Considered in the past tense here at summer's end, the six cumulative weeks recently spent in three Houston hospitals appear more and more purposeful and increasingly less a matter of waste. The metaphor persistently recurring in my mind is a summer program in alternate education. A typical school catalog might describe it as "an unconventional approach to learning, featuring hands-on courses in an immersionist environment, complete with full laboratory experience." All that said, however, the real zinger remains undisclosed--a zinger that, if known, might easily deternine the decision whether … [Read more...]
Archives for April 2012
HE KNOWS OUR HEARTS
I cannot help but notice her as I approach my gate seating area at Houston Intercontinental Airport. Medium build, cropped brown hair, loose fitting slacks and shirt, and only one arm. We are both an hour early for this flight to Lubbock, where I am to speak six times over the weekend about God's guidance I am carrying my Bible and notes in a cloth tote bag that says "State Bar of Texas." The plane is late. We have another hour to wait. As I take a stretch break, I word a silent prayer. "If there is anyone here, Lord, with whom you wish me to connect, please call it to my attention." I walk … [Read more...]
‘BORN OF WATER AND SPIRIT’ (2)
A gracEmail subscriber writes, "Jesus says that 'no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit' (John 3:5). I have heard for many years that this means that unless you are baptized, you cannot be saved. Is this a reference to baptism in water?" * * * Every human is born "of water" or "of flesh" into this world, and has a nature that "is flesh." Only those "born from above" are born "of Spirit" and have a regenerated nature that "is spirit." Every one of us needs spiritual regeneration by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Receiving Christ by faith is a sure … [Read more...]
‘BORN OF WATER AND SPIRIT’ (1)
A gracEmail subscriber writes, "Jesus says that 'no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit' (John 3:5). I have heard for many years that this means that unless you are baptized, you cannot be saved. Is this a reference to baptism in water?" * * * These words are part of a conversation between Jesus and a ruling Pharisee named Nicodemus, in which Jesus challenges the assumption of the Jewish establishment that fleshly birth into Israel also obtains a ticket into the Kingdom of God (see also John 8:33; Matt. 3:9). The whole conversation contrasts earthly … [Read more...]
JESUS’ SECOND MIRACLE
Text: John 4:43-54. Purpose: To grow in faith by seeing this example of faith which grew. To see the development in John's Gospel of faith among the Gentiles, and to understand the superiority of faith which does not depend on signs and wonders. Introduction In a world which honors "first's," many noble "second's" often go unnoticed. Students in history do not remember the second person who invented something; highest praise is reserved for the first breaker of athletic records, the first man to the moon, the first woman who achieves high office. It is possible that a wonderful … [Read more...]
CHRIST IN THE PSALMS (2)
Psalm 118:22-23 foretells Jesus' rejection by others, as it portrays the rejected building stone which God selects and uses as the cornerstone for his Temple (Matt. 21:42; Acts 4:11-12; Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Pet. 2:4-8). Psalm 16:7-11 expresses the faith of a righteous man that God will have the final word over death, and it is fulfilled in Jesus' resurrection from the dead (Acts 2:31-32; 13:34-37). Although the New Testament does not make the point, Jesus' ascension and entry into heaven then fulfill the scene portrayed in Psalm 24:7-10, which is the reward of the godly life described in Psalm … [Read more...]
SABBATH AND LORD’S DAY
Someone asks: "When did the early church actually make a shift from the Sabbath (Saturday) to Sunday? We see disciples meeting on Sunday in Acts 20, and a reference by John to the Lord's Day in Rev 1. Was this change commanded by God, or was it to celebrate the Resurrection and to honor Him because of that?" * * * The historical data is found in various books on the topic. Scripture gives no hint that God commanded Sunday observance. It seems strictly to have been a commemorative decision by early Christians celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, and perhaps also the descent of the Spirit on … [Read more...]
TITHING
GracEmail subscribers in several countries and in different denominations have asked what the Bible teaches about tithing, and whether Christians are required to give one-tenth of their income to the church. * * * The Law of Moses required the Jews to set aside a tithe (one-tenth) of their agricultural produce to support the Levites, the priestly tribe that did not receive a land inheritance. The Levites then gave a tenth from their tenth to support the priests (Lev. 27:30; Num. 18:21-29). The tithe also supported aliens, orphans and widows throughout Israel and provided a feast to celebrate … [Read more...]
One Life, Death & Judgment
"As It Is Appointed Unto Men... "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many: and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation (Hebrews 9:27-28). What a familiar text -- but how often its chief meaning has escaped notice through sheer familiarity! You live once, die once and are judged once. That is the author's first statement, and it is very important. But it is not his chief point in this passage. And if that primary point is not given first importance, the … [Read more...]
THE ‘WORMS’ AND ‘FIRE’ OF HELL
A Bible student writes, "I am sympathetic to your position of total destruction instead of everlasting conscious torment. But how do you explain the verse which says: 'where the worm dies not and the fire is not quenched?'" * * * The phrase you cite first comes from Isaiah 66:24, which portrays the righteous going out of the city of Jerusalem, following God's final judgment on the wicked, and viewing their dead corpses in the city "dump" -- where maggots ("the worm") and smouldering garbage fire ("the fire") race to consume them. It is a scene, Isaiah says, of disgust or abhorrence (v. 24). … [Read more...]