Category: Apostle Thomas

An Eternal House in the Heavens #2

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1 KJV).

You may not see it, but God already does!

A dear friend of mine has been entangled in the “Charismatic Movement” for years. She thus boasts of her “gift of healing.” (Her husband and one of her friends both died of cancer years back.) Afflicted by chronic illness herself, she talks about how she has visited her sick and aging friends in nursing homes, praying and “laying hands” on them to restore their health. (She still visits the same people at those same institutions!) While she has a testimony of salvation in Christ, she is a most confused lady concerning the Bible. She always seeks “signs and wonders” to know God is working.

Friends, since it has utterly failed to uphold the Word of God rightly divided, the Church the Body of Christ is largely caught up in thinking and behaving like Bible skeptics. You ask an atheist what it would take before he or she would “believe in God,” and he or she will probably reply, “If only I could see this miracle happen or that miracle occur, I would believe in God.” In other words, “I will not believe unless I see God working.” Friend, do you know anyone like that in Scripture?

Why, chapter John 20 says of “doubting Thomas:” “[25] The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe…. [27] Then saith [Jesus] to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. [28] And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. [29] Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”

If only we would “believe without seeing….”

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What Gospel message did Lazarus believe to wind up in Abraham’s bosom?”

Battle Scars and Bible Skeptics

Saturday, November 1, 2014

“Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing” (John 20:27 KJV).

Today’s Scripture says that, in the body of His flesh, the Lord Jesus Christ bore the scars of the greatest battle ever faced.

“Doubting Thomas” is a famous Bible character, but the passage that features this apostolic skeptic involves a fascinating concept often overlooked. Contrary to the nonsensical notion that Jesus arose in some invisible, spirit form, He Himself declared that He had a physical body that Thomas could touch with his physical hands. In another post-resurrection passage, Jesus said, “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have” (Luke 24:39). We are confident that the Lord knew more about His own body than present-day conjecturers in theology.

Today’s Scripture is Jesus’ reply to Thomas’ comments in verse 26: “The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But [Thomas] said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

As physical proof that it was the Lord Jesus Himself, He ordered Thomas to feel the nail scars in His hands and the spear wound in His side. Yes, it was the same body that had died on the cross three days earlier, and the exact body that laid lifeless in the tomb for three days and three nights. There was no question that Jesus Christ and His message were true—His literal, bodily resurrection confirmed everything (Romans 1:4). What else could His enemies do to Him? They had already killed Him, and now He was alive! What else could Thomas do but believe? Jesus was physically standing just steps away from him!

The Lord Jesus Christ chose to retain those battle scars, probably forever. Evidently, He still has them today, to one day be seen by us, those who already believe! What a concept!