Foundational Verse Number 2

Just to make sure we are all on the same page let me make clear that I don't put these "foundational verses" above the verses that explain that Jesus is the savior and we are saved through our faith in Him.  That is always first and foremost.  Everything else comes after my accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

Have you done that yet?  Asked Jesus to come in to your life and lead you?  Why not do it right now.  Have a conversation with Jesus.  "Dear Jesus…."

Anyway, I look to the Bible for foundational truths to live by.  This is one of my top two or three.

2 Timothy 1:7(NKJV)

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

What kind of spirit did God give us?  A spirit of POWER and LOVE, and a SOUND MIND.  So why do so many Christians walk around with their head down, acting and feeling defeated?  Use the power that God gave you!  :) 

This verse reminds me that when I allow myself to feel like that, I am not relying on God as I should.  This verse reminds me to change that immediately.  Make the decision!   

Abhor what is evil!

Interesting command in Romans isn't it? 
 

Romans 12:9(NKJV)

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 

Kind of goes against what many believe Christians should be doing more of which is being more accepting of "evil". 
 

Which leads to another observation.  Before we can abhor evil we need to identify evil don't we?  And that would require a judgement wouldn't it? 

Hmm, so much for the "blanket prohibition" against judging that so many believe in.

I so love the study of Scripture!

Once again we come around to my favorite foundational verse!

Monday, July 25, 2016

9:20 AM

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.

God's success formula all wrapped up in a couple verses.  And it all starts with a great attitude.  Why?  As I've said before, I think a great attitude, especially in the face of adversity, is an external indication of your inner faith.  And we know from Scripture that all of the rewards of being a follower of Jesus spring from one single place…faith!

Who are our neighbors? Does Scripture say?

The first use of the word neighbor is in Exodus 3:22.  It actually defines what God means by "neighbor".

Exodus 3:22(NKJV)

But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”

In the very first use of the word neighbor it is defined within a proximity issue, in other words a neighbor is somebody nearby.  Now let's see if it is defined differently anywhere else in Scripture.  The word neighbor is used 95 times in Scripture.

Exodus 11:2(NKJV)

Speak now in the hearing of the people, and let every man ask from his neighbor and every woman from her neighbor, articles of silver and articles of gold.” 

Once again we have the issue of proximity.  Your neighbor is within hearing distance.

Isaiah 19:2(NKJV)

    “I will set Egyptians against Egyptians;      Everyone will fight against his brother,     And everyone against his neighbor,     City against city, kingdom against kingdom.

And again it seems that proximity defines neighbor. 

Does it change in the New Testament?
 

Luke 10:29-37(NKJV)

But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 

Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 

Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 

So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 

On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 

So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”

And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Once again I see a proximity issue. 

Here are my thoughts and I'll admit that maybe I am reading too much in to this but….here goes.

There are some who think that Scripture is telling us that everybody in the world is "our neighbor".  I would disagree.  From the 95 Scriptures I just read from both the OT and NT there seems to be a personal proximity issue in most cases.  Here is what I mean by that. 

Let's look at Jesus' example.  I don't think the injured man was the Samaritan's "neighbor" until the Samaritan happened upon him on the road.  At that point we have proximity.  Before that the Samaritan didn't know of the injured man's need.  At the point that he sees the injured man the Samaritan is aware of the man's need and takes action to help his "neighbor".  Does that make a little sense?

I realize the analogy is a bit squishy but it is the best I have.  It's an issue I will continue to study.   

Perfect description of the "religious intelligentsia" in my opinion.

 

Romans 1:20-23(NKJV)

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 

because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 

Professing to be wise, they became fools, 

and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Who are Jesus' sheep?

Here is a question.  When the Scripture below says "feed My lambs", "tend My sheep", and "feed My sheep"; who exactly are Jesus' sheep?  Is it a general every single person in the world because "God loves everybody" type of thing?  Or is it referring to a specific group of people? 

John 21:15-19(NKJV)

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”

He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 

Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 

This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

As I've mentioned before I think sometimes Scripture is applied with too broad of a brush.  I'll use this Scripture to make my point.  There are many who seem to think that because God loves everyone that that means that everyone is entitled to the benefits of believing in Jesus, whether they actually believe in Him or not.  I don't believe that is true. 

So here is some Scripture that I believe is clearly singling out a specific group of people that Jesus is telling Peter to look after.  In the Scripture above I think the fact that My is capitalized signifies that Jesus is referring specifically those who follow Jesus, to the exclusion of the rest.  

Why do I think that?  Because Jesus has clearly said in other Scripture who exactly His sheep are.  Take a look.

John 10:27(NKJV)

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 

"…and they follow me.".  Therefore logic dictates that those who don't follow Jesus and have rejected Him, are not His sheep.  They are not entitled to the benefits of being one of Jesus' sheep.  Make sense? 

Barbarians has new meaning to me!

This passage caught my eye.

Romans 1:13-15(NKJV)

Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 

I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 

So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

The reason that it caught my eye is that I have a new understanding of the meaning of barbarians.  In the past I thought it was simply a word for the "uncivilized" of the world.  Kind of a generic word.

Well, I've been watching Rise of the Barbarians (History Channel I think).  I didn't realize that it was actually the specific word used to refer to all those who lived outside of the Roman Empire.  I also didn't know that Barbarian uprisings spanned the time of Jesus.

For example many have heard of Hannibal and the Alps.  I vaguely knew the story.  Hannibal was a great leader from the North of Africa.  He marched an army all the way around the Mediterranean Sea, then went slightly north behind the Alps, and then crossed the Alps in the middle of winter so he could attack Rome from the north!

He lost something like 30,000 men just crossing the Alps.  He had 38 elephants and only 4 survived. 

All fascinating stuff but what I didn't know was that this happened about 218 years before Jesus! 

Good show if you are interested in History.