Hebrews 11:35-40 The Others

 

Hebrews 11:35-40 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Does the death of Jesus promise that our life on earth will not be hellish? What do the other believers listed in the Hall of faith tell us about suffering? Resources: Martyrdom: livinggodministries.net/living_god_ministries/radio_archive/audio_files/hebrews_51_ch12_1_martyrdom.mp3 https://share.google/TDuGhTo0ZaL3MlggM

Hebrews 11: What Most Miss About The Hall Of Faith

 

Hebrews 11 is often celebrated as the "Hall of Faith," a spiritual tribute to biblical heroes who lived by trust in God. But what if the real thread tying their stories together isn’t just faith, but something else. In this video, I discuss eight biblical heroes mentioned in this chapter who were commended for their faith and the hidden truth that they all share. 

How does God refer to those who have placed faith in Jesus Christ?

What does He omit when referring to them?

Resources: 

Proper Focus

livinggodministries.net/living_god_ministries/radio_archive/audio_files/hebrews_50_ch11_8_40_proper_focus.mp3

This Is Why You Feel Ashamed

 

"Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters"

Hebrews 2:11

What is it that makes Christians admit that they feel ashamed?

How does not understanding the difference between the Old Covenants and New Covenants contribute to being ashamed?

Resources:

Ashamed

https://96tolife.blogspot.com/search?q-ashamed

Sanctification and Shame

https://www.livinggodministries.net/living god_ministries/radio_archive/audio_files/hebrews_8_ch2_11.13 sanctification and shame.mp3

I have lost my faith

The following is a conversation with an individual struggling with how to reconcile Jesus Christ and the Bible with their rough upbringing:

I find it harder and harder to relate to Christ and the Bible. It didn't help that I was abused growing up and that those I turned to did nothing. When a Christian says "I'll pray for you," I think, "Why don't you DO something to help." Praying is fine, but if no one does anything, nothing happens.

• I am sorry to hear about your suffering. Usually, when somebody says, "I'll pray for you," it is because someone asked, "Will you pray for me?" If you desire or need help, ask and maybe they can assist you.

Why did there HAVE to be a tree with forbidden fruit? And why did we name our phones and computers after them (Macintosh, Apple, Blackberry...lol).

• God gave the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because He wants people to come to Him through free will and not by force. Love is best defined when someone wants to be with you, not because they are forced. That is not loving. You'll have to ask the phone manufacturers about those names. 😂

If this is the fallen world, well then, this is hell. Obviously.

• This world is fallen. And it is not heaven. But, it is not hell, either. Hell is eternal. You will be forgotten in hell. It is a form of a blessing to die and find an exit out of here. But, only if you come to faith in Jesus Christ will it be worth it.

Why so many parables? Why not just tell us. Make it clear.

• Jesus did speak clearly and people didn't believe Him. He only spoke in parables afterward because people had hardened their hearts toward Him.

Why must some be damned? Why don't the elect know who they are? More anxiety.

• God does not want anyone to perish. However, if you don't accept His only provision through faith in Jesus Christ, He hasn't provided anyplace else for the "damned" to go except to be with the devil and his angels in hell. The elect do know who we are (see 1 John 5:11-13). Anxiety is a companion of fear. Fear is alleviated by the truth.

Why do we eat the blood and the body? Does this sound right? Feels vampire-ish?

• It is symbolic of the sacrifice for sins obtained when Jesus shed His blood on the cross to forgive the sins of the world and the consumption of the bread symbolizes the indwelling Holy Spirit. Believers become the "body of Christ" because our physical bodies are now the "temple of God."

Why were books left out of the bible?

• Books were left out of the Bible because they are not the inspired word of God. In the interest of time, here is a link to go more in-depth if you want.

I lost my faith, and the Bible tells me I wasn't chosen, so I fell away. Not fair.

• Maybe it is a good thing you have lost your faith. It is not about your faith, it is about the object of your faith. If you are believing things that are not true, then losing your faith is a way for you to test what you believe. Maybe you have the wrong Jesus. The Bible does talk about different Gospels and false Christ's. Now is the time to find the truth and be set free.

Why is there possession, but also the Holy Spirit?

• God designed mankind in such a way that only He, through His indwelling Holy Spirit, can occupy that emptiness inside of us. We were designed to receive perfect love, acceptance, meaning, and purpose to life. God is the only one that can meet that need through Jesus Christ. The devil, whose desire is to his "throne on high (Isaiah 14:13)" cannot indwell mankind. He can only possess us and influence our behavior, but he cannot occupy the space in our spirit meant for God alone.

Why are there few miracles, but also magic?

• If something is common and natural, it cannot be a miracle by definition. Hence, why there may seem to be so few. But, also, just because you may not have experienced a miracle or many of them does not mean they are not taking place. God is active in this world despite the rest of us not always being informed of His activity to our liking. The difference between magic and miracles is the source. Magic is from the god of this world and miracles are from God. For more information click this link.

If you could move a mountain, wouldn't that be weird for others?

• If I could move mountains then I would be tempted with arrogance and it would probably make me struggle with humility. The focus would be on me and my abilities and not on God. People would come to me to perform for them and not go to God. It would be just like you read in the Bible. People only came to Jesus for His miracles and not what He came to offer them; Himself. I would be entertainment just like the Lord was to so many people. Is that weird? Perhaps.

I could go on....but none of this makes sense to me now.

Pre-Corona world was a better one. Maybe we were sent here because we failed in life, and the Bible was given to us to believe and go quietly.

• The world is the same now as it was "Pre-Corona." Since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, thousands of years ago in the Garden, the world has been in a fallen state full of sin and death. We were not sent here as if we are reincarnated or there was some previous world we failed in. If anything, we have been given a second chance by God. Prior to God flooding the earth He said, "The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time (Genesis 6:5)." Mankind is wicked from the moment we are born and our hearts are only focused on evil all the time. While people may disagree with this, the opinion of God is the only one that matters. This is why we suffer from things like abuse all the way to having to battle deadly diseases. None of it would be in the world if we had just believed God from the start. The Bible was given to us as a testimony of Jesus Christ and God's plan of redemption through faith in Him. 

I could go on...I am so lost and numb.

• This is a good thing to be "lost and numb." Jesus Christ said, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10).” Jesus came for people like you. All you have to do is let Him find you by accepting His offer of salvation. 

Grace and Peace 

Forgiveness in Action

"... but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified." Hebrews 10:12-14

Hebrews chapter 11 is referenced by many titles. It is called the "Hall of Fame of Faith" because of all the Old Testament saints referenced in the section. At times the chapter is referred to as "Faith in Action" for the same reasons. One subject the chapter illustrates but is seldom discussed is the forgiveness of sins. Many saints commended for their faith were guilty of some of the most notorious transgressions detailed in the Bible. 

Sarah laughed at God.

God had come to Abraham and Sarah in their old age and promised they would have a child. At the time of the promise, they were both about 100 years old and 90 years old, respectively. Genesis 18:11-13 says, "Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?" And the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?'" Sarah didn't believe what God had promised. In her unbelief, she laughed at the notion of giving birth to a child at her age. What did Sarah say when God acknowledged her for not believing Him? She lied. "Sarah denied it, however, saying, "I did not laugh"; for she was afraid. And He said, "No, but you did laugh (Genesis 18:15)." God didn't condemn her on the spot for laughing at His promise. He also did not punish her for lying to Him about laughing. God didn't hold her sin against her. That is why Hebrews 11:11 says, "By faith, even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised." The author of Hebrews doesn't even acknowledge Sarah's unbelief. All that is remembered is that she believed God and would eventually give birth to a son. 

Moses killed a man.

Not long after growing up, we read this about Moses. "So he looked this way and that, and when he saw there was no one around, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand (Exodus 2:12)" Moses murdered a man who was beating on a fellow Jew. However, at the time, Moses was still living as an Egyptian. "When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well (Exodus 18:15)." Moses murdered an Egyptian and then escaped to Midian to avoid being held accountable for his actions. When the author of Hebrews recounts this moment in the life of Moses, they write, "By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin ... (Hebrews 11:24-25)" The entire episode of murdering the Egyptian and becoming a fugitive to avoid capture is eliminated. God chose to remember Moses for his faith rather than his sin. 

David, a murderer, and an adulterer.

Referencing David, 1 Samuel 13:14 says, "The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you." David, who would become King, is described as being a man after God's own heart. This is the same man who committed adultery with Bathsheba, who became pregnant with his child and then to cover up his sin, arranged the death of Bathsheba's husband, Uriah. In 2 Samuel 11:15, David wrote a letter to Joab, commander of his armies, saying, "Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die." Although terrible, David's sins did not stop Luke from writing "And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, 'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will (Acts 13:22).'" The Lord still saw David in the same light as before he sinned. Thus, in Hebrews 11:32-34, it says, "And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight." God includes David in the list believers recognized for their faith in God instead of their sins against Him. 

In Hebrews chapter 10, the author reminds the reader that God is no longer counting our sins against us, that no sacrifice for sin remains, and that Jesus is the once for all sacrifice for sins. This means that our sins from birth to death are no longer separating us from God. Additionally, if anybody believes that sin is still an issue, there is no sacrifice for sins that God requires or accepts. God has chosen not to remember being lied to by Sarah, Moses murdering an Egyptian, and David both committing adultery and arranging the death of a man. He did all of this to commend these people for their faith. This should encourage all of us because God does not remember our sins. We may not be written down in the pages of scripture for our faith in God. Our names are in the Book of Life for believing in and trusting in Jesus Christ as our Savior. 

Questions for Spiritual Decline

"To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—  to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." Jude 24-25

One of the main indicators of legalism is when a pastor or church leader asks questions that focus on what you are doing for God rather than on what Jesus Christ has done for you. The following five groups of questions were written by a pastor and presented to his congregation prior to his message this morning. The title of the paper was "Questions for Spiritual Growth." Question #1: How are you actively learning about who God is? What are some ways you can practically know Him better this year? Question #2: Think back on God's faithfulness over the last year. Write down some of "the wondrous works He has done." Question #3: How well do you know God's promises for the future? Which promises can you meditate on to fuel your faith in God this year? Question #4: In what areas has your forgetfulness led to a lack of thankfulness? Write down five things you are thankful for. Question #5: In what ways are you remembering the wrong things? What hurts, disappointments, failures, self-efforts, etc. are you holding on to? What promises of God can you focus on instead? While some of the questions are okay, the general theme in them is one where the individual is operating from a position of lack in their relationship with the Lord. To "actively" learn about who God is, you have to remove the barriers you believe separates you from Him; namely the forgiveness of sins. If you don't believe you are forgiven, you will struggle to get to know God, if at all. You will always have to focus on getting right, clean, in good standing, or whatever you want to call it, before approaching God. With the focus on you then God's faithfulness will be seen in relation to the positive events of your life you believe God rewarded you with for your works. Just the fact that you are asked to fuel your faith by focusing on God's promises for the future means there are things you don't have from God and must find a way to somehow obtain. What five things will you be thankful for when your life as a Christian is based on promises not yet yours? The last question is the logical byproduct of a life consumed with your behavior and not knowing what you already have been given by God through your faith in Jesus Christ. Remembering the "wrong things" is why you are holding on to "hurts, disappointments, failures, self-efforts, etc." It will only lead to your spiritual decline as your life in Christ is defined by you trying to fill the emptiness you are experiencing in your walk with Jesus.

In the book of Jude, we are clearly reminded that God, in Christ, is the one who "keeps us from stumbling" and presents us "before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy." In other words, it is all about Jesus and not about us. This truth allows you to focus on all the promises of God you have already received; namely that you are completely forgiven, unconditionally loved, totally accepted, holy, righteous, sanctified, justified, assured of your salvation, and more. The byproduct of all this is that you can rest from your works and be thankful for His. When you understand your identity in Christ the "Questions for Spiritual Growth" will change significantly. Question #1: What is preventing you from knowing about who God is if He is not counting your sins against you? How does knowing you are forgiven allow you to know Him better? Question #2: How do you define God's faithfulness? Write down some of the wondrous things you have in Christ. Question #3: How well do you know your inheritance in Christ? How does knowing that fuel your faith moving forward for the rest of your life? Question #4: How can you give thanks in all circumstances knowing your identity in Christ? Question #5: In what ways are you believing things that aren't true? How are these false beliefs preventing you from resting in the promises of God? I hope you can see the difference in these questions. You can't grow spiritually without a firm foundation of what you already have in Christ; the promised inheritance of God you already possess. Knowing all of this is the difference between faith and works. It is the difference between grace and legalism. It is the difference between operating from a position of lack and operating from a position of abundance. The challenge is to ask yourself, "Do you know who you are in Christ?" If you do, the next question becomes, "What are you believing that has you living like a "foolish Galatian"? "You foolish Galatians! ... Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh (Galatians 3:1,3)?" Legalism forces you to "finish by means of the flesh." The Spirit of God will have no bearing on your life because you will only have eyes on yourself. Which questions are you answering? Your relationship with Jesus Christ is riding on how you answer. You can grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord or you can spend the rest of your life in spiritual decline as you try to obtain those things you have already received from Him. The choice is yours.

Living by Faith

"Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith." Galatians 3:11

The author of Hebrews makes an interesting statement in Hebrews 4. In Hebrews 4:11 it says, "Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience." The disobedience spoken of is in relation to the people of Israel's inability to enter God's rest. Therefore, the conclusion can be made that if you are engaged in works of any sort, in order to establish or maintain your right-standing with God, you are being disobedient. Back in Deuteronomy 6:10-11, God said to the Jews, "And when the LORD your God brings you into the land He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that He would give you—a land with great and splendid cities that you did not build, with houses full of every good thing with which you did not fill them, with wells that you did not dig, and with vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant— and when you eat and are satisfied ..." When you are promised things you did not work for, that is an inheritance or a gift. When you are given things you have worked for that is compensation you are entitled to for work you have performed. Furthermore, when you are focused on working with the intent of receiving compensation, the focus is on you and not on God. When you are resting in what you have been given as an inheritance of your faith in Jesus Christ, your focus is on God. There is a significant difference. What may be difficult for people to understand is that from the outside it is hard to tell what the motivation is behind the actions of a person. Now, we are not supposed to be fruit inspectors who focus on all the actions of our fellow Christians as if we are the measure of what proper behavior should be. However, the difference is noticeable when you do discover what is motivating a person. It may be as simple as a person saying they want to do something as opposed to them saying they are commanded to, or have to do, something. One, wanting to do something, is often motivated by the desire to share what they have with others or discover more of what they have been given by God. The other, doing something in response to a command, is often motivated by trying to be rewarded for your actions; obtaining something you do not already possess. One is living by faith. The other is living by works.

How does a Christian live by faith? You must first define what is faith. Faith is your response to the truth God has revealed. Let us look at three areas of the Christian faith: forgiveness, giving, and attending church. Ephesians 1:7 says, "In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." Christians no longer have to ask God to forgive their sins because we already have forgiveness as an inheritance of our faith in Jesus Christ. Our response of faith is not to continually ask God to forgive our sins, but to thank Him for no longer counting them against us. This frees us to approach God with confidence to receive His grace and mercy when we sin. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, we read, "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." Contrary to popular belief, Christians are not commanded to tithe or, honestly, give at all. Faith says that giving should be a result of you deciding what to give, how much to give, and to whom you give to, based on what you have decided in your heart to give. It should not be in response to an outward command compelling you to part with your money out of fear of punishment for not doing so or in hopes of receiving compensation for your actions. In Hebrews 10:25, the author writes, "Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." This verse is not a command for Christians to go to church. When you have been touched by the teaching of God's grace and are discovering the inheritance you have freely been given by God through your faith in Jesus Christ, your natural response of faith is to seek out like-minded believers to fellowship with, learn from, share your faith with, encourage, and support. There is no need to be commanded to meet together and you for sure won't develop a habit of avoiding fellowship. When you are continually asking God to forgive your sins, giving out of compulsion, and go to church because you feel you are commanded to do so, you are following the example of disobedience and not living by faith. You are responding to outward commands designed to modify your behavior instead of naturally reacting to a change of heart resulting from an encounter with the living God. 

Responding to God's Truth

"The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:17

Have you ever wondered what is faith? Often times when faith is described it comes across as believing something to be true even though you have little to no idea what you believe in. As if you just clench your fists and squint your eyes hoping something is true. Or as the dictionary defines faith, "belief in, devotion to, or trust in somebody or something, especially without logical proof.” When it comes to Christianity, we sometimes don't offer anything much different. As one online definition put it, "According to the Bible, faith is belief in the one, true God without actually seeing Him." I get that to one extent. After all, Jesus Christ said, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed (John 20:29).” Yet, Jesus said this to Thomas who was doubting His resurrection. Jesus had only died about a week earlier and up to this point in history nobody, other than those that Jesus Himself brought back from the dead, had been resurrected. So, Thomas' lack of faith is understandable. However, when it comes to our daily lives most Christians will say we have faith in Jesus Christ and what He accomplished for us, but it is everything else we believe on top of that which cancels out what we say we have put faith in. Look at certain topics that people describe as the hallmarks of our Christianity; forgiveness, salvation, and grace. The best definition of faith I've heard is that "faith is our response to the truth God has revealed to us." Using that definition, let's look at those three topics.

Nearly every Christian will agree that Jesus Christ died to take away our sins. If you ask them, "Are you forgiven of all your sins, past, present, and future?" you will hear, "Yes," nearly every single time. However, many of those same people will nullify that belief by their actions. If you followed up that question with, "What do you do when you sin?" the answers will vary depending on the individual. You will hear them mention things like, "I ask God to forgive me." Others will say, "I go to confession often." Even others will suggest they keep "short accounts," say a "prayer of forgiveness" and so on. Yet, these people don't realize they are living in double-mindedness. The Bible says that God is "not counting people's sins against them (2 Corinthians 5:19)," and that "Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them (Romans 4:8)." There are more verses like this. Given the fact that we are already forgiven, it is not an act of faith to continue to ask God to forgive sins He is not counting against us. Therefore, faith says, "Thank you," to God for the forgiveness we have received. When we sin, instead of asking God to forgive us, we acknowledge that our sin is so terrible it deserves the death of God as payment and thank Him that He, in Christ, died in our place. This is how we are able to confidently approach God in our time of need when grace and mercy are what we require most.

Can you lose your salvation? While there are those who say you can, I believe there are more that will say you cannot, but that you can "lose fellowship" with God or He will "punish" us for our sins. While this is often tied to a misunderstanding of forgiveness, what does the Bible say? First off, salvation is the restoration of the life of God lost when Adam sinned. Adam disobeyed God and died spiritually when God removed His Holy Spirit. All mankind is born spiritually dead; alive to the world, but dead to God. Jesus Christ died to take the penalty for our sins and rose from the dead to offer the Holy Spirit, the life of God, back to mankind. Once you accept Jesus Christ, you are born again, having the life of God restored to you for eternity. A life you will never lose because there is no sin God counts against you that would require Him to remove it. Therefore, you cannot lose salvation because you cannot lose eternal life. Can you lose fellowship instead of eternal life? The Bible says, "God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:9)." Will God punish you? The Bible says, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:18)." The answer to both questions is a resounding, "No!" If you could lose your salvation, fellowship with God, or be punished by Him because of sin or poor behavior, when would you truly have any of these things? A response of faith is to believe that nothing "in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39)."

What is the oldest sermon given in the Bible? Surprisingly, it is the message Satan delivered to Eve in the Garden of Eden. Satan said, "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil (Genesis 3:5).” Today, in nearly every church a variation of this message is given to Christians as if it has come from the mouth of God. Although, it is cloaked in religious-sounding language like you must be "obedient" and "repentant." In order to obey and repent, you must define what is good and evil. Obey that which is good. Repent from that which is evil. And receiving blessings and cursings accordingly depending on your ability to live this way. This is living life under the law; whether it is the law of God or the law of men. For many Christians living this way is said to be living under grace because they think that without laws there would be nothing to restrain our sinful flesh. But, what does the Bible say? The Apostle Paul said, "So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian (Galatians 3:24-25)." Living under the law is living as though you are a lost person needing to be shown your sinfulness and need for the forgiveness of God and the restoration of His life. But, Christians, under grace, live by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ for us and His resurrected life in us. Grace is allowing Jesus Christ to live the Christian life for us because He is the only one that can. Faith doesn't work, it rests!

Therefore, when the Bible says that the righteous live by faith, think of it as saying, "Those who are right with God because of His forgiveness, His life, and His grace will live their lives in response to this truth." It is not an act of faith to ask for or live in pursuit of, those things which you have freely been given by our God through your faith in Jesus Christ.

Anything, but Cut and Dry

The question was asked, "If the Bible is so cut and dry, why do no two Christians agree on doctrine?" To expand on their question, the individual followed up with the following: "Whether it's eternal security or some other basic truth of scripture how come no two Christians will agree with the Bible? I mean there are Christians out there that don't even believe that belief is good enough for salvation when the Bible clearly says "believe in Christ and you will be saved" in multiple spots. I mean its extremely difficult to get the truth out of scripture because everyone will interpret a particular verse differently. Why isn't there just one huge believe all belief that one can pick and say "Okay I believe that. Yay! I am saved now!"? Why all the divisions in the church and among Christians? What is the truth about scripture?" One of the best pieces of advice I was ever given is to not always accept the premise behind a question or questions. To do so automatically gives credibility to the question being asked. The individual asking all these questions started out by assuming that the Bible is "cut and dry." For something to be "cut and dry" is to say that it does not require much thought or discussion; that it lacks originality and is boring. Well, the Bible is far from any of these things. According to Guinness World Records, "A survey by the Bible Society concluded that around 2.5 billion copies (of the Bible) were printed between 1815 and 1975, but more recent estimates put the number at more than 5 billion." I doubt a boring book that does not require much thought or discussion would have 5 billion copies printed of it. Furthermore, where is it written that the guideline for determining a doctrine to be true is that two Christians have to agree on it? If something is true it doesn't matter if nobody or everybody agrees on it. There is a principle in math that states, and I paraphrase, "if your foundation is wrong, your findings will be off." Therefore, if you start off wrong, but make all the right moves afterward, you will still miss the mark you were aiming for. That is the case with all these questions being asked. It would be so easy to accept the premise of the question and then get lost in the weeds as you go down endless rabbit trails trying to answer all the subsequent and open-ended questions that are asked.

However, there is one major thing missed here. The individual asking the question doesn't seem to realize that the Bible is full of examples where Christians disagreed on or didn't understand doctrine. You have the apostle Paul who said, "For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law (Romans 3:28)." But, in his letter, James wrote, "As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone (James 2:24)." Peter, referring to Paul, writes, "He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16)." You have Apollos, of which the scriptures write, "He spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him in and explained to him the way of God more accurately (Acts 18:25-26)." You have Paul and Peter disagreeing on justification and whether it is by faith or by works. Peter writes about how Paul wrote some things that were difficult to understand and were then distorted by others. Priscilla and Aquila had to explain the Gospel more accurately to Apollos because all he knew was the baptism of John. My point in all of this is that these Christians didn't necessarily agree on doctrine or, at the very least, didn't fully understand it. Therefore, when someone seems perplexed enough to ask why "no two Christians agree on doctrine," as if this premise is undermining scripture, the person needs to answer why scripture gives numerous examples of Christians not agreeing? Generally speaking, the reason why Christians may not agree goes back to what they believe about Jesus and salvation; the foundational premise. Everything a person believes about the faith and their walk starts there. Honestly, the only question that matters is the question Jesus asked His disciples; "Who do you say I am (Matthew 16:15)?” The one thing that all Christians have in common is faith in Jesus Christ. Modern Christians and the first Christians didn't agree on everything, but they did agree that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of the world and that faith in Him alone is the only way to get to Heaven. That is all that matters in the end. Yes, doctrine matters, but I trust that God, in Christ, will teach His children the truths of His word "until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ (Ephesians 4:13)."

Bickering and Arguing

"I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints." Jude 1:3

While browsing a Christian forum, I came across a post titled, "Christians, WHAT are you doing?" The author of this post writes, "Christians spend too much time bickering about tradition and arguing theology...while the world is dying for Truth around us. If you don't believe me, sit back with a bag of popcorn and peruse the comment section on this site...or any site where a group of "Christians" gather. Christians in their heads only (CITHOs) need to be careful and re-examine lest they hear the words, "Depart from ME, I never knew you." It's not about what you think you know, it's about Who you know you know." On the surface, I can sympathize with their sentiment about bickering among the Church. However, I won't go so far as to say that those bickering are necessarily in jeopardy of not going to Heaven, as is implied by their "Christians in their heads only" comment and warning that Jesus may say He never knew them. The salvation of a Christian is not determined by how much or to what extent they are "bickering about tradition and arguing theology." Their salvation is solely based on what they do with Jesus Christ and if they are born again of the Spirit of God through faith in Him. With all that being said, however, is bickering about tradition and arguing about theology any different now than it has always been?

Faith and Works

One of the most famous examples of "bickering and arguing over theology" can be found in the disagreement between Paul and James over how a Christian lives their life. Paul said, "For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law (Romans 3:28)." James said, "You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone (James 2:24)." This led to at least one confrontation in the early Church between Paul and Peter (Cephas). "But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews (Galatians 2:11-14)?” To this day, Christians are still debating what Paul and James meant about faith and works.

Different Gospels

In 2 Corinthians 11:4, Paul wrote, "For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough." There are groups of people, claiming to be Christians, who believe that Jesus is not God, that Jesus is a separate god than God the Father, that Jesus was not the Messiah, that Jesus was just a man, etc. Therefore, whatever 'gospel" they teach as a way to get to heaven cannot be trusted and is definitely not in line with the truth of the Bible. The true Gospel that Jesus is God in the flesh who came to live a sinless life, die a death He didn't deserve and be raised from the dead to restore the Holy Spirit to mankind, must be fought for.

Apollos

In Acts 18, we are introduced to a Christian named Apollos. "Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.  He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately (Acts 18:24-26)." Here we have a fellow Christian who is said to be eloquent, competent in the Scriptures, fervent in spirit and who spoke and taught accurately. Yet, he only knew the baptism of John. In other words, as great as he was, he still did know the full Gospel; most likely he didn't know about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it took Priscilla and Aquila to explain "the way of God more accurately." Is not that why people bicker about tradition and argue over theology; to try and explain the way of God more accurately to each other as best they can?

Christian Living

If there is one topic that probably divides the body of Christ the most it is how we are to live as Christians. In chapter 3 of his letter to the Galatians, Paul, basically, unloaded on them. "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh (Galatians 3:1-3)?" How would you feel if you were called a fool for how you were living the Christian life? No doubt this would lead to some bickering and arguing.  I am of the opinion that Paul is not calling them fools for the sake of name calling and to put people down. Rather, like Apollos, he is fervent in spirit and his passion for the subject of grace manifested itself in some rough language. When you believe that people should know better, but choose to act and live in a way contrary to their stated beliefs, it can lead to confrontation. Sometimes, that is the best way to get a point across as divisive and unloving as it may appear.

These are just a few examples of what could be considered bickering and arguing over matters of the faith; i.e. tradition and theology. In my experience, I have been apart of verbal sparring matches that turned into proverbial bloodbaths when it came to the topic of faith. It is unfortunate that this happens, but when you combine the importance of a particular topic with the human element, you can have some heated conversations. But, that is just the way it seems to have always been. The pages of scripture are a testimony to that fact. While it may be unfortunate that bickering and arguing take place, God can and has used it. So much so that He left it within the pages of His own written Word. This validates the Bible in my opinion because it is human nature to leave out our flaws when it comes to things that will be consumed by the public. Add to that the passion people have for their beliefs, the arrogance of mankind that says we must always be correct and the human pride that prevents us from admitting we may be wrong, and you have the recipe for conflict. However, as Jude reminds us, we are to contend for the faith that was delivered to us; the saints of God in Christ Jesus. The differences we have that lead to disagreements can be used by God to continually get us to draw nearer to Him so He can teach us and grow us in His truth. This is how we determine what exactly is the faith we are bickering and arguing over. God does have an opinion on the things He has written for us in His Word. It is up to us to allow Him to tell us what that is and then share it with our brothers and sisters in Christ and the world at large.

Walking by Sight, not by Faith

"For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7

In 2015, a woman named Darlene lost her 14 year-old daughter to an asthma attack. Understandably, still grieving, Darlene shared her feelings during a conversation about, "Your Dreams and God's Plan." She said, "I don't like the story. I don't like the story He (God) wrote for me. I hate it. And I'm mad about it! And it sure doesn't feel like His plans won't harm me or my daughter for that matter." It is devastating to hear of Darlene's loss and her struggle with trying to make sense of it all. She is in my prayers. However, the reasons she gives as to why she is angry at God, reflects some error in her thinking that many Christians share about the scriptures. It sounds like she is referring to Jeremiah 29:11 when she talks about God's plans "won't harm" her or her daughter. That verse reads, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." If this is the verse she is referring to, what Darlene, and others, need to understand is that this verse of scripture was not written to her or individual Christians. This verse was written "to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon (Jeremiah 29:1)." It was a promise to the nation of Israel, not to individual Christians. This doesn't mean God, in Christ, won't bless us or protect us from harm, but to take a promise He didn't make to you and then get angry at Him for seemingly not fulfilling that promise says more about us then it does Him. Furthermore, I am unaware where it says that God wrote the "story" of her life or any of our lives, where He specifically says she would lose her daughter from an asthma attack at age 14. That is not the God I know and have placed faith in. What the Lord has written is that we would experience tribulation, but that He has overcome the world (John 16:33). He goes on to tell us that He sends rain on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). We are not immune to the sufferings of this world. However, when they do strike us, we can go to Him and see what it is we can learn about Him and us in the midst of tragedy. Then as He leads us and guides us, we will learn to find comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3) in what He reveals to us and then, in time, we can share that with those who we come in contact with and comfort them (2 Corinthians 1:4). I am reminded that God, in Christ, lost His child. In fact, He willingly gave Him up. Therefore, He is not unfamiliar with the pain Darlene, and those like her, have experienced. 

Too often the circumstances of life, combined with a misunderstanding of scripture, leads us to taking our focus off of Jesus and put it on to ourselves. Therefore, we can live our lives as if we have gotten the scriptures backwards. We tend to live by sight, instead of living by faith. Living by sight means we end up judging God's love for us based off of the ups and downs of our lives. So, when tragedy strikes we look at God as if He has "forsaken" us, is not "faithful," does not "love" us, and like we have been "snatched" from His hands. However, living by faith is understanding His truths and then responding to the circumstances of life accordingly. There is the example of a couple named Reed and Marian taken from the book, "Grace Stories." Reed and Marian had a 6 year-old daughter named Wendy. Wendy was a passenger in a car which was traveling on slick roads caused by a rain storm. The driver of the car Wendy was in lost control, crashed across the median and into oncoming traffic. Wendy was thrown from the car and killed instantly.  A few weeks later Reed was asked, "How are you holding up? How have you learned to deal with the loss of Wendy?" Reed replied, "Let me tell you about that ... Marian and I look at it this way. What if God had come to us six years ago and made us an offer: 'Reed and Marian, I have a little girl, a daughter of Mine, named Wendy. She's only going to be on earth for six years. But I need someone who will love her, look after her, and teach her about Me for those six years. Then I'm going to take her home to Me. So, I wonder: Would you like Me to give her to you, realizing that those are the conditions, or should I offer her to someone else?' Marian and I both would have said, 'Oh, yes, Lord. Give her to us!' And that's just what we feel that God has done." Now, this doesn't mean that Darlene should feel the same way. Everybody grieves differently. However, the reaction of Reed and Marian to the loss of their daughter shows one of an understanding who God is, who they are through faith in Jesus, and how He works in the midst of the pain and suffering we go through. It is a response of faith, not one of sight. My prayer for Darlene, and those like her, is that in her anger at God she will experience His comfort and find out the truth about what He has promised, namely that He will never leave her or forsake her, and that will carry her forward. The pain of losing her child will probably never completely go away, but I pray that she will realize that while time doesn't heal all wounds, Jesus does. "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3)."

A Faith of Your Own

"Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." Acts 17:11

One of the turning points in my faith, if not THE turning point, occurred when I heard a pastor on the radio say, "Don't take my word for it. I could be lying to you." He said this as as a follow up to an answer he just gave. I don't remember the question or the answer. However, this small statement has stuck with me for going on 20 years now. I was reminded of this statement recently while having a conversation on forgiveness. Another Christian and I were having lunch together when the subject of Lent came up. Naturally, the conversation quickly turned to forgiveness because one of the reasons people participate in Lent is because it is said to be a time of repentance. Therefore, during our conversation I said that I do not believe that a Christian needs to ask God to forgive their sins. Not surprisingly, my friend disagreed with this statement. I tried to explain my reasons for my statement, but that is when my friend uttered one of the most disheartening things I have ever heard. After I had given some references to scriptures I believe supported my position, my friend said, "I will have to ask my pastor about that." All I could say in response to this was, "Don't you know?" By this I was trying to determine if my friend had any biblical reason for why they didn't agree with me on forgiveness. Granted, someone may not want to get into that deep of a conversation about their faith. Plus, we all know the saying about not discussing religion or politics. But, to defer to a pastor in order to see what they think about what I said makes me believe that this person didn't come to their conclusions on their own, but were taught to believe a certain way and never questioned it or verified it through personal study of the scriptures. The Bible tells us to, "Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. (1 Peter 3:15 NLT)." I don't know. I will have to look into that. Let me study that and get back to you. These are things you can say if you can't or don't want to engage in a conversation, but don't say that you have to ask your pastor, or anybody else for that matter. We must have a faith of our own based off of our own study and interaction with the Lord, not that of someone else! We must be ready to explain our hope.

The Bible tells us that the Bereans examined the scriptures daily to see if what Paul was teaching them was true. As far as we know, Paul didn't object to them doing this. We also don't read where the Bereans said they needed to check with their pastor or some "authority" in order to verify Paul's teaching. We are encouraged also to, "test the spirits to see whether they are from God (1 John 4:1)." The emphasis is on us and our own study of God's Word. Otherwise, we are risking not having a faith of our own, but of whoever it is we are trusting in. That only leads to being led astray. A few days later my friend says, "I spoke to my pastor about what you said." Honestly, I knew the answer before they opened their mouth. "What did he say?" I said. My friend says, "He says you're wrong." To which I replied, "Did he say why I was wrong?" The response: "I don't remember." Are you serious? While frustrating, it is not surprising. I have encountered many people in my life who claim to be Christians, but don't know much about the faith, are afraid to talk about it or just repeat what they've been told all their lives. Usually, when confronted about what they believe, they either get defensive, angry at you for questioning them, throw the, "that's just your interpretation" platitude at you, defer to a "higher authority" like a pastor, avoid the subject or just change the subject. Part of the reason I ask questions is because I want to learn also. Maybe I am wrong in my beliefs. But, how will I be challenged to question what it is I believe if you can't explain why you believe the way you do? In Mark 12:24, Jesus said, "Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?" When you don't know the scriptures there is a high probability that you are in error. And if you don't know the Scriptures, what exactly is it that you are putting your trust in? What is it you put your faith in? You may say that your faith is in Jesus Christ, but when you don't know His word, even He may have to call you out like He did to the Sadducees. Otherwise, the only conclusion that can be made is that you are taking your pastor's word for it, even if he is lying to you.

God Winks

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:17-18

Recently, I was listening to people give praise to God for events that had occurred in their lives. There were a few stories surrounding the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and how people were spared being involved. A man missed going into work that morning because his son started kindergarten. Another person was charged with bringing donuts to work and was running late. An alarm clock didn't go off on time. Another person missed their bus. A lady spilled food on her clothes and had to change. A car that didn't start. Someone else had to go back to answer the telephone. A man who was wearing new shoes and developed a blister on his foot, stopped to buy a bandage. Then there were other stories. A son who survived cancer. Another child who fell 40 feet from a tree and survived. A woman narrowly escaping death after being hit by a taxi cab. All these stories and similar ones were said to be "God Winks;" God protecting you and keeping you from being harmed or killed during a time when you are caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. These are great anecdotal stories which for those involved remind them of what they believe was God's protection in their lives. That may be the case and praise God for it. Yet we all know that over 3,000 people died during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. We also know that people die from cancer, being hit by cars, from falls and many sorts of other things every day that have their own strange stories attached to them. Did God not "wink" at them? In Hebrews 11, there is a list of people given who one may say experienced a "God Wink." They were those "who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again (Hebrews 11:33-35a)." But, the author of Hebrews goes one step further. "There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—  the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground (Hebrews 11:35b-38)." Did God forget to "wink" at them so they would have avoided all this suffering? No, they were commended for their faith along with those who did not suffer. That brings me to my point.

In Daniel 3, we have Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who refused to serve the gods of Nebuchadnezzar or worship the image of gold that he set up. Nebuchadnezzar gave them one last chance to worship his golden image or be thrown into the fiery furnace. The three didn't deny the charges against them and even went so far as to not defend themselves. Why? Because they knew their God was able to deliver them from the furnace. However, they say one thing that I believe often goes unnoticed in much of Christianity today. They say, "But even if he does not deliver us." They knew God could deliver them, but that He had not promised He would nor was He obligated to do so. We often here it taught that because of our faith in Jesus Christ we are somehow promised not to suffer at all, much less be thrown into a fiery furnace. Sometimes there is a condition tied to it such as having "faith to move Mountains". But, as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego knew all too well, it isn't about having faith to move mountains, but knowing that the object of their faith was the God who created the Mountains! When it comes to the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, God illustrates His brilliance. Did He prevent them from being thrown in the fire? No, they were thrown into the furnace. But, what happened next? "Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods (Daniel 3:24-25).” The fire did not harm them and, even better, God was visibly seen with them in the fire! That is the promise of God; that He goes through the fire with us. Sometimes we survive unscathed, but even if we do not He is still with us. So, while we can glorify God when He protects us from harm, He is still with us when we do experience harm. Perhaps, as was the case with Nebuchadnezzar, our suffering or avoidance of it can be used by God so others will glorify Him. After Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the furnace, Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, "for no other god can save in this way (Daniel 3:29)." No truer words have ever been spoken. Who knows? Maybe Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego went through all of that so Nebuchadnezzar could experience a "God Wink."

In the world you have Tribulation

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Spiritual Warfare is a battle between the truth of God and the lie of the devil. Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10)." On a daily basis, whether through the eye of the media or through personal experience we see the fruits of this battle. Death, destruction and mayhem are our constant companion to some degree. In the Garden of Eden, the plan of the devil was carried out. He stole Adam and Eve from God by getting them to believe his lie about the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. By believing his lie, the devil killed them, and ultimately us, through God's removal of His Holy Spirit. Thus, Adam and Eve died spiritually. Subsequently, all mankind is born physically alive to the world, but spiritually dead to God. Consequently, the relationship Adam and Eve enjoyed with God was destroyed. Thankfully, God already had a plan in place to restore what the devil had destroyed. Through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God's plan of salvation was enacted. Jesus, God in the flesh, was the only man born with a life to give that would satisfy God's punishment for sin. Through His sinless life, Jesus did what we could not and cannot do ourselves. He then took the penalty of death we deserved as an act of love for all mankind. Finally, through His resurrection from the dead, He can offer, as a free gift, the life of God lost when Adam and Eve sinned; restoring us to God. And because of the finality of the cross, there is now no sin that can cause that life to leave us again. This makes the life a Christian has an eternal life. A life that carries us in this life, through our death and into eternity. In this spiritual war the devil wins battles by stealing, killing and destroying. God wins through the creation of life. That is why Jesus said, "In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10)." What is it that normally brings a person to the point of repentance where they turn to faith in Jesus Christ and are saved? Tribulation.

Father, thank You for the tribulation we see in the world on a daily basis. I don't thank You for the suffering that people endure. I thank You because in many ways it is through suffering that people are brought to the end of themselves and are forced to turn to You in faith. My prayer is that the world discovers that the answer to what plagues it is not found in voting for the right candidate to lead us. It is not through the granting or removal of rights. It isn't through focusing on the tools we use to inflict suffering on each other whether it be a gun, a knife, an airplane, explosives, a truck or even our bare hands. It isn't through opening borders or erecting walls. It isn't through signing treaties written by fallen men and women. It isn't through denying Your existence and relying on our own understanding. It isn't through submission to false religions. It isn't through "unifying" the races when there is only one race; the human race. It isn't through reforming religions. It isn't through relying on institutions of higher learning. It isn't through the expansion of government. It isn't through trusting in science and technology. It isn't through increased charitable activity. It isn't through obeying what is good and denying what is evil. It isn't through fighting World Wars, Wars on Terror, Wars on Poverty, Wars on Cops or Wars on Drugs. It isn't through acceptance and legalization of sin. It isn't through calling evil good and good evil. It is only through the changing of a person's heart through faith in Jesus Christ that we will begin see a change in this world. When we experience tribulation in our lives or the lives of others it is often the only time our focus gets off of ourselves and our lives. As we watch the world fall apart around us on a daily basis, my prayer is that all mankind "looks up" to You and receives your offer of life and forgiveness only available through faith in Jesus Christ. It is only He that has overcome the world. It is only in Him that we find courage. It is only in Him that we will find peace. It is only in Him that we have life. It is only through faith in Him that we have victory. Amen!

No Limits

Have you ever been told that your beliefs “limit” God? This was told to me because I am of the opinion that God is not a responder to me based on my amount of faith, particularly when it comes to things like physical healing and raising people from the dead. Yes, God does heal and has raised people from dead. I even believe this is still taking place today. However, it is obvious that not everybody who desires to be healed or loses a loved one to the grave has that desire answered. While there may be exceptions, I believe that God is the initiator and we are the responder. The Bible says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (John 3:16).” It doesn’t say, “For the world had so much faith that God gave his one and only Son.” Jesus said, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you (Matthew 17:20).” We don’t even have the faith the size of a mustard seed or else we could move mountains and probably a whole lot more. But, the real problem with this idea of God responding to our faith is that it is a form of legalism. Legalism is basically any belief that says the blessings of the flesh are dependent on the individual’s obedience, repentance or faith. In other words, you don’t have faith in God, but you are putting faith in yourself and your ability. Interesting enough, the individual who said I was limiting God just got out of the hospital where they were laid up with severe back problems that were still bugging them when we had our discussion. When I asked them, “Why is your back still hurting if it is about your faith?” Their reply, “Well, God must be trying to teach me something.” How convenient. When you are “healed” it is your faith and when you are not healed, God is teaching you a lesson. How do you know the difference? When I asked them, “How come my mom wasn’t healed of her cancer that took her life?” Their reply, “I don’t know.”

Honestly, yes they do know. According to their belief system, my mom either didn’t have enough faith or God taught her one hell of a lesson! But, people won’t say that because that isn’t loving for one and two, and more importantly, it exposes the error of their beliefs. Nowhere in all of this is Jesus. It is all about the individual’s faith or lack thereof. Jesus didn’t heal everybody. The Apostles didn’t heal everybody. This is because the healing was to draw the attention of the afflicted and those around them to God for the ultimate healing. There is no greater healing then when a person has their spirit resurrected from the dead through faith in Jesus Christ. That is why Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father (John 14:12).” Some people, especially the Apostles, did what Jesus was doing; healing people and raising them from the dead. However, what did Jesus mean by “greater things.” The greater things He spoke of is people having the life of God restored to them when they are born again of the Spirit of God through faith in Jesus Christ. That is why Jesus said He was “going to the Father;” so He could send the Holy Spirit. We don’t all get healed of our sicknesses and we don’t all get brought back to this life once we die (only to die again like Lazarus). But we all get the life of God restored to us for eternity. And when you have His life indwelling you, your spirit is healed and some day you will get a new, glorious body free from the effects of sin we struggle with today. It is not about limiting God, but putting faith in a limitless God. It is not about the size of your faith, but the size of the God you put your faith in.