Salvation Road

THE NEED FOR SALVATION

New Hope Christian Church, 2/5/23

Where are you on the road to salvation? Not interested? Already there? Somewhere in between?

Do you feel the need for salvation? Apparently, not everyone does, or else there would be many more people searching for answers. If you are searching, what is drawing you to God? If you have found salvation, what was it that drew you to seek Him? Only those who recognize their need for God will ever be seriously determined to do whatever it takes to come to Him for salvation. Here are five common felt needs that drive people to God for salvation.

Guilt

Perhaps the most common felt need that drives people to seek salvation is an awareness of one’s guilt, a broken relationship with God. Being guilty and feeling guilty may go together but they are not identical. One can stand guilty before God without feeling any sorrow at all for one’s actions. On the other hand, a person may feel guilty about a particular behavior when God does not consider that behavior to be sinful or when, in the case of being saved, that person is not held accountable by God for his sins.

Certainly, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Therefore, apart from salvation, sinful actions or attitudes make us guilty before God. Two things must happen in order for our guilt to drive us to God for salvation. First, we must become aware of our guilt. Our conscience (Romans 2:15), if properly trained and conditioned, can convict us of wrongdoing. More clearly and certainly, God’s word (Romans 3:20) instructs us as to what actions and attitudes are sinful; and it also informs us of our guilt. Regarding our guilt, the word says, "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath” (Ephesians 2:1-3).

Being “objects of wrath” we are thus held accountable for our sins.

In a parable, Jesus referred to a tax collector who acknowledged his guilt: “‘He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner”’” (Luke 18:13). His guilt lay heavy on his heart, and so he was driven to seek forgiveness from God.

Societal Dysfunction

A second common felt need that drives people to God for salvation deals more with relationships among people, that is, it arises out of societal dysfunction. In literature studies we call it (or at least they used to) man vs. man conflict. When a person becomes involved with others, inevitably conflicts will arise. These interactions are sometimes one-on-one, sometimes nation to nation, and most often somewhere in between. When things do not go our way, then conflict often arises. “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another” (Titus 3:3).

Paul wrote extensively about this societal dysfunction in Romans 1:28-32. He attributed it to mankind’s rejection of God, replacing worship of the true God with manmade idols and the resulting descent into moral depravity.

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.  Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

When we get tired of living in and participating in such a society, we may be driven to turn to God for a way out. It is difficult to change society, but as individuals we can look to God and His word for a superior way to deal with other people. More than that, we look to Him for a way of escape from such a society.

Death

Perhaps the most common felt need that drives people to God for salvation is the dread, even fear, of death and the accompanying desire to live forever. Hebrews 2:15 refers to “those who all their lives [are] held in slavery by their fear of death,” implying that this fear of death is universal. Presenting this need in a positive fashion, “an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’” (Luke 10:25). The desire to live forever is just another version of fearing death.

No one really wants to die. Those who think they do are really just wanting an end to some evil in their life, such as unbearable or unending pain (physical or emotional). Death itself involves the unknown, and we do not want to face the end of our existence and/or the possible suffering that sometimes accompanies the dying process.

A realization that death is universal is often a powerful incentive to look to God for a remedy.

Meaninglessness

The fourth common need that drives people to God for salvation occurs when life is seen as purposeless, without meaning. We even have a word to describe sheer, intense boredom: ennui.  This condition often leads to suicide. The writer of Ecclesiastes (presumed to be Solomon) knew the feeling. His whole book (12 chapters) deals with it. (By the way, Ecclesiastes is interesting reading, but the reader needs to know the approach of the book in order to understand it.) For example: "I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun" (2:10-11).

Also: "Man’s fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless. All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return" (3:19-20).

We can find some purpose in life, but in the end both we and our accomplishments come to an end. So what’s the use, really? Since we were designed to live forever—“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)—it is not surprising that we desire purpose in our lives; and this desire can drive us to look to God for ultimate meaning in life.

Misery

Somewhat related to both death and meaninglessness, is another common need, the end to our misery. Just the word calls up from within us a need to look for that end. And when all else fails, we may find ourselves looking to God. And often people connect that search with taking a chance on going to church. Maybe those people have the answers? Job did not know why he was in misery, although his friends claimed to know, and sometimes he agreed with them.

“Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure, who are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave? Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in? For sighing comes to me instead of food; my groans pour out like water. What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me. I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.” (Job 3:20-26)

Throughout the debate and ultimately, Job came to the conclusion that only God had the answers. In fact, God was (and is) the answer.

Many people in Jesus’ time were miserable, and their misery lasted sometimes for many years. One such person was a woman who had a physical malady with no cure in sight (Mark 5:25-28): "And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, 'If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.'"

Misery has a way of turning one’s attention toward God.

Conclusion

How serious are you about a saving relationship with God? Is something driving you to turn to Him for salvation? If so, it’s important to remember that on the Salvation Road, it’s not so important where you are as the direction you are headed. Come on the journey with us!

SALVATION ROAD: THE WAY

New Hope Christian Church, 2/12/23

On the Salvation Road, where are you? On the Salvation Road it’s not so much a matter of where you are but rather in which direction you are traveling. But first, we must make sure we are on the right road! In both the Old and the New Testaments, the Salvation Road is often identified as “the Way” to salvation. Here are five Biblical descriptions of “the Way” to salvation. (Both the Hebrew word in the Old Testament and the Greek word in the New for “Way” are also translated “Road.”)

The Way of Holiness

Isaiah describes “the Way” to salvation several ways. For example, in 35:8-10, it is described as the Way of Holiness: “And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”

“Holiness” refers to separation, difference, or setting apart. In current culture it is often thought of as a description of an old fashioned and plain way of dress or speech. For that reason, many church people resist using the word. In the Bible, however, the word (also translated “sanctification”) generally refers to the state of having been separated from the world and for service to God. Therefore, it applies, or at least should apply, to all followers of Jesus. To be holy or sanctified has two senses, the first being a change of state. In this sense, it means that a person is now in a saved relationship with God through Christ. The second sense refers to a continuing growth process in one’s heart and life of being separated from sin and the world (the sinful thoughts, attitudes, speech, and actions of the unsaved), growing in Christian character, and serving Christ as a participating member of the body of Christ, that is, the church.

Understanding the Biblical concept of holiness and living a holy lifestyle is essential for anyone desiring to be considered a Christian (disciple or follower of Jesus), for we are told to make “every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). That might be a surprise to many church goers!

Isaiah’s Way of Holiness has four characteristics. (1) This Way is a highway. Highways in ancient times were well-traveled routes from which impediments were usually removed. (See next point.) (2) Only the wise will be found there. (The renderings that imply that fools would not “err therein” are misleading.) (3) Travelers are protected from predators. And (4) it will lead to everlasting bliss. Rather than implying a lifestyle devoid of fun and excitement, the way of holiness promises a far superior way of living.

The Way in the Desert

Another description of God’s way is described by Isaiah (40:3-11) as in the desert:

A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

This description of the mission of the Messiah’s forerunner is, of course, about the ministry of John the Baptizer. He “lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel” (Luke 1:80), and his ministry was in out of the way places, but that is not the point. His place of ministry was symbolic of the fact that people do not come to God in masses (although they may physically be in a crowd) but rather one at a time. Each person must approach God as an individual.

And when a person hears the message of God, what is the message? The messengers must do all they can to remove any impediments to hearing the truth. God has spoken, but Satan and the world too often find a way to interfere with faith. (Consider the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8:11-14.) The message must be proclaimed boldly, simply, and clearly (Colossians 4:4; Philippians 1:14,20). Furthermore, the messengers must live a life that is consistent with their message.

The message also must remind the hearers that their life is transient but God’s word is eternal. Instead of judgment, God offers them good news and a personal connection with Him. He is gentle with them.

Furthermore, the message is about a new way for God to deal with His people (Isaiah 43:19-21): “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen,  the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise” (Isaiah 43:19-21). Even in the “desert” God provides refreshing water for His people. Neither the desert nor the water is literal but they are real. People are in need of spiritual refreshment, and God’s Way fills that need: “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams” (44:3-4). This need is filled by the gift of His Holy Spirit.

Encountering God’s message in the wilderness implies a certain determination, for accepting that message does not come easily. Jesus taught (Matthew 11:12), “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.” (Many versions have an alternate translation such as “suffers violence, and the violent take it by force,” NKJV, but not in Luke 16:16.) 

The Way of the Sea

The Way of the Sea was an important land route through Israel for travel and commerce between Egypt and the nations in the Fertile Crescent. Going north, it went through the pass at Megiddo, then alongside the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River, and up through Syria. The territory in Galilee through which this route passed found a place in Messianic literature:

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan— The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.... For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. ((Isaiah 9:1-2,6-7)

After the death of King Solomon (930 B.C.), Israel split into two kingdoms, the northern kingdom called Israel and the southern called Judah. Some of the kings of Judah remained, off and on, loyal to God; but the kings of Israel all rejected God in favor of two golden calves as well as other gods throughout most of their history. After the two kingdoms returned from captivity, they again formed one nation, rejecting all false gods and turning, more or less, back to the Law of God.

However, their consistency in following the Law left much to be desired, and they needed additional light from God. This light came in the Person of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. An important motif in the preaching of Jesus and then His apostles proclaimed in Jesus the light in the darkness. "Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: 'Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.' From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near'" (Matthew 4:13-17).

The Way of Jesus is light in the darkness. “In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood [or has not overcome] it” (John 1:4-5). 

The Good Way

Through the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord challenged Israel, “‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls’” (Jeremiah 6:16). The Good Way for Israel was the one that asked for the ancient paths, that is, the teachings of the Law of Moses and the worship of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As long as they followed the false prophets and the false gods, He would allow them no rest.

The apostle Paul, in his last letter, wrote to Timothy, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:14-15). Timothy had grown up under the teaching and influence of his grandmother and mother; and as an adult he had been mentored by Paul, whose writings were also considered scripture (2 Peter 3:15-16).

Paul had warned the elders in the church at Ephesus, “‘Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them’” (Acts 20:30). Decades later Jude warned, “For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord” (Jude 4). Too often we fall into the trap of the new. The only good way is the ancient way. “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings [traditions] we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter” (2 Thessalonians 2:15).

The Only Way

Finally, the Salvation Road is the only way to be saved. In fact, the New Testament never refers to “Christianity” but rather to “the Way.” Christians were those “who belonged to the Way” (Acts 9:2). Apollos “had been instructed in the way of the Lord ... though he knew only the baptism of John.... When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately” (18:25-26). Paul worshiped God “as a follower of the Way,” which the Jews called a sect (24:14). Governor Felix, before whom Paul was tried, “was well acquainted with the Way” (24:22). See also 16:17 and 19:9,23 for other examples in Acts where “Christianity” was called the Way.

Why the Way? Because it was the only way to be saved. Jesus Himself had taught this: “‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6). He was not just one way but the only way. The apostle Peter expressed it this way, “‘Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved’” (Acts 4:12).

Jesus is the only Way to be saved.

Conclusion

Are you on the right road? Or have you chosen your own or someone else’s way? The Salvation Road is the route to salvation, the only one. Only the way taught in the Bible will lead us to salvation. We are only kidding ourselves if we think that we can acceptably worship God while rejecting His Way as taught in Scripture.

SALVATION ROAD: WHAT’S AT STAKE?

New Hope Christian Church, 2/19/23

Why should you care about the Salvation Road? Hebrews 9:27 states a fact of life: “man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” If it is true that, after we die, we will all face judgment, then we certainly must not wait until death to accept this truth; for then it will be too late to look for salvation.

What’s at stake in our consideration of the Salvation Road? The apostle Paul wrote to his protégée, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8). Our lives both now and in eternity are affected by our journey on the Salvation Road. Reaching the desired destination, salvation, is a matter of life and death! Here are three reasons why you should want to take the one and only road to salvation.

Do You Want to Go to Heaven?

Heaven is a wonderful place! No one who believes in Heaven thinks otherwise. We don’t yet really know how wonderful Heaven is, for many of the Bible’s descriptions are obviously symbolic, in language that is reflexive of the world in Old Testament times. No doubt an actual description would be unintelligible to us just as describing our own times would be unintelligible to people in ancient times. However, what Scripture tells us about Heaven is enough for us to want to go there. For example, "Therefore, 'they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes'" (Revelation 7:15-17).

And again,

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4)

Pearly gates and golden streets may represent an environment different from anything we can even imagine, but “no more death or mourning or crying or pain” is certainly understandable to us. We may not be in a hurry to leave this world; but when we get to the next, we will marvel that we were ever tied to the one where we now live!

Many people believe in “a better place” after death and think that they are going there. No matter how moral a person’s life may be, when they die we often hear, “They’re in a better place.” Regrettably, that is not true nearly as often as we think. Without taking advantage of Christ’s offer of salvation, no one will make it to Heaven. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (John 3:36). Note that rejecting the Son is not the reason for falling under God’s wrath, for that wrath was already deserved due to sin. Rejecting the Son does prevent one from being forgiven and thus escaping God’s wrath at the Judgment.

Most who believe in Heaven do not think everyone will go there, but they do think that most people they know will go; after all, their friends are usually pretty decent people. However, God’s word is clear: not all “good, decent people” are going to make it, for no one is good enough. “ All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous” (Romans 2:12-13). “As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one’” (3:10-12). And again, “‘There is no fear of God before their eyes’ .... Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin” (3:18-20).

Heaven is a wonderful place, but to get there we must be saved from our sins; and all our good works will not make up for our sin.

Do You Know about Hell?

Traveling the road to salvation is necessary for us to get to Heaven. A second reason for traveling that road is to avoid going to Hell. Do you know about Hell? Many things in this life are called hell, but they do not come close to experiencing the literal Hell.

It’s not popular to believe in the existence of a literal, after-death Hell. Is it real? Jesus thought so, and He warned against going there: “‘Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell’” (Matthew 10:28). Why did He so frequently refer to it? Because it is such a horror-filled place, and He came to save us from it. He used several figures of speech to describe its horrors. Those who go there “‘will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’” (8:12). He also describes it as “‘a fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’” (13:42). Hell is also called (Revelation 20:10) a lake of fire and burning sulfur (or brimstone). This last picture depicts not just burning but also the terrible smell. We do not know whether any of these descriptions are to be taken literally—it could be that the worst imaginable torment was chosen and that the actual torment will be so much worse. Jesus spoke of a sinful rich man who found himself in Hades (a precursor to Hell) and described it as a “place of torment” (Luke 16:28), about which he wished to warn his brothers still alive.

Apparently not everyone in Hell will suffer the same level of torment. Using a different symbol of that torment, Jesus said, “‘That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked’” (Luke 12:47-48). Nevertheless, all levels will be torment.

Who will be in Hell? It was originally prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). Joining them will be the two “beasts” of Revelation 13: “But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur” (19:20). In addition will be many people, to their surprise, who had simply failed to serve Jesus by ministering to “one of the least of these” people who had been in need (Matthew 25:41-46). That may seem harsh, but it is reality.

Others who are specifically mentioned as headed for Hell are hypocritical religious leaders (Matthew 23:15-33) and church leaders who mistreat those under their charge (Matthew 24:45,48-51). The latter will receive a particularly severe punishment: “‘The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’” (24:50-51). His stated punishment demonstrates the symbolic nature of Hell, for how could anyone be literally cut into pieces and still suffer the rest of this stated penalty? Regardless of the exact nature of the punishment in Hell, it is horrible.

The final Judgment will begin with a look at the books in which are recorded everyone’s works (perhaps to determine rewards and punishments), but only the saved, those whose names are recorded in the Book of Life, will escape being thrown into “the lake of fire.”

And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.... And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.... If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:10,12,15)

What Kind of Life Do You Want for the Present, the Here and Now?

Heaven and Hell are at stake in the hereafter, but what about the here and now? It is easy to get distracted by life and forget about (except on special occasions) the hereafter. The circumstances of our present life are also at stake. What kind of life do you want to live? What do you want to characterize your lifestyle?

In general and to varying degrees, those who have not found the salvation that Christ offers are living among a dysfunctional society and all the consequences thereof. Peter described such a lifestyle as “the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers” (1 Peter 1:18). Paul was more detailed in his description, “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another” (Titus 3:3).

On the other hand, those who follow the Salvation Road to a life in Christ find a much different lifestyle: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17). With an eye on eternity, the saved experience day by day renewal in spite of the growing feebleness and eventual death of the physical body. Describing the saved life as a life in the kingdom of Christ, Paul wrote, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). “Righteousness” may not appeal to everyone, but who does not enjoy peace and joy?

That does not mean that the saved do not know trials and tribulations in this life, but rather that their life rises above those troubles: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4; see also Romans 5:3-5 and 1 Peter 1:6-9).

Conclusion

So, what’s at stake? Everything! “‘What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done’” (Matthew 16:26-27).

Don’t miss a step as we take this journey on the Salvation Road!

SALVATION ROAD: FAITH

New Hope Christian Church, 2/26/23

Do you believe? Do you know the difference between faith and belief? In the Bible there is no difference for these two words are translations of the same word in the original text.

Are you on the Salvation Road? If so, where are you? At the beginning, saved, or somewhere in between? It’s not really important where you are but rather that you are headed in the right direction and moving forward. Since God’s word has declared that no one is good enough to get to Heaven, we must see that the only alternative is to count on the grace of God, accepted by faith. The apostle Paul wrote that we “know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:16). Hebrews 11:6 observes, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

We are saved by the grace of God through faith (Ephesians 2:8), but we must understand what kind of faith is meant. Saving faith is usually described as having two components, but, for the sake of clarity, here we will break them down into three.

Believing the Testimony (the Evidence)

Many people associate faith with a feeling or an opinion that is not subject to question. However, the Bible teaches that faith is a conviction based on evidence. The evidence may be empirical (something seen or heard), experienced in person, or logical, reasoned from personal experience. When the evidence is not empirical, it may be a result of testimony, that is, empirical evidence experienced and then attested by another party.

Empirical evidence is limited, of course, to the time in which the event occurred. The apostle Thomas wanted empirical evidence of the resurrection of Jesus. He was absent that first time Jesus appeared to the other apostles and friends. “So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it’” (John 20:24). A week later Jesus appeared again and gave him his empirical proof. Many people today would like such proof, but Jesus had a different view: “‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed’” (20:29).

What kind of evidence does Scripture give us that we might have faith in Jesus? Empirical proof was available only to those who lived at that time and who were in the presence of Jesus. Testimony can span both distance and time. When challenged for proof of Jesus’ claims, He offered several avenues of testimony. One of the most concise presentations of such proof can be found in John 5:31-40. He did not ask people just to take His word for it. The Old Testament standard for testimony (for or against a claim) was “two or three witnesses.” Therefore Jesus began the following list of witnesses with an acknowledgment that He was not counting on His word alone:

“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid. You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved.... I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me.... You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life."

In addition to His own testimony Jesus cited that of John the Baptizer (for example, John 1:26-36). He also cited the Father’s sending the Son on His mission of redemption, authenticated by the voice from heaven, “the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’” (Luke 3:22), and the miracles He was performing (for example, Luke 5:24-25). Finally, He appealed to Scripture and the many prophecies regarding the Messiah which came true in Jesus.

Paul also taught that faith comes through testimony, and he listed the steps necessary for building faith.

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" ... Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:13-15,17)

Note these steps: The good news about Christ (the gospel), then someone sending the preachers of that news, then the preaching (proclamation), then hearers of the news, then believing the news. In short, faith comes through the word.

John summed up the purpose of his Gospel: “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (20:30-31).

Certainty of faith comes from the validity of the testimony, as described in Luke’s process of writing his Gospel (1:1-4): "Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught." Second-hand testimony is sufficient for faith if that testimony is based on the testimony of reliable witnesses who were present at the time of the events described.

Trusting Jesus’ Word

Secondly, saving (authentic, genuine, living) faith is more than believing the facts, for even the demons believe “that there is one God ... and shudder” (James 2:19). Just believing in Christ is not sufficient. We must believe Him. “‘Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves’” (John 14:11).

First, we must believe what He says about Himself. “‘I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins’” (John 8:24). 

Second, we must believe what He says about the Old Testament (“the word of God ... the Scripture cannot be broken,” John 10:35) and the New Testament (the teaching of the apostles, John 14:26; 16:13-15). In short, the whole Bible is the word of God.

Third, we must believe what He says about salvation: the conditions and the promises as well as the warnings. Therefore, we ignore what He taught at our peril: “how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will” (Hebrews 2:3-4).

Taking up Your Cross

The third component of faith is usually considered a part of trusting; but for the sake of clarity it is helpful to see it as a third, for this component gives teeth to trust. We can illustrate the three components by recalling an illustration from about a hundred years ago. According to the record, there was a certain tightrope walker who stretched his rope across a section of Niagara Falls. He, of course, soon drew a crowd as he walked across the falls. He then brought up a wheelbarrow and pushed it back and forth. Next, he put a large bag of something (perhaps sand or feed) in the wheelbarrow and repeated his daring feat. Then he asked people below if they believed he could carry a man across in his wheelbarrow. The audience said, sure. Then he asked, “Who wants to be first?” They had seen what he could do and therefore believed he could also carry a man across. But it was another thing to volunteer, for that would require a commitment based on a life or death trust. That’s what it means to have genuine faith in Jesus, a life or death trust.

Jesus requires this commitment in two stages, first the initial commitment: “‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple’” (Luke 14:26). This strong language is not referring to an emotional hate but rather to a decision to follow Christ, no matter the cost. (See also Matthew 10:37.) His will must be our highest priority in life.

This commitment to Him is stated another way, “‘And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple’” (Luke 14:27). What does it mean to carry one’s cross? Of course for Jesus it was a literal cross, a horrific method of execution. However, His cross involved a prior decision, one coming to fruition in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew He had come for this purpose, but He was human as well as God and thus felt a dread of the horrible death He was about to face. “‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.... My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done’” (Matthew 26:38-39,42). Therefore, true, genuine, authentic, saving faith must include a commitment to the will of God, regardless of the cost.

A third expression of this commitment is found in Luke 14:33, “‘In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.’” He leaves it in our care, to be managed for Him, but it now belongs to Him. Whenever He calls for it, we use it or give it up for His purpose.

The second stage of this commitment is a daily renewal of the decision to follow Christ as Lord. “‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?’” (Luke 9:23-25). This stage is not necessarily a daily conscious decision, but it is lived out in one’s life. “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’” (John 8:31-32).

Conclusion

Do you believe what the Book says about Jesus? Do you trust His word as God’s Son? Are you willing to give Him your heart and soul, following Him in all He says? If so, the next step is also a part of faith, but it is necessary for us to consider what it means regarding the way we live. That comes next.

SALVATION ROAD: REPENTANCE

New Hope Christian Church, 3/5/23

We begin our journey on the Salvation Road through faith, a faith that includes believing in Jesus, believing (trusting) Jesus, and commitment to Jesus. John the Baptizer introduces us to the next point along the road (Luke 3:7-14):

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

The answer was different for each group of people but summarized in one word, repent.

Repentance is the step on the Salvation Road that is perhaps the one that is most often misunderstood and/or ignored. It is easier to want forgiveness for our sins than to quit sinning. Indeed, repentance is a component of faith, arising out of trust (the second component of faith) and leading to commitment (the third component). A proper understanding of repentance can be gained by examining three features of genuine repentance.

Genuine Repentance Arises out of Sorrow

The initial feature of genuine repentance is seen in the writings of the apostle Paul. "Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while—yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death" (2 Corinthians 7:8-10). Genuine repentance most often arises out of sorrow for sin. It is not the same thing as sorrow, for being sorry does not necessarily lead to change of behavior. A prime example of how worldly sorrow “brings death” occurred literally in Judas. “When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. ‘I have sinned,’ he said, ‘for I have betrayed innocent blood.’ ‘What is that to us?’ they replied. ‘That’s your responsibility.’ So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:3-5). Some versions portray Judas as repenting, but the word in the original text is different from the usual word for repenting. Other versions more accurately translate the word here as “remorse.” Judas regretted what he had done, but not to the point that he turned to God for forgiveness.

The sorrow that leads to repentance often arises out of a guilty conscience, as illustrated in King David after he committed adultery with Bathsheba: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight” (Psalm 51:1-4). A guilty conscience is a powerful thing—it can haunt you forever even after you have found forgiveness. It can also lead you to repent of your sinful behavior.

Sorrow for sin can also come through an awareness of Scripture’s condemnation of and/or teaching about sin. In a secular world it is easy to grow up without a strong moral code. When encountering the teaching of Scripture about sin and God’s dealings with sinners, a person must make a choice: to believe or not to believe in a holy and righteous God. If the choice is to believe, then passages such as Roman 3:23 can touch the heart: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Repentance may then follow the warning, “For the wages of sin is death” (6:23).

Sometimes, sorrow for sin comes upon contemplation of Christ’s sacrificial death, which was necessary because of our sin and as a result of God’s love: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16); and “do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?” (Romans 2:4).

Genuine Repentance Requires Change

Genuine repentance is distinguished from merely being sorry by the reformation of one’s life. In other words, repentance requires change, indeed, several kinds of change. In his contrast between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow, Paul wrote, “See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter” (2 Corinthians 7:11). These words demonstrate a change of mind about sin and righteousness. In fact, change of mind is the literal definition of the word repentance. In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, this change is described in the original text as the son coming to himself. The NIV translates it: “‘When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men”’” (Luke 15:17-19). He no longer felt entitled to live his life any way he wanted.

A second kind of change required by repentance is the change of allegiance: “Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness” (Romans 6:13). Repentance requires us to quit serving sin and to start serving God.

The third kind of change is a change of direction, following the change of allegiance:

Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:16-23)

Repentance requires a new pursuit in our priorities. Instead of looking for and following sinful desires, the penitent person looks for and follows the way of righteousness. And this new way leads to holiness rather than ever-increasing wickedness. The end result is life in Christ (the gift of salvation) rather than death.

Genuine Repentance Is Required for Salvation

Although repentance leads us to turn from sin and to start obeying God, salvation cannot be earned, for we are still at this point under God’s wrath for our past and continuing sinfulness. Salvation is the gift of God, but it does require some conditions in order to receive that gift. After the first public proclamation of the resurrected Jesus, the people who believed the message responded in sorrow for their part in His crucifixion: “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:37-38). Why were they told to repent? It was required.

Repentance is required by faith. God has said, “‘I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea’” (Isaiah 48:17-18); just as He had said that His commands and decrees were for the people’s own good (Deuteronomy 10:13). If we trust God’s word, then we will want to do what He has told us to do because we want what is best for us.

Repentance is also required by the command of Jesus. In Luke 13:1-9 He referred to some Jews who had been slaughtered by Pilate’s men as they were offering sacrifices in their worship of God. He also spoke of some who had died when a tower had collapsed on them. In both cases, He asked whether these people suffered because they were worse sinners than others. “‘I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish’” (13:3,5). He then told a parable about a man tending a fig tree, a tree that had not been producing fruit. The man acknowledged that if the tree continued without bearing fruit, then the tree should be cut down.

In His post-resurrection commission to the apostles, Jesus charged them, “‘This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem’” (Luke 24:46-47).

In its essence repentance is required for lifestyle change: “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness” (Romans 6:11-13). Changing the way we live is not an automatic result of being saved. It requires a counting ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. In addition, it requires a choice to live in obedience and service to God.

Repentance is not the only requirement (condition) for salvation, of course. We have already seen that faith is required, and we have yet to consider two other conditions or terms of salvation. We must “read and accept the terms of use.” The next two installments will consider these terms.

Conclusion

Saving faith does not exist if it does not result in repentance. If a person claims to have faith and yet has the same thoughts, attitudes, speech, and actions—that individual is the same person as before, lost and under the wrath of God! Therefore, repentance must not be ignored.

SALVATION ROAD: CONFESSING CHRIST

New Hope Christian Church, 3/12/23

Scripture speaks of two kinds of confession. In the New Testament “confession” literally means to say the same thing, that is, to speak in agreement with a particular statement or claim. (1) In some cases, just as in modern usage, confession means to admit fault. (2) But in the passages referring to salvation or being right with God it means to affirm belief in, that is, to agree with, God’s testimony about Jesus. “We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” (1 John 5:9-11). The word “confession” is not used here, but it would apply to these statements; that is, we agree with what God has said.

Contrary to the belief of many, faith alone, even the faith that leads to repentance (see previous message), is not the end of the line on the Salvation Road. We must consider all that Scripture teaches about how to be saved.

Psalm 122:1, referring to the Temple of God, says, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” In the New Testament, the house of the Lord is not a church building but rather the family of God, the church. The Salvation Road, leading to inclusion in that family, is not traveled silently or quietly. From first to last it involves an open and public confession of Christ and even implies an effort to invite others to join us on that road.

Let us consider the following three characteristics of the person who confesses Christ.

Convinced

The person confessing Christ does so as a result of being convinced that the Gospel testimony about Jesus of Nazareth is true. The apostle Paul wrote that “if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Romans 10:9-10). Confession with the mouth—“I believe that Jesus is Lord”—is the partner of believing “in your heart that God raised him from the dead.” Both faith (belief) and confession are prerequisites to being saved.

Just “believing in Jesus” is not enough. The apostle expands the statement of necessary belief (faith) in 1 Corinthians 15:2-8: "By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve."

He then adds appearances to James, to himself, and to more than 500 others. Note the four items of faith: the death, burial, resurrection, and appearances of Christ. The last item is important for it provides the basis for believing the testimony regarding the first three. In fact, the eyewitness testimony regarding the resurrected Christ was the primary qualification for an apostle of Christ (Acts 1:21-22).

In short, we confess to agreeing with God’s testimony that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).

This conviction is not a gut-feeling or an opinion or some tradition handed down from our ancestors or even the church. Rather it is a morally certain conviction grounded in Scripture. As the apostle Peter wrote (2 Peter 1:16-21):

We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Other scriptures affirming morally certain proof as to the person and work of Christ include Acts 1:1-3; 17:31; 18:27-28; 26:22-26; Luke 1:1-4; and John 20:30-31.

Taking a Stand

Having become convinced that the testimony of God recorded in Scripture is true, the persons confessing Christ then must take a stand. They cross the line from trust to commitment, and this commitment is expressed publicly. The preacher Timothy was reminded, “ Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12). Paul had begun his statement of faith (1 Corinthians 15:2-8, see above) with these words: “Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand” (15:1).

Jesus Himself had required His followers to take this public stand: “‘Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven’” (Matthew 10:32-33). The NIV “acknowledges” is literally “confesses.”

Romans 10:8-10 asserts that the word of faith is being proclaimed, confessed with the mouth. “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (10:10).

This confession is not just a single step on the road to salvation, a one-time statement in the presence of the congregation, but rather the beginning of a life-long profession. Taking a public stand for Jesus involves speaking out for Him, becoming “blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life” (Philippians 2:15-16). Those who confess Christ bring His light into a world enveloped in spiritual darkness. As they encounter the people of the world, they watch for appropriate times and ways to let the light shine. “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:5-6). Even in our daily struggles with life, God’s light shines forth:

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (2 Corinthians 4:4-7)

To give credence to our confession of Christ, we must demonstrate a lifestyle consistent with His teachings (including admission of and apologies for our lapses and shortcomings): “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (1 Peter 3:15-16). People who do not act like Christians are not going to attract others to the faith.

Ready to Serve

Believing in Christ and taking public stands for Him is not all there is to confessing Christ. Those who agree with God’s testimony about Him are ready to serve Him. The prophet Isaiah testified about his own encounter with God (Isaiah 6:1-8):

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

The majestic glory of this vision led Isaiah to realize how unworthy he was; but after the Lord cleansed him from his sin, he readily responded to the call to take God’s message to His sinful nation. Likewise, confession, agreeing with what God says about Christ and our salvation, is one way of saying that Christ deserves to be served. God says, I have a job for you; and we respond, here am I, send me. As Paul wrote, “‘Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.’ In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work” (2 Timothy 2:19-21). Turning away from sin is not just the absence of sinful behavior but also dedicating one’s life to serving Christ, not to be saved but as a result of being saved (Ephesians 2:9-10).

Recalling Timothy’s faith and his religious heritage passed down from his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:4-5), Paul wrote to him, “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline” (1:6-7). Perhaps Timothy had been discouraged with his own work as an evangelist, or possibly he was missing the presence of Paul, who was now in prison and awaiting execution. Now Paul encourages him to “fan into flame” Timothy’s own God-empowered ability in the service of Christ. Each of us has received one or more gifts to be used in the service (ministry) of Christ: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:10-11).

We do not all have the same ministry gifts, but each one has one or more gifts. (See also Romans 12:3-8.) We need training, practice, and experience in order to be effective, but God’s grace enables us to be useful in the kingdom of Christ. By His grace we can, like Timothy, rise above our timidity and draw on the “spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline”!

Conclusion

Convinced by the evidence (testimony of scripture) that Jesus is the God-appointed Savior of the world, we publicly take our stand for Jesus. This stand involves our words, but it cannot stop with words. The sincerity of our words is demonstrated by our service for Christ.

Faith, repentance, and confession are all necessary for arrival at our destination on the Salvation Road. However, there is still one more station along the road, the point which distinguishes between being on the way to salvation and being saved. We will explore next that which brings us into the state of salvation.

SALVATION ROAD: CONFUSED ABOUT BAPTISM?

New Hope Christian Church, 3/19/23

Confusion reigns in the “Christian” world regarding baptism. The Bible refers to baptism more than 90 times, but there is little agreement among those who call themselves Christians regarding the who, how, when, and why of baptism. If Jesus associated baptism with salvation, then doesn’t it make sense that we should come to some certainty about it? To read or hear others discuss it, you would think they had never read Mark 16:16, “‘Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,’”  or 1 Peter 3:21, “and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ”!

Through His prophet Isaiah (55:6-7) God calls people to salvation: “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” The gospel call to the salvation that comes by faith must be answered according to the New Testament, not church tradition or systems of theology (see Matthew 15:8-9). Three questions that relate to baptism need to be answered at this stage on the Salvation Road.

What Is Meant by “Saved by Faith”?

The first question we must answer from the Bible is, what is meant by the expression, “saved by (or through) faith”? Salvation is by grace through faith, but that’s not all the Bible says about it. In Hebrews 11, the expression  “by faith” occurs more than twenty times. Each time the event that was “by faith” did not occur the very instant when one believed in God, but rather after some action on the part of the person who had faith. For example, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days” (11:30). The people had faith in God’s promise, for they marched around the city each day; but the walls did not fall until after the seven trips around on the seventh day. Their faith led them to obey the instructions, but it was God’s power and timing that leveled the city walls.

2 Kings 5 relates the story of a Gentile, the Aramean commander Naaman, who came to the prophet Elisha to be healed of his leprosy. We may assume that Naaman had some faith in Israel’s God: He said, “‘I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy’” (5:11); and after he was healed, he acknowledged that “‘there is no God in all the world except in Israel’” (5:15) and pledged never again to offer sacrifices to any God but the Lord (5:17). It seems reasonable to infer that he was healed “by faith” in the power of God, but not until he obeyed the prophet’s instruction.

Similarly and more clearly, in Luke 8:48 Jesus told the woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” Her faith brought her to Jesus, but she was not healed until she touched His cloak, at which point Jesus felt power going out from Himself (8:46). Likewise, shortly afterward, the synagogue ruler Jairus, whose daughter was ill and then died before they could get Jesus to come and heal her, was assured by Jesus, “‘Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed’” (8:50). Jairus had already shown his faith by asking Jesus for help and then obviously continued to believe, for he went with Jesus to his house. He was told, “just believe,” but the girl was not raised from the dead until Jesus exercised His power.

In the cases above, “by faith” did not mean “as soon as you believe.” Faith itself has no power. The power is in the One in whom we have faith. Faith leads us to God’s saving power. In light of this connection between faith and salvation, the NIV may correctly translate 1 Peter 3:21: “this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ ....” Through His promises in baptism God pledges to give us the forgiveness of sins, resulting in a cleared or good conscience.

Therefore, we can see that “saved by faith” does not rule out conditions or terms of salvation, that is, actions on our part that rely on Jesus’ promise to grant salvation. And He has promised this in baptism: “‘Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved’” (Mark 16:16).

What Is Baptism?

The second question is, what does the Bible mean by “baptism” and “be baptized”? What did the words mean when Scripture was written? The New Testament was originally written in Greek, so we first must examine the definitions of the Greek words, not the English. There is no question, baptism in the Bible is immersion and nothing else. You can verify this yourself by consulting a good English dictionary that gives the origin of words. The dictionary may define baptism as it is used in modern times; but when you look at the origin, it will list the Greek origin as immersion and/or other synonyms for immersion.

Immersion is also recognized as the Biblical meaning by theological consensus. Church leaders of many backgrounds are in agreement on this: Martin Luther (Lutheran), John Calvin (Presbyterian), and John Wesley (Methodist), to name some famous ones. A note on Romans 6:3 in the Revised Challoner-Rheims Version of the New Testament (edited by Catholic Scholars under the patronage of The Episcopal Committee of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, 1947) says, “St. Paul alludes to the manner in which Baptism was ordinarily conferred in the primitive Church, by immersion.”

The Biblical use of the words makes it clear that Christian baptism is immersion in water (and, at the same time, in the Spirit), not just any immersion but that which brings believers into a relationship with God. Here are some scriptures that speak of one or more aspects of baptism. (See also Mark 16:16 above.) Regarding water as immersion (and thus ruling out sprinkling and pouring) and in the name of Christ: "As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, 'Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?' And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him" (Acts 8:36,38). And consider Jesus' baptism: "At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove" (Mark 1:9-10). That baptism in the Name of Christ is baptism in water is shown by the following words of Peter after preaching to Cornelius and others in his home: "'Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water?' ... So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 10:47-48).

Baptism as a personal, individual response to faith and repentance (thus ruling out infant baptism) is demonstrated in Peter's response to the people who had been convinced that they had been complicit in the death of the Messiah: “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:38). 

Baptism as the action (immersion) and time when sins are forgiven is implied in the words spoken to Saul of Tarsus, who had been confronted by the Lord on the road to Damascus: “‘And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name’” (Acts 22:16). Getting up implies that water could not be brought to him. And being baptized was apparently the way to wash away one’s sins while calling on the name of Jesus.

Baptism is the time when one receives the Holy Spirit: Acts 2:38 (see above). Also, “‘We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him’” (Acts 5:32)—not the obedience of works but of faith, repentance, and baptism. “For we were all baptized by [mg., or with; or in] one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Corinthians 12:13).

Along with union with Christ, baptism is also being gathered into the body of Christ (the church): “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day” (Acts 2:41). “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47, notice that the saved were those who were baptized.) Also, 1 Corinthians 12:13, above.

In summary, Biblical baptism is immersion in water of a person who believes in Christ and repents of personal sins. (See previous messages on faith, repentance, and confession.) Are we going to accept what the Bible says or what later Christian tradition says?

Should You Be Re-baptized?

At some point, nearly every Christian wonders, should I be re-baptized? I have learned so much more—did I know enough when I was baptized? Here are some reasons why you might need to be baptized (for real).

* If you were not immersed, that is, if your “baptism” was not what the Bible calls baptism.

* If the decision to be baptized was not yours, for example, in infancy or being pressured by others.

* If your intention was not to obey the gospel of Christ but rather only tradition or to “join the church.”

* If you did not believe in Christ that He is the Christ, the Son of God, the Man who is also God; that He died for our sins, was buried, and arose from the dead.

* If you were not submitting to Him as your Savior and Lord (Master).

* If you are not confident that you were scripturally baptized the first time. It may be helpful to talk it over with someone who accepts the Biblical teaching. Just a desire to rededicate your life to Christ is not a sufficient reason to be baptized again. Rededication just requires repentance and renewal of your participation in the body (the church).

Conclusion

We are saved by grace, through faith, in baptism. Therefore, the Salvation Road begins with faith, leads to repentance and confession, and enters a personal relationship with Jesus, the state of salvation, as we are baptized into Him.

However, salvation is not a static relationship. This new relationship with God affects our lifestyle, with implications for every decision we make. We’ll look at that in the next installment of the Salvation Road.

SALVATION ROAD: CONNECTING WITH GOD’S FAMILY

New Hope Christian Church, 3/26/23

The earliest days of the church of Christ were wonders to behold. Church was the way church ought to be! At the very beginning,

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:41-47)

Sometime later,

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. (Acts 4:32-35)

Of course, it did not last, but those first few weeks, months, maybe a year or two, were, for a church-oriented person, about as close as one can get to heaven on earth!

As we reflect on those days, the days and years that followed, down through the centuries until today, we need to ask ourselves, can you be saved without actively participating in the life of the church? We must not let the answer to this question be influenced by the present state of what is called the church or by our past experience with church life. If we trust Christ, a requirement for being saved, then we must trust what the Holy Spirit-inspired New Testament says about the question. No one is saved by attending church or by being actively involved in church, but can a person by saved without active participation in the life and work of the church?

Of course, certainly a person can be saved if unable to attend church by illness, being jailed, being marooned on some uncharted island, but these are not typical reasons of people who proclaim faith in Christ but have chosen to live outside of the church. Salvation is in Christ and only in Christ. However, God intends for those who are saved to be active members of the body of Christ, His church (Acts 2:41,47). For the saved, church involvement is not optional; God automatically enrols the saved in church.

Before we discount how essential it is to be actively involved in church, we should examine the following three essential facets of the saved.

Messengers of Reconciliation

The first essential facet of those who are saved is their relationship to the work of Christ: “‘For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost’” (Luke 19:10). What does His mission say about those who are saved? Let’s listen to the apostle Paul:

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.... All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15,18-21)

The love of Christ for us compels us from the heart to live for Him. And what are we to do as we live for Him? For Paul and the other apostles, those properly called Christ’s ambassadors, it meant to preach the gospel, telling people how to become friends of God rather than His enemies. That’s what it means to be reconciled, to quit hostility and become friends. Since the apostles are no longer with us in the flesh, their work is continued through their written testimony. And who preaches and teaches their message? The church. We implore, we beg, we persuade those who are lost to get right with God, just as we have, by obeying the gospel of Christ.

One reason we are not reaching the world may be that as the saved we are unaware that Christ expects us all to be involved in the work. Not just the preachers, the elders, or the Sunday School teachers, but rather the whole church (see below under the third essential facet of the saved).

But another reason we are not reaching the world is that often those who have been saved do not really believe that those outside of Christ are really lost. Would a God of love really consign someone to an eternity in Hell? Are not most people, especially the ones we know, good and decent? Surely God will let them into Heaven!

Do you believe that people outside of Christ are lost? Let’s examine some passages from God’s word. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (John 3:36). “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath” (Ephesians 2:1-3), “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Given that those who have not obeyed the gospel of Christ will suffer the wrath of God, do you feel for them, especially your family and friends, like Paul did? “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race” (Romans 9:2-3). Or the rich man who went to Hades? “‘He answered, “Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment”’” (Luke 16:27-28).

Working together as members of the body, we can lead others to Christ. Not all will respond positively, of course, but many will. Each of us must do our part, and it’s practically impossible to be a messenger of reconciliation if we cut ourselves off from Christ’s church.

Christlike Character

The second essential facet of those who are saved, developing Christlike character, also depends largely on active participation in the church. We are familiar with Romans 8:28, that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called to His purpose. The study of this passage often raises the question as to whether or not we can know what the good is, and rightly so. However, the next verse tells us the overall goal of everything that God is doing in our lives here on earth: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (8:29). He wants us to be like Christ, to develop the attitudes, thoughts, priorities, purpose, and lifestyle of Jesus. In short, He wants us to be children He is proud of. So how do we develop this Christlike character? Here are just two of many passages of Scripture that help to answer this question.

 Paul writes, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2). The development of Christlike character begins with the commitment of ourselves to be like Him and to serve Him. Old Testament worship required offerings from the flocks, herds, crops, and other sources of income. New Testament worship requires a new state of mind rather than our possessions. When we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, then everything else falls into place. Certainly, Old Testament worship expected heart-felt worship, but the emphasis on animal sacrifices led people to think they were pleasing God by the performance of duties.

Change of character requires a new way of thinking. This new way of thinking is revolutionary compared to the thoughts of the person outside of Christ. When our priority becomes the desire to please God in everything we do, then we must have a different orientation to our whole lives. Where does such a radical transformation come from? Only from immersion into and absorption of the word of God. Trying to live for God without a constant study and application of His word is futile. The world squeezes us into its mold. We become “choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures” (Luke 8:14), failing to mature and eventually growing cold and weak.

Just learning the word of God is not all that is necessary for spiritual growth. We must have our eyes set on the proper goal, what it means to be a child of God.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.

No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. (1 John 3:1-10)

Our eyes must be focused on Jesus, both now and in regard to the future. He died to save us from sin, the work of the devil. Why, then, would we want to continue in sin? Living righteously, as God has told us to do, is the only appropriate lifestyle for His children. And since we are looking forward to the return of Christ, we must prepare ourselves to be more like Him. We want to have bodies of glory, as Jesus now has; likewise we should desire to be pure spirits, “just as he is pure.”

What does all this have to do with active participation in the life of the church? Attending church, hearing the word proclaimed, studying the Bible with fellow believers, working together with others who are on the spiritual road with us—all of these are ways that we are reminded of proper priorities, we see them fleshed out in the lives of more mature believers, and we are trained in more effective ways to serve Christ. The exact opposite of all these benefits, and more, is what we encounter in a world devoid of church.

Mission Partners

The third essential facet of the saved is that they are the church. There is no organization or institution that would be recognized by the Bible as the church apart from the individuals. The word translated as church (ecclesia) literally means “assembly” or “congregation.” This Greek word was obviously adopted to indicate a continuation of God’s people in the Old Testament. In other words, Christianity was not a replacement of Israel but the fulfillment or culmination of the promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3). The same Greek word was the one chosen for the Greek translation of the Old Testament word often used for Israel, qahal, the congregation or community of God.

The point of the preceding paragraph is this: the mission given by Christ to the church was intended to be the mission of every member. We are all partners in the mission, commissioned by the Lord. Participation is not voluntary. If we want Jesus as our Savior, we must obey Him as Lord.

So what is our mission? The mission was spoken several ways by Christ before He left for Heaven. To the apostles and also a group of more than 500 believers, He put it this way. “‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’” Notice He began by reminding them that He was Lord of all—and that included us as well as them. “‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them [into] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’” (Matthew 28:18-20). See other statements, in different words but the same commission, in Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; Romans 16:25-27; 2 Corinthians 5:14-20.

Obviously, the mission could not have been only that of the apostles, for they did not live long enough to take the gospel to the whole world—or to future generations—except through others (including us). The believers in Philippi were hailed as Paul’s partners in the spread of the gospel (Philippians 1:5).

We are all partners in the mission, but we have individually tailored roles as we participate in that mission. The point here is that the church as a whole has been given the mission of spreading the gospel to the whole world, but we each have our own part to play. For example, consider Romans 12:3-8 where Paul makes the point.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

We do not all have the same function, but each of us has some function.

Christ has not left us to find our role and prepare for it all by ourselves. It is true that “to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it” (Ephesians 4:7); but He has placed in the church people who are to equip us for our work (4:11-16):

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists [preachers], and some to be pastors [shepherds] and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Each part doing its work. That includes you and me!

Conclusion

Can you remain a Christian very long without attending church (when able)? Here is what the writer of Hebrews had to say about that question (Hebrews 10:23-29):

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together [literally, our meeting], as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. [For] if we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

Church attendance is necessary but not in and of itself sufficient. Many people have attended church regularly, even multiple times per week, without a serious relationship with God. Just as in Old Testament days and in the days of Jesus, even today it can be truly said of some, “‘“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men”’” (Matthew 15:8-9; Isaiah 29:13). Our hearts must draw near to Him. We do not attend just for our own edification: we must remember that others need our encouragement in the faith, just as we need theirs. Are there times when you don’t get much out of church attendance? What have you put into it?

The ultimate question is this: is Jesus your Lord? If so, what does He expect out of you in regard to participation in the life of His church?

SALVATION ROAD: FEEDING THE SOUL

New Hope Christian Church, 4/16/23

2 Kings (22:8-13) relates a time in the history of Israel—technically Judea since the northern kingdom had been carried into exile—when apparently no one had a copy of the Scriptures that had been written up to that time. When King Josiah ordered the Temple to be cleansed of all vestiges of idolatry, a copy of the Law (probably the scroll of Deuteronomy) was discovered. One section (what we call chapter 28) pronounced God’s doom upon the Israelites if they should worship the gods of the nations. Upon reading the newly discovered scroll, the king became even more intense in his efforts to restore the worship of God to his people. Unfortunately Josiah was the last king to lead the people in worshiping the one true God. The failure of his successors (three sons and one grandson) to follow his example resulted in the destruction of the Temple and the Babylonian exile of the people.

We are so blessed to have many translations of God’s word. With our own copies of the Bible, we have so much more opportunity to be in God’s word than people did for thousands of years. The Bible continues to be a best seller, but is it being read? And, people who are reading it, how much are they following it?

We may not have much success in encouraging our communities and our nation to turn to the Bible, but how are we as individuals doing? Failure to grow spiritually opens the door for the enemy (Satan) to destroy us. Failure to feed the soul leads to malnourishment and even death. The apostle Peter urged us to keep on growing spiritually. Through God’s “own glory and goodness . . . he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (2 Peter 2:3-4). He lists several traits which we need “to make every effort” to add to our faith: goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love (2:5-7). He then assures us, “For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2:8). But he also warns, “But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins” (2:9). Then he encourages us to “be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2:10-11).

Indeed, experience in the Christian life teaches us that spiritual growth requires a steady diet of the word of God, in three kinds of interaction with that word.

Devotional Reading

The most helpful, satisfying, and joyful interaction with God’s word is devotional reading. Christ’s disciple picks up the word and reads it for the purpose of getting closer to God. Other purposes are achieved through other types of interaction, but here the goal is to commune with the Holy. “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” When practiced frequently, this communion leads to a love for the written word.

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:7-14)

Devotional reading of Scripture requires taking time for what’s important. A time and place must be chosen in which our hearts can focus on God’s heart. You don’t have time? We make time for what is important, don’t we? It’s a matter of priorities.

The procedure involves combining reading with worship. The Psalmist quoted above began with praise to the Creator and His creation (19:1-6). As we read, we will at times stop to reflect, to question, to repent, to be thankful, and to praise. Time is needed for these interactions. 

Devotional reading, though not strictly study, often leads to new insights and suggestions for further study. It is helpful to have a notebook (digital or paper) nearby to record these insights and questions for further action. If you find a verse you do not understand, don’t get sidetracked by it—just put a pencil mark by the passage and move on. In later repeated readings, you will likely find that you now understand better.

By the way, devotional reading should include large chunks of scripture (depending on your time), not just a verse or two. Otherwise, you will be limiting yourself and missing much that is in the word. Try to read through the Bible at least once a year. You may need guidance as to which parts to begin with and which parts can be omitted. Not all parts are really suited to devotional reading.

The more included in your devotional reading, the more you will be prepared for the study of the word.

Individual Study

That brings us to the second kind of interaction with the Bible, individual study. Study is something many people avoid, but studying the Bible is a natural outgrowth from devotional reading. Study helps us to understand better what we are reading.

The New Testament encourages, indeed, requires, Christ’s disciples (followers, those who are saved) to study the word of God. Consider the following passages of scripture:

• Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

• But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

• We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:11-14)

Study requires a plan. It should include the whole Bible, theoretically, but some parts are more applicable to us—and you might need some guidance in selecting your areas of study. Furthermore, be sure that you do not ignore the doctrinal areas (such as the first few chapters in Paul’s letters), for they provide the basis for the practical ones.

Study is for raising and pursuing questions, such as those that might have arisen in your devotional reading, or just for understanding a particular topic or book of the Bible.

Profitable study also requires an understanding of the principles of interpretation. These principles  are basically the same principles used in studying any human language, including everyday speech. A list and explanation of these principles can be found in several places. Your preacher is an excellent resource for such.

Speaking of resources, we must make proper use of resources. Resources for Bible study include Bible handbooks, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and maps. Commentaries are frequently helpful, but, as with all resources, they are written by fallible humans beings and thus are subject to error. In regard to commentaries (books or online), we must be wary of each one’s theological bias, for the bias affects the accuracy. Again, your preacher is a good resource for helping you to find reliable, true-to-the-Bible help.

Group Study

Individual study is a very wise practice, but it must be supplemented with group study. This kind of interaction with the word of God helps us better to understand scripture as well as keeping us from drawing erroneous conclusions from scripture. Much false doctrine has arisen from someone misunderstanding portions of the Bible. Often, running a new thought by an experienced and reliable teacher will prevent us from jumping to conclusions.

Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” That is true in group study. Even experienced, knowledgeable teachers can have their understanding corrected in a group setting where other interpretations are expressed.

Why is group study important? Because it is easy to misunderstand Scripture when we do not have a broader knowledge of all that the Bible says on a particular subject. Not applying properly the principles of interpretation can also lead to error in our understanding.

Not just any group is adequate for group study. Shared ignorance is not always helpful. Everyone has a right to examine the scripture for himself, but in His wisdom Christ established various types of teachers to guide us along the way:

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Church teachers (other than the apostles and prophets) can be mistaken, of course, but they are most likely to help us find the truth.

Group study is also extremely important for introducing us to new studies and different passages that might otherwise be overlooked.

Conclusion

Reading and studying the Bible are not enough. We also must apply what we learn, put it into action. James warns us:

He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. . . . Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:18,21-25)

“Do not merely listen . . . . Do what it says.”

Ignore the word of God at your own peril; relish the word, and you will be rewarded more than you can imagine.