A reaffirmation of Romans 5:3-5

I love when I get reaffirmations of principals.  Here is a great example.  Romans 5:3-5 tells us to glory in our tribulations.  As I have written before I believe that doing so is an outward manifestation of our inner faith.  So take a look at this Scripture from James.

James 1:2-4(NKJV)

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 

knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 

Here we are told to take joy in our trials.  That is saying essentially the same thing.  Pretty cool!

"Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines."

We've all seen the headlines.  Bible scholar discovers the secret code blah blah blah.  I saw a new one just the other day.  When I see those I am reminded of this passage.

Hebrews 13:8-9(NKJV)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 

Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

Jesus is the same…..ALWAYS.  I doubt that the scholar really discovered something new.  Keep life simple.  Just stick with the Scriptures.

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine,…"

This is a good warning. 

2 Timothy 4:3-4(NKJV)

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 

and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 

The best way to keep this from happening is to always check what you are being taught against Scripture.  There are a lot of things that "sound" Scriptural but really aren't. 

It takes work.  That is why being in the Word daily your whole life is so important.  As you read the Bible over again and again and again you have to look things up less and less.  At this point I have lost count of how many times I have read the Bible all the way through.  But I keep doing it because each time more and more of it sinks in. 

Here is another technique I find helpful in making sure I am not led astray.  When I am offered proof from Scripture about what someone is saying, I read it.  But I don't stop there.  I also look for other Scriptural references on the subject on my own. 

Why do I do that?  Because it is really easy to cherry pick Scripture to back up a point, especially if the Scripture is taken out of context.  As I have said many times, the Bible is a book of balance and must be taken in its entirety.  If you can find additional Scriptures that back up the view you are being taught then you are probably OK going with it.  On the other hand if you find that almost all other Scripture contradicts the one Scripture used to justify a view….beware.  It may be leading you astray.  Make sense?

"…must believe…" Whoa. What was that again?

Here is a verse that I am sure most are familiar with, at least the first part.  "But without faith it is impossible to please God.".  But have you ever noticed the rest of the verse?  I had not noticed it before.  Check it out.

Hebrews 11:6(NKJV)

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Something we must believe.  That God is.  And that God rewards whose who diligently seek Him.  Notice the diligently part.

If you have one person who studies Scripture on a regular basis year after year and you have another person who reads his Bible for a week every other year, which one is being diligent?  Which one do you think God is going to reward more? 

I disagree with Paul on this and here is why.

Here is what Paul said.

Hebrews 6:4-6(NKJV)

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 

and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 

if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

Now compare that to what Jesus said.

Mark 3:28-30(NKJV)

“Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; 

but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”—

because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Jesus said point blank that there was only one sin that won't be forgiven and that is blaspheming the Holy Spirit.  I don't see anywhere in there where Jesus said no second chances. 

This once again shows why you need to read the Bible with discernment.  Man has this nasty habit of adding their own stuff to God's Scriptures.  It is up to us to tell the difference in my opinion.  

Interesting explanation.

I love the way this is explained from a logical and legal perspective.  That a testament is no good until there is a death which is why Jesus had to die.  And then why there had to be blood involved.  Interesting stuff!

Hebrews 9:16-22(NKJV)

For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 

For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. 

Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. 

For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 

saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.”  

Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. 

And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

When Paul contradicts Jesus, who you gonna believe?

For me that is an easy answer.  I go with Jesus every time.  The verse that I am referring to is at highlighted.

Hebrews 8:7-13(NKJV)

For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 

Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—

not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. 

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 

None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 

In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

If I understand this correctly, Paul is saying that the Law is obsolete and is passing away.  Didn't Jesus say something like "I didn't come to abolish the law but to fulfill it"? That seems like a direct contradiction to me.  Personally I think this again demonstrates the need for discernment when we are in the Word. 

Another confirmation!

Here is another example of why I don't believe Jesus is a pacifist. 

Hebrews 7:1-3(NKJV)

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 

to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” 

without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

Let's start with my belief that God and Jesus are always in agreement.  God had Melchizedek bless Abraham for slaughtering the kings.  Apparently God saw that as a good thing.  Why else would God have blessed Abraham like that?  And if God thought it was a good thing then Jesus was obviously in agreement. 

How do we know "hope does not disappoint"?

As many of you know, Romans 5:3-5 is one of my foundational verses. 

Romans 5:3-5(NKJV)

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 

and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Those verses are a success formula for life and it is all based on hope. So the question becomes, how can we be certain that if we take joy in our tribulations and all of that, that we will not be disappointed by hope?

One of the great things about being in Scripture on a regular basis and letting the Holy Spirit lead is that you find out the answer to questions like this.  Here is why you can have certainty in your hope.

Hebrews 6:17-20(NKJV)

Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 

that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 

where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

God promised it in Romans and as Hebrews says, "it is impossible for God to lie".  It also takes us a bit deeper regarding the purpose of the hope being talked about here.  It is to be "….an anchor to the soul, both sure and steadfast,…."

While faith and hope aren't the same thing, they seem to be cousins, metaphorically speaking.  (Sorry, I don't get to use big words like that often  :)

What I mean by that is I think you can have faith without hope, initially.  Many people come to know Jesus when they reach a low in their life, when they are without hope.  But once you have Jesus in your life and you develop that relationship I think hope should be a natural result of that.  As you learn about God's promises and claim them as your own, because Scripture tells us that "we are heirs with Christ", then how could you not be hopeful???
 

Are you able to handle solid food yet?

I love the picture that these verses paint.  We all start out as babes in the Word of God.  As we know, babies have to start life by getting their nourishment from milk.  They have to grow for a few months before they are introduced to real food.

Although we call it real food, baby food isn't what a mature person would choose to eat but it is a step up from milk for babies.  Then over time as we mature we move up to hot dogs and bologna sandwiches and pizza.  And eventually things like steak and lobster.

Unfortunately not everyone matures past the baby state in the Lord.  Some people stay spiritual babies their entire lives.  Others mature.  What is the difference?  The amount of work you put into your relationship with God.  For example you have people who only go to church on Christmas and Easter.  You have other people who are in the word daily.  Which one do you think is getting spiritual milk and which one is getting steak and eggs? 

In my opinion It all starts with asking Jesus to come into your life and lead.  Have you done that yet?  If not then why not now.  Just have a conversation with Jesus.  "Dear Jesus…."

Hebrews 5:12-14(NKJV)

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 

For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 

But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

There are many who don't believe God will punish people.

I would suggest that those people read this passage.  If God did this to punish the generation coming out of Egypt, what makes you think God won't do that now?

Hebrews 3:16-19(NKJV)

For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? 

Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 

And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 

So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Jesus doesn't aid angels?

I never noticed this before. 

Hebrews 2:16(NKJV)

For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 

I never noticed this before.  Jesus doesn't give aid to angels but He does give aid to man.  I wonder why that is?  Early in the Gospel the angels look out for Jesus but He doesn't look out for them? 

Just another one of those quirky questions to ask God about someday. 

Another prohibition against ChrisLam

Once again I find Scripture that would seem to disapprove of the idea that Christians and Muslims "serve the same God" and all of that.  While it is true that God desires that all be saved, according to Scripture He wants them to all be saved through believing in Jesus.  So in other words, for a Muslim to be saved, they have to abandon their belief in Islam.

Deuteronomy 18:9-12(NKJV)

“When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. 

There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 

or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 

For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you. 

Manipulation at its best! :)

I just finished reading Philemon.  It makes me smile every time I read it.  I just see Paul as this little Jewish mother laying on the guilt trip.  It just makes me chuckle.  Check it out.  :)

Philemon 1:1-25(NKJV)

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 

to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 

hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 

that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 

For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, 

yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ—

I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 

who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.

I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 

whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 

But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.

For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 

no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. 

But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. 

I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. 

Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 

But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 

as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Once again a warning about discernment

Once again we are warned to be discerning in who we listen to.  Just because something "sounds" religious doesn't mean it is.  Always check it against Scripture.

Titus 1:10-11(NKJV)

For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 

whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.