressed. People sob as they observe the tragic scenes, leap for joy when they see the pleasant situations, and scowl when they view the frustrating scenes. Of course, what they are watching is all make-believe—but it “feels” real, it “seems” real, because dominating emotions have no thinking process attached to them. Emotions are stupid or brainless. How can we ever expect our lives to function if we rely on this foundation of sand? It literally does not make sense.

The Bible tells the truth: sin forever changed human makeup. If we doubt this, we just need to look around at society and agree with the Scriptures. When Adam and Eve rebelled against the LORD God, human nature was significantly altered. Spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional modifications were introduced—and they are passed down from Adam to each and every successive generation. The key to solving all these problems is not therapy sessions with a “positive thinker,” endless drug usage, alcoholic beverages, or any of the other “solutions” man has developed to cope with his symptoms (minor) instead of addressing his sickness (major). The disease is sin, and it afflicts Christians and non-Christians alike. Christians conducting ministry based on emotions are on dangerous ground, and the non-Christians they are trying to reach are in an equally perilous condition. Let us see how the renewed mind remedies the matter for both parties….

A Lost Love #3

Saturday, July 22, 2023

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1 KJV).

Just the other day, an aged friend in ministry for several years now, shared with me the news of one of his recent undertakings. Let us see how his sentiments and efforts match those of Paul in today’s Scripture.

“And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled [was amazed!] because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching” (Mark 6:1-6; cf. Matthew 13:53-58).

In the above passage, we gather how the Lord Jesus’ own family, friends, and neighbors were in unbelief—the very people who had grown up with Him in Nazareth for 20 years. Additionally, even His half-siblings (four younger brothers [named above] and at least two younger sisters [unnamed]) through His mother Mary were in unbelief. “For neither did his brethren believe in him” (John 7:5). One brother, James, became a believer at some later time, possibly because of Christ’s resurrection (Galatians 1:19; cf. 1 Corinthians 15:7).

As it did Paul in today’s Scripture, so it deeply grieved the Lord’s heart that His people could have no faith in God’s words to them—even after the overwhelming proof they heard and saw. It was not an evidence problem, but a heart problem that caused them not to believe. These lost loves we ourselves (literally) know all too well….

A Lost Love #2

Friday, July 21, 2023

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1 KJV).

Just the other day, an aged friend in ministry for several years now, shared with me the news of one of his recent undertakings. Let us see how his sentiments and efforts match those of Paul in today’s Scripture.

Ministry is not easy—especially when dealing with loved ones, the people we know quite well, those with whom we come into contact often. It should concern us when we learn they have no personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. They may be religious, faithfully attend church, pray frequently, talk about “God,” and read “holy books,” but they are without forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and righteousness. We want so desperately to warn them of the perilous fate that awaits them. How we try to reason with them of their need of Christ’s finished crosswork as a fully-satisfying payment for sins. Yet, they are comfortable where they are. They will not believe the Gospel of Grace in their heart. “Leave me alone. I am ‘good enough, I ‘keep the Law,’ I am doing the best I can, I will never forsake my denomination/religion,” and on and on and on and on they go with their flimsy excuses as to why faith in Jesus Christ alone is not their preference.

When the Apostle Paul ministered to unsaved Jews in synagogues throughout the Roman Empire, he encountered these sorts of people by the thousands. Read today’s Scripture in context: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:1-3). Zealous, religious, passionate, devout, enthusiastic, pious, fervent, sincere—but lost as lost could be! Billions of souls today fall into such a category, and, whether we know it or not, we meet them on a daily basis. They sit in our church buildings, labor in our workplaces, sit in our classrooms, live in our neighborhoods, shop in our stores, and perhaps stay in our homes (!)….

Solomon and Jesus #15

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

“And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever” (2 Samuel 7:12,13 KJV).

Let us search the Scriptures to see how Solomon is a type of the antitype Jesus….

Whether Psalm 72, Psalm 89, or Psalm 132, we find hints of both Solomon (immediately) and Jesus (ultimately) fulfilling the Davidic Covenant (cf. today’s Scripture). Solomon typifies the Lord Jesus in at least 13 particulars. Both are sons of David and both are heirs to his throne. Solomon and Jesus are shepherds. They are both kings. Each possesses and expresses God’s wisdom. Solomon and Jesus are both highly exalted and materially prosperous. Peace, the end of war, is the hallmark of each kingdom. Judgment and justice or righteousness highlight their reigns. Both monarchs have worldwide fame and influence. The Gentiles or non-Jews bring physical wealth to honor both Solomon and Christ.

King Solomon and King Jesus each build houses for the LORD (Father God), Solomon erecting a physical structure (Jerusalem Temple) and Jesus forming a spiritual building (Israel’s Little Flock or believing remnant; Luke 12:32). Solomon’s intimate relationship with his sexually-pure wife represents Christ’s union to Israel’s spiritually-pure Little Flock at His Second Coming and subsequent earthly kingdom.

Jesus Christ declared, “The queen of the south [Queen of Sheba] shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here” (Matthew 12:42; cf. Luke 11:31). This “greater than Solomon” is (superior) King Jesus Christ Himself—whom unbelieving Israel refuses to hear and believe in Matthew to John! Messiah Jesus and His kingdom miracles are connected to “Solomon’s Porch” in John 10:23, Acts 3:11, and Acts 5:12. This portico or covered walkway of the Jerusalem Temple again relates Christ Jesus’ kingdom (antitype) to Solomon’s kingdom (type). Had Israel been trusting their Old Testament Scriptures, they would have seen these striking similarities and accepted Jesus as Messiah (David’s Son) instead of crucifying Him in unbelief (John 19:14-16)!

-FINIS!-

Solomon and Jesus #14

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

“And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever” (2 Samuel 7:12,13 KJV).

Let us search the Scriptures to see how Solomon is a type of the antitype Jesus….

King Solomon “…spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five” (1 Kings 4:32). Some of these witty sayings, obviously, have been preserved for us in the Bible Book of Proverbs (God’s wisdom as expressed through Solomon). As for his songs, we have one of them too—the Bible Book known as “Song of Solomon.” “The song of songs, which is Solomon’s” (Song of Solomon 1:1).

Song of Solomon is a love poem, graphically recounting Solomon and his wife as they courted, wed, and enjoyed married life. Although he eventually had 1,000 lovers (see 1 Kings 11:3), his original romantic relationship was likely with Naamah (mother of his son, Rehoboam; see 2 Chronicles 12:13). Interestingly, before he was a king, Solomon was a shepherd (Song of Solomon 1:7), matching Jesus Christ who is both Shepherd (Psalm 23:1; John 10:14; 1 Peter 2:25) and King (Luke 1:31-33; Acts 2:30; Revelation 19:16).

Nevertheless, once Solomon abandoned God’s wisdom (Proverbs), he participated in Satan’s evil world system (Ecclesiastes—life apart from the LORD God). Recall his downfall of 1 Kings 11:1-8. Here, Solomon represents the Antichrist, another apostate and idolatrous Israeli king, future from us (see Daniel 8:23-25). As Solomon fashioned a chair for himself by counterfeiting God’s white judgment throne (1 Kings 10:18-20; 2 Chronicles 9:17-19; cf. Revelation 20:11), connecting himself to the number “six” (man’s number), so the Antichrist will sit in the Temple’s Mercy Seat pretending to be God (see Daniel 11:36,37; 2 Thessalonians 2:4) and associating himself with “666” (Revelation 13:16-18)!

Song of Solomon accentuates sexual purity. Solomon’s first wife epitomizes Israel’s believing remnant (Christ’s bride; Hosea 2:14-23) adopting Proverbs’ wisdom, who thereby avoids the spiritual fornication (diabolical, idolatrous religion) of the Antichrist (Ecclesiastes). The true King, Jesus Christ, is approaching for His marriage (Matthew 22:1-14; Matthew 25:1-13; Revelation 19:7-9), exactly like Solomon was en route with his true love expecting him (Song of Solomon 8:14; cf. Revelation 22;17,20)!

We summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

Solomon and Jesus #13

Monday, July 17, 2023

“And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever” (2 Samuel 7:12,13 KJV).

Let us search the Scriptures to see how Solomon is a type of the antitype Jesus….

The (Gentile) Queen of Sheba “…gave [Solomon] the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon” (1 Kings 10:10). “And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year” (1 Kings 10:24,25).

Psalm 72 has a dual application. Firstly, as its subtitle indicates, it is “A Psalm for Solomon.” Notice verses 10 and 11: “The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.” Secondly, this points to Jesus Christ, for all nations will serve Him. Gentiles give material riches as presents to Solomon and Christ. Recall the Gentile wise men bearing gifts for the Christ Child in Matthew 2:11.

Isaiah chapter 60 describes the Lord Jesus Christ’s literal, physical, visible, earthly, Davidic, Israeli kingdom in the ages to come, when Gentiles are attracted to the LORD and the Jewish people (as was the Gentile Queen of Sheba!). “And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising…. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba [!] shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD” (verses 3,5,6).

Still, there is more….