Tag: Salvation

How can I believe Jesus is God?

In the first part of John chapter 5, Jesus had healed a man on the Sabbath and the Jews sought to kill Him all the more because He not only broke their Sabbath traditions, but He also claimed to be equal with God (5:1-18). When people heard Jesus’ claims, many of them asked, “How do we know He is telling the truth? What evidence does He give?” Knowing the hearts and minds of the religious leaders, Jesus proceeds to call upon five witnesses to back up His claim to be equal with God the Father (5:31-47).

According to Jewish law, self-testimony was not accepted in the court of law (Deut. 19:15). There must be witnesses who will confirm another’s testimony. This is why Jesus said His Self-testimony was not valid (5:31). So He calls upon five witnesses to back up His claim to be equal with God:

1. THE WITNESS OF GOD THE FATHER (5:32, 37-38). The word “another” (5:32) means “of the same kind as Myself.” Jesus is referring to God the Father. The reason Jesus is so bold about His equality with God is because He is conscious of His Father’s continual confidence and support. God the Father’s witness of Jesus (5:37) is seen when He spoke from heaven at Jesus’ baptism: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). These religious leaders are ignorant of God the Father’s testimony of Jesus because of their unbelief. So Jesus’ claim to be God is valid because there is no higher court of appeal than God the Father Himself.

2. THE WITNESS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST (5:33-35). When John the Baptist was preaching in the wilderness, he said three specific things about Jesus: He is “the Lamb of God”(1:29), He is the One “who baptizes with the Holy Spirit”(1:33), and that Jesus is “the Son of God” (1:34), or God Himself.  

3. THE WITNESS OF JESUS’ MIRACULOUS WORKS (5:36) which included changing water into wine (2:1-11), healing both the nobleman’s son in Capernaum (4:46-54), and now the lame man at the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem (5:1-15). In fact, the people listening to Jesus saw this lame man rise out of paralysis into strength and walking again. He was standing before them so that they could not deny the miracle. Christ’s works were superior to John’s words. Only a supernatural Person could perform supernatural works. 

“But,” you say, “that was 2,000 years ago. If God would only witness like that again today I could believe in Him.” Well, God does witness like that today. Jesus still performs miracles today. We have seen Him heal people of cancer…broken relationships. We have watched Christ liberate people from drugs and alcohol. He has transformed sinners into forgiven saints!

4. THE WITNESS OF THE SCRIPTURES THEMSELVES (5:39). The Jewish religious leaders devoted their whole lives studying and memorizing the Old Testament because they thought the knowledge of Scripture would give them eternal life (5:39a). There are people like this today, students and scholars who search the Bible, but never find Jesus. Yet Jesus Himself declares, “They [the Scriptures]…testify of Me”(5:39b). Jesus is the main subject of the Old Testament! You will find Him on every page appearing as a type or shadow of things to come. For example, the animal sacrifices pictured Jesus’ death. What an amazing claim this is, “They testify of Me.” 

Muhammed, the prophet of Islam, who studied the Old Testament, never claimed that the Old Testament witnessed to him. Buddha knew some of the Old Testament, yet he never claimed it was a witness to him. Gandhi, a modern-day Buddha, never claimed that Scripture talked about him. But when Jesus makes that claim no one calls Him crazy. There is an acknowledgment of the justice of His claim, there is evidence in support of it.

It’s possible to study the Bible, to even give your whole life to it, and never see Jesus. Like many people today, these people thought that knowledge is power, education is life, and if you get knowledge of what God does you will have eternal life. What is the problem? How can people hear and see the truth, study the truth all their lives, yet never come to Christ?

Jesus tells us: “But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life” (5:40). The problem is the will. The reason they don’t find Christ in their study of the Bible is because they choose not to do so.

Jesus goes on to tell us why someone can read the truth, know it to be truth, know that it speaks of Jesus, know Him to be who He claims to be, and still refuse to come to Him in faith. It is because they are looking for their own advancement. They are out to please themselves and to please other people (5:41-44). 

 There are two ways to study the Bible: (like the Pharisees) you can study it with your mind made up or (like Jesus’ disciples) you can study it to let it make up your mind. The choice is yours.

5. THE WITNESS OF MOSES (5:45-47). It is amazing that the very one the religious leaders of Israel are using as their excuse to persecute Jesus, will instead become their accuser. Moses will finally tell them they have ignored his words about Christ. 

 Many people are like this today. They say, “When I stand before God I will have a lot of things to say to Him. I don’t think He has treated me very fairly. I’ve had a bad deal in life and I’m going to tell Him so.” But on that day, they will stand absolutely silent before God, their own memories will testify that He is right, and they are wrong.

Listen to Jesus’ words: “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words” (5:47-48)? If the Jews believed Moses (and they didn’t), they would believe Jesus because Moses wrote about Him. Moses was highly respected by the Jewish nation and Jesus was saying Moses would condemn them because they rejected the Person he wrote about. Jesus is telling us if we don’t believe the truth we know now, we won’t believe when we hear even more truth. 

Where does that leave us? We have the witness of the Father, of John the Baptist, twenty centuries of testimony about the power of Jesus to heal people, to turn them around and make them whole, the witness of the Bible, and the witness of Moses. Five witnesses were sufficient to condemn the Jews for their unbelief. The Jews were claiming a legal ground for unbelief (5:31) and Jesus shows them there is no legal basis. Where does that leave us, if we continue to pursue the empty voices of the world and seek for positions of power and influence apart from the will and the glory of God?

If you are a Christian, will you submit to Jesus Christ as God and let Him direct your life even if it means being led up onto a hill to be crucified or serving Him in another part of the world? Are you willing to live for Him and not yourself? 

If you are not a Christian, is there anything keeping you from trusting Christ right now to get you to heaven? Because He is God, He is the only One who can give you eternal life. Take Him at His Word when He says, “He who believes in Me has everlasting life.” John 6:47

Prayer: For years I have rejected You my Lord Jesus as a mere prophet or good moral teacher. But now I have been convicted that You are truly God and can give me everlasting life. Please forgive me for the terrible things I have done and said. I come to You now as a sinner who deserves eternal condemnation. I believe You died for me and rose from the dead. I am now trusting in You, Jesus (not my religion, my good life, or prayers) to give me everlasting life and forgive all my sins. Thank You for the everlasting life and forgiveness I now have. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Will King Saul be in Heaven?

“As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day.” I Samuel 10:9

When the Philistines gathered their armies to fight against Israel, King Saul became very distressed and “inquired of the Lord,” but “the Lord did not answer him” (28:6) because Saul had not been listening to the Lord in the past (I Samuel 13:8-14; 15:1-11). When God did not answer Saul, Saul hypocritically chose to seek guidance from “a medium” [those who communicate with the dead] (28:7) even though he had removed “mediums and spiritists [those who communicate with evil spirits] out of the land” earlier in obedience to God (28:3; cf. Leviticus 20:6; Deuteronomy 18:9-22). Saul’s hypocrisy sank so low as to try to hide his identity from this medium (“Saul disguised himself”) knowing she would not cooperate with him if she knew who he was (28:8). He hypocritically promised the woman, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing” (28:10). 

When the medium summoned Samuel to come up, “she cried out with a loud voice” when she “saw Samuel” because she was expecting a demon impersonating Samuel to arise (28:12). Samuel rebuked Saul for trying to get information from him about the future when the Lord would not give him that information due to his disobedience (28:15-18). However, Samuel assured Saul that he and his sons would be with Samuel in Paradise tomorrow after they are killed in battle (28:19; cf. Luke 23:43). 

The next day when Saul was severely wounded in battle, Saul asked his armorbearer to kill him for fear of the Philistines torturing him and abusing him (I Sam. 31:3-4a). But when his armorbearer refused to kill Saul, “Saul took a sword and fell on it” (I Sam. 31:4b). King Saul took his own life. He finished his life in utter defeat. 

Saul started his kingship well because he was humble and sensitive to God’s leading (I Sam. 10:11-12:25; cf. 15:17), but when he disobeyed Samuel’s command to wait for him to come to Gilgal before making offerings to the Lord (I Sam. 10:8; 13:1-15), Saul’s life took a turn for the worse. His life became filled with ungodly decisions:

– He assumed a priestly role and offered sacrifices before battle and Samuel announced God’s choice of a new king (I Sam. 13:5-23).

– He made a foolish oath and the people turned against him (I Sam. 14:1-52)

– He disobeyed God’s instructions by not completely destroying Agag and Samuel announced God’s rejection of him as king (I Sam. 15:1-9).

– He personally tried to kill David, and fear and a distressing spirit from the Lord overcame him (I Sam. 18:10-16).

– He became paranoid and ordered the murder of David (I Sam. 19:1-7).

– Again he tried to kill David and a distressing spirit tormented him (I Sam. 19:8-10).

– He continued to try to murder David and became more jealous and fearful of him (I Sam. 19:11-24).

– He tried to persuade his son Jonathan to assist in the killing of David, and Saul even became violent toward Jonathan (I Sam. 20:1-42).

– He ordered Doeg to kill the priests of Nob and slipped further into mental anguish and depravity (I Sam. 22:6-23).

– He visited a witch to obtain guidance when God did not answer his prayers (I Sam. 28:7-25).

– He committed suicide and died in great shame (I Sam. 31:4). 

Was King Saul saved? Some students of the Bible would say Saul was not saved because he finished his life in utter failure. They believe all true believers persevere in good works to the end of their lives. Others say that Saul was a believer, but he lost his salvation because he finished his life out of fellowship with God when he committed suicide. But what does the Bible teach us about Saul?

To answer this question, we must first understand that “by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:20). Under the law of the Old Testament, good works have nothing to do with salvation from hell. Salvation is always (in Old and New Testaments) based on the sufficient sacrifice of Christ’s death on the Cross and is by grace through faith alone in Christ alone (cf. Gen. 3:15; 4:3-5; 15:6; John 3:14-18; Rom. 3:21-5:1; Gal. 2:16; Ephes. 2:8-9; Heb. 9:11-10:18; 11:4).  

After the prophet Samuel anointed Saul to be king over Israel, he informs Saul about various signs that will take place after he leaves Samuel’s presence (I Sam. 10:1-4). Samuel tells Saul that when he comes to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is, he “will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, timbrels, pipes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying. The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.” (I Sam. 10:5b-6). 

The events that Samuel predicted came to pass as he said (I Sam. 10:9-11). A summary statement of these events is given in verse 9: “As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day.” (I Sam. 10:9). Verses 6 and 9 clearly refer to Saul’s conversion because how else can a person be “changed into a different person” and God change their hearts? 

It is also significant that during this encounter a group of prophets were prophesying (I Sam. 10:5, 10). It is likely that they were prophesying about the coming Messiah of Israel. After all, the apostle Peter said, “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43). When Saul joined in with the prophesying of the prophets, he did so as a result of believing what they were saying about the coming Messiah. The Holy Spirit’s saving work in Saul’s life is manifested by Saul joining their prophetic testimony. Even if Saul had not prophesied, he would still be a new man with a new heart because salvation is always based upon faith alone in Jesus the Messiah. 

This Messianic hope was also understood by Moses as revealed by the writer of Hebrews. “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasure of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ [literally, “the Christ” or the Messiah] greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward” (Heb. 11:24-26). So Moses believed in Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, but he also pursued Christ for eternal rewards just as Saul should have pursued them. But Saul did not pursue Christ as he should have, and therefore, he would forfeit eternal rewards that could have been his. 

Saul’s life after his conversion is like that of a carnal or baby Christian (I Cor. 3:1-4). He lived in disobedience to God. This reminds us that Christians are capable of living like non-Christians (cf. I Corinthians; James). This does not mean they are in danger of damnation in hell (John 6:35-40; 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39), but it does mean they are in danger of God’s discipline now (Hebrews 12:5-11) and the loss of eternal rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ (I Corinthians 3:15). 

Some would say that a person who claims to be a Christian and commits suicide just proves that he or she was never really a Christian at all. But there is no evidence in the Bible that those who have believed in Christ possess anything less than eternal life, which by definition cannot be lost (John 3:15-16, 36; 6:35-40; 10:28-29; 11:25-27). Those who think Saul could not be saved because he committed suicide assume that all Christians persevere in faithfulness and obedience until the end of their life, but the biblical evidence disproves that. Samuel assured Saul that he and his sons would be with Samuel in Paradise after they are killed in battle (I Sam. 28:19; cf. Luke 23:43; Acts 5:1-11; I Cor. 11:30).

According to the Bible, all of the believer’s sins are forgiven at the moment of faith in Christ, including the sin of suicide (Col. 2:13-14). That is why there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ (Rom. 8:1) and no one can successfully condemn a believer (Rom. 8:31-34), nor can no one or nothing separate a believer from the love of Christ, even death— death from whatever cause (Rom. 8:35-39).

Someone may ask, “What happens if a person dies with unconfessed sin?” The Bible promises that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). But a believer who commits suicide cannot confess that sin. Yet the truth is every believer will probably die with some specific sins not confessed. Besides, I John 1:9 relates to the believer’s fellowship and walk with God, not the condition for obtaining eternal life (cf. I John 1:3-7). Confessing each and every sin is not a condition of eternal salvation. The only condition for eternal life is faith in Christ and His offer of eternal life based on His finished work of paying for our sins on the cross (John 3:15-16, 36; 5:24; 6:40, 47; 11:25-26; Ac. 16:31; I Tim. 1:16; I John 5:13). Christians can be assured that when they sin, they have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, who satisfies God’s justice for all of our sins (1 John 2:1-2).

Since God knows everything and by His grace forgives all sins – past, present, and future, there is no sin that will surprise God or make Him regret having saved someone. The Bible also teaches that where sin abounds, grace abounds much more (Rom. 5:20). No one can out-sin God’s grace! Knowing this, a Christian should never presume upon God’s grace by committing any sin, much less suicide. Suicide is a selfish and serious sin that dishonors God, hurts other people, and deprives God of one’s service on earth. Any abuse of God’s grace has its consequences—a loss of God’s blessings in this life and in the eternal experience as well. But that loss is in the quality of one’s fellowship or enjoyment of God, not in one’s relationship to God. Believers who finish their lives on earth in utter failure like Saul did, will still enter the kingdom of heaven by virtue of their faith in the Messiah (John 3:5, 15-16), but they will not receive rewards that are based upon living faithfully for Christ to the end of their lives (cf. 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 2:17, 25-27; 3:4-5, 21; 22:14).

Conclusion: Saul will be in heaven because of his faith in the Messiah which resulted in him being “turned into another man” and God changing his “heart” (I Sam. 10:6, 9; cf. Acts 10:43). But his life teaches us that when believers stop listening to God’s Word, the only direction for them to go is down. Saul could not obtain guidance from the Lord because he had stopped listening to Him. Believers sometimes cannot gain guidance from God because they have been unwilling to listen to God and obey Him. Saul tried to get guidance from a medium which God forbid because He has given us all the information we need about our future in His Word (cf. Leviticus 20:6; Deuteronomy 18:9-22). God graciously provided guidance to Saul through Samuel in the form of a final warning, but Saul stubbornly ignores that too. The longer we refuse to listen to the Lord, the worse the consequences will be for us. Turn back to the Lord before it is too late. “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). 

Will King Solomon be in Heaven?

“For it was when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David.” I Kings 11:4

King Solomon “surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom” during his reign as king over Israel (I Kings 10: 23). Yet we are told that “when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David” (I Kings 11:4). Even though God had warned Solomon not to marry foreign wives because they would turn away his heart after their gods (11:2), Solomon disobeyed the Lord and “had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart” (11:3). Solomon did not just worship their false gods, he also built worship centers for the people of Israel to worship the false gods of his foreign wives (11:7-8). As a result, God “became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after others gods; but he did not keep what the Lord had commanded” (I Kings 11:9-11). 

As a result of Solomon’s idolatry, God would tear the kingdom away from his son except for one tribe for the sake of His servant David (11:11-13). Because of Solomon’s sin, God disciplined him through many adversaries, including Hadad, Rezon, and Jeroboam (11:14-40). So Solomon died as an idolater (11:41-43). 

Will King Solomon be in heaven even though he finished his life as an idolater? Was Solomon even saved? Some believe Solomon was not a believer because they think all true believers persevere in faith to the end of their lives. Others teach that Solomon was a believer, but he lost his salvation because he did not finish his life in fellowship with the Lord.  But what does the Bible teach about this?

First of all, the Bible tells us that Solomon was a child of God. God said to David, “It is your son Solomon who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father” (I Chronicles 28:6). God declared that Solomon would be His son and He will be Solomon’s Father. Hence, Solomon is a believer in the coming Messiah because he is a child of God (cf. John 1:12; I John 5:1). Also, God used Solomon to author three books of the Bible: Proverbs (Solomon was the principal author), Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes. The Bible says that the human authors of the Bible were “holy men of God” who “spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). Even though Solomon was an idolater, the Bible says he was a “holy” man of God. How can this be? He is “holy” in God’s eyes because he has been set apart from his sin and shame by virtue of his faith in the coming Messiah who would die for all of his sins -including the sin of idolatry (cf. Isaiah 53; Colossians 2:13-14; Hebrews 10:10, 14). 

Since Solomon was a believer in the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, he had everlasting life which can never be lost (John 3:15-16). If it could be lost, it would not be everlasting. He had passed from death into life and would not come into judgment for his sins because Christ was judged for his sins on the cross (John 5:24; 2 Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 3:18). And no one could snatch him out of God the Father’s and God the Son’s hands (John 10:28-29). He was secure forever. Therefore, king Solomon will be in heaven. 

What determines a person’s eternal destiny is their response to Jesus Christ, not their works. He or she either believes in Him or they do not believe in Him. The Bible says, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and  he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36). A person’s works determine their degree of rewards in heaven if they are a believer in Jesus (1 Corinthians 3:8-15; Revelation 22:12) or the degree of their punishment in the lake of fire if they do not believe in Jesus (Revelation 20:11-15). 

When God appeared to Solomon a second time, He told Solomon if he would walk before God as his father David walked in integrity of heart and in uprightness, then God would establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever. But then God warned the king if he or his son turned from following Him and did not keep His commandments, but would go and serve other gods and worship them, then God promised He “will cut off Israel from the land which” He “had given them” (I Kings 9: 1-7). God did not tell Solomon he would go to hell if he turned away from the Lord to serve other gods. But God did warn Solomon that the nation of Israel would lose the rights to their land which God had given them. When Solomon disobeyed the Lord and committed idolatry, God said He would “tear the kingdom away from” Solomon and give it to his servant (I Kings 11:11). So Solomon would lose authority and privileges as a king for misleading the nation to worship other gods, but there is no mention of him losing his position as a child of God and going to hell. 

This is consistent with the New Testament which distinguishes “entering” the kingdom from “inheriting” the kingdom. We “enter” the kingdom of God by faith alone in Christ alone (Matt. 18:3; 19:14; Mark 10:15; John 3:5, 15), but we “inherit” the kingdom of God through faithful, sacrificial service and suffering for Christ (Matthew 19:27-29; Romans 8:17b; I Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21b; Ephesians 5:3-5; Colossians 3:23-24; Hebrews 1:2, 5, 9, 13-14; 6:12, 17; 9:15). 

For example, “entering” my house is different than “inheriting” my house. Entrance into my house is free. But if you want to inherit or possess my house, you must pay for it. When you pay for it, then you are entitled to certain privileges or authority. When you inherit my house, you can decide how to arrange the furniture and what colors to paint on the walls. But if you just enter my house, you don’t have those privileges. The same is true in the spiritual realm. You enter the kingdom of God through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. But you will not have all the privileges or authority that come with inheriting the kingdom. You must earn those privileges through faithful service to Jesus.

When I Corinthians 6:9-10 warns that “idolaters…will not inherit the kingdom of God,” this means that believers who finish their lives as idolaters, like Solomon did, will forfeit the right to rule with Jesus Christ in His coming kingdom (Matthew 19:27-29; Romans 8:17b; I Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21b; Ephesians 5:3-5; Colossians 3:23-24; Hebrews 1:2, 5, 9, 13-14; 6:12, 17; 9:15). They will still be in the kingdom through believing in Christ alone for salvation (John 3:5, 16), but they will forfeit the privilege of ruling with Christ in His government administration.  

Like many Christians today, Solomon failed to see how living his life on earth would affect his eternal rewards in the future. Just because Christians have eternal life now which can never be lost (cf. John 3:16; 10:28-29), does not mean they can live however they want on earth without facing any consequences. God wants believers to live like the “saints” that they are (I Corinthians 1:2) by virtue of their position in Christ lest they experience grief and shame because of the loss of rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ (cf. Matthew 25:24-30;  I Corinthians 3:8-15; 6:9-10; I John 2:28). 

Conclusion: Solomon will be in heaven by virtue of his faith in the coming Messiah, but he will not have the reward of ruling with Christ in His coming Kingdom because he did not remain faithful to the Lord to the end of his life. Christians can learn from Solomon’s life by focusing on the Judgment Seat of Christ so they can prepare to face Jesus  and receive eternal rewards from Him on the basis of how they lived for Him on earth (I Corinthians 3:8-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 22:12).

Are good works for rewards or for salvation?

“And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’” Luke 19:17

As Jesus was drawing near to Jerusalem, He shared another parable with those who thought He would establish His Kingdom immediately when He arrived in Jerusalem. Christ’s parable here is intended to show them His kingdom arrival would be postponed (19:11). This parable was about a “nobleman” (Jesus Christ) who gave each of his ten servants (disciples) “ten minas” (mina = 3 months wages) to do business for their master while he goes away to a far country (19:12-13). “When he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading” (19:15).

The first servant reported that his “mina earned ten minas,” and he received praise and rulership “over ten cities” from his master (19:16-17). The second servant said his “mina earned five minas,” and his master said he would rule “over five cities” (19:18-19). The third servant reported that he had not earned anything with his master’s mina because his fear of his master kept him from doing so (19:20-21). His master rebuked him, calling him a “wicked servant,” and took away what had been given to this servant (19:22-24).

Zacchaeus, who was listening to this parable, would be encouraged to follow through with his promise to give half of his possessions to the poor and reimburse fourfold those he had defrauded (19:8). By telling this parable, Christ is promising Zacchaeus and all believers, a great reward in heaven if they remain faithful to Him now.

This parable clarifies that the coming of Jesus’ kingdom is postponed. Christ was going away, and He would return later to establish His kingdom (19:12-15). The New Testament informs us that believers who live between Pentecost and the Rapture will receive their rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ in heaven (I Cor. 3:8-15; 2 Cor. 5:1-10; I Thess. 4:13-5:11; Rev. 4-5) during the Tribulation period on earth (Rev. 6-19). The judgment in view in this parable, involves Old Testament and Tribulation believers who will receive their rewards when Christ returns to earth with His church at the end of the Tribulation period to start His thousand-year reign on earth (Dan. 12:1-3; Rev. 19:7-20:6). During His absence, Christ’s disciples (“servants”) are to invest what He has given them to expand His interests (19:13). Christ will reward them in proportion to what they produce with what He has given them. The fact that all the servants received “ten minas” (19:13) shows that all believers have equal opportunity to earn rewards for the glory of Jesus Christ.

This parable also shows that entrance into the kingdom does not depend upon our works. Only faith alone in Christ alone and His finished work on the cross is necessary to enter Christ’s kingdom (18:16-17; cf. John 3:14-15). But rewards in Christ’s kingdom depend upon our works (19:16-24; cf. I Cor. 3:8-15; Rev. 22:12). This distinction between the gift of salvation and rewards earned is very important. Many believers confuse conditions for salvation with conditions for rewards which undermines their assurance of salvation and their motivation to live for Christ now. Keeping these two things separate and distinct will lead to greater joy and peace for believers regarding their salvation, and to a greater longing to earn rewards for their coming King.

What did Jesus means when He said, “It is finished”?

“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” John 19:30

When Jesus was hanging on the cross to pay the penalty for the sin of the world, He triumphantly said, “It is finished!” What did He mean when He said this? The Greek word that is translated “finished” is tetelestai. Receipts in New Testament times were stamped with this word which meant that the debt had been paid in full.

All people have sinned against God with their thoughts, words and actions (Rom. 3:23) and deserve to be separated from Him forever (Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:15). But God so loved the world that He gave His only perfect Son, Jesus Christ, to take the punishment for our sin when He was crucified in our place on the cross (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8) and rose from the dead, proving He is God and had finished the work of paying our sin debt in full (Rom. 1:3-4; I Cor. 15:1-8; I John 2:2).

No amount of our good works can change the fact that we are sinners before a holy God (Isaiah 64:6; Rom. 3:1-20, 23; 4:5; Gal. 2:16). Christ did not make a down payment for our sin when He died on the cross so that we must pay the remainder of our sin debt to God. God does not accept us on the basis of our good life, our keeping of His commandments, our water baptism, or the sacraments we have taken. We are accepted by God on the basis of the full payment for our sin debt to God when Jesus Christ died and rose again on our behalf. God was completely and forever satisfied with Jesus’ full payment for our sin. The verb tetelestai is in the perfect tense. This means Christ made the full payment for our sin debt when He died on the cross and it remains paid in full to the present.

When we communicate the gospel with non-Christians, we must be clear that all people have sinned against God and deserve to die forever in the Lake of Fire (Rom. 3:23; 6:23; Rev. 20:15). No amount of our good thoughts, words, or actions can change the fact that we are sinners before a holy God (Isaiah 64:6). Because Jesus finished paying the penalty for our sins when He died in our place, that means we do not have to work for our salvation (Rom. 4:5; Eph. 2:8-9). All God asks of us is to believe in Jesus and His finished work on the cross as sufficient payment for our sins (John 3:14-15; 19:30). When we do, He gives us everlasting life and forgives all of our sins (John 3:16; Acts 10:43).

Those who are trusting in their good works or in Christ plus their good works to get them to heaven, are telling God the Father that Jesus’ death on the cross failed to pay their sin debt in full. However, since God was forever satisfied with His perfect Son’s payment for the sin of the world (Isaiah 53:11; John 19:30; I John 2:2), we must also be satisfied with what satisfies God. God cannot accept anything we do as payment for our sins because He has already accepted His Son’s payment for all of our sins when He died in our place on the cross.

We can reflect this truth in evangelism by inviting non-Christians to believe or trust in Christ alone, not their good works, to give them a right standing before God (Rom. 4:5; Gal. 2:16) and everlasting life (John 3:15-16; 6:40, 47; 11:25-26) so they will go to heaven when they die.

Following Christ

The New Testament emphasizes that the only condition for receiving eternal life is believing in Jesus Christ (John 3:15-16, 18, 36; 5:24; 6:47; 11:25-26; 20:31; Acts. 13:48; I Timothy 1:16; I John 5:13). Salvation is absolutely free of charge and is a one-time event. However, the New Testament also teaches  that discipleship is costly and is a life-long process (Luke 14:25-33; John 8:31-32; Rev. 2:10, 25-27).

About a year after Jesus’ disciples believed in Him for eternal life (John 1:35-51; 2:11), Jesus called them to follow Him (Matt. 4:18-22). Peter, Andrew, James and John left their nets and followed Christ. From all four Gospels, we know that they had been familiar with Jesus’ ministry for some time and were willing to identify with His cause. This is a beautiful picture of discipleship when they left everything to have this intimate association with Jesus. In Matthew 9:9, Matthew, the tax collector is sitting at his office and Christ comes to him and says, “Follow Me.” Matthew gets up and leaves everything behind and begins to follow Christ. When Matthew left his post as a tax collector, he could not come back to it later like the fisherman who could always return to their father’s business. When Matthew left, there was no coming back. Following Christ is another condition for discipleship.

After Jesus and His disciples were rejected by a village of the Samaritans (9:51-53), Jesus clarifies the cost of discipleship in Luke 9:57-62. In these verses we discover the meaning of following Christ as His disciple.

1. FOLLOWING CHRIST MAY INVOLVE HOMELESSNESS, PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT AND REJECTION (9:57b-58). 

“Someone said to Him, ‘Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head’” (Luke 9:57b-58). 

Jesus’ disciples had experienced these things while following Christ through Samaria (9:51-56). Are you willing to endure these things in order to follow Christ? How much of your security is based upon the things you possess?  Would you be willing to give up a comfortable home and salary and live on less in order to follow Jesus Christ? 

2. FOLLOWING CHRIST IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN FULFILLING CUSTOMARY FAMILY OBLIGATIONS (59-60). 

“Then He said to another, ‘Follow Me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God’” (Luke 9:59-60). 

It is not known whether this man’s father had already died or was dying. It is possible that this man’s father was still living since in Israel people were usually buried the same day they died. But what is clear is that this man wanted Jesus to approve the postponement of his obedience for an indefinite period of time. Christ’s reference to letting “the dead bury their own dead” refers to those who are spiritually dead (because they had not believed in Jesus) burying the physically dead. Following Christ requires immediate obedience to Him. Are you willing to put Christ ahead of family obligations? 

3. FOLLOWING CHRIST REQUIRES SACRIFICE AND HARD WORK (61-62) similar to plowing. 

“And another also said, ‘Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God’” (Luke 9:61-62). 

Saying good-bye to family would only take a matter of minutes, yet Jesus’ comments suggest that a disciple with divided loyalties is not fit for His Kingdom work. Just as a farmer who does not concentrate on his work is unfit for farming, so a disciple who allows himself to be distracted from following Christ is unfit for His Kingdom work. What are the biggest distractions in your life which keep you from being fully devoted to Christ? What will you do about this?

Preaching Repentance

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” Luke 3:4-6

When Luke writes that John the Baptist “went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (3:3), he refers to the prophet Isaiah’s beautiful description of John’s ministry (cf. Isaiah 40:3-5) which is compared to a highway builder that prepares “the way” (3:4). Isaiah tells how highways are built: “Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth” (3:5-6a; cf. Isaiah 40:3-5). Check with a modern road builder and he will tell you that is exactly how a highway is built: the low spots (“valley”) are filled in, the high spots (“mountain”) are leveled, the “crooked” ones are straightened out, and the “rough” ones are made smooth. 

This description of John’s ministry to people is still the way repentance works in the human heart today. If you feel low and worthless, depressed, insignificant, your life is meaningless, you are in a “valley” — then transfer your trust to Christ and He will lift you up: “Every valley shall be filled.” That is where Jesus will meet you. If you feel proud and self-sufficient, able to handle your own affairs, then come down: “Every mountain and hill brought low.” That is where Christ will meet you, and nowhere else. If you are handling things in a “crooked” manner, if you are devious in your business dealings and untrustworthy in your relationships with others, then realize there is only One who can forgive your crooked ways – Jesus. “The crooked places shall be made straight.” That is what John preached: “Repent.” Change your mind about whatever is keeping you from trusting Christ and trust Him for salvation. Christ will meet you right there. If you are given to riding roughshod over people, your life is filled with a lot of rough, tough situations, repent, change your mind and trust Christ to save you; decide to smooth out those places, deal with those things, and Jesus will meet you right there. “And the rough ways smooth.” That is a highway for God to come to you. That was John’s ministry all through his life.

John’s message of repentance is one of preparation: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight” (3:4). John summons the people to be ready for the coming Messiah so “all flesh shall see the salvation of God” in His Messiah (3:6). John is the one preparing the way for the coming King – an important role in ancient times that involved leveling the land and clearing the road. John’s “voice” was to prepare the way for Jesus the Messiah to come to His people so they may believe in Him (3:4a; cf. John 1:7; Acts 19:4). 

Likewise, God calls believers today to be His “voices.” God wants to use each of us to prepare the way in our generation. Each generation has a voice, and we are the voice for this time and this place. Our role, like John’s, is temporary, but it is essential. Without the voice, the people will not hear. And if they do not hear, they won’t be able to believe in Jesus for eternal life (cf. Rom. 10:14).

Rahab and God’s Grace

“Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, ‘Go, view the land, especially Jericho.’ So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there.” Joshua 2:1

When Joshua sent two spies to secretly assess the land of Canaan, they “came to the house of a harlot named Rahab” who hid them on her roof to protect them from the king of Jericho’s men who sought to kill them (Josh. 2:1-7). Rahab was a woman of faith (cf. Heb. 11:31; James 2:25) who trusted in Israel’s God knowing that He had “given” Israel “the land” and He would bring it to pass since she “had heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for” them and had defeated “the two kings of the Amorites” for them (2:8-10). After Rahab pleaded to the spies to deliver her and her family from death, the spies instructed Rahab to tie a scarlet cord in the window through which she let them escape to identify her house for rescue, and if she and her family stayed in her house which was on the city wall, they promised to spare her and her family when the city of Jericho was destroyed (2:12-21). Amazingly when the walls of Jericho fell flat, Rahab’s house stood firm and she and her household were saved from physical death (6:22-25).

Like Rahab, all of us have sinned with our thoughts, words, and actions (Rom. 3:23). We all deserve to die forever in hell. But God loves us just like He loved Rahab. Her story is filled with pictures of Jesus Himself. Rahab’s scarlet cord pictures the safety we can have through Christ’s blood from God’s eternal judgment (2:21; cf. 2 Cor. 5:21; I Pet. 3:18). In Rahab’s case, the scarlet cord would have been visible to the Israelite army as they marched around the city of Jericho before the walls fell flat because Rahab’s house was built into the city wall. The scarlet cord not only spared Rahab’s house and those in it from God’s judgment on the city, but it also marked her and her family out to be brought into God’s family. Just as God’s judgment passed over Rahab’s house because of the scarlet cord, so God’s eternal judgment passes over every believer because of the blood of Jesus Christ. 

Rahab’s story reminds us that no one is TOO BAD for God’s grace to save. Will you choose the Lord today to save you from your sins and give you eternal life? Jesus promised, “whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16b). Now is the time to trust in Christ alone because later may never come.

Applying God’s Grace to Suicide

Living during a global pandemic makes it especially difficult to connect with one another. There is a great emphasis on social distancing. People cannot connect with one another as easily as before because of all the COVID restrictions and fear of getting sick. The additional stress caused by COVID increases the chance of conflict with others which can also become a barrier to connecting with one another. Emotional needs are much greater during this pandemic. There is more fear and depression which can lead people to isolate themselves from others. More people feel hopeless and think of taking their own lives.

A question that may arise during this pandemic is, “Will a believer in Jesus Christ who commits suicide still go to heaven?” The answer to this is strongly related to one’s view of God’s grace.

WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT A BELIEVER WHO COMMITS SUICIDE?

In Romans 8:31-39, God answers four questions or accusations that can arise in cases of suicide:

1.MAN’S ACCUSATION: “Doesn’t such a death as suicide prove that God works against us, not for us? Isn’t this what prompts a believer to take his life?”

GOD’S ANSWER: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32) God says, “Since I am for you (and no one is greater than Me), no one can successfully oppose you, including yourself.” When the unexpected happens, you need to ignore the lie that God is against you. He is on your side. God does not work against us. How wrong it would be to believe that God turns His back on the believer who commits suicide. God is FOR US – on our side – deeply interested in our needs, our hurts, our pain, our failures and loneliness. 

Proof of this: God gave His Son to die for our sins, including the sin of suicide (Romans 8:32). 

2. MAN’S ACCUSATION: “Doesn’t the suicide of a Christian confirm the fact that Christianity really doesn’t have the solutions to man’s problems?” 

GOD’S ANSWER: “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.” (Romans 8:33) God says, “No one can successfully press charges against a believer in Christ because I have declared him totally righteous on the basis of his faith in My Son.” No one can successfully accuse any Christian who commits suicide because God does not even accuse him – He declares him totally righteous or not guilty the moment he believed in Jesus Christ. No one can bring an accusation against the Christian who commits suicide that will stand. But how difficult it is at times to realize God’s interest and presence! It’s like the sun – every day – it shines. No one could EVER say – the sun isn’t shining! We may say, “I can’t feel it or see it”…but fly high enough and there it is!

3. MAN’S ACCUSATION: “Doesn’t such an act as suicide deserve condemnation?” 

GOD’S ANSWER: “Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” (Romans 8:34) God says, “No one can successfully condemn the believer who commits suicide because My Son – 

“… was condemned to death for his sins, removing his guilt (8:34b).

“… was raised to life, satisfying My demand to punish his sins (8:34c). 

“… is at My right hand defending him against all accusations (8:34d).” When Satan comes to God’s throne with accusations against the believer who commits suicide, God looks to His Son, and Jesus says, “Father, I paid for that sin.”

“… intercedes for him (8:34e).”

Now let me make something quite clear. I am not suggesting that such a death is condoned in Scriptures… for God assures us that He has not only designed LIFE but LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY for His children (John 10:10). However, the struggles and pain are often too great for a person who commits suicide. But God does not condemn him because Christ has taken his or her punishment. 

4. MAN’S ACCUSATION: “Doesn’t such an act separate a person from God’s love and presence? Isn’t this the classic act of rejection?”

GOD’S ANSWER: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? …Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39) Nothing, including suicide, can separate a Christian from the love of God. Even though others may stop loving us or we may stop loving ourselves, God’s love will never abandon us. Nothing you do, say, or think can separate you from God’s love. Absolutely nothing. 

Listen to Jesus’ own words: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them…and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” (John 10:27-29) That includes the believer who commits suicide!  

Who shall oppose us? NO ONE. Who shall accuse us? NO ONE. Who shall condemn us? NO ONE. Who shall separate us from God’s love? NO ONE. The believer who commits suicide is in God’s presence – no more tears, crying, pain, death or darkness… all that is gone. His body awaits that incredible moment when it will be raised and changed—NEVER TROUBLED AGAIN WITH INNER DISTURBANCE  …CONFLICT …INSECURITY…UNREST…

HOW CAN I OVERCOME THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE?

  • Aim to work on the causes of your emotional pain, not just the symptoms.
  • If your depression is due to guilt, admit your sin to the Lord (Psalm 32:1-5; I John 1:9).
  • When you are depressed, place your hope in God (Psalm 42:5; Lamentations 3:20-25).
  • Avoid being isolated (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). Stay connected to loving and supportive friends.
  • Seek help from others (Galatians 6:2; James 5:13-16).
  • Listen to uplifting Christian music and sing (I Samuel 16:14-23).
  • Identify and replace the lies underlying your suicidal thoughts with God’s truth. Jesus came so you could have life, but Satan came to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). Suicidal thoughts often stem from some of Satan’s lies.Focus on the truth of God’s Word, not Satan’s lies (John 8:31). If you are not aware of the lies you believe, journal your thoughts and feelings, relying on the Holy Spirit to reveal the underlying lies. Then ask God to remove the lies that cause you to have suicidal thoughts and graciously replace them with His truth (Psalm 119:28-29).

WHAT IF I SUSPECT SOMEONE I KNOW IS HAVING THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE?

  • Don’t be afraid to talk to them about it. We are only as sick as our secrets. Ask questions like: “Are you thinking about taking your life? Do you have a suicide plan as to how you would do it? Why do you think that’s the only answer?” Talking about suicide does not plant suicidal thoughts in someone who is already depressed. Talking about suicide actually decreases the possibility of that person taking his or her life because it diffuses its power. (If someone has a plan to kill themselves, make sure they get medical assistance immediately!)
  • Obtain a verbal “non-suicide” contract or commitment not to do anything that would be harmful or self-destructive without first talking with you or with a counselor, pastor, or another trusted person. 
  • Ask them to think through these questions: “If you died and came back to life, could you find other reasons for being glad to be alive? Would the Lord’s promises of love and guidance though your trials still be in place? Would the sun still shine and water still be cool and refreshing? Would there still be adventures in life and growth in relationships? Could some positive reasons for living, as opposed to dying, be developed?” Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! There is hope for the hopeless!

What is Repentance?

“But [I] declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the regions of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.” Acts 26:20

After testifying to King Agrippa about his early life and his conversion on the road to Damascus (26:1-18), the apostle Paul said he was “not disobedient to the heavenly vision” he received on the road to Damascus (26:19), “but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the regions of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance” (26:20).

Notice the order of verbs in Paul’s message to Jews and Gentiles – “repent…turn (to God)…do works (befitting repentance).” The word “repent” (metanoeō) refers to a change of mind. Whether you are a religious person (Jew) or a nonreligious person (Gentile), the gospel calls you to change your mind about “God.” Notice that to “repent” is not the same as doing “works befitting repentance.” The word “and” makes this distinction. When we repent or change our minds to believe in Jesus, doing “works befitting repentance” is the result of repentance, not repentance itself. This change in action is the result of the change of mind or repentance and is necessary for discipleship or maturity to take place in the Christian life (cf. John 15:6-8; Revelation 2:4-5, 16, 21-22; 3:3, 19).

The religious person (Jew) relies on his own righteousness and religious activity to gain acceptance before God and the gospel tells him to change his view of God (repent) who is absolutely holy and righteous and realize that his own righteousness is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Then he is to “turn to God” to receive His “forgiveness” through “faith” in Christ (Acts 20:18). With Christ in his life as a result of believing in Jesus, he now has the power to “do works befitting repentance.”

The nonreligious person (Gentile) does not care anything about the things of God and may not even believe God exists. The gospel calls this person to change his mind about God Who does exist, and Who hates sin and will punish it (Isaiah 6:1-5; 59:1-2; Romans 3:23; 6:23; Revelation 20:15). His repentance is also a change of mind about his sin and God, so he can see his need to believe in Jesus for His forgiveness (Acts 20:18). After believing in Jesus, he too has the power to “do works befitting repentance.”

With this said, I want to point out that the words “believe” and “faith” are used over 200 times in contexts dealing with salvation from Hell in the New Testament compared to the next most used verb, “repent” (metanoeō), and its noun form “repentance” (metanoia), which are employed 33 times in salvation-related contexts in the New Testament. When the word “repent” or “repentance” are used in evangelistic contexts, they refer to a lost person changing his mind about whatever is keeping him from believing in Christ, and then believing in Him for eternal life. The non-Christian may need to change his mind about the Person of Christ (Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38), God (Acts 20:21), idols (Revelation 9:20), sin (Revelation 9:21), or his works (Revelation 16:11; Hebrews 6:1) before he can believe in Christ for the gift of salvation.

Repentance cannot refer to sorrow for sin or turning from sin because in the Old Testament God repents (e.g. Genesis 6:6-7; Exodus 32:14; Jeremiah 26:19; Jonah 3:9-10; et. al.). In the King James Version, the word “repent” occurs forty-six times in the Old Testament. Thirty-seven of these times, God is the one repenting (or not repenting). If repentance meant sorrow for sin, God would be a sinner. The apostle Paul distinguishes sorrow and repentance in 2 Corinthians 7:9 when he states, “your sorrow led to repentance.” Sorrow may lead to repentance or accompany repentance; but sorrow is not the same as repentance. In Acts 2 the Jews felt sorrow or regret about what they did to Jesus whom God made both Lord and Christ and they asked, “What shall we do?” (2:36-37). Peter told them to “Repent” (2:38) after their sorrow or regret.

In summary, when communicating the gospel, let’s be very clear. Repentance is a change of mind about whatever is keeping a non-Christian (religious or nonreligious) from believing in Christ, and then believing in Christ for His gift of everlasting life (Mark 1:15; John 3:16). Doing works befitting repentance has to do with discipleship and growing toward maturity in the Christian life after a person believes in Christ.