Category: Salvation

What Marvels the Lord #6

Thursday, April 20, 2023

“When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (Luke 7:9 KJV).

What marvels the Lord?

The Lord Jesus Christ was shocked when His very neighbors and acquaintances—among whom He had grown up and lived for some 20-plus years—were the very people who had no meaningful understanding of whom He actually was (re-read Mark 6:1-6). “And he marvelled because of their unbelief.” How difficult it was for Him to fathom that, despite all that He had said and done in their presence, the outcome was prevailing unbelief. In no uncertain terms, He had presented His credentials, but these Jewish people still declined to believe on Him as Messiah!

He had also been surprised to hear a profession of faith from a pagan Gentile military official! “When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (today’s Scripture; cf. Matthew 8:10). This Roman’s people had not been given the Hebrew Bible. Jesus was certainly not his Messiah, but Israel’s Messiah, yet he had profound insight concerning this spiritual truth (re-read Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10). Here is what stunned Christ.

In these accounts we have the “marvelling” Messiah, for the Jewish people (with the Bible) are in unbelief but a Gentile man (without the Bible) is willing to believe! Similarly, we in grace ministry are dazed at our present paradox. The people who have attended American “Christian” church services their entire lives usually have no appreciation for Bible truth, yet there is unrestricted access to the Bible (with the Bible). There is no sincere interest in sound doctrine, though, for only entertainment and emotions are the priority. Yet, we can venture out to the foreign lands where the Scriptures are banned, burned, and limited (without the Bible). These souls are so hungry and desperate for the truth, and they gladly receive even a partial Bible or the most basic Gospel tract. What a tragic state of affairs, another testament that human nature has not changed one whit in 20 centuries!

What Marvels the Lord #5

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

“When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (Luke 7:9 KJV).

What marvels the Lord?

The other passage where Jesus “marvelled” is Mark chapter 6: “[1] And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. [2] 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? [3] 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. [4] 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. [5] And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. [6] And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.”

Absolutely, this unbelief was extremely remarkable. These Jews gathered in the Nazareth synagogue had heard Christ speak and teach. They knew of His miracles and wisdom. “Where did He obtain such information and power?!” Instead of identifying Him as God in human flesh, they had a low estimation of Him: “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” (verse 3). They could not fathom how He was able to do and say these things. After all, in their eyes, He was just a “commoner” like them! There was nothing “special” about Him, so it made no sense He could teach with such skill and work with such capability. Why Jesus “marvelled” here is simple: this was the synagogue where He grew up, the people who had supposedly “known” Him for some 20 years (see Matthew 2:23; Luke 4:16). Note also Luke 4:22-30!

Shocking indeed….

What Marvels the Lord #4

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

“When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (Luke 7:9 KJV).

What marvels the Lord?

Today’s Scripture in context: “[1] Now when he [Christ] had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. [2] And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. [3] And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. [4] And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: [5] For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.”

“[6] Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: [7] Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. [8] For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. [9] When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. [10] And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.”

A Gentile has requested the Lord Jesus come heal his dying servant (see parallel account in Matthew 8:5-13). Christ’s earthly ministry was to Israel only (Matthew 15:24; Romans 15:8). The Scriptures belonged to Israel (Romans 3:1,2). Yet, here was a Gentile!—a non-Jew!—willing to believe Jesus. His profession of faith was more informed than even amongst the Jewish people to whom Christ had been sent (today’s Scripture). Thus, Jesus “marvelled.” Let us look at the other startling occasion now….

What Marvels the Lord #3

Monday, April 17, 2023

“When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (Luke 7:9 KJV).

What marvels the Lord?

Jesus Christ had definitely presented His credentials. For example, there was the fourfold witness of John 5:31-47. Whether John the Baptist’s ministry (preaching), God the Father’s testimony (announcement at Jesus’ water baptism), Jesus’ works (including His miracles), or the Hebrew Scriptures (fulfilled prophecies), all bore record of His Messiahship. It was not an evidence problem—meager proof, defective proof, unimpressive proof. Rather, it was a heart problem in the audience.

“And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life…. I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive…. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” (John 5:40,43,46,47).

To wit, the Lord Jesus offered His “identification card,” His “driver’s license,” His “birth certificate” for all of Israel to inspect throughout His three years of earthly ministry (see again Acts 2:22,23). Everything He said and wrought matched the Messianic promises and prophecies laid out centuries before in the Hebrew Bible. Those Scriptures were to prepare the Jewish people to accept the God who would one day become a physical or biological member of their family. Alas, “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (John 1:10,11).

From the human perspective, what happened was startling because it should not have turned out like that. Those to whom the Lord Jesus was sent, they did not believe Him. Yet, those to whom He was not sent, they did believe Him. Here is what marvelled Him, surprised Him, amazed Him. To think that the same evidence was there for all to see and hear—but what resulted was two extreme responses, one of absolute unbelief and the other of genuine faith….

What Marvels the Lord #2

Sunday, April 16, 2023

“When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (Luke 7:9 KJV).

What marvels the Lord?

Nothing actually shocks God, for He knows all contingencies or possibilities. If Option A is followed, Options C and D will be available. However, if Option B is taken, Options E and F will be presented. Although, this is a rather simplistic diagram because our limited minds can handle only so much information. A more realistic analysis would be something along the lines of hundreds or thousands of choices, with millions of combinations of outcomes. It is a complicated network of paths, and only God in His omniscience (all-knowledge) can fully appreciate the “big picture.” As the God-Man, Jesus Christ knew it all (as God) and yet learned too (as Man).

Consider the following illustration. Suppose you located a long-lost relative and decided to visit their house and introduce yourself. Understandably, they would be skeptical of any connection, likely demanding you present some proof—a birth certificate, a current driver’s license, a family photograph, knowledge of personal details or “family secrets,” a family heirloom, a corroborating story, genealogical records, any form of valid documentation. Now, imagine acquiring these materials and offering them to substantiate your claim. You would expect that person to accept you with open arms, consenting to the fact you belong to their family. Except, the person refuses to believe it, commanding you to take your items—and yourself—and scram from their front door! You would marvel, would you not? The surprise would be devastating. “After everything I have shown them, they do not want me!”

We take the above scenario and compare it to Christ’s earthly ministry. Read the Apostle Peter’s words: “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:…” (Acts 2:22,23). Indeed, it is a tragic reality, but reality nonetheless….

What Marvels the Lord #1

Saturday, April 15, 2023

“When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (Luke 7:9 KJV).

What marvels the Lord?

The Bible tells us how, on two occasions, the Lord Jesus Christ “marvelled.” Today’s Scripture is the parallel of Matthew 8:10: “When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” This was right after He delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Sometime later, we read in Mark 6:6: “And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.”

“Marvel” means “be filled with wonder, amazement, astonishment.” Do we not find it not amazing that the Lord could be surprised? Is He not omniscient, all-knowing? How could He witness unexpected results? Did He really know what would happen? If so, why was He shocked when it occurred?

Jesus Christ is the God-Man. He is undiminished Deity with full humanity added. These two natures do not interfere with each other. For example, though He was standing on Earth conversing with Nicodemus, the Lord Jesus was simultaneously present in Heaven: “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is [not ‘was,’ but ‘is’ presently!] in heaven” (John 3:13). This truth is removed from modern English Bibles and their underlying perverted Greek texts, but it is as plain as can be in our King James Bible.

Again, Jesus Christ is both God and Man, the only Person with both natures. As God, He had nothing to learn: He knew all there was to know. However, as Man, He learned just like we do: “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him…. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:40,52). These are unique to Luke, the Gospel Record presenting Jesus as the Perfect Man.

From the human perspective, Jesus had expectations, and, when He did not see anticipated outcomes, He was surprised….

A Lesson from Les

Friday, April 14, 2023

“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8 KJV).

Recently, a dear brother in Christ, who was highly influential in my early ministry, graduated to Heaven.

Brother Les Feldick reintroduced my family and I to Bible study after we had been out of church for some years. We had believed the Gospel of Grace (1 Corinthians 15:3,4) more than a decade earlier, and we had a basic Bible understanding, but our spiritual insight was limited because of denominationalism. Brother Les helped point us to dispensational Bible study (2 Timothy 2:15). Another brother’s ministry, months later, fine-tuned our right division.

Despite our doctrinal differences, Brother Les and I met in person during the summers of 2007, 2008, and 2009. My parents and I attended three taping sessions of his Bible study television program in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We were invited to eat a meal at his ranch, and met his wife Iris, their paralyzed daughter Laura, their grandson Jesse (we are the same age), and various office workers. It was wonderful Christian fellowship. These last few years, however, Brother Les suffered many increasingly debilitating health problems, and he finally moved to be with our Lord Jesus Christ just a few months shy of age 96!

Long ago, Brother Les gave me, a young man just entering ministry, the following advice: “Shawn, just get them to think. You do not have to convince them of the truth. Simply give them the sound Bible doctrine so they can think about it. The rest is up to them.” This is but one simple lesson from Brother Les. We can always be thankful to the Lord Jesus Christ for the men and women He used mightily to bring us where we are in our spiritual development. Like we, they are feeble and limited…. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7). One day, that same power of God will reunite us with these departed saints (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)!

-IN MEMORIAM-
Brother Les Feldick
June 6, 1927–April 5, 2023
“Salvation = Faith + Nothing”

Two Sons and Two Fathers

Thursday, April 13, 2023

“And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:” (Luke 23:18 KJV).

One son will be liberated to live, and the other Son will be sentenced to die!

At the time of Christ’s trial, Barabbas is a prisoner (Matthew 27:16). Barabbas is a murderer, a robber, and guilty of “insurrection,” or rebelling against the government (Mark 15:7; Luke 23:18,19; John 18:40).

It is Passover. Roman governor Pontius Pilate has a custom that, at the feast, he releases a prisoner, whomever the people desire (Matthew 27:15; Mark 15:6). “But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified” (Matthew 27:20-22).

Israel’s chief priests, rulers, and common people all demand Christ’s crucifixion and Barabbas’ release, so Pilate gives the sentence (Luke 23:23-25). Guilty Barabbas is set free to live, and innocent Jesus Christ is condemned to be crucified. While Barabbas’ involvement in the matter seems insignificant upon first glance, God included it in His written Word because to provide us with an amazing illustration!

“Barabbas” means “son of the father.” Barabbas is a criminal, and he represents sinful, rebellious mankind who is worthy of death. He is bound by sin, and faces eternal death. Spiritually, sinful mankind is the son of Satan—man is of his father the devil (John 8:44). Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, God, “knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21), but took upon Himself our sins and was punished in our place.

Innocent Jesus Christ took the place of guilty Barabbas, which actually represented Christ taking the place of the whole world, suffering God’s wrath on our behalf! “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust…” (1 Peter 3:18). Thus, through Christ’s finished crosswork, we sinful sons of Adam (and Satan) can be freed from sin, and we can become the righteous sons of God.

The Bible’s Season of New Life

Monday, April 10, 2023

“God that made the world and all things therein… he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;” (Acts 17:24,25 KJV).

May we never forget the true meaning of Eastertime!

Satan is the master counterfeiter: from Genesis to Revelation, the Scriptures reveal how the devil schemes to “be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:14). Whatever God does, Satan defiles that work by introducing false doctrine, distracts mankind from God’s truth by mimicking His actions, discourages God’s people from His ministry by using incorrect thinking patterns, and so on. Why? Satan wants the worship that God alone deserves (Matthew 4:8-10; Luke 4:5-8).

Consider Christmastime. Centuries before Christ, Satan had pagans worshipping the birth of the sun god in early winter—near the date that Jesus Christ (God the Son) took upon human flesh in the virgin Mary’s womb! Now, consider Eastertime. Centuries before Christ, Satan had pagans worshipping fertility deities and new life in early spring, near the date that Jesus Christ (God the Son) died for our sins and resurrected victoriously over sin, death, hell, and Satan to give us new life! (To Satan’s delight, today’s average church member is not mindful of relevant sound Bible doctrine during Christmastime and Eastertime—the devil’s distractions have never lost their efficacy!)

The God of the Bible instituted in Israel a festival, Passover (the killing of a spotless lamb and its bloodshed in early spring), while they were still in Egypt (Exodus chapter 12)—Passover’s annual observance reminded them of JEHOVAH delivering them from Egyptian slavery unto new life. Israel did not understand its meaning until 1,500 years later. The true Passover lamb, Jesus Christ, died and shed His sinless blood during that annual Passover feast (early spring), and He resurrected in new life to give them spiritual life and liberty.

Yes, the pagans may have “hijacked” this time of year for the devil’s glory, but we can disregard their ignorance: spring is God’s season for new life. We can still use this season to bring the God of the Bible glory by remembering that He has given us physical life (today’s Scripture), and He offers us new life (that is, spiritual life) through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection! 🙂

Christ Liveth in Me

Sunday, April 9, 2023

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20 KJV).

“He is risen” is not a simple blasé cliché!

When Jesus’ disciples came to His tomb on that glorious Sunday morning nearly 2,000 years ago, they were startled to find it empty! Angels inform them that He has resurrected, but they are still in shock (Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-8). Jesus Christ Himself must later explain the Scriptures to them regarding what happened those last few days (Luke 24:44-46).

However, until Paul’s ministry, Christ’s finished crosswork is not preached as good news for salvation. Peter and Israel’s other apostles simply preach that Jesus Christ is now resurrected to “sit on [David’s] throne” (Acts 2:30)—that is bad news for much of Israel, for they still reject Him, weeks and months after His resurrection and ascension. Throughout early Acts, Israel’s apostles warn her that Jesus Christ is coming back to judge them.

When we come to the Apostle Paul’s ministry, we learn that we Gentiles can benefit from Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork. Israel’s rejected Messiah is now our way to heaven! Yes, Israel hated Him, and demanded that He experience the most awful method of execution devised, but God allowed it in order to accomplish His will. Satan attempted to hinder God’s will by having Christ killed, but all that did was provide the method whereby God could save us pagan Gentiles. Calvary’s finished crosswork frees us from Satan’s evil system and gives us a chance to be God’s people (Acts 26:17,18)!

As people who have trusted Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for our sins, that crucifixion is our death to self and sin, and that resurrection is our raising to walk in newness of life—His life (today’s Scripture; cf. Romans 6:1-11)!

Indeed, Jesus Christ is alive, and He lives in and through those who walk by faith in God’s Word to them, Paul’s epistles of Romans through Philemon! 🙂

HAPPY EASTER!

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