Category: Christ’s earthly ministry

Hast Thou Life, or Not?

Monday, February 27, 2012

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:12 KJV).

Look at today’s Scripture, and notice its simplicity. If you have God’s Son Jesus Christ, you have life. If you do not have God’s Son, you do not have life. The Bible could not be more straightforward!

While every breathing human being has physical life, how many have spiritual life? “Few.” The Lord Jesus explained: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait [small] is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13,14). According to the Lord Himself, many people will go to hell and few will go to heaven. Why?

Many people have gone (and will go) to hell because they have chosen to remain dead in their sins (Ephesians 2:1-3). “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a)—the rewards of sin is physical death and spiritual death (hellfire). But, we can be saved from our sins and hell by trusting Jesus Christ alone as our personal Saviour. Jesus Christ paid our sin debt by dying for us and as us, and He was raised again for our justification (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). By faith, we accept His resurrection life, eternal life.

Whether in Israel’s program, or our Dispensation of Grace, salvation is only found in Jesus Christ. The Apostle John wrote to Israel: “he that hath the Son hath life” (today’s Scripture; cf. John 3:36). Our Apostle Paul wrote in our dispensation: “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).

Hast thou life, or not? Salvation is not a “hope so.” You have either trusted in Christ Jesus alone (and you are going to heaven), or you have rejected Christ and have chosen to remain dead in your sins (and you are going to hell!). You can have eternal life through Jesus Christ if you trust in Him alone!

The Jews, the Greeks, and Paul’s Gospel

Friday, February 24, 2012

“For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:22-24 KJV).

Jews were fixated on “signs,” miraculous demonstrations that God had long used to teach them and their forefathers, whereas Greeks were obsessed with “wisdom” (philosophy, human viewpoint). These distracted them from focusing on what really mattered—salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ!

  • JEWS AND SIGNS: After Jesus performed miracles before Israel the Bible says “many believed in his name,… but Jesus did not commit himself unto them…” (John 2:23-25). Jesus understood they were just awed by the miracles; they overlooked the doctrine He was teaching through the miracles!! When Paul preached the Gospel of Grace to Jews, they too just wanted miracles, not the salvation that the miracles represented. Also, to Jews, “Christ crucified” was a “stumblingblock,” something offensive, for did they not crucify Christ (today’s Scripture; cf. Isaiah 8:13,14; Romans 9:32,33; 1 Peter 2:6-8)?
  • GREEKS AND WISDOM: In Acts chapter 17, when Paul encountered the Athenian philosophers near Mars’ Hill, they wanted to learn from him “new doctrine… for all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing” (verses 19-21). Notice again how these Greeks focused on learning/philosophy. Yet, once they learned God’s wisdom, Paul’s Gospel, the Gospel of Grace, they considered that “foolishness” (today’s Scripture; cf. Acts 17:18,32; 1 Corinthians 1:18).

Thankfully, today’s Scripture teaches that for Jews who were “called” (members of the Church the Body of Christ), Christ was TRUE POWER, “the power of God”—for God demonstrated His miraculous power by raising Christ from the dead (cf. Romans 1:4; 2 Corinthians 13:4). For Greeks who were “called” (also members of the Body of Christ), Christ was TRUE WISDOM, “the wisdom of God”—for God demonstrated His unrivaled wisdom in saving us using “the foolishness of preaching” (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:21, 25-30; Colossians 2:2,3).

The Jews Require a Sign

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

“For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:” (1 Corinthians 1:22 KJV).

Today there is much discussion in Christendom about signs, miracles, and wonders. Charismatic preachers filled with the supposed “Holy Ghost” claim they cast out devils, handle snakes, speak in tongues, heal the sick, and, yes, allegedly raise the dead! The Bible does teach these practices, but are they really doing God’s work, or merely “wresting” God’s Word to make it say something God never said?

Unquestionably, the Lord Jesus Christ told His apostles to “heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils” (Matthew 10:8). He instructed them to “cast out devils,” “speak with new tongues,” “take up serpents,” drink poison, and “lay hands on the sick [so] they shall recover” (Mark 16:17,18). But, notice the context—Jesus is sending His apostles with “signs” to lost Israel (Matthew 10:5-7; Mark 16:17,20). Jews will only believe if they first witness God’s miracles.

Signs, miracles, and wonders were significant in Israel’s program. Jews always “required signs” (today’s Scripture). The Lord Jesus said (John 4:48): “Except ye [Israel] see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” Miracles in Israel first appear in Exodus 4:1-9, when God gave Moses the ability to heal sickness and handle snakes (to teach Israel that he was God’s servant to deliver them from Egypt). Verses 30 and 31 explain that once Israel saw these signs, “the people believed” (cf. John 4:48).

Jesus performed many miracles during His earthly ministry to prove to Israel that He was God’s servant, their Messiah-King, the God whom their fathers worshipped. Sadly, sinful Israel crucified Him in unbelief.

When God began turning to the Gentiles through the Apostle Paul, these miracles transferred to the Gentiles, teaching Israel that God was now working amongst the Gentiles (Romans 11:11,12; 1 Corinthians 14:21,22). Eventually, when Israel’s program ceased, these miracles faded, and at the close of Paul’s ministry, he could no longer heal (1 Timothy 5:23; 2 Timothy 4:20).

So, it begs the question, today’s charismatic preachers are using whose power to perform their “signs, miracles, and wonders?” Not the God of the Bible!

The Mount of Olives

Sunday, February 19, 2012

“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey” (Acts 1:9-12 KJV).

The Bible makes 13 references to the Mount of Olives (or Mount Olivet). We read, for instance, that David wept while ascending Olivet (2 Samuel 15:30). Several times during His earthly ministry Jesus Christ stood near Olivet (Matthew 21:1; Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29,37). As today’s Scripture indicates, He ascended into heaven from Olivet. Furthermore, according to today’s Scripture, Olivet holds an even grander purpose.

Jesus gave His great “end times discourse” while sitting on Olivet (Matthew 24:3; Mark 13:3). After teaching in the temple, Jesus slept one night on Olivet (Luke 21:37; John 8:1). Shortly after the “Last Supper,” Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn and went to the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26; Luke 22:39).

Olivet is actually three peaks, and today’s Scripture says that they are a “sabbath day’s journey from Jerusalem” (about 0.56 mile/0.9 km to the east). In Jesus’ day, the Mount of Olives was famous for its olive trees (today, the olive groves are gone because Roman general Titus destroyed them when he overran Jerusalem in A.D. 70).

In today’s Scripture, the men in white apparel (angels) tell the apostles that Jesus will “come in like manner” as they saw him go into heaven. How? According to Zechariah 14:4, the first place where Jesus’ literal feet will stand at His Second Coming is Olivet, the last place He stood on earth before He ascended into heaven 2,000 years ago!

Olivet is still awaiting that glorious day when the King of kings and Lord of lords returns!

Save Thyself, and Come Down from the Cross!

Friday, February 17, 2012

“And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself, and come down from the cross” (Mark 15:29,30 KJV).

Here is Israel’s mighty JEHOVAH, the God who spoke the heaven and earth into existence, dying helplessly on Calvary’s cross. His body is beaten and whipped beyond recognition. As His blood pours onto Mount Calvary, His critics stand before Him and sneer, “Come down from the cross!” Why does He hang there silently? Can He not come down and destroy them all?

Israel’s chief priests and the scribes mock, “He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe” (verses 31,32). What stupidity! Even those crucified with Jesus ridicule Him. Amazingly, some 1000 years before Christ, David wrote, “All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake their head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him” (Psalm 22:7,8). The Bible says they even have the audacity to sit down and watch Jesus hang there in agony (Matthew 27:36)! And yet Jesus never answers them and does nothing to retaliate. Why?

Jesus had the power to simply speak the word and easily toss these critics into hell. But, remember, this is His meek and lowly coming. The prophet Isaiah foretold of Christ 700 years earlier, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” (53:7). It was God the Father’s will that Jesus die (Matthew 26:42), so Jesus was quiet and let them nail Him to Calvary’s cross. Furthermore, had He come down from the cross, God’s plans for eternity future would never be accomplished (see Colossians 1:20).

By not saving Himself, Jesus Christ was actually accomplishing our salvation! He willingly stayed there on Calvary’s cross… PROVING GOD’S LOVE FOR US!

Who is This?

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

“And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee” (Matthew 21:10,11 KJV).

For several centuries, the Old Testament prophets wrote and spoke of Him. He would be Israel’s Saviour-King, and He would save the Gentiles too! This Man would set up His everlasting kingdom on earth. He would deliver Israel from her sins and enemies. He would be the Son of God, Messiah/Christ. And yet, pitifully, as Jerusalem sees Him coming, they inquire, “Who is this?” Oh, how sad!

In the context of today’s Scripture, we read of Christ’s so-called “triumphal entry” (actually, this was His meek and lowly coming, for His Second Coming, being far glorious, will be His triumphal entry). Here, Jesus is riding through Jerusalem on a colt the foal of an ass (verses 1-9). Zechariah 9:9, written 500 B.C., declared that Israel’s Messiah-King would do just that (cf. Isaiah 62:11). This event should have alerted every Jew, but, sadly, many refuse to see it.

However, there is a remnant of Jewish believers in Jerusalem who recognize this fulfilled prophecy. They shout Psalm 118:26, “Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest” (Matthew 21:9). But, as for the remainder of Jerusalem, they are blinded by sin and unbelief, and ask, “Who is this?” (Today, unfortunately, many still ask the same question [Who is Jesus?], and for the same reason too [blinded by sin and unbelief]).

God’s Word says that most Jews did not recognize Jesus as Messiah-King (John 1:11): instead, they demanded His crucifixion (John 19:14,15). They were so blinded by sin, yet they refused to understand anyway (Luke 23:34; Acts 3:13-18).

Nevertheless, when Jesus Christ’s exile period terminates, He will return to earth. The believing remnant of Israel of the Tribulation period will see Him coming in great power and glory. They will see His pierced hands and feet, and finally recognize Him and embrace Him as Messiah-King (Zechariah 12:10).

In that day, no longer will Israel ask, “Who is this?”

Do We Have Guardian Angels?

Monday, February 6, 2012

“The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them” (Psalm 34:7 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is one of the scores of verses that speak of “guardian angels.” But do we have guardian angels today, in our Dispensation of Grace?

Throughout the Old Testament, angels protected and guided the nation Israel (Exodus 23:20,23; Exodus 33:2; Judges 6:11,12; 2 Kings 19:35; et al.). “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone” (Psalm 91:11,12).

In the New Testament, angels ministered to Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry (Matthew 4:11; Luke 22:43). Angels rescued the imprisoned apostles (Acts 5:18-26) and delivered the Apostle Peter from prison (Acts 12:1-11). Yet, when we come to our Apostle Paul, God uses an earthquake—not an angel—to free him from prison (Acts 16:23-28). Why?

Notice what Paul writes about angels today. They should not be worshipped (Colossians 2:18) and that, if a supposed “angel” appears to us today, it would do so only to deceive by preaching to us a false gospel (Galatians 1:8; cf. 2 Corinthians 11:14). But, Paul’s epistles are silent about guardian angels in our Dispensation of Grace. We are not guaranteed physical protection with angels like God promised Israel, but we Christians have something better: we have eternal spiritual protection because the indwelling Holy Spirit is guarding our souls (Ephesians 4:30; cf. Romans 8:35-39).

Furthermore, Paul writes that, while angels have no ministry to us today, we have a ministry to them! The angels are curious about what God is doing, so they learn this by watching us, the Church the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 4:9; 1 Corinthians 11:10; Ephesians 3:9,10; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Timothy 5:21). Smile, they are watching! 🙂

But, what about Hebrews 1:14: “Are they [the angels of verse 13] not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Notice, this is the book of Hebrews—this is speaking of future Israel.

We do not need angels today—they need us.

Religious Tradition is Not the Final Authority

Saturday, February 4, 2012

“Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye” (Mark 7:13 KJV).

A critic once asked me where the Bible taught “Sola Scriptura” (that the Bible, not religious tradition, was the final authority). Although he attempted to trip me up with this “I gotcha” issue, I showed him the following verses, including today’s Scripture, and he has not been heard from since! 🙂

Just as vain religious tradition abounds today, it did in Christ’s time. The Pharisees and scribes loved being religious, but they vehemently rejected God’s Son Jesus Christ, and they made every attempt to hinder His ministry. In their minds, their vain religious tradition, not God’s Word, had the preeminence (Galatians 1:13,14; 1 Peter 1:18). Sound familiar?

Today, most churches relegate God’s Word to a “good advice” status: the Bible’s testimony is only sought if it agrees with church tradition. Myriads of church members only hear God’s Word via a biased (denominational) viewpoint. This happens in “Christian” churches of all places too!

In Matthew 15:9, Jesus said: “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” He expounded in Mark 7:8,9: “For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.”

The focus was not on God’s doctrine and its meaning, but whether or not someone could pacify Israel’s religious body with outward performance (formalism). By cleaving to their tradition, they nullified God’s Word (today’s Scripture). Consider modern-day church members enslaved to a denominational hierarchy, bound to perform religious duty and appease fallible man.

Friends, you either believe religious tradition, or you believe God’s Word. The two cannot and will not mix because they are mutually exclusive: “…Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition” (Matthew 15:6). According to Jesus Christ, the Bible alone has God’s authority, not religious tradition (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16,17).

Why Twelve Apostles?

Friday, February 3, 2012

“Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:27,28 KJV).

Why did the Lord Jesus Christ choose twelve apostles during His earthly ministry? Today’s Scripture elaborates.

When God separated Abram (Abraham) from the human race in Genesis chapter 12, He purposed to create a nation for His name. Using Abraham’s bloodline, God would also send the King-Messiah-Redeemer (Jesus), the seed of the woman, that He promised in Genesis 3:15. As God swore, elderly Abram and Sarai (Sarah) had their son Isaac (Genesis 17:1-22). Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob had twelve sons (Genesis 35:22-26). Jacob’s twelve sons head “the twelve tribes of Israel” (Genesis 49:1-28; Acts 7:8).

In Bible numerics, 12 is the number of the nation Israel. God used twelve men and their wives to give birth to the Jewish race. According to today’s Scripture, when Jesus Christ came (First Advent), He chose 12 men to be His apostles, individuals that He sent out to evangelize the rest of Israel (Matthew 10:5-7). But, not only that… we gather from today’s Scripture that Christ had actually chosen the twelve rulers of Israel, who would govern Israel when He would set up His kingdom (cf. Luke 22:29,30)!

The program operating during Christ’s earthly ministry was the prophetic program, which God had operated since the world began (Acts 3:21). Today, Israel’s program is currently interrupted by our mystery program, the Dispensation of Grace (Romans 16:25,26a). When this present dispensation is concluded (at the rapture), God will return to Israel’s program. After Jacob’s trouble (Daniel’s 70th week, the seven-year Tribulation), Jesus Christ, at His Second Coming, will return to establish His earthly kingdom. Then, He will fulfill today’s Scripture. (Albeit, Matthias will assume Judas’ position; Acts 1:21-26.)

Why twelve apostles? So Israel can one day have twelve princes!

The Temporal Blindness of Israel

Monday, January 16, 2012

“And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a midst and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand” (Acts 13:11 KJV).

God formed Israel so He could utilize them in a kingdom to send His salvation to the Gentiles (non-Jews). When God sent Israel’s Messiah-King, Jesus, the Jews demanded His crucifixion. Even after Jesus was resurrected, they still rejected Him: Israel refused the apostles’ ministry (technically, the Holy Spirit’s ministry) in the early Acts period. Until all of Israel was saved, her kingdom could not be established, keeping the Gentiles from receiving salvation. But God had a plan to circumvent this rebellion!

Today’s Scripture is the Apostle Paul’s first recorded miracle—the physical blinding of Elymas. Why did Paul do this? According to verses 6-8, a lost Gentile, Sergius Paulus, sought to hear God’s Word from Paul, but Elymas, a Jewish sorcerer, attempted to prevent this Gentile from hearing God’s Word and trusting Christ.

Verses 9 and 10 read: “Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him [Elymas], and said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?”

Elymas symbolizes lost national Israel that prevents Gentiles from hearing God’s Word. Paul writes, “the Jews…[forbid] us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway…” (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16).

As Paul begins his apostolic journeys, God signifies, through the blinding of Elymas, that He will temporarily spiritually blind Israel and send salvation to the Gentiles through Paul’s ministry, without Israel (Romans 11:11-13). In our dispensation, Israel is “[blinded]…until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” (Romans 11:25). When our dispensation ends (the rapture), God will return to Israel (Romans 11:26-29). Just as Elymas was blinded “for a season”—not eternally—Israel is temporarily blinded. God is not finished with Israel.