By WAYNE JACKSON, ChristianCourier.com
”Why do some insist that Christians are ‘under law’ today? We are not under law, but grace. The law came by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus (Jn. 1:17).”
We must respectfully point out that the question recorded above reflects a serious misunderstanding of the nature of both law and grace. And it misrepresents the nature of the religious system to which men are amenable today. It is a tragedy of enormous magnitude that some, waving the banner of “grace,” argue that they are free from the constraints of sacred law, and thus are at liberty to forge their own route along the religious terrain. One cannot but be reminded of Jude’s indictment of certain persons who pervert God’s “grace” to accommodate their own sensual goals (v. 4).
The terms “law” and “grace” are employed in John 1:17 to designate the predominate systems of divine, written revelation—namely the two covenants. The first covenant was that given through Moses at Sinai, commonly known as the “law of Moses.” The second was a universal covenant for mankind that issued from Jesus Christ, and was ratified by the Lord’s death (Mt. 26:28).
Jeremiah referred to these respective systems as “the covenant” that Jehovah made with the “fathers” when he brought them out of Egyptian bondage, and the “new covenant” which later would be world-wide in scope (Jer. 31:31-34). The writer of the book of Hebrews referred to these laws as the “first” and the “second” (Heb. 8:7), or the “old” and the “new” (8:13).
In the text under review (Jn. 1:17), the two covenants are designated respectively as “law” and “grace.” And there is a very logical explanation for these appellations. It has to do with the prevailing themes characteristic of these systems. The function of the Mosaic “law” was as follows: (a) to demonstrate that the violation of divine law separates the perpetrator from God (Isa. 59:1-2). (b) To declare that written law is needed to define sin (Rom. 7:7); and, (c) To show, by recorded precedent, that sacred justice requires that a penalty be paid for law-breaking (Rom. 3:26; 1 Cor. 10:5ff).
On the other hand, the dominate design of the New Covenant is to stress the redemptive mission of Christ as the only remedy for the human sin problem (Mt. 26:28; 1 Cor. 15:3). The wonderful plan of salvation is the result of Heaven’s grace (Eph. 2:8-9), not human merit. No richer term, than that of “grace,” could be employed as a synecdoche (the part put for the whole) for the summation of God’s thrilling scheme of redemption. It is entirely reasonable, therefore, that these two systems should be set forth in a contrasted fashion, such as “law” and “grace.”
It is a baffling mystery as to how anyone, with even a cursory knowledge of Scripture, should not understand that there was an abundant measure of grace under the former regime. Noah found “grace” in the eyes of the Lord long before the Mosaic system was birthed (Gen. 6:8), but it was not the modern sort of cheap grace that disavows obedience (6:22; cf. Heb. 11:7). Scores of Old Testament passages stress the pouring out of Jehovah’s grace in ancient times upon those who responded to his will (cf. Ex. 33:13; Dt. 7:12; Jer. 31:3).
It is no surprise that many today are ready to repudiate the idea that man is responsible to sacred law. Outlaws eschew law! The reality is, this irresponsible suggestion—that folks today are “under grace” as opposed to law—is so trifling that it would scarcely be worthy of a rebuttal were it not for the fact that it is so common. The notion has absolutely no sanction in Scripture.
(1) Were it the case that man is not under law in this era of time, then it would follow necessarily that no such thing as sin would exist today, for sin is a transgression of the law (1 Jn. 3:4). As Paul once noted, where there is no law, there is no sin (Rom. 4:15). By way of contrast, since it obviously is the case that men (even Christians) do sin in this era (1 Jn. 1:8—2:2), the compelling implication is that there is a divine law to which men now are amenable.
(2) The Old Testament prophets, in previewing the coming of the Christian age, spoke of the current dispensation as one where the law of God would be obligatory. Isaiah, for instance, spoke of the days of the new covenant, when Jehovah’s “law” would go forth from
Zion (2:2-4). The term “law” renders an original term suggesting “instruction” considered as a “rule of duty” (E.J. Young, The Book of Isaiah, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1965, I.106). Similarly, when Jeremiah spoke of the “new covenant” (31:31ff), he made it the equivalent of God’s “law,” which would take up residence in man’s heart (v. 33).
(3) When Jesus Christ is repeatedly depicted as a “king” in the biblical record, clearly the concept is set forth that he exercises an authority to which men are expected to comply. If this is not “law,” there is no meaning to such terms as king, rule, reign, submit, obey, etc. (see Mt. 2:2; 28:18; Lk. 19:14,27; Eph. 1:20-23; Phil. 2:9-10; Heb. 5:9; Rev. 1:5; 19:16).
(4) The inspired writers of the New Testament viewed the authority of the regime of Christ as one of law. Our freedom from the condemning effect of sin is the result of our submission to the “law of the Spirit” (Rom. 8:2). The expression “law of the Spirit” is the same as the gospel, the new covenant system. It is “of the Spirit” because it was conveyed by the Spirit’s direction. It is designated as law because it is an “expression of the divine will” and a “rule of conduct” (Moses Lard, Commentary on Romans, Cincinnati: Standard, n.d., 247).
Elsewhere, Paul acknowledged that he was “under law to Christ” (1 Cor. 9:21). Additionally, to the Galatians he gives this admonition: “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2).
Finally, if the inspired James is not referring to the present order of things, when he alluded to the “perfect law” (Jas. 1:25), of what was he speaking?
A consideration of the foregoing facts ought to enable the conscientious Bible student to see John 1:17 in a balanced light. Furthermore, it should forever banish the absurd notion that our modern world is exempt from the restraints of sacred law.
By Jimmy R. Mickells
The word “outreach” is an expression that has been coined in recent years. If I understand what is meant by its use, it means an effort by a local church to reach out to those that are lost to save them from sin. That certainly is the work of the church. Paul, in writing to the young evangelist Timothy, said that the church is the pillar and the ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). It (the church) is to defend and preach the truth to a world of lost sinners. This same apostle commended the church at Thessalonica for doing this very thing, sounding forth the word of God (1 Thessalonians 1:8). When persecution arose against the church at Jerusalem, the saints that made up that church went everywhere preaching the word (Acts 8:4).
In recent days, one was asked about a local church of Christ having a gym. The answer that was given, “It is just an outreach tool to reach the lost.” What was the means that the New Testament church used to reach those that were lost in sin? Was it not the simply gospel message that was preached by its members? That is all they used to appeal to the inner man to respond to God’s calling. Paul, in his epistle to those at Rome, said that he was ready to preach the gospel to them (Romans 1:15). The very next verse says, that it is the gospel of Christ that is God’s power to save (Romans 1:16). When he wrote his first epistle to those at Corinth, he said, “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:1,2).
The New Testament church never built any kind of structure to draw or attract people so that they then might share the gospel with them. They didn’t have soup kitchens, offer medical care, give away free vacations nor did they have church sponsored basketball or softball. Actually, what has happened when a church has built a gym is that they have involved the local church in a work that God never gave her to be engaged in. At least a part of its work would then be recreation. Where would one find authority in the New Testament for such a work? If a local church can build a gym and justify having such by simply stating that it is outreach program, could they not build a hospital, a nursing home, a retirement community, etc. and find just as much authority for one as the other? Sure they could! The problem is that none of these things are authorized in the scripture.
In my limited travels in this country and abroad, I continual see a need for gospel preachers that is not being met. Part of the problem is that men cannot find enough financial support to go to these areas to preach the gospel. While local churches are spending thousands of dollars to build gyms to play in, men and women are dying lost because there is no one to share the gospel with them. Are they really concerned about saving the lost or are they more concerned about entertaining their members? They will need to answer that question for themselves.
I have had a good number of people through the years ask me, “What do you offer at the church where you preach?” Usually what they want to know is, do you have entertainment, will you take my children on various outings, etc. The only thing that the Bible permits us to offer those that are lost in sin is the gospel of Christ. If that is not enough, then I’m just as sorry as I can be, but that is all I’m authorized to extend to you. We will do our very best to teach you and your children the Bible; to help in whatever way we can in your obedience to our God so that you can go to heaven when this life is over. We will encourage you to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and help equip you so that you might use your talents or abilities to better serve the Lord.
May we each be busy doing our best to use the gospel of Christ to reach out to those that are lost and in sin. This is the outreach program that God is interested in.
By Stan Mitchell
The boisterous crowd fell silent. They had gathered in the summer of 1536 to witness an execution, a man burned at the stake. He was just a little over 40 years old, an Oxford scholar, and a felon facing the death penalty. So what had he done?
All eyes were on the victim. Flames snapped and crackled as the wood at his feet began to be consumed. Soon the man, too, would perish in its flames. So what was his crime?
William Tyndale (1494-1536) had a simple ambition. He wanted to make the Bible available to the common man. You would have thought it was an innocent enough ambition, too, but powerful forces did not want just anybody to read the Bible. So what was at stake?
At stake was the power and position of many clerics and churches whose practice differed too radically from scripture. A plain reading of God’s word would reveal that these shepherds of the people had led their flocks astray. A measure of the clerics’ fear can be seen in the ruthless way they sought his life. When one cleric objected to Tyndale’s proposals, he stood and declared: “If God spares my life, before many years pass, I will make it possible for the boy behind the plow to know more scripture than you do.”
Such undiplomatic language did not endear him to the powerful and the entrenched. He had to flee to Holland, where he began to translate the Bible into common, plain-spoken English. Copies of his precious work began to seep back into England, and the authorities, incensed, set a bounty on his head.
In 1536 Tyndale was betrayed, and fell into the hands of the Church authorities. At his trial he was convicted with the death penalty. As the crowd watched with the fascination of horror, the great man had something to say. His last words were a prayer: “Lord,” his voice rang all around the courtyard, “open the King of England’s eyes.”
Do me a favor, if you would please. Take out your copy of the Bible, and hold it for a moment. Do you own anything more precious? There was a time when only the rich could own a Bible, so expensive was its manufacture. That changed with the invention of printing by Johann Gutenberg in 1456. Of course, the first thing he printed was a German Bible.
Tyndale’s English Bible was so dangerous, so “revolutionary” that he lost his life for publishing it. But it should not escape our notice that it was so precious that thousands of Englishmen risked their lives in order to obtain it, and read its truths.
Have we taken something for granted?
You can pick up a Bible at Wally World for less than five dollars. And you won’t have to smuggle it home. The biggest danger you face by owning a Bible is a changed life!
Tyndale’s Bible was valuable enough to die for. Is your Bible important enough to read? Tyndale’s Bible was important enough to smuggle across the gray English Channel. Is it important enough for you to obey? Tyndale’s Bible was responsible for lifting the spirits of thousands of Englishmen–carpenters, lawyers, doctors, and yes, the boy behind the plow. Is it important enough for you to live?
No fire burned hotter the day Tyndale died than the fire and power of God’s word. Will it burn in your heart too?
“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32).
By Jimmy R. Mickells
We often encounter or hear of people who simply do not believe that baptism is a part of God’s plan to save man. They usually say that it is a good thing to do, Jesus was baptized you know. It is certainly a good thing to do because the Bible tells us to be baptized. But does it have any connection with the forgiveness of sin? To answer this question one must go to the Scriptures to see what is taught there. It is my hope and prayer that any who will read this article will remove any prejudices that they have, regardless of whether they have been baptized or not, simply accepting what the Bible says.
In Mark 16:16, Mark quoting our Lord, said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Jesus plainly says in this verse if I believe and am baptized I will be saved. Am I saved at the point of belief or is baptism necessary as well? Faith is an absolute necessity in the plan of salvation (Romans 5:1 & Hebrews 11:6). Yet the Bible teaches that faith only will not save (James 2:24). In John 12:42, we are told, “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue.” Jesus said that if we would not confess Him neither would He confess us before the Father (Matthew 10:32, 33 & Romans 10:9, 10). These men were not saved at the point of faith; there was something else that they needed to do to be saved by the grace of God.
I have had some to say, “This verse says if you do not believe you will be condemned, but it does not say if I’m not baptized I will be condemned? If I don’t believe in Jesus as the Christ why would I be baptized in His name to begin with? Why would I submit to Him if I don’t believe in Him? There would be no need. I would simply be getting wet. Some have contended through the years that they can find the negative aspect of faith, repentance, and confession, but there is no verse that says if I’m not baptized I would lose my soul. Such is not the case. Look at this verse, “Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). What is the water that Jesus refers to in this text? “That water points definitely to the rite of baptism…” (Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament vol. II, p. 91).
When Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:35), that obviously included the need to baptized. Notice this exchange, “Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:36, 37). The very next verse says that he baptized him (verse 38). He was born of the water and of the Spirit. Water when he was baptized and of the Spirit when he did what the Holy Spirit instructed him to do through the teachings of this man of God.
Notice these verses along with the two we have already read (Mark 16:16 and John 3:5).
“Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
“And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).
“There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21).
How could these verses be any plainer? What would one need to change about these verses to show that baptism is not needed to save man from his sins? Peter would have needed to say, Repent and don’t be baptized for the remission of sins. Ananias should have told Paul to arise, no need to be baptized, because your sins have already been washed away. Then in Peter’s epistle, he would have needed to have said, there is an antitype which does not save us, baptism. How sad it is to see people who refuse to do what the Lord tells them so that they can receive the remission of their sins.
Let me remind you of the words that the servants of Naaman spoke to him when he had refused to do what the prophet Elisha told him about the cleansing of his leprosy. The writer said, “And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” (2 Kings 5:13). The Lord has told us to do something simple as well. We are to believe (John 8:24), repent (Luke 13:3, 5), confess (Matthew 10:32, 33 & Romans 10:9, 10), and be baptized (Mark 16:16 & Acts 22:16). If we will do what He says, then like Naaman of old, we will have been washed and made clean.
By Ben May
God has a lot to say about fools and foolishness. In fact, some form
of the word “fool” is used 189 times in the King James Version of the
Bible. In our society, we have several expressions about being a
fool. One of them is “I’m nobodies fool”. None of us want to be
considered a fool or foolish. I invite you to consider some of the
things that God says that “any fool can do.”
God says that any fool can start a quarrel. “It is honorable for
a man to stop striving, since any fool can start a quarrel.” (Prov
20:3 NKJV) Which takes more strength of character, walking away from
an argument or starting one? It takes an honorable man to break the
cycle of strife and contention. Any fool can quarrel. “A fool’s mouth
is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.” (Prov
18:7) Be a person of honor, not a fool.
Any fool can declare himself to be right. “The way of a fool is right
in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.” (Prov 12:15) If
we are our own standard of right and wrong, God says that we are
fools! Wasn’t this the problem that the children of Israel had during
the time of the Judges? “…everyone did what was right in his own
eyes.” (Judges 17:6) If you are wise, listen to God, not yourself.
Listen to others who love you. Any fool can go through life thinking
that he needs no one but himself. It takes a wise man to admit that
he needs good counsel.
Any fool can get in over his head! Have you ever known someone who
didn’t know when to admit that he didn’t know? You see, some things
are just too lofty (over the head) for a fool. “Wisdom is too lofty for a
fool; He does not open his mouth in the gate.” (Prov 24:7) A fool does
not grasp the greatness of our Lord. “O Lord, how great are your works!
Your thoughts are very deep. A senseless man does not know, Nor
does a fool understand this.” (Psalms 92:5,6)
Any fool can make evil his past time. “To do evil is like sport to a
fool, But a man of understanding has wisdom.” (Prov 10:23) Is this
not a sad commentary on the very society in which we live? One does
not have to look very far to realize that evil has become the past
time for many. Whether it be gambling, drinking, drugs, pornography,
fornication or just plain selfishness, our society has very little
understanding of God’s ways. How sad. Be a person of understanding.
Any fool can do evil.
Any fool can say that there is no God. “The fool has said in his
heart, There is no God.”…” (Psalm 14:1) How foolish it is to think
that we will escape the judgement of God. “Yet they say, the Lord
does not see, nor does the God of Jacob understand. Understand you
senseless among the people; And you fools, when will you be wise?”
(Psalm 94:7,8) Many will face a “great awakening” but it will be
too late. Any fool can do as they please, ignore God, and think that
they answer to no one but themselves.
Remember Christians, we were once foolish. Thanks be to God we have
turned from that vain way of life. “For we ourselves were also once
foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures,
living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when
the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared…He
saved us…” (Titus 3:3-5) Any fool can reject Christ but if you
heed His call,you will indeed be wise. “but we preach Christ
crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks
foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1Cor 1:23,24) Don’t
be a fool! Accept God’s invitation, heed His counsel.
By Greg Gwin in Biblical Insights, Vol. 5, No. 7, July, 2005
God never instructed alien sinners to pray for forgiveness of sins.Many variations exist to the so-called “sinner’s prayer.” Most of these include a confession of faith in Jesus, an acknowledgement of sins, and an expression of desire for salvation. We are told that this is how one “accepts” Jesus and “invites” Him into the heart, thus accomplishing man’s part in salvation. The truth is that no New Testament teacher or preacher ever instructed an unsaved person to pray “the sinner’s prayer.” Furthermore, no one in the New Testament was ever saved by praying “the sinner’s prayer.” In fact, God has never even promised to answer the prayer of an unsaved person.
Those who advocate “the sinner’s prayer” offer a few “proof texts.” None of them accomplishes the desired result.
NOTE: “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee” (Acts 8:22). This statement was made to a man who was already a baptized believer, not to an alien sinner seeking salvation.
“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and eh that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Lk. 18:13,14). This famous parable was used by Jesus to teach the need of humility. It describes two Jewish men who were still living under the law of Moses, and before Jesus died on the cross. This is not a case of a person gaining salvation through the gospel of Christ.
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:20). This is taken from a passage in which the Lord rebukes those in the lukewarm church at Laodicea. It was a statement made to Christians who needed to repent, not to aliens seeking salvation.
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation…For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:9-13). While this text does describe things that lead “unto salvation,” it is important to observe that it does not include all the steps in the plan of salvation. For instance, there is no reference to repentance (Lk. 13;3). Also notice that the phrase “call upon the Name of the Lord” is explained in passages like Acts 2:21, 38; 22:16. In those texts we learn that one “calls upon the Name of the Lord” through obedience, including baptism.
We repeat that no lost sinner in the New Testament was ever told to pray “the sinner’s prayer,” and no one was ever saved in that fashion. Instead, in the book of Acts we read of literally thousands of people who became Christians. For instance, one Pentecost the preaching of the apostles convicted the Jews in Jerusalem. They asked, “men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). There was not instruction about a “sinner’s prayer.” Instead they were told to “repent and be baptized” (2:38), and “they that gladly received his word were baptized”; “about three thousand souls” (2:41).
When the Philippian jailer asked “what must I do to be saved?” he was told, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:30,31). Even here, there is no record of him being told to pray, or of him offering a prayer, etc. Instead, the passage proceeds to tell us that he was taught and baptized in “the same hour of the night” (16:32,33) effectively proving that saving faith incorporates obedience, including baptism.
Those who teach that a “sinner’s prayer” can result in a lost sinner being saved are actually ignoring a major issue. It is this: does God hear and answer the prayers of sinners? The blind man who was healed by Jesus said, “we know that God heareth not sinners; but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, him he heareth” (Jno. 9:31). Peter confirmed this truth by inspiration when he wrote, “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil” (1 Pet. 3:12).
It might be argued that Cornelius stands as a case of a sinner whose prayer was answered by God (Acts 10:4). It is worth noting that in this case (Cornelius) the response to his prayers was to send a preacher who “shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved” (11:14) — proving that he was not saved by those prayers. The words the preacher delivered included the command to be baptized (Acts 10:48), but they did not include any reference to a “sinners prayer” that resulted in salvation.
The popular doctrine of “the sinner’s prayer” is not found in the Bible. It is “of men” (Matt. 15:9), not from God.
By Jimmy Mickells
In Luke 15, Jesus reveals several parables about thing that are lost. There was a lost sheep, a lost coin, and two lost sons. They were lost for different reasons; the sheep because of its own negligence, the coin because of the negligence of someone else, the younger son because of a choice he made, and the older son because of his attitude. Yet they were all lost. In the parable of the prodigal son, he had his father to give him his portion of goods that he was to inherit, took a journey to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living (Luke 15:12-13). It was pointed out later in this text that he had devoured his assets with harlots (Luke 15:3).
After he had been in this country for a time, there was a severe famine in the land. Having wasted his wealth, he now finds himself in need of the necessities of life. In an effort to provide the things he needed, he takes a job of feeding the pigs, which was an unclean animal to the Jews. Even the feed that he was giving to the swine looked appealing to him at this time, yet no one provided for him (Luke15:13-16). In verse 17, the Bible says, “But when he came to himself. . .” Finally this young man opened his eyes of perception and realized some things that he needed and was willing to act upon this observation. There are some valuable lessons here for each of us as well.
He realized his condition. “. . .I perish with hunger” (Luke 15:17); “. . .I have sinned” (Luke 15:18). How many people today, if they died in the condition they are now in, would perish (lose their souls)? Do they understand this? I’m so afraid that the majority of the people in the world do not begin to comprehend their lost and unprepared state. They perish, not from hunger, but from a lack of appetite. This is true of some members of the Lord’s church just like it is true of the people in the world.
Where is the intense craving today for the word of God (1 Peter 2:2)? Do we really want to know what the Lord has said so that we can do it? Or, do we think that ignorance is bliss (Acts 17:3)? The Bible says the blessed man is the one who hungers and thirsts after righteousness (Matthew 5:6). Are you willing to examine your life in light of what the scripture teaches and make the necessary changes to be pleasing to the heavenly Father (2 Corinthians 13:5)? If you found yourself in sin, would you do as the prodigal son—confess such and repent? In a country of plenty, people are perishing because they have no desire for spiritual food or spiritual exercise. How sad!
He realized the one who could help. “I will arise and go to my father. . .” (Luke 15:18). It is God, our Father, who can help us. We need Him every second of every day that we live upon this earth. Our help comes not from material prosperity or human wisdom, but from the living God who can give the true bread from heaven and water where we shall never thirst again (John 4:13-14; 6:32-33). It is only through Christ Jesus that we can have access to our Father from which all blessings flow (John 14:6; James 1:17). A number of religions today think they can have God without Jesus. The Bible teaches the impossibility of such. Jehovah said, “While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:5). Who is the One that can help? It is God the Father. How can one have access to the Father? It is by coming to His Son—listening to Him.
He realized that he must act. “I will arise and go. . .” (Luke 15:18). God will always do His part, but I must be willing to do mine as well. I read an article in a local paper, while living in
Nashville, which said there is nothing for us to do for salvation; Jesus did it all about two thousand years ago. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Christ certainly did His part, but there is something that God requires of me. Notice the statement of the apostle Paul. “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). I have to obey the commands of my Lord. Does He have faith for me (Hebrews 11:6)? No! Does He repent for me (Luke 13:3)? No! Does He confess for me (Matthew 10:32-33)? No! Is He baptized for me (Mark 16:16)? No! Does He live my life of righteousness for me (Revelation 2:10)? No! It is only the obedient that will be saved by His grace (Hebrews 5:8-9).
As you think about your spiritual standing before God, is there something that is lacking? If you realize there is, why not do like the prodigal son and take the necessary action to correct the problem? Turn to the Father, seek His help and guidance. He has a place waiting for those that love and serve Him—heaven.