Category: sin

Known of God #1

Sunday, May 22, 2016

“Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?” (Galatians 4:8,9 KJV).

Not only do we in Christ know God. More importantly, God knows us!

Today’s Scripture carries the thought mentioned throughout the previous chapter. While the one true God was dealing with the nation of Israel, preparing them to function as His earthly people, the nations—including the Gentiles in Galatia—“knew not God” and “did service unto them which by nature are no gods.” That is, in their heathen religious services, they worshipped various dead idols.

The Gentiles were doubly-severed from the one true God. They were not only dead in their trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1-3). They were also on the wrong side of the middle wall of partition that God had erected (Ephesians 2:11,12). The Israelites, not the Gentiles, were God’s chosen people. Having let the nations (Gentiles) go their way in spiritual ignorance at the Tower of Babel in Genesis chapter 11, God took Abraham and began to form His special nation in chapter 12. Romans chapter 1 shows us the nations’ blatant rejection of God’s clearly revealed will, and their subsequent spiritual ignorance. This was the former state of the Galatians in today’s Scripture. It was also the lot of our Gentile ancestors in the centuries before Christ!

Did God not care about the Gentiles? Why, of course He did! God’s will was to take the nation Israel, convert them, fill them with His Word, so they, as His kingdom of priests, could then take that divine revelation to the nations (Genesis 12:1-3; Isaiah 2:1-3; Isaiah 60:1-3; Isaiah 61:6; Zechariah 8:20-23). Israel, as we all know, failed in that regard. But, God, in eternity past, devised another way to reach Gentiles until Israel’s national conversion. Today’s Scripture provides a clue as to how He did it. We Gentile believers in Jesus Christ “have known God” and “are known of God.” Just what exactly does this mean? Let us search the Scriptures to find out!

He Must Increase, But I Must Decrease #1

Saturday, May 14, 2016

“He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30 KJV).

Beloved, may today’s Scripture be the cry of each and every Christian!

The triune Godhead’s original intention in creation was to glorify the Son, whom we understand as Jesus Christ. We read in the Scriptures: “For by him [God’s dear Son of verse 13] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him” (Colossians 1:16).

Of course, as the prophets tell us, Lucifer, God’s chief angelic-like creature, wanted the preeminence in heaven and earth. Lucifer, “full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty… was lifted up because of [his] beauty” (Ezekiel 28:12,17). That is, Lucifer became prideful. Isaiah says that he had a five-fold plan to rob Jesus Christ of the praise that He alone deserved: “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” (14:13,14). In short, Lucifer became Satan, starting his lie program (sin) with the following words: “He must decrease, but I must increase!”

Sin, at its heart, is the decrease of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sin is disregarding the Creator’s will for our lives. It is we putting ourselves on His throne, us wanting to be our own authority and doing whatever we want. “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen” (Romans 1:25). Whether in Satan’s life, the lives of other spirit creatures like him, or the lives of us humans, sin is the deification of the creature and the lessening of the Creator.

Today’s Scripture contains invaluable insight to avoiding the error of Romans 1:25. Dear friends, in our several upcoming devotionals, we will look at John 3:30 in context, lest we be ignorant of Satan’s devices.

Mother: A Virtuous Woman

Sunday, May 8, 2016

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies” (Proverbs 31:10 KJV).

Today is Mother’s Day, so we dedicate this devotional to godly women (specifically mothers). I especially dedicate this to the virtuous woman who has been in my life for almost 28 years… my mom!

Today’s Scripture is the first verse of the Bible’s “Virtuous Woman” passage (Proverbs 31:10-31). King Solomon explained that the virtuous woman:

  • has a husband who safely trusts in her (verses 11,12).
  • is not lazy, but is strong because she works to feed and clothe her family and herself (verses 13-19,21,22,24,25,27).
  • pities the poor and needy (verse 20).
  • has a husband who is well-known because of her godly lifestyle (verse 23).
  • opens her mouth with wisdom, and speaks kindly and lovingly (verse 26).
  • has children and a husband who praise her (verse 28).
  • excels in what she does (verse 29).
  • has works that praise her (verse 31).

Verse 30 explains the virtuous woman is “a woman that feareth the LORD.”

The Apostle Paul wrote that godly women should: not slander/gossip, not be controlled by alcohol and emotions (sober minded), be teachers of good things, love their husbands and children, be cautious and modest, maintain the home, be “good,” and should obey (respect) their husbands… “that the word of God be not blasphemed” (Titus 2:3-5). A Christian woman, especially a mother, should be a virtuous woman in beliefs as well as in deed. She needs to set an example for her children (especially her daughters).

A Christian woman and/or Christian mother places her faith in this sound Bible doctrine, the indwelling Holy Spirit will then take that doctrine and transform her for God’s glory (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Her mind will be renewed by sound Bible doctrine, and that will transform her outward activity (Romans 12:1,2).

Are you a Christian woman or Christian mother who desires to be the woman God intends you to be in Christ Jesus? Place your faith in this sound Bible doctrine, and God will take care of the rest!

 HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO OUR READERS WHO ARE MOTHERS!

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

When We Deceive Ourselves

Friday, May 6, 2016

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10 KJV).

Do you claim to be sinless?

Years ago, I spoke with a religious family member about the Gospel of the Grace of God. Nearly 90 years old, she had been instructed in her denomination for many decades. When I asked her about her sins, she said, “I have never done anything wrong in all my life!” Just think, friends, about how many times we have sinned in our decades alive. Consider how many times we have sinned today. Now, think about a woman living 90 years, and then saying most seriously, “I have been sinless all my life!” Talk about delusional. But, the people spoken of in today’s Scripture were equally mistaken.

Instead of realizing “For by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20), most Israelites from Christ’s earthly ministry thought they were “pretty good” before God. Note how John the Baptist corrected such erroneous thinking in Matthew 3:9. Paraphrased, “Just because Abraham is your ancestor does not automatically make you sinless!” This was directed to the Pharisees and Sadducees, Israel’s religious leaders who thought they were sinless. As the Pharisee in Luke 18:11 prayed, “God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican [tax collector]!”

Today’s Scripture, while often misunderstood as something for believers to practice today, was actually written to correct this unbelieving, so-called “sinless crowd,” in Israel. In order to be saved into God’s family, they had to confess their national sin of breaking God’s Law Covenant. They had to quit trying to establish their own righteousness and come to understand God’s righteousness manifested in Jesus Christ (Romans 10:1-13). Many today need to learn this lesson. They too hide behind their religion. God is not fooled. Until they realize they are lost and going to hell, they have no chance of being saved and going to heaven!

A Prayer According to God’s Will

Thursday, May 5, 2016

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;” (1 Timothy 2:1-3 KJV).

On this United States’ National Day of Prayer, we pray you pray according to the Lord Jesus Christ’s will for today!

Today, religious people—the general public, clergy, and government officials—will assemble nationwide, like they do every year, and pray for spiritual and moral revival of the “Christian” (?) United States of America. We commend their noble efforts, but God’s Word says there will be no godly revival of any of the world’s Gentile nations until Jesus Christ returns to earth at His Second Coming (Isaiah 11:9; Isaiah 59:20–60:3; Zechariah 8:20-23; Revelation 11:15; et cetera).

The LORD’s words to King Solomon are often quoted on this day: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Friends, this is certainly God’s Word, but has nothing to do with Gentiles in the United States in the Dispensation of Grace. This verse has a context often overlooked—the nation Israel under the Mosaic Law, praying in relation to God’s Temple in Jerusalem (verses 15,16). Actually, that Temple was destroyed over 19 centuries ago! Unlike Israel, the United States was never a divinely-founded nation. The American people as a whole are not God’s people like Israel was.

Rather than praying 2 Chronicles 7:14, remember today’s Scripture (God’s Word to us Gentiles). The verse following today’s Scripture says, “[God] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). Pray for those in authority, that they would trust Jesus Christ alone as their personal Saviour, and then grow in His Word to them so they can make wise decisions on behalf of the people they govern.

The Awareness of a Temporary Earth

 Friday, April 22, 2016

“And, Thou, O Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: they shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail” (Hebrews 1:10-12 KJV).

On this Earth Day, let us not confuse the creation with the Creator!

Today, people worldwide celebrate “environmental awareness.” According to the secular, naturalistic worldview, our planet and its sun could last many more billions of years. They claim that we have done so much damage to our planet—climate change, overpopulation, deforestation, pollution, et cetera—that we must change our attitude toward “mother earth” and change our lifestyles before we destroy her and civilization as we know it! You can sense the zeal in their message, can you not? While these people are sincere, they are wasting all of their time, energy, and resources on a temporary planet.

Let us be very clear that the Lord Jesus Christ placed man on the earth, especially the Garden of Eden, to “dress it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). Adam was to take care of the Earth: he was God’s representative, God’s king, who had a divine commission to rule this planet for God’s glory (Genesis 1:26-28).

It was not long, however, before Satan distracted mankind from understanding God’s purpose for him. Adam began to focus on himself: like Satan, he began to “worship and serve the creature more than the Creator” (Romans 1:25). Thus began man’s continual downward spiral into spiritual ignorance. He would continually worship himself, as we well know today.

Today’s Scripture reminds us that, because of sin, this creation will pass away. The Lord Jesus Christ, however, will live forever. Why worship that which is temporary? It makes no sense! The Lord Jesus Christ gave you life, not the pagan goddess “mother earth.” Environmental awareness? Indeed, be aware that our world is temporary, as God will one day create “a new heaven and a new earth” (Revelation 21:1).

Bible Q&A #255: “Can you explain Colossians 3:3-4?”

Bent on Being Content

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

“… Supposing that gain is godliness…. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:5-10 KJV).

Most definitely, there is no wagon behind a hearse, but you will be taking your spiritual purse!

In this life, the Bible says we should be thankful if we have only food and clothing. However, “the love of money”—as history bears record to time and time again—has led to ever so many other evils. This is particularly true of religions (the context of today’s Scripture). Human flesh is a pig—it wants more and more and more. Envy creeps in and you become willing to take the life of anyone who has what you want. Yet, after all the effort of trying to gain, gain, gain, we lose it all anyway.

No matter how tightly people try to hold on to their material possessions, they will lose them in the end. Death is the ultimate thief. It takes away our loved ones, it takes away our material goods, and it takes away our life. People can put wads of cash into our pockets as our body lies in its casket for its last viewing. Still, it will profit us nothing because we are not even there anyway. We will be either in heaven or in hell—and earthly wealth is useless in both.

The only thing that matters in eternity is God’s Word because it will never, ever, ever disappear. Friend, if you do not have God’s Word, you have nothing. “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (today’s Scripture). You read all about godliness in the Bible, particularly Paul’s epistles. Learn of the spiritual wealth God offers you in Christ, and, friend, be content with it. It is “great gain.” 🙂

Nude Human Artwork?

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4 KJV).

In this world of people becoming more and more confused about human sexuality, today’s Scripture is a ray of light!

Recently, I watched a video of a liberal arts “professor” defending “nude human artwork.” She, like any lost person, reasoned, “There is nothing wrong with the ‘raw’ human body. This is not ‘obscenity’ but rather ‘art.’” Another person agreed, “I think it would be disrespectful not to allow it and it would be disrespectful not to let others express themselves.” (Of course, these two were being interviewed fully clothed! And, I wonder if we used their logic and told them, “Let us display medieval torture devices… they are wonderful works of art that express their makers’ creativity!”) Alas, let them alone. They are just a few more people confused about sexual matters.

No question about it. Adam and Eve wore no physical clothing during the first days of creation. The Bible says, “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed” (Genesis 2:25). However, after sin entered, “they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons” (Genesis 3:7). Adam was so ashamed of his nakedness that he literally hid when he heard God approaching (verse 10). Finally, God “made coats of skins, and clothed them” (verse 21).

Certainly, originally, there was nothing sinful about a naked human body. But, something happened to the human body in Genesis chapter 3—man’s fall into sin. That entrance of sin drastically altered the human body’s appearance. Once clothed by God’s light (righteousness), it now needs physical covering. When we read about the Gadarene possessed by thousands of evil spirits, he “ware no clothes” (Luke 8:27). However, once Jesus healed him, the man, “in his right mind,” put on clothes (verse 35)!

God is the Master Creator. The human body is indeed a work of art. But, may it be enjoyed in the “undefiled” “marriage bed” (today’s Scripture). Anything else—including nude “art”—is just incentive for lust… and worse, including harlotry and adultery. Cover it up… and the art, too!

The Old Rugged Cross #4

Monday, April 11, 2016

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14 KJV).

The chorus of George Bennard’s classic 1913 hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross,” highlights today’s Scripture.

“So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.”

Fellow saints, considering where we were—dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1)—and where we are now—dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:11), we have every reason to cherish (value) the “old rugged cross.” Once dead in sin, we are now dead to sin; sin is not who we are anymore. We are a “new creature in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our translation from Satan’s domain into God’s kingdom was accomplished by Jesus Christ’s finished work on Calvary (cf. today’s Scripture).

Our new identity in Christ now qualifies us to participate in the greatest plan in the universe. We already started when we trusted Christ as our personal Saviour and it will span the endless ages of the future. But, until our Dispensation of Grace closes, the Body of Christ must remain on Earth. When it is time for God to return to Israel’s program, we (corporately) will be relocated to the Heavenly Places. We see a glimpse of this in the closing verses of Philippians chapter 3: “[20] For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: [21] Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”

All of our “glory” (boasting, value) is in Christ and what He did, not in our measly “good works.” There is still so much more He must do in and through us on Earth before we get to Philippians 3:21, but Him working in and through us in the Heavenly Places (cf. Colossians 1:16-20) will also be made possible through the “old rugged cross!” 🙂

The Old Rugged Cross #3

Sunday, April 10, 2016

“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).

The third and final verse of George Bennard’s classic 1913 hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross,” highlights today’s Scripture.

“In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see;
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.”

“For he [God the Father] hath made him [His Son, Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (verse 21). The wood of Calvary’s cross was ordinary wood, but it was stained with extraordinary blood. It was “the innocent blood” (Matthew 27:4 KJV). Peter wrote, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just [righteous] for the unjust [unrighteous], that he might bring us to God…” (1 Peter 3:18). “…[T]he Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28 KJV). Modern versions omit the correlation here, but our King James Bible says God’s own blood was shed at Calvary!

How could God have blood? Why, God became a Man, and as a Man, He had blood (Hebrews 2:8-18). Because it was God’s blood, it was sinless, divine, able to cover the sins. Had it been regular human blood, it would have been linked to Adam. Jesus was much more than a “good man;” He was the visible manifestation of the invisible God (Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:3). Had He been anything less than fully God and fully man, He could not mediate between both parties!

Many people in history have died for their religion. But, Jesus Christ did not die as a “martyr.” He gave up His life, to “pardon and sanctify” those who would accept His payment for their sins. That blood was shed to impart spiritual life to those who would believe in it. It was shed to set apart a group of people whom Father God would use through the ages of eternity future to glorify His Son, the Person who died on the “old rugged cross.” 🙂

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What swallowed Jonah—a fish or a whale?”