No Cross, No Crown

Hi everyone. It has been too long again. We are at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota right now and will be here at least three weeks. Barb is receiving thirty radiation treatments plus chemotherapy. No cancer, just "suspicious cells" in the bile ducts that must be contained in the liver and prevented from becoming cancerous. Keep praying! They are optimistic that she could get a liver in as little as three to six months. But enough news. Let's move into the Word.

People who have had some great struggles in life are often better for having endured the difficulties. Losses, rejections, disabilities and disappointments can teach us patience, strengthen us spiritually, and make us better, more kindly people.

There is a phrase athletes often use: “No pain, No gain.” Theologians change that and use the phrase “No cross, No crown.” You see it was Christ’s victory over the Cross through the resurrection that proved Him to be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” To that Hebrews 4:14-16 adds, “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Jesus came to earth and lived as a man enduring every temptation and every trial we could ever possibly face. Yet He did not fall to any temptation and He overcame every trial, even the trial and suffering of death on the cross where He endured all of our sin. He was victorious over the cross through His resurrection and His ascension into heaven, where He sits as our High Priest. He cares for you. You can trust Him. That is the whole point of 1 Peter 5:6-7.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6). You are to humble yourself under God’s mighty hand. Trust Him in all things. No matter what trials may beset you, trust God. Look to Jesus your High Priest and trust Him to see you through it. Do this and God will “exalt you in due time” (v. 6). He will give you the “crown of life” (James 1:12) because of your love for Him.

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). When you trust God fully, as Peter instructed you in verse 6, you will cast all your burdens upon Him. Jesus cares for you. Hebrews 4:14-16 told us just that. Wherever you are, Jesus has been there. He understands, and He wants you to cast those cares upon Him. Give them to Him in prayer, and He will see you through it and give you the crown of life. Hebrews 4:16 concludes, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Do just that. Come to the “throne of grace” in prayer, and you will “obtain mercy,” and you will “find grace to help in time of need.”

That is how you cast your burdens upon Christ; through prayer and trust. Look to Jesus and He will help you through whatever it is you are going through at the time. Look to Jesus and He will give you the “crown of life” (James 1:12). Amen.

A Time to Praise the Lord

I trust you have all been having a great day. I have had a great day and it causes me to sing His praises. We should all sing to the Lord a new song every day. The choruses of praise should rise up out of our hearts toward heaven morning, noon, and evening. Can anyone think of a better time to praise God than now? Can anyone think of a better day to Praise God than today?

What better time is there to praise the Lord than now? What better day is there to sing His praises than today? We praise the Lord each and every day because of His great love for us, a love shown at Calvary so long ago. Christ became a man and died on the cross as a substitute for us. Then, on that first Easter morning His death gave way to resurrection and victory.

John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” This refers to the birth of Jesus, the incarnation. In reference to this, 1 John 4:9 says, “By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.” Christ was born to give us life. And so He died and rose again to accomplish that feat.

1 John 4 talks a great deal about love and how the love of God is manifested in us. Everything centers around the truth that “God is love” (v. 8). His very nature and character is love. Jesus Christ is the perfect manifestation of God’s love. He is God’s “only begotten Son” (His unique Son) who came to earth in the flesh to die and rise again, in order to manifest Himself “in us” by our faith. The whole purpose was to bring us back into fellowship with God “so that we might live through Him,” or by His power.

All of this is made clear in 1 John 4:10. “In this is love” (v. 10a) refers to Christ’s death on the cross. There is no greater love. It was “not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (v. 10b). “Propitiation” refers to a covering for sin. Romans 3:23-26 explains: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

The bottom line is that Christ died as a covering for sin; our sin. He died in our place as our substitute. He “passed over” our sins, having paid the penalty, and He “justified” us, or saved us, “as a gift by His grace” through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ  Jesus took our sin upon Himself so that by faith in Him we would be forgiven and we would have new life in Him, a life that will be eternal.

Saved by grace alone, through faith alone. What greater reason to praise the Lord God each and every day. Amen.

None But Jesus!

Its been all too long since my last post. In December I was out of pocket. Several trips to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where Barbara is now second on the liver transplant list for this region. She is still cancer free, but there are "suspicious cells" in her bio ducts. Keep praying!

For now, let's take a look at a little miracle that occurs in Acts chapters three and four: One day the Apostles Peter and John were "going up to the temple" to pray (Acts 3:1). A lame beggar was there asking for alms (vs. 2-3). Peter said to him, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!" (v. 6). "And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God" (vs. 7-8).

This man was overwhelmed! He could never have imagined what awaited him as he rose from bed that morning. As Peter began to speak, he was likely disappointed because Peter said he had no money to give him. Then suddenly, in the name of Jesus, he was healed! He stood up! He walked! He leaped! He went into the temple praising God and worshiping Him. What a day! What a glorious day.

This miracle opened the door for Peter to preach to the people. When he did he found himself arrested along with John for "proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead" (Acts 4:1-3). "The next day," the "rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem" (v. 5) and they brought in Peter and John to question them. "By what power, or in what name, have you done this?" (v. 7). They knew the answer. Peter’s reply? "By the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health" (v. 10).

Then Peter made another proclamation: "There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved" (v. 12). There is none but Jesus. There is no one else. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6). What the lame beggar had discovered is that healing is in Jesus, life is in Jesus, eternal life is in Jesus. There is no one else who can save you from your sin.

The rulers, when confronted with the truth concerning Jesus, "were amazed." They recognized them "as having been with Jesus" (v. 13). The disciples had been with Jesus! The lame beggar had met Jesus as his Lord and Savior! It was obvious! When you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you spend time with Him in His Word, and it is obvious. People can tell.

Have you met Jesus? Have you trusted Him by faith for your forgiveness? Is He your Lord and Savior? Have you spent time with Him? If you have, it will show. People will know. Because when they see you, they will see Jesus. Amen.

The Motivation of One Who Forgives

When the Moravian missionaries first began working with the Eskimos, they had trouble finding a word in the native language for forgiveness, so they made one up. They assembled a long list of letters that looked impossible to pronounce: “Issumagijoujungnainermik.” But to the Eskimos it was easily understood. It really was a combination of words which had a beautiful meaning: “Not-being-able-to-think-about-it-anymore” (Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations, Assurance Publishers, 1979, p. 456).

That is a great word for forgiveness. True forgiveness results in a total loss of memory. If you have truly forgiven someone, you will never again recall anything about it. Never again will the matter even be brought up. It is gone. It is no longer remembered in any way. And that is what Paul has asked of Philemon in his short letter recorded in Scripture. He wanted Philemon to forgive his runaway slave Onesimus and forget all about it. He wanted him to begin a whole new relationship with Onesimus as brothers in Christ.

When we forgive someone we need to be like Stephen, who when he was being stoned to death for his faith, prayed, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” (Acts 7:60). That is the kind of attitude that is behind Paul’s final push to move the heart of Philemon to forgive Onesimus. In the final verses of the book of Philemon, Paul gives insight into the motives of forgiveness.

First, we forgive because we recognize our own debt which we cannot pay. In verse 18 Paul offered to pay any debt Onesimus may have owed because he had run away. In verse 19 Paul says, “I will repay.” And he adds a parenthetical note: “not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.” Paul shared the gospel first with Philemon, as he now has with Onesimus, and with similar results. Both men have come to trust in Christ for their salvation. So Philemon owes Paul a spiritual debt he could never repay. Therefore the two debts cancel each other out. Philemon’s spiritual debt should motivate him to forgive Onesimus.

We also forgive because we realize the possibility of being a blessing to others. Philemon has been a blessing to others (v. 7). Now Paul asks to receive that same blessing. The word “have joy” or “benefit” (v. 20a) is from the same root word in the Greek as the name Onesimus, which means “useful.” Here is another play on words. By forgiving Onesimus, Philemon would benefit Paul “in the Lord,” by bringing him joy through his example of obedience. And so Paul tells him to “refresh my heart in the Lord” (v. 20b) by forgiving Onesimus.

We forgive because we know that obedience to the faith requires it. Paul adds, “Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say” (v. 21). Paul reminds Philemon of the necessity of obeying Christ, knowing that to be obedient to Christ means forgiving others as He has forgiven us.

We forgive because we acknowledge our own need for accountability. Paul asks Philemon to “prepare a guest room…for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you” (v. 22). He expects to be released from prison and he plans to visit Philemon to check up on him and to see how he has forgiven Onesimus. Accountability! We all need it. It motivates us to forgive.

We forgive because we understand the importance of maintaining fellowship. Five men send their greetings along with Paul’s letter in verses 23-24. Five men well known to Philemon. Men who are a part of the fellowship. Philemon is accountable to all, and to forgive Onesimus would set a great example for these men and for all the church. Failure to forgive would break the bonds of their fellowship, because fellowship is established on and built upon forgiveness.

Finally, we forgive because we believe it is required of us by grace. That is why Paul concludes his letter to Philemon with the words: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen” (v. 25). By now Philemon was undoubtedly convicted of his need to forgive. Likewise, we too should be so convicted and motivated. The strength to forgive comes only from the grace of God, the same grace with which Christ forgave us. By God’s grace, forgive! Amen.

The Action of One Who Forgives

Perhaps no other book of Scripture can teach us more about forgiveness than Philemon. In just twenty-five verses Paul applies forgiveness to a specific situation: the return of a runaway slave, Onesimus, to his Christian owner Philemon. In the first seven verses Paul spoke highly of Philemon’s Christian character and how his integrity laid the foundation for forgiveness. Now in verses 8-18 Paul challenges Philemon to act upon his Christian character by receiving Onesimus back into his home, forgiving him, and restoring his relationship with him as a brother in Christ.

Nowhere in this book does Paul build a theological treatise on forgiveness. He doesn’t even use the word “forgiveness.” He simply assumes that Philemon knew the biblical principles that led Christians to forgive. He doesn’t appeal to law or principle, but to love, as he says, “Though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you” (vs. 8-9a). He could make his appeal for forgiveness in this manner because he knew Philemon to be a godly, spiritually mature man whose heart was right with God. For such a person, forgiveness is a way of life.

Paul tells Philemon that the first step of forgiveness is to receive back the one who offended. Philemon needed to take Onesimus back into his life because he has repented and now seeks restoration with Philemon whom he had wronged. “Whom I have begotten while in my chains” (v. 10) tells us that Paul, while imprisoned, led Onesimus to faith in Christ. Because of his spiritual rebirth his life has been transformed. A new man was returning to Philemon. He who “formerly was useless” had been so radically changed by Christ that he “now is useful” (v. 11). Onesimus means “useful.” Literally verses 10-11 make a play on words: “Useful formerly was useless, but now is useful.” He was so useful to Paul it was like sending his “own heart” (v. 12). He “wished to keep” him (v. 13), but wanted Philemon’s consent (v. 14). So he sent Onesimus back, asking Philemon to do what is right and receive him back.

The second step of forgiveness is to restore fellowship with the one who offended. Paul asks Philemon not only to welcome Onesimus back, but to restore him to service. Though not trying to mitigate his guilt, Paul suggests that God’s providence was at work. He tells Philemon that “perhaps he was for this reason parted from you for a while, that you should have him back forever” (v. 15). Onesimus left as a slave, but returned “no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother” (v. 16). By receiving him back and restoring him to service, Philemon would enjoy fellowship with Onesimus “both in the flesh,” as they worked together, and “in the Lord,” as they worshiped and ministered together. Oh, the difference forgiveness makes in our lives and in the lives of those being forgiven!

The third step of forgiveness is to reconcile accounts with the one who offended. It is likely that Philemon had been wronged by the flight of Onesimus. Not knowing if he would ever return, Philemon likely had to purchase a replacement for him. It may be that Onesimus took money or possessions from Philemon to finance his flight (v. 18a). Biblically restitution must be made (Numbers 5:6-8). Paul deals with this issue by asking Philemon to “receive” Onesimus “as you would me”; “as a partner” (v. 17). The thought here is for Philemon to be gracious and to forgive the debt. But again, Paul wants to put Philemon under no compulsion to do that, so he writes, “But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account” (v. 18). Paul’s willingness to meet Onesimus’ debt to restore his relationship with Philemon is a marvelous picture of the work of Christ. Christ paid the price to reconcile us to God and so Paul was willing to pay the price to reconcile Onesimus to Philemon.

Never are we more like God than when we forgive. Never are we more like Christ than when we pay someone else’s debt so that reconciliation can take place. Like Paul, stand in the gap and make your forgiveness complete in Christ. Amen.

The Character of One Who Forgives

Philemon is a book in the New Testament that is often overlooked, yet it is a book of great consequence. Understand the central message of Philemon and you will understand what it truly means to be Christian. Though the word itself does not appear in any of the twenty-five verses of the book, the central theme is forgiveness. Paul takes the truth that Christians are to forgive each other and applies it to a specific situation.

The Bible clearly teaches the wonderful truth that God is a forgiving God. In Exodus 34:6-7 God described Himself to Moses as “the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin.” That theme runs throughout Scripture. We could say, in a sense, that God is never more like Himself than when He forgives. Therefore we are never more like God than when we forgive. Proverbs 19:11 says, “A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression.” We are to forgive as God has forgiven us.

Slavery forms the backdrop to Philemon. Slavery was a normal part of life in the ancient world. Slaves were the sole property of their owner to do with as they pleased, but by New Testament times conditions were improving for the slaves as owners came to realize that a contented slave worked better. Slaves often shared deep friendships with their masters, holding out the hope of being set free. Philemon owned at least one slave, Onesimus. Philemon was also a Christian who was serving the cause of Christ, even hosting the church in Colosse in his home (v. 2). Onesimus had run away and was with Paul in Rome where Paul had led him to faith in Christ. Paul sends him back to Philemon along with this letter which encouraged Philemon to live up to his Christianity by forgiving.

Paul appeals to the virtuous character of Philemon. He makes his Christian character the foundation of his appeal to forgive Onesimus. The first characteristic of one who forgives is a certain faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. One who forgives is one who is concerned with the things of the Lord and who desires to please Him above all else. Paul tells Philemon, “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” (vs. 4-5). Philemon loves God and his fellow believers, which now includes Onesimus.

The second characteristic of one who forgives is sharing your faith with power. To share your faith with power is to exercise your faith in such a way that it brings everyone together in Christian fellowship. Paul prays that “the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus” (v. 6). Forgiving one another sends a powerful message to the church concerning the importance of fellowship. It sets a standard of peace and harmony in the church.

The third characteristic of one who forgives has to do with using your faith for others. Philemon had a reputation for love, a fact that brought Paul “much joy and comfort” (v. 7a). Through Philemon “the hearts of the saints have been refreshed” (v. 7b). “Refreshed” in the original Greek is a military term that speaks of an army resting from a march. Philemon brought troubled people rest and renewal; he was a peacemaker. When your faith in Jesus is certain and you share your faith with others in a manner that brings them together in Christ, you become a peacemaker and God can use your faith to refresh others who are troubled and need renewal. Let your faith shine like a beacon for others to follow. Amen.

When You Understand God

It has been far too long again. I am working on posting more often. Things just seem to overtake my time. No real excuse. Just returned from Oklahoma where I performed yet another funeral, this time for a family that is dear to Barb and I, and with whom we have a unique bond. It was an uplifting time of spiritual renewal and looking to Jesus for comfort, refuge, and strength.

God is a God of mercy and compassion. He told Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion” (Romans 9:15, quoting Exodus 33:19). Understanding this truth about God should lead us into an even deeper commitment to Him. It should cause us to live more fully for Him and to serve Him better by sharing the gospel with others, including the importance of trusting Jesus with all your heart. Yet, so often we fail to truly understand God. Though we believe in God’s mercy, we often do not really want Him to be merciful to certain people that we judge as particularly evil. That was precisely the problem that Jonah experienced in the final chapter of his prophecy.

Jesus told Zacchaeus, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). That is the message Jonah preached in Nineveh. He told the people of that great city, “Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4). He told them this disaster was coming upon them because “their wickedness has come up before (God)” (1:2). The purpose of his preaching was obviously intended to bring them to repentance. They did repent (3:5) and God had mercy upon them (3:10). So what was the problem?

When God showed mercy on the people of Nineveh, we are told that “it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry” (4:1). He even admits that the problem is that he did not really want God to spare the people of Nineveh. He said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I knew that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm” (v. 2). He even asked God to take his life (v. 3).

He did not want God to forgive these people whom he considered to be evil, though he knew He would. He wanted God to make them an example by destroying them instead. He wanted their destruction to be used by God to reach the people of Israel and bring them to repentance. After all they were the ones Jonah saw to be fit for the kingdom.

How often we judge people by our own prejudices. How often we want God to show mercy only to those people that we deem worthy. God asked Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry?” (v. 4). But Jonah only fled the city to the east and made a shelter for himself and watched “till he might see what would become of the city” (v. 5). Somehow he hoped he would still see this city destroyed.

God never gave up on Jonah. He caused a plant to grow up and give him shade (v. 6). Then, just as quickly, He sent a “worm” to damage the plant so that “it withered” (v. 7). Then God sent a wind that would take your breath away, along with the scorching hot sun. Together they made Jonah grow faint and wish to die (v. 8). Finally God chastised Jonah for his lack of understanding. If Jonah can have mercy on a plant (v. 10), cannot God “pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons?” (v. 11).

As I said at the start, understanding God’s mercy and compassion should lead us into an even deeper commitment to Him. If Jonah truly understood that God was “gracious and merciful” and filled with “lovingkindness” (v. 2), then he should have been fully committed to bringing that message to these people and seeking their welfare. He should have rejoiced in their repentance and in God’s show of mercy toward them. That is the level of commitment to God that comes from a true understanding of God. That is the level of commitment to God that He wants each of us to experience. Understanding God will bring that deeper level of commitment. Amen.