Jesus, The Prince Of Life

Acts 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

This phrase “the Prince of life” only appears here in the Bible. The Apostle Peter, who spoke these words, was preaching to thousands of unbelieving Jews in the Jerusalem Temple. Peter's words were powerful, direct, and impromptu.

When someone speaks off the cuff like this the hearers usually get a clearer glimpse of the personality and raw beliefs of the person behind the words. That was surely the case that day. Peter's unprepared words give us insight into his core beliefs which were also the commonly held beliefs of all early Christians. They believed Jesus was the Prince of Life.

So what is the meaning of the words Peter chose to describe Jesus? The word “prince” is a beautiful and unique word. There really isn’t a full English equivalent to this word. In modern English prince is usually defined as the son of a king, but that is not in the definition of this word translated Prince.

The word literally means “furnishing the first cause”. This is used for a founder or originator, and it is a word that carries with it the honor of being the first to pass through or to begin something great.

It is translated in Hebrews 2:10 with the word “captain” in the phrase, “captain of our salvation.” He is the chief leader of all the saved and the originator of their salvation. It is translated in Hebrews 12:2 with the word “author” in the phrase, “author and finisher of our faith.” There would be no saving faith if Jesus had not come and secured our salvation. He furnished the first cause of our saving faith.

By using this phrase Peter declared that Jesus is the originator, the author of life. But he wasn't just crediting Jesus with the creation of the world. Peter was giving the honor to Jesus of being the first to pass though the front lines of death coming out on the other side as the Victor. He defeated death and through this victory gives life everlasting! He is the leader of a great army of victors who shall also pass through death into everlasting life because they have trusted their eternal souls into His Gospel care. He Is The Prince Of Life!

Tradition, A Nonconformist's Word

2 Thessalonians 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

When it comes to church life the word “tradition” can bring strong emotions. For some people the word is a cruel jailer keeping creativity chained to a cold wall in the dungeon of conformity. To others tradition is grandmother's overstuffed chair sitting by the warm fireplace of yesterday. It seems to keep the instability that comes with change always below the safe horizon of sameness.

Paul was a teacher of truth, and he was writing to people who were frightened and under stress. Change had come to their lives in the form of persecution. Persecution for simply believing a different tradition from those around them. The word tradition literally means “the content of instruction that has been handed down.” BDAG To the persecutors, the Christian beliefs were new... revolutionary... threatening. To the Christians they were old, solid, and comforting. Could it be that there are really no new ideas, only ideas that are new to us? New and old, at least in this instance, was a matter of perspective.

In this case the persecutors were trying to use force to bring about conformity to their traditions. Paul's nonconformist argument in the face of this force was conformity to his and the Bible's traditions. There is a great comfort that comes from knowing the truth in times like these, and knowing that this tradition has stood the test of time, it has been handed down to us beaten, bloody, and bruised by the bullying forces of conformity, but intact, as alive today as it was in the Garden of Eden. Tradition delivered by the Creator and then hardened and refined on the human anvil of ignorance, fear, prejudice, superstition, and the violent need for conformity is the strongest material in this unstable world.

The Apostle Paul's traditions, and the rest of the Bible's teachings, are at once solid, unchanging, stable... and nonconforming, revolutionary, and explosively unstable. When we stand there... solid in those traditions, everything seems to stand still, its as if we are already in the eternal day, but the world is still churning around us. It's like living in the eye of a hurricane. There's no place on earth like it. Lord keep me solidly conformed to Your nonconforming traditions... this is where I want... no... where I must remain.

Absolute Proof - Beyond Any Doubt

Acts 1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs,

In US courts we have various standards for decisions made by jurors. In criminal cases a verdict of guilty cannot be returned unless the juror is sure of guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt”. This means that the evidence presented to the juror has established a particular point to a moral certainty, and it is beyond dispute that any reasonable alternative is possible. But “beyond a reasonable doubt” does not mean absolute proof or the absence of any doubt.

In civil cases there is the standard of “proof by clear and convincing evidence.” This is a lower burden of proof than reasonable doubt. It is a decision by the Juror that there is high probability that “a fact sought to be proved is true.”

In the language of the New Testament a word of evidence and decision making was used in this verse. It is translated “infallible proofs”. The Greek scholars in Friberg’s Analytical Greek Lexicon defined this word as: “evidence that removes doubt.” This is the highest level of proof: these people witnessed the same reality over, and over, and over again, to the point that they could not mistake the truth of what they had witnessed. The proof was absolute. This word was used here by Luke concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Consolation, A Tender Word

2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

This is a word which we must experience to really understand. It is a word of vulnerability, an emotional word, a tender word. In its basic use it is a strong earnest call to a friend, and then the friend's answer and encouragement. A plea none of us enjoy, but when comfort is needed it is good to have such companions in life.

This is the word for what happens when we have our spirits lifted by someone who really cares. By the time we communicate our struggle we may be feeling the weight of despair. Our friend comes quickly and puts an arm around us and speaks to our discouragement. That is Consolation.

On the other side of this relationship is the consoling friend, the giver of consolation. Sometimes a struggling friend's call for help may come in a facial expression, or just a word. This may be because this troubled friend doesn't want to burden or bother us, or may be embarrassed to show weakness in the face of struggle. We must train our ears and eyes to be alert for these calls, because the giving of consolation is most often deliberate. In the case of this verse the word “everlasting” tells us our faithful friend is always listening, watching, and prepared to console.

I have a friend, C. D. Ward, who is gifted with this treasure. He called across the miles last night because a few weeks ago he heard the struggle in my voice. I was vulnerable with him, because I knew I could be, and I knew I wouldn't harm him by sharing my burden, and... I knew he cared and was deliberately listening. Ah... to have such treasure in a friendship!

But this passage tells me that Jesus is such a friend, and perhaps that is why He gave this dear friend such a gift... because sometimes He needs a voice to speak His consolation, and an arm to warmly cover our shoulders and lift us up. So I thank both friends on this morning that is brighter because you cared and have been my consolation.

All Men Seek Him

Mark 1:37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

Seek… what a glorious word! It is among my favorites. I consider myself to be a seeker… this means I spend much of my time seeking. So what exactly am I doing when I seek?

Well... the first principle is I must know there is something I don’t know. This knowledge of ignorance usually comes from asking questions about what I think I do know. To know that I don’t know is vital to learning and living.

The second principle is the recognition of my need of this knowledge or answer. If I see no need or value I will not move to the third principle which is:

I am willing to expend time, energy, and wealth to find what I do not now possess. This is the calculation of life. What am I willing to sacrifice to get the answers I need.

The forth principle is that I do it… I sacrifice what I must to gain what I don’t possess. I get up and do what I need to do… Only then am I seeking.

These people were seeking the greatest of all objectives: Jesus! What is there in this life that is right for us to seek which cannot be found in or provided by Him?

Is it correct to say that “all men” seek Him? In one sense I think so... He is the treasure-chest of all things right. He is or He holds the answer to every reasonable question. If we seek those things that are exclusively found in Him then it can be said we are seeking Him even if we don't know that the answer resides in Him.

But those seekers the disciples speak of in this verse already knew Jesus held the answers... that He was the answer... now they were seeking a personal relationship with Him. What a blissful day it is when I move from not knowing the source of an answer to knowing the source and moving toward it. It is like moving from darkness to light, from being lost to being found.

There are billions each day in this world who seek answers that only He can provide.

Inheriting Heaven

1 Peter 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

In the United States we generally think of inheritance as gifts received from a person after their death. But in the cultural context of the Bible inheritance was viewed differently. Not understanding this difference can lead to confusion when coming across words like inheritance and testament in the Bible.

Under Old Testament law an Israelite was born into a family inheritance. It was property given by God to the perpetual generations of the inheritor's family. Each successive generation was given stewardship responsibility over this family possession.

When a senior family member inherited, upon the death of the family head, his inheritance was more of a legal standing than a possession. He was the one with legal standing to make decisions related to the possession. Each generation could strengthen, corrupt, enlarge, or diminish the inheritance.

This system is very relevant to Christ followers today. We are currently the generation who has been handed the rights to the earthly inheritance of Christ Jesus given through the apostles and early church. We are only inter-generational stewards of that inheritance, and can strengthen, corrupt, enlarge, or diminish that inheritance for future generations.

The manual for our inheritance is the New Testament, and when we carefully compare what has been handed to us by previous generations to this manual we will find some corruption. It comes with the human condition. Christian history is rife with corruption and defilement of the inheritance of truth, and that history is still being made today. This earthly inheritance is, in human hands, perpetually unstable.

But this passage speaks of an inheritance that awaits all those who have trusted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus has secured this inheritance on our behalf. He is our family head... our Adam. This possession is under His careful control and cannot be corrupted. It is “incorruptible”and “undefiled.” It is reserved for us, and awaits us in its pristine condition.

Think of the first moment in that inheritance! It will be the first inheritance ever handed to us as a single collective generation. Pure... glorious... ours forever... Home.

Damned... But Still Alive

2 Thessalonians is a letter about the future written by the Apostle Paul. It is a weighty letter. Some of the future Paul shows us is dark. I'm aware that a number of the articles I wrote and published a year ago, and am now finally posting on my blog, carry that dark weightiness. But... that is the nature of consistent exposition of the Bible. There are high mountain peaks of truth to explore and deep valleys to journey through, but it is all equally true... and equally necessary.

2 Thessalonians 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

I published a post some time ago discussing the word “damned” in Mark 16:16. The word translated in that verse means: To be actually under sentence after a determination of guilt and the pronouncement of the sentence. The sentence is pronounced but the execution of the sentence is in the future. But the verb used in 2 Thessalonians 2:12 is slightly different.

This verb, as used in this verse, means: "the act of inflicting the penalty on one." Thayer Bauer-Danker says it this way: "the temporal punishment which God brings upon sinners." While in the first usage, Mark 16:16, there may be time between the legal process of judgment and the execution of the penalty, in this usage the penalty is being sealed and executed.

This verse in its context teaches us that God is constantly observing unbelievers. They have already been legally judged and condemned, but are living under His common mercy. He is aware of all their decisions and actions while His mercy restrains the justice that awaits them. There is a time, sadly, when God’s gracious patience gives way, mercy evaporates, justice is all that remains, and the penalty is executed.

The unique thing about this verse is their doom is sealed while they are still living on earth. Today, as far as we know, any unbeliever who draws breath can believe the Gospel and find everlasting freedom from condemnation and guilt. There is always hope. But this passage portends a time when God seems to close that opportunity for some. The rope of God's mercy securing their place on the precipice of life will be cut, but they will still retain life for the moment while they streak toward the rocks of His final justice waiting beneath them. Damned... but still alive.

In other words there really are consequences for sin and unbelief. If the consequence has not yet been experienced it is because God’s mercy has held it back. But never take His mercy for granted. The gospel is the only hope we have in this life.

Presuppositions To Thanks Giving

Romans 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The two words “thank God” may have more depth of meaning than any other human expression. Perhaps it is because I was raised close to atheism that the presuppositions supporting these two words sort of pop when I hear them used sincerely, or use them myself.

When I use these words I express the belief that I have received benefits from a Being outside myself. That this Being has special powers to touch my life without being seen. So this Being, I call God, transcends physical life. In these two words I celebrate His power to manipulate the physical world around me, and to effectively change or influence the events of my life, and the lives of others. He can keep me from being harmed, or make what harm comes my way profitable to me or to Him.

So... coupled to the power expressed in these words is a wisdom that sees all the potential outcomes of every possible option relating to my life. And in my thanks I express trust that He has chosen the right options for me and/or those who attract my pleas of concern on their behalf. I also realize that in this expression, thank God, I confess that I believe God controls the cosmos, for if He does not then His influence cannot be discerned from the natural forces and events that surround me. He becomes just another person in my life with powers limited by this existence.

In these two words I acknowledge that God, who controls the world, has an interest in the details of my life. That His interest reaches into the details of my life that are beyond my consciousness. He knows me better than I know myself. That this Being --this God-- with such wisdom and power, must have made a decision about me which resulted in His amazing benevolent attention upon me. This is the first conscious decision of love. In these two words, thank God, I express the truth that I know He loves me...

And when I examine myself for what would make me so loveable to my God I become more amazed and thankful because I don't find anything... in fact, I find many reasons for Him to not love me. So, to me, His love is unmerited and His actions on my behalf are undeserved. So in my words of thanks there is always a special intensity and depth of emotion drawn from the well of my unworthiness.

Even when I thank Him for the smallest benefit my thanks carries the expression of my unworthiness and knowledge of the price His love paid to bring me to this place in life where I offer my thanks... And my thanks is truly all I have to give Him in return for all He has given so freely to me. So today I bow before him, possessing nothing that has not come from His loving hands, to give my thanks with all its depth of meaning. Thank you... my Lord and my God. Thank you for loving me... for loving us.

Condemned Without A Jury

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.


The basic broad meaning of this word “condemned” is “to come to a conclusion in the process of thinking and thus to be in a position to make a decision.” Louw-Nida Lexicon This word, as used in this passage, has a forensic or legal meaning. Bauer-Danker says “the emphasis (in this verse) is unmistakably laid upon that which follows the Divine Judge’s verdict.” The Judge has come to a conclusion, made His decision, and openly condemned the accused.


The accused is passive in the condemnation. This verb is perfect indicative which means it “represents an action as standing at the time of speaking complete. The reference of the tense is thus double; it implies a past action and affirms an existing result.” Burton’s Greek Moods and Tenses So the condemned sinner cannot change his condemnation because he has no standing or power to overturn a verdict that has already been made and remains in effect. As far as the condemned is concerned, the case is over and he is awaiting the execution of the sentence. Without Christ there is no hope.


Imagine being arrested and taken straight to the death chamber. No trial, no evidence, no defense. The case was over before the arrest. That is exactly what this verse communicates in the words “condemned already.” Why is there need of witnesses when the Judge and the condemned both know what has and has not been done by the accused? In human justice there is a different process, but when the all-knowing God of heaven is the Judge the process is drastically simplified. And He sent warnings… The conscience of the condemned has informed him this day was coming, and the Bible teaches it on almost every page. The good news of Jesus is He has provided freedom from this condemnation. He has answered the demands of justice.


Jesus, by use of this grammar, supported His previous affirmation that He did not come to condemn us… He came to save us. Jesus, and Jesus alone, can lift this condemnation.

Eternal And Everlasting

John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 ¶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The same word is translated with two English terms in these two verses: eternal and everlasting. In a sense it is very fitting, because the term is really broader than either word independently, but both help us understand the character of this very important word.

This word is a modifier of “life” in both verses. The word eternal carries not just a quantitative aspect but there is also a connotation of quality attached to the time. It is endless for sure, but it is also experiential real life without any percieved end. The experience of no end or no death will concretely change the quality of life we enjoy. It will change our perspective since here on earth we seem to be “heading toward” a termination of earthly life and are caught in constant cycles of time. In the eternal day we will exist without reference to an end and such profoundly fixed cycles of time.

But the word does also mean an unlimited duration of time. And that duration begins the moment we experience the salvation mentioned in these verses. The life Jesus gives freely by faith is profoundly different than what we have without Him here on earth. I can't wait to experience eternity's fullness.

Jesus On Scandalizing Children

Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

The verb Jesus used in verse 6 translated “offend” or, as it is in some translations, “causes to sin” was translated from the Greek word skandalise. In English we get the transliteration “scandalize” from this word. It is always used metaphorically in the New Testament and is, therefore, dependent on the context. It literally means to cause someone to stumble by placing something in their way. A person unsuspectingly walking on the right path is caused to leave that path. The context provides the who, what, when, where, and how.

In this case Jesus used a child to teach His disciples about an essential characteristic possessed by citizens of His kingdom. He said, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” The disciples had been discussing who would become the greatest in Christ's kingdom. This was Jesus' response, “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” So He said a person must become as a child to enter His Kingdom, and the greatest is the one who humbles himself "as this little child.”

Discussion about greatness among adults is really a discussion about power and control. Some of the most power hungry people I know are people who have been severely hurt in their lives. To them power and control are a seductive pathway to ensure the pain never comes back. Most adults dread the vulnerability of submission because it brings with it this possibility of pain. Much of today's bravado about controlling our lives is nothing more than saying, “I will not let you or anyone hurt me.”

The child Jesus spoke of was called by Him into a group of men, then Jesus set the child right in the middle of the group. The child trustingly submitted. He was innocent... trusting... and... vulnerable. Trust and vulnerability are Siamese twins. And Christ's Kingdom and Church are built on trust, and therefore must have open vulnerability to function properly. A citizen and the kingdom is scandalized when a person or another citizen takes advantage of this trust and vulnerability. Such scandal is a high crime in Christ's Kingdom.

Breach of trust is one reason we, as a people, are so hard on those who abuse children. A crime against the most vulnerable in our society is the fraying of the brightest thread in the fabric of our culture: trust. So Jesus turned his attention upon those who would take advantage of the vulnerability of children and child-likeness both in society at large and especially in His Kingdom. Read these verses and, for the vulnerable, take heart, for the offenders... fear.

Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Matthew 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

Matthew 18:8 it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

Matthew 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Workfellow

Romans 16:21 Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.

This word workfellow was used almost exclusively by Paul in the New Testament. It gives us insight into Paul’s thinking concerning the methods he used to advance Christ's kingdom. This is a work culture word. What I mean by that is the use of this word gives us insight into the culture Paul created in the teams he worked with in ministry.

Some groups are authority centered in their work culture while others are task centered. Each group has a vocabulary that flows from their culture. Paul was definitely a task centered leader. Don’t get me wrong, it was clear that Paul had the authority of Christ, but that authority was directly related to the tasks Christ ordained him to fulfill. He built teams around tasks not himself. This is one of the reasons the work continued when he moved to another town.

Workfellow is a task centered word. The Language Scholar Thayer captured the full meaning of the term as used in this verse when he said, “one who labors with another in furthering the cause of Christ.” Someone can own a title, but without a meaningful task the title is worthless. The terms “my workfellow” have great complimentary value for task centered Christ followers.

Lord, please give me the heart of a workfellow in your kingdom. One who cares not what title I hold, but only what tasks our team can accomplish for you and your kingdom.

Is Prayer Necessary For Salvation?

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

I was asked the question in the title a few months back at the end of a Bible class. The notion that a prayer for salvation is necessary to receive salvation is so popular today that it is tightly woven into the fabric of contemporary Christianity. Question it and some look at you like you are seriously disturbed. So... I guess you can just call me crazy Larry, because... well... I questioned it...

This is not such a difficult question to answer, but it may be difficult to hear the answer. I didn't have time in that class to answer the question properly, so I wrote this answer to make it available for our members to read and carefully study. I have posted it on my blog to make it available to anyone who wants to study the subject. So… here goes… first some Bible facts:

• There is not one verse in the Bible that claims a person must pray to be saved… not one.
• Even though the Bible records various examples of people being evangelized, there is no example in the Bible of any believer asking an unbeliever to pray for salvation… not one.
• There is no place in the Bible where prayer as a component of salvation is systematically discussed. What I mean by that is there is no place in the Bible where a serious Bible student can go to find instruction on how this prayer for salvation thing works.
• There is no place in the Bible that tells me what should be said in this prayer or any example of a prayer for salvation. Some might say that Luke 18:13 tells us what must be said. But that prayer doesn’t meet the standard usually required by those who teach prayer for salvation from Romans 10:13. There is no confession, and no mention of Jesus in the prayer. This prayer contains no acknowledgment of saving faith or the Gospel, and there is no place in the context of this verse or the rest of the Bible which promotes the use of this prayer by others.
• There is also no place in the Bible where a person is requested to “ask Jesus into your heart.” In fact the two words “ask Jesus” never appear together in the Bible.
• There is no place in the Bible where prayer and salvation are discussed in the same context. Ah, but some may say Romans 10:13 meets that standard. Before I go there let me first mention that resting an essential salvation doctrine on one verse that appeared decades after the ministry of Jesus is dangerous.

Romans 10:13 is a partial quote of the Old Testament passage Joel 2:32. So in order to interpret it properly it must be studied in two locations, first the Old Testament and then the New Testament. But it is interesting that I have never come across a proponent of prayer for salvation who even knew this was a quote from the Old Testament. I'm not trying to be rude, but if a person hasn't studied the verse enough to know it is a quote, then it is clear that person hasn't studied the subject sufficiently enough to even have an opinion. Especially when dealing with the bible doctrine of salvation.

It must be noted that the word “prayer” does not appear in Romans 10:13. Paul did use the word prayer in Romans 10:1, but not anywhere else in chapter 10. The words translated prayer and call are not the same words. Confession, as it is used in Romans 10:9-10, is also not prayer. Confess means, "a public statement of what one believes." (Friberg's Analytical Greek Lexicon) The word call is used in Romans 10:12, and the Old Testament verse quoted in Romans 10:13 was used by Paul to support the statement he made in Romans 10:12. Verse 12 is part of the contextual discussion that Jews and non-Jews can now have the same standing with God.

The word call in Romans 10:12 is a present participle. Which means it defines “its subject as belonging to a certain class.” (Burton’s Greek Grammar) Call is not something done once, but it is a repetitive habitual action which identifies someone as belonging to a specific class of people. This class of people has already believed (Romans 10:14) and are, therefore, in the class of those who regularly call on the Lord. The intent of this verse is to teach that God "is rich" to this class of people no matter their race. 

Call in Romans 10:13 comes from a Hebrew word which means “to enter into an intensive relationship as someone who calls.” (Koehler-Baumgartner Hebrew Lexicon) Paul’s reason for using this Old Testament verse was to support the truth that Jews and Gentiles can now both be in a relationship with the Messiah because of the “righteousness which is of faith” (Romans 10:6). Paul was not discussing how a person gets into a relationship with God, but what class of persons are in a relationship with Him. This righteousness which comes by faith to all who believe the gospel, both Jew and Greek, has been the heart of Paul's discussion since the beginning of Romans.

An understanding of the gospel is necessary for salvation along with belief in that gospel. In every case of evangelism in the New Testament people were called to believe or have faith in that gospel. Those who have believed the gospel can and will now freely and regularly “call” on the name of the Lord. This teaching of salvation by grace through faith in the gospel of the Lord Jesus is supported throughout the New Testament. Prayer associated with the immediate work of salvation is supported nowhere in Scripture.

Why is this so important? Well there are at least three reasons:

1. Salvation is the most important doctrine in the world and accuracy on this subject is profoundly important. Even if you differ with me on this subject of prayer the importance of the doctrine should cause you to pause and carefully seek the truth apart from your own tradition or personal desires.
2. The bible is the rule of our faith and practice, so every belief should be tested by the Scriptures.
3. People who have been led in a prayer for salvation, as I was, often struggle with doubts about their salvation. They may tend to examine their prayer and wonder if it was good enough... did I say the right words, or was I sincere enough? Instead of looking with faith and confidence at the gospel for salvation and trusting that Jesus did everything right on our behalf they may be forever bound to look at themselves and their performance for confidence. And that leads to doubt and spiritual struggles, because we can never be sure we did something good enough. If you were led in a prayer for salvation I am not saying you are now lost, what I am saying is there is no evidence that prayer has any essential role to play in salvation. Turn your attention to the gospel work of Jesus Christ... that is where the firm confidence of salvation is found. Prayer is a good thing... but it cannot save. Only Jesus' Gospel work can reconcile us to God.

Forgiveness Jesus Style

Mark 2:5b Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

It has been my experience when people discuss forgiveness that they generally speak about the personal forgiveness of someone who has wronged them. This type of forgiveness is often more beneficial to the offended than it is to the offender. In fact, the offender may experience no change in life whatsoever because there has been no penalty or effect caused by their offense. This type of forgiveness is important, but it is not the type of forgiveness recorded here, and it is important to see the difference. This person had committed no personal offense against the man Jesus Christ. As far as we know, until this moment, they had never met.

This man's offense was a legal offense against God. This type of offense or crime has three basic parts:

1. A crime had been committed. In this case it was a breach of God's covenant with Israel.
2. The person had been justly tried, found guilty, and convicted. The jurisdiction for this judgment is located in the founding documents of the Covenant, specifically Leviticus 26.
3. The sentence required by justice was executed. This man was under sentence from God's government based on a breach of covenant.

In a case of this sort the forgiver must have the legal authority to forgive.

We must be clear about our offenses against God: they are legal and personal. We tend to think of forgiveness only in a personal way because we, generally, don't have the standing to legally forgive anyone. But Jesus does have that legal power. In this case the man was guilty of breaking God’s covenant with Israel, and was being punished for his sin. But he was forgiven… this means he was immediately released from his legal and moral guilt with its consequences. This is the kind of forgiveness we receive freely through the Gospel. But Gospel forgiveness is comprehensive since it includes all our sin, and every aspect of our guilt. And... it is everlasting.

"remembrance" The Power Of Delayed Consequences

art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, 1 Kings 17:18b

One of the great lessons my stepdad (the man I was honored to call "Dad") taught me was that delaying the consequences for wrong-doing can be a powerful tool for real change.

One experience has woven itself deep into the fabric of who I am. Dad was always up by 5am. Uncharacteristically, on that day so was I. I had known for a few agonizing days that he knew I had done something very wrong. He said nothing, and that delay allowed my guilty conscience to do its work. Part of that work was to break down my teenage defense and excuse mechanisms. The depth of my struggle was in direct proportion to my love and respect for him... and my need to be respected by him.

My shame had mangled my self-confidence, but I knew I had to look him in the eye, because he was that kind of man. So I looked him square in the face (I see his eyes even now) and asked if I could speak with him. He said, “Ok,” and just looked into my eyes… waiting. My pulse raced as I confessed my deed. His eyes never moved from my face as he said, “I wondered when you would decide to speak to me about this.” Then he spoke to my guilt with wisdom and discipline. Strange... but when it was all over, somehow I felt a little older, a little stronger, a little taller. After that he never spoke of it again, or gave the slightest hint that he remembered my wrong. All sons should be so blessed to have a father who forgets.

This word remembrance carries the weight of delayed consequences. It is translated from a few Hebrew terms meaning a past sin that is now officially remembered for judgment and punishment. In the case mentioned in this verse the woman had not forgotten her sin… and she knew God had not fogotten either. In her mind there was nothing she could do about it except wait for judgment to fall. Unlike her, we Christians can rise up early, kneel before our Father, and confess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us… and remember our sin no more. 1 John 1:9; Hebrews 10:17

Hope Restored

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, ... he hath sent me … to set at liberty them that are bruised, Luke 4:18

Jesus said that. The word translated “bruised” is a word full of emotion. It literally means to be broken to pieces…. Shattered. And in this verse it means broken completely. Like a piece of pottery thrown to the ground and shattered because it no longer has value. But it is not a piece of pottery Jesus is talking about… it is a person. A broken person. A person trapped by circumstances to the point that all seems irreparably lost.

Sometimes life turns a corner into a cul-de-sac of stress, and help seems to have disappeared. The greatest loss is hope. This word "bruised" describes a life so shattered that there seems to be no way to put all the pieces back together. The rest of life seems filled with struggle and darkness. Life becomes prison.

In this passage Jesus didn’t say he came to preach liberty to the bruised, He said He was sent “to set them at liberty.” Putting a life back together is a "hands on" ministry for Jesus. And His graceful skill can bring life from broken pieces. His hands of mercy tenderly form a new life after forgiveness has swept the old life away... and with His touch the prison door is opened... and the journey that never ends begins.

He didn’t come as a physician to the well… He came to the sick… the bruised… the broken. And He is still touching lives today!

The Self-indictment of Moral Conservatism

Romans 2:1 ¶ Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

Conscience is an important Bible word which is found in the New Testament not the Old. It means, “the faculty of moral consciousness or awareness by which moral judgments relating to right and wrong are made.” BDAG

Conscience begins with self-awareness, and moves to the innate recognition that right and wrong exist. This is more than learned socialization. It is an inseparable aspect of human consciousness. It is a state of being. It is the mark of our creator obligating us to be morally like Him.

This text is not opposed to judging, it is a warning of the self-indictment contained in the act of judging. When we judge another person we prove we have a conscience, can recognize the need for right thought and behavior, and we are confident enough in this knowledge to measure the moral state of someone else.  We then, when judged by God, cannot plead that we did not know. We are, as the verse says, inexcusable.

The more detailed our knowledge of the precision of moral perfection the greater our own condemnation. This is why nearness to God never leads to arrogance... it leads to humility, and more dependence on the Gospel.

It is not obedience to a list of rules, but the purity of ourselves that conscience seeks. Our conscience may find temporary solace in an obeyable list of behavioral rules, but it can never by behavioral means fully free itself from the conscious weight of imperfection. That ever-present nudge of conscience that we are not as we should be is an indicator that we need something more than we have within us to be at peace with ourselves and our Creator. Jesus put the demand of conscience this way: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48 Then... He gave us the Gospel.

Blasphemy

Mark 2:7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

The term blasphemy is not often used today, but in the past someone found legally guilty of blasphemy could receive the death penalty. In fact, this is the crime that Jesus was accused of which led to His crucifixion. Mark 14:64 I address this issue in my post Did Jesus Blaspheme?

One of the 10 commandments (Exodus 20:7) says we are not to “take the name of the LORD thy God in vain.” Through this command blasphemy became a legal principle applied to any disrespectful use of God’s name. It soon developed to comprehend all human communication concerning the person of our Creator.

Blasphemy, in its common use in the U.S., is applied to the use of God’s name in verbal profanity. Profanity of this sort is allowed because of the U.S. reverence for freedom of speech and religion. But blasphemy has a much broader application. It applies to any form of communication, including art, which could be considered to be disrespectful to God's person. It is a matter of respect for God, respect for the revealed truth about Him, and respect for His authority over creation.

The word blasphemy also includes the use of God’s name for empty purposes or profit. For example, a politician blasphemes when he uses God’s name for political purposes. A blasphemy, in my opinion, that is much worse than other common forms of profanity. But blasphemy could also apply to the use of God's name by a Christian who says something is the will of God when it is clearly only the will of that Christian. Christians often use God's name to spice up their show of spirituality... but that's blasphemy, and is much more serious than the profanity used at the neighborhood bar.

I don't want to belabor this point, but I do want to raise awareness on this subject. What about speaking for God in the first person when we have no record of God ever having said what He is quoted as saying? Is that blasphemy? I think so. Speaking for God seems to me to be the most presumptuous of all human acts, and is most common among those who appear to be nearest Him. An open, public familiarity with God can create pressures that are most easily released by taking authority and license that is not ours. That God loves us is clear... that believers, through the Gospel, are in a relationship with Him is also clear... but that does not make us as He is... He is still God our transcendent Creator and we must revere Him.

Little Candy Bar Or Big Candy Bar?

Romans 15:12 in him shall the Gentiles trust.

Many common English translations of the Bible use the word “hope” here instead of “trust”. It is true that various usages of this Greek word are translated with the word “hope,” as in v. 13. But that does not mean it should be translated “hope” here. This translation conflict is helpful because it focuses our attention on the fuller meaning of this word. Let me explain.

The hope or anticipation of a future experience must be based on some knowledge, belief, or experience. I read a psych book on fatherhood a number of years ago and there was an experiment mentioned that intrigued me. Children from unstable, fatherless homes, and children from stable homes were individually offered a candy bar deal. They could have a smaller candy bar now, but if they waited a few hours they could have a candy bar twice the size. The majority of the fatherless children took the small candy bar, while the majority of the children with fathers waited for the big candy bar.

It was a trust issue... but springing from the trust issue was the anticipation of a sure future. Trust and hope are welded together as cause and effect. Each child made the decision based upon personal experience. Those who had a stable home life anchored by a dependable father had the experience upon which to base their expectation. Trust turned into hope. The word in this verse comprehends that whole meaning.

The definition of the word translated “trust” in this verse is: “to look forward to something with an indication of the person on whom hope is based.” BDAG This passage focuses our attention on the foundation of the anticipation of non-Jewish Christians. The reason believing non-Jews can anticipate a place in the inheritance of the eternal day is because of who Jesus is and what He has done for us.

The deeper our relationship with Jesus, the more sure our hope becomes, and the greater our anticipation of the eternal day. The reason a lot of people want their spiritual candy bar now is because they don't have a solid relationship with the foundation of all hope: Jesus. Get to know Him...

Is He Thinking About Me?

Mark 1:41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

The verb "will", when it comes to human nature, is a profoundly important word. It means “to purpose, generally based upon a preference and desire”. Louw-Nida Our intelligence allows us to choose between options. And when we have made a decision that choice is described by this word “will”.

The leper Jesus healed in this verse wisely knew that if Jesus decided to heal him he would be healed. When Jesus decides to do something, it gets done. So when Jesus said, “I will,” there was no question something was about to happen, and Jesus always makes the right choice.

The human will is a product of our complete personality. In some specific cases it can be said to reveal exactly who we are inside. For sure, the cumulative choices we make over time do indeed become the full expression of who we really are. 

In this passage we are told Jesus was “moved with compassion.” His compassion was the dominant factor in His decision. We decide only after a process has taken place inside us, and the process in the mind of Jesus was overwhelmed by His heart.

It is difficult for us creatures to grasp the being of our transcendent Creator. What we know of God's transcendent mind He has revealed to us in His Word, or we make judgments about Him based on what we see around us. But we can also see Him in Jesus. And what I see causes me to pause, and rejoice in such a benevolent Creator.

Jesus thought about this man, then He acted on his behalf. I have no question in my mind that Jesus has done things to and for me as well, and that He loves me. Based on this passage, and what we know of human nature, this means he looked at me, thought about my needs, then He acted on my behalf. It thrills me to think that He might be looking at me right now... is He thinking about me? How many times has He already acted on my behalf today? Wow...