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Tag: hebrews

  • Define God

    Define God

    Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke… Hebrews 1:1 excerpt

    So you ‘go to church’ to hear a man say what God has said. Or you read a book by a man (supposedly of God) who will tell you what God has said. Or you will agree with nearly anyone who will mention God in conversation, even if they say Allah is god or Jehovah is god or Buddha is god or best of all, god is in everything.

    What do you believe about God? Can you define it? Can you define God?

    Genesis 1:

    In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth… And the Spirit of God… And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light… And God made… And it was so.

    26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.

    Who IS this God who was in the beginning, who created; this Spirit who said and made and it was? Who is this God who said, “Let us…” let the reader understand, ‘us, plural; “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness?” What Spirit can say, “Let us make man in our image?” How can the likeness of God live in the flesh of a man? How can the image of God exist in the image of a woman?

    One of many supposed preachers of the Gospel, a wolf clothed as a sheep who would claim that nearly all paths could lead to God, has written a book asking the reader to consider his understanding of the all-inclusive forgiving nature of god to include unrepentant sinners. (That is not how he states is, but that is what he preaches.) A promotional review of a supposedly traditional protestant denomination states of his book (and definition of God): “Good news for people who want nothing to do with religion; better news for those of us who are deeply committed to the faith, but see that religion is way off track.”

    Really? A book with only a passing, eventual reference of Jesus Christ, Son of God, proclaims an all-inclusive grace for unrepentant sinners apart from the purification brought forth by a permanent change and repentance to our sinful nature.

    Religion, which the world maligns, is much more than a feel-good routine. Religion is a dedication of purpose to a constant worship of God in our very life, created in His Image.  For the purpose of definition: Religion – The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.

    We had best be clear that the distinctive of Christianity is Christ.  How can a book, preacher or christian claimant speak of God without pointed reference to Christ Jesus?

    Perhaps the one who references ‘god’ does not have any more commitment to faith in all of God’s word than one who claims many gods or even the one god of the deceitful heart.

    Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” – John 10:30  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6

    If any preacher, author or friend would claim a religion other than what Christ Jesus teaches in the Gospel – yes, forsaking our sinful flesh for a new life in Christ is Good News – let us remind the one who would re-define God what Holy Scripture has instructed. Perhaps they will tell us, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” – Matthew 7:1 (a favorite of many of the unrepentant) Let us remind them of the rest and the context of Jesus’ teaching.

    Matthew 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

    A Tree and Its Fruit
    15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

    ‘God’ or ‘god’ is many things to many people. The Bible contains more than four thousand references to ‘God.’ Perhaps it is time for some of us to review just a few of these and renew what it is we believe in our faith in God. Are we not called by scripture to ‘in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you… – 1 Peter 3:15

    Our Lord cautions us: “For many are called, but few are chosen.” – Matthew 22:14  We cannot define God with only slight mention of Christ Jesus, and that not as a true Lord of our life. We cannot define God without support of faith in the Gospel or without belief in the truth of all of scripture. We cannot have god serve our flesh, while we will not worship Christ our Lord, who was sacrificed for our sins.

    You may certainly ponder our Creator in the light of John’s introduction to the Gospel.  You know well John’s description of Jesus love for the world; that is, sinners like you and me [John 3:16].

    It is not enough to just smile and pitch love without repentance and change. Jesus also cautions: … but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”

    How dare we claim Christ without mention of His Lordship over our will!  May Thy will be done.

    The writer of Hebrews finishes his description of God in the context we must consider and believe to have true faith in the One God who IS and was and will be.

     God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

    5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,

    “You are my Son,
    today I have begotten you”?

    Or again,

    “I will be to him a father,
    and he shall be to me a son”?

    6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

    “Let all God’s angels worship him.”

    No, our “religion” is certainly not about angels or spirits, worshiping earth or the heavens, conjecture in aliens or chance, teaching from prophets or authors. Our religion and faith is in the One hope of all mankind for the forgiveness of sins and the resurrection of our spirit into the very presence of God our Father, the love of Christ Jesus the Son, who became Holy sacrifice for our sins, and eternal life in fellowship with God the Holy Spirit; our God Who IS and was and will be forever. Amen.

     

  • Teach these new disciples…

    Teach these new disciples…

    The Great Commission

    Have we missed the point of the Great Commission?

    “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel;” that is what we all know (and have heard preached often). We’ll send a missionary and we’ll fund some missions. There: done, because our church has funded others to carry out the ‘great commission. ‘Lord be praised!

    But is this what Jesus instructed us to do in this final commission and grand conclusion to the Gospel of Matthew?

    [ctt title=”‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” tweet=”Matthew 28:19″ coverup=”8nBX8″]

    Go and make followers of all peoples (not just the Jews, or Samaritans or Europeans or Asians or Africans, all nations); therefore we send missionaries.

    The King James Version states: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations.”  We have been pretty faithful in this in centuries past.

    “Baptizing them in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit, as we say now).”

    We are quick to baptize new Christians, sometimes even as infants. Let’s check them off on our list of souls won to heaven. Yet keep in mind that “baptize” must include repentance and a permanent change of heart to bow down humbly to the will of God the Father. Through the ongoing guidance by the Holy Spirit, this commission of our Lord Jesus Christ implies a great personal responsibility for the believer – new believer and those accepted into the Kingdom long ago.

    A Command to the Church

    Jesus follows with the command most neglected by the church – your church, my church and nearly every church where the Great Commission has been preached:

    Matthew 28:20 NLT Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.

    Do we do that?

    Jesus tells his disciples – those who believe – to go and make disciples. How? Preach the Gospel, Good News that Christ Jesus has come to all who believe, no matter what you may have done in your terrible, sinful past.

    Okay. I repented. I’m changed by my relationship with Christ and I’ve received the baptism – the permanent change that I want to do what God wants me to do (though by my sinful nature I continue to sin).

    I am a disciple of Jesus Christ – a Christian.

    Now what is that ‘great commission’ thing again? Send out a missionary?

    No. In fact, I am the missionary wherever any see the change Christ has made in me by his grace and love. I am changed. I must obey Christ as my LORD, not just read what He said as just more good advice. Jesus IS my Lord!

    He has commissioned me to do what?

    Since I obey Him, I must teach ALL that Jesus has commanded.

    Do we teach new believers ALL that Jesus has commanded, even in our own local congregations? Yet it is this overlooked part of the Great Commission to which we are all called. We are called to obey Jesus as our Lord within the body of the church, before we dare claim to know His mission to others.

    Set aside postcards from overseas missionaries momentarily and look to the souls of those who surround you within the walls of worship of your own church building.

    Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

    Are our own children doing this? Are they in church with us? Do they hear God’s word with us. Do they continue to worship the Lord after we have raised them up as teens in a distracted culture and young adults in an increasingly carnal group of worldly friends opposed to Christ?

    Are you, dear fellow disciple, teaching them to observe all that Jesus Christ has commanded you? (It’s no so easy as just sending a couple of bucks to a missionary somewhere, is it?)

    How do the  Sunday School classes and Bible studies look at your church?

    Are you making great progress on the great commission in your own community and in our own households?

    Teach them to observe all I have commanded you, Jesus tells us. The struggles of the church now and the struggles of the early church challenge us to obey Jesus and teach the Gospel. Continue to teach the Gospel to new believers and to some of us. Do we get it? (and teach the gospel…) We barely listen and learn within the walls of our own churches; yet listen to the writer of Hebrews dealing with the same issue:

    Hebrews 5: 11 There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen.

    12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others.

    Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

    Returning to the great commission of our Lord:

    How can we go out and make disciples of others, when our pulpits nurse Gospel milk to grown infant christians, never grown into a Bible study?

    Teach others to observe all that Jesus has commanded? How, when WE do not take time or effort to grow in the permanence of the promise of our baptism?

    In consideration of our growth in scripture and prayerful consideration, we must set aside quiet time with the Lord.

    God willing, I pray to continue in living these commands of Christ Jesus, who by our baptism and profession of faith we call, Lord. Beloved believer, I invite you to also obey the great commission of Christ Jesus. Go!

    Due to continued devotion to my book on Christian growth, posts to this site will be limited. [2014 note]

    Your posts and comments on any posts are encouraged. May the Lord bless you this day and this week. 

    – Roger Harned, Author & Site Administrator

  • The Gospel: Preached by John

    The Gospel: Preached by John

    Behold our shield, O God;
    look on the face of your anointed! – Psalm 84:9

    John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

    15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”)

    16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

    Speak: and your tongue does witness the word of your soul.

    I have a ‘word’ for you: “logos.” 

    John uses Logos for the Person of Jesus as God’s Very Word spoken in the Holy Flesh of Christ Jesus.

    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    He was in the beginning with God.

    Jesus IS the ‘I AM‘ in the flesh!

    Exodus 3:13-14 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”  God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

    John’s Gospel preaches that God the Father sent God the Son to the people of Israel (and to gentiles of the nations as well). When they ask, “What is his name?” the reply is that of Jesus.

    John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

    The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

    Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

    Acts 2:37

    The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John:

    … His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.

    16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

    17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.

    But he laid his right hand on me, saying,

    “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one.

    I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.