Can you even begin to imagine how much Jesus loves you? What words can we possibly use to describe His love? While we may not be able to fully comprehend our Lord’s love for mankind, we can see His love! All we need to do is look in faith to Calvary! There Jesus gave the greatest demonstration of His love for mankind in His suffering and death! It’s vital that we witness His Passion! We need to see the unimaginable price Jesus paid to redeem us. We can and should be certain in our hearts of His unfailing and eternal love for each of us!

We’ve heard the facts concerning Jesus’ death so many times that we may fail to remember just how profoundly immoral and wickedly He was treated by those He came to save. Pilate, around 8 am, ordered that Jesus be scourged, and handed Him over to be crucified. Those sentenced to crucifixion were often scourged to maximize the pain inflicted and hasten death. It wasn’t unusual for prisoners to die from the scourging or the blood loss that it caused, rather than the crucifixion itself.

Scourging was so brutal and so feared that it was forbidden by law to use on Roman citizens! Try and imagine what it was like for Jesus. The Romans attached pieces of metal,

bone, wire, or hardened clay to the strands of the whip so that it would rip the skin open. Under Roman law, there was no limit to the number of lashes that could be administered. It’s possible that Jesus was sentenced to 39 lashes!

The whip (or scourge) was designed to inflict the most possible pain, it literally tore the flesh off our Savior’s back! Deep gashes covered His back and His precious blood was flowing freely. Jesus willingly endured it for us! The soldiers … stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him, parading Him around like a common criminal. At about 9 am, they put a crown of thorns on his head and a reed in His right hand.

They bowed before the Savior mocking Him, Hail, King of the Jews! To show their complete contempt for Him they spit on Him, they took the reed and struck Him on the head, driving the crown of thorns ever deeper into his skin. When they had finished tormenting the Lord of Glory, about 10 am, they led Him away to be crucified.

Once on the cross, they offered Him wine vinegar as prophecy foretold. It was a pain killer of sorts, a Jewish concoction designed to dull the senses and help relieve pain, but Jesus wouldn’t drink it! He wouldn’t even allow Himself this small bit of relief. They mocked Jesus, If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!

To further humiliate Jesus there was a written notice above him. Written on it was His crime, it read in full, this is Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews. It was written in Latin for legal purposes, Aramaic for the Jews, and Greek for everybody!

Jesus, the eternally blessed God, mankind’s Redeemer, was crucified (the most horrible form of death) between two criminals. One of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, if - You are the Christ, save Yourself and us. In his dying moments, he was cursing the Lord. That’s like a man dying in a desert from thirst and exposure, while right next to him is an oasis with water and shade that could save him! But he ignores it, looks the other way, and curses his misfortune!

Instead of asking for Jesus’ blessing and grace, he uses his dying breaths to curse the only One who could or even wanted to save him. The only One who truly loved him! Next to him, the other criminal said something you wouldn’t have expected! Both of the criminals had mocked Jesus at first, but now one believed! When he was given faith, if he was baptized, or, if he had ever seen the inside of a church – doesn’t matter, Jesus forgave him! He might have been a hardened criminal, but now, in faith, he reprimands the other for his shortsightedness and unbelief! Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence?

We’re getting exactly what we deserve, but Jesus hasn’t done anything wrong, He is innocent! Hanging next to Jesus, dying, and nothing would stop it, imagine his fear. Until just recently he had been a rank unbeliever, but now, in faith, he turns to Jesus and says, Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom. Behold the Spirit’s miracle of faith that changes people completely! He now knew Jesus as his Savior!

Jesus said to him, Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise. Jesus put all his fears to rest and gave that dying man perfect comfort and assurance! That’s the unconditional and undeserved love of God in Jesus freely given to all who ask! Imagine his joy, death no longer mattered, he would soon be with Jesus forever!

Our Lord, dying with the weight and punishment of mankind’s sins upon Him, suffering unimaginable pain and the horrors of hell, still took the time to assure that one man of his salvation. He mattered to Jesus - just like each of us! Jesus didn’t see him as a condemned criminal, but as a redeemed sinner, a dearly loved child, and heir of life eternal! Jesus sees us the same way! He has assured us of His unconditional love and forgiveness, He has guaranteed our salvation! Jesus says to you and me personally, Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.

In Jesus saving Name, Amen!

CAN A DEMOCRAT BE CHRISTIAN?

You must read it all to answer the question!

It’s said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Often times a picture or symbol can convey a meaning more effectively than someone can describe it! For example, the cross above the altar! It’s a beautiful work of art and it’s precious to us because of all that it represents. It keeps before our minds and hearts the greatest act of love in all eternity, our Savior’s atoning death on Calvary! It pictures God’s saving grace in Jesus! The cross has long been a symbol of all that the Christian faith is and teaches. But the cross Jesus was nailed to wasn’t a beautiful work of art but a hideous implement of torture used to inflict the most pain possible! Jesus had been condemned to die, most rejoiced. It seems they loved to  hate Him. Spirit bless…

The Romans who carried out our Savior’s crucifixion were members of the 10th Legion, they were mercenaries known for their brutality. To them, Jesus was just another criminal to be crucified. Jesus, having been led out of the city with two criminals as prophecy foretold, was then shamefully stripped naked, nails like railroad spikes were hammered through His hands or wrists. (In Jesus’ day, the wrist was considered to be part of the hand ) His feet, one foot on top of the other, were nailed to the cross through the middle and arch of each foot. The way Jesus’ arms were stretched out caused cramping and paralysis of the chest muscles, making it impossible to breathe unless some of the weight was held up by the feet.

Jesus had to push up against the nail in his feet to breathe causing excruciating pain. After taking a breath He would have to slump back down to  relieve the pain in His feet and legs. The breathing process had to be repeated over and over again. Most of those crucified ultimately died of asphyxiation, what a horrible way to die, they suffocated to death! Crucifixion was a slow, torturing death. the most painful death ever conceived, but  that was only the physical pain!!

Our Redeemer willingly embraced the death of the cross because of His love for mankind! On Calvary Jesus carried the sins of the world in His own body, He had to endure the full fury of His Father’s wrath against our sins, the pain of hell itself. God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ! that saving Message was unknown to most who witnessed His crucifixion. It had been cunningly and purposely hidden by the Jewish leaders.

Most present celebrated the fact that soon they would be rid of Jesus who they saw as their enemy, He was feared by the leaders of the Jews. Their unbelief blinded them to His love and reason for coming, to save mankind by taking our place under the Law and suffering what we deserved. By what they said, He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is God's Messiah, the Chosen One, and by their cries of crucify Him, they showed their vicious rejection of Jesus! The accusations they used to have Jesus condemned were lies. Even Pilate, a rank unbeliever and evil man knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. they loved to  hate Jesus!

The spiritual leaders of the Jews were afraid the people would hear Jesus’ saving Gospel and believe in Him. Many Jews and Gentiles had already been brought to faith and they wanted that stopped! They weren’t the least bit concerned about the spiritual welfare of those they served. If Jesus wasn’t silenced, they would lose what they held dearest, their status and the praises of the people! You’d think they had to see the Savior’s love, it was abundantly evident, but no! Unbelief is blind and deaf to God’s Word, it can’t understand the love, forgiveness, and peace the Gospel proclaims. Even so, Jesus had no bitterness, no resentment in His heart; not even against those who carried out Pilate’s sentence. With all they said, with all they did to Him, in all His pain and suffering, Jesus didn’t condemn them, instead He prayed for them! His prayer had no conditions, no strings attached to it. He asked that all involved in His death be forgiven! From Pilate down to the lowly soldiers of the 10th Legion whose grim duty it had been to nail the Savior to His cross! Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them. they do not know what they do!

Though the world was made through Jesus, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Their hardened hearts refused to even consider that this carpenter’s Son could be Israel’s hope, mankind’s Redeemer. The beaten, bloodied, dying Savior had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. They saw Jesus only as a criminal and danger to Israel. Jesus’ forgiving grace, His undeserved love, was lost on them! Though Jesus had come to die for them, to win forgiveness and life eternal, they chose to reject Him.  they loved to  hate Him! We’re just as guilty; it was our sins as well that nailed Jesus to the cross, but it was His love for mankind that kept Him there.

The guards who remained as the Lord suffered sat down under the shadow of His cross. They had no clue that all around them raged the final battle in the war for salvation. They were oblivious to what was going on and spent their time gambling for the Lord's clothes. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Nothing has changed!

Most people today live within walking distance of a church, oblivious to their soul’s needs. Most have no clue that they’re dying a needless death, gambling away their priceless time of grace until it’s too late. Their hearts have been deceived by the world and its prince! Father, forgive them and us for the times we’re sluggish and cold toward our Redeemer and His saving grace, for the times we take His love and salvation for granted, for the times we think we’re too busy or tired to serve Him whose blood has redeemed us! Father, forgive us for Jesus’ sake, and He has! The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin!

Amen!

EVOLUTION is PSEUDOSCIENCE

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth!

What a beautiful, and all important message our Lord gives in the first Words of our Bibles. How often have we considered their importance?      

Today we encounter evolutionary indoctrination wherever we turn. It may be incorporated into almost any subject at any grade level in our schools, it’s especially prevalent in classes dealing with social studies, history and science. Outside the classroom, evolution is heavily promoted in our newspapers, popular magazines, television, radio, movies, national parks, museums, science centers, zoos and even on the backs of breakfast cereal boxes. What is evolutions appeal? 

Maybe we should look to evolutionists for the answer. Leading anti-creationist philosopher Michael Ruse admits that evolution is a religion: “Evolution (pseudoscience) is promoted by its practitioners as more. Evolution is promulgated as an ideology, a secular religion—a full-fledged alternative to Christianity, with meaning and morality.” “I am an ardent evolutionist and an ex-Christian, but I must admit that in this one complaint the literalists are absolutely right. Evolution is a religion. This was true of evolution in the beginning, and it is true of evolution still today. Evolution therefore came into being as a kind of secular ideology, an explicit substitute for Christianity.”

“Science” admits, grudgingly, that there is absolutely no proof of any kind to support evolution - not one shred! Even though this is common knowledge the members of their religion burn with a passion to spread their message anywhere and everywhere! They defended their “faith” as if it were the absolute truth. They work feverishly in every area of society to make disciples who will worship at evolution’s altar. Why are evolutionists so adamantly committed to anti-creationism? It is their desire at all costs to explain the origin of everything without a Creator.

Evolutionism is thus intrinsically an atheistic religion. Some may prefer to call it humanism, and New Age evolutionists may place it in the context of some form of pantheism, but whether atheism or humanism (or even pantheism), the purpose is to eliminate God from any active role in the origin of the universe and all its components, especially man. That makes their religion of evolution attractive to them – they think there is no God to be accountable to!

Prove me wrong - if you can!

The fool has said in his heart there is no God! Psalm 53:1a

THE DANGER OF ORGANIZED RELIGION

            We live in perilous times for Christian’s; an understatement I know, but bear with me. In our day it would appear that our biggest danger comes from organized religion itself. If we look around we can understood why. We have entire “church” bodies dedicated to proclaiming, teaching, trying to justify, and officially endorsing the very opposite of what our Lord teaches!  What true Christian, who holds to the Word of God, can bear the abominable heresies of today’s "teachers"? Those who dismiss the Word as anything other than the verbally inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God have chosen their fate. They have cast their lot with the enemies of Jesus.

It Only Takes One

If we (as many have) deny even one Doctrine of Scripture – all must be denied!  What is referred to as “liberal Christianity” in our day - is no Christianity at all! But rather an anti-Christian cult, an alien philosophy at war with Scripture! It operates through deceit manipulating the hearts and minds of sincere Christians. Those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple (Romans 16). So, to the point; is there still time to proclaim the Truth, to “fulfill our ministry” - of course! The question is – do we? If not what’s our excuse? Moses had one; O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue (Exodus 4:10). Well if Moses felt that way who are we to try and tell others of our Lord?

But that’s not what our Lord is getting at! Our Lord teaches us a valuable lesson. We need to hear His Words and quit making excuses. So, the Lord said to him, Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say (Exodus 4:11-12). Well surely that settled it for Moses, he went right out and got busy right? Wrong, he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send” (Exodus 4:13). Often times we’re just like Moses when it comes to telling others of Jesus or inviting them to church or Bible class. We often seem hesitant and we console ourselves thinking it would be better for others to speak about such things. Those who are better at it or “trained”.

But again, we would be wrong. It’s not humility that leads us to this thinking but our sinful nature, our adversary’s number one ally. After all, why does our Lord leave us here after our conversion? It would seem that the best thing that could happen after our conversion would be for our Lord to call us home immediately. Get us out of this world and home where we belong. But our loving Savior leaves us here for a time to serve Him. There are many ways we can serve our Savior. However, the “best” way is by sharing the Gospel of Christ crucified for the sins of the world. Only the Gospel can change the heart! Only the Gospel can turn a creature of sin and death into a reborn believing child of God. The same precious message that someone, somewhere, shared with us. What if they hadn’t? Be grateful someone loved you enough to actually tell you about Jesus!

            Well, getting back to Moses, granted God gave him Aaron but you will notice the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses.  We will most likely not be given a companion like Aaron to speak through! More than likely we will have to speak ourselves or opportunities will be lost! Precious chances to share the Gospel; that which the Holy Spirit works through to create faith! A chance we should never let pass. Again, we are told by our loving Savior; faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Consider this; we’ve all sat and listened while people have droned on and bragged about their children and grandchildren. We’ve listened to or expounded countless meaningless stories of loved ones and their accomplishments or exploits. Why? WE can easily talk about what we love! Well surely, we love our Savior so we can talk about Him to others. Jesus is our dearest loved One of all! Therefore, we can tell others of our Savior even as we tell others of our children or grandchildren. Our enemy does his absolute best to convince us that we aren’t “qualified” and our sinful nature is quick to take hold of and use that excuse!

We often console ourselves thinking that we will pray for and contribute to missions/evangelism. We try to convince ourselves that we’ve done all we could. Have you been deceived into this foolish thinking? Has he gotten you to exchange the good for the best? Most certainly pray for and contribute to the spread of the Gospel but don’t stop there! Share the message of Christ crucified for the sins of the world!  Many try to rid themselves of this most sacred and highest calling, but who was the Lord referring to when He said, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations? Don’t we call that the great commission? Are we not part of Christ’s Church? Yes, so GO!

If you feel uncomfortable talking about your Savior think less of yourself and more of Him who suffered hell in our place; I bet that wasn’t very comfortable. Again, I have never known anyone who couldn’t talk about the things they love. We love our Savior Jesus therefore we can talk about Him. It does not take a seminary education to witness the Gospel; it just takes Spirit worked love! The love that cares so much for someone that we are actually willing to share with them life eternal! Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear!

LIFE OR DEATH - WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE?

             Many years ago, a woman I knew became pregnant. She and her husband were of course excited and grateful to the Lord for the blessing. After a short while they received some terrible news; she became ill with German or “Red” Measles. At that time, it was a very serious matter as the German Measles could be devastating on unborn children and often caused deformities or brain damage. Her Dr.’s encouraged, even pleaded with her to have an abortion! They said the child would be horribly disfigured or worse. The woman was a Christ believer and prayerfully considered this and knew instantly that abortion was wrong in any circumstance.

Understand, everyone knows in their heart abortion is wrong, but people allow themselves to be convinced otherwise by their sinful desires and faulty reason. They in essence “kill” their conscience. The argument of fools that is often used is that a woman’s body is her own and she has every right to do as she pleases. She should have the right to decide. But sadly, nothing could be farther from the truth! A woman’s body is not her own as all were purchased by the blood of Jesus and one does not have the right to kill. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Even in Old Testament times our Lord warned sternly about causing injury to an unborn child. “If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe” (Exodus 21:22-25).

If the Lord God calls the unborn baby a child, it’s a child—not a mass of tissue. When women and their husbands or fellow fornicators, as the case may be, are blessed with a child and they want the child destroyed they say they have an unwanted pregnancy. Why do they say they are pregnant if it is but a mass of tissue? Pregnant is defined as; “carrying unborn offspring inside the body.” But alas this debate is well known to all and we will not rehash the truth here. Suffice it to say that when one is pregnant, they are carrying a living child and to abort is simply murder! Our Lord reminds us; “As you do not know what is the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not know the works of God who makes everything” (Ecclesiastes 11:5). People think they know better than our Lord but what fools they are! Abortion is an act of unbelief, it can be explained no other way! Again, we are reminded; for the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18).

But back to the story.

The woman defied her Dr.’s “advice,” his pleading and warnings and carried the child full term. The child was born healthy and with all parts in proper working order. We see the hand of satan at work in trying to destroy the child, but our gracious and merciful God had other plans. The mother that chose life over convenience was mine! I am forever grateful to my Lord for giving me a Christian mother who was willing to raise me and care for me no matter what! I worked while in Alaska to supplement my salary for seven and a half years as an Employment Specialist for the developmentally disabled. I have seen firsthand the devastation caused by birth defects, Dr.’s mistakes, and mothers who drank, smoked, or continued using drugs during their pregnancy. I never met one person—no matter how horribly disfigured or brain damaged—that wanted to die or wished they had been aborted. They worked, lived, loved, and had wonderful lives.

Why would anyone think they know better than our Lord what is best for a child? Yeah, pregnancy can cause weight gain, leave stretch marks, cause a person to be responsible for the care of another person; but that does not give any individual the “choice” of who will and who will not be born. You think that is over simplification; you are wrong! People often chose abortion, and can do so legally, for no better reason than they do not want to hinder their fornicating with multiple partners by being pregnant! Think of the millions—I believe 56 million and counting since Roe vs. Wade—who have been butchered. Jesus died for them as well as those mother’s and father’s who chose abortion! I would have been discarded, butchered as unwanted by most today. Will this small story change anything? Probably not but we Christian’s must stand and fight for those who can’t. Prayer is crucial-- The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much! Who are the righteous—all who trust in Jesus alone for forgiveness and salvation! Our gracious and loving Savior died for the sins of all who ever have or will live. Jesus came to give life in the place of death and forgiveness instead of condemnation. And He Himself is the propitiation (atoning sacrifice) for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world (1 John 2:2). That forgiveness extends to all who in faith repent, even murderers of children. May the Lord grant that His Gospel would abound as never before that all may know of the salvation and forgiveness won by our Savior for you, me, and the unborn as well!

YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO!

The lives of Cain, Judas, and the Pharisees teach us lessons that are vital. They turned their back on God and His Son and taught others to do the same! They chose to reject Jesus and be slaves to their sinful nature! Cain is most infamous for being the world’s first murderer. He was a rebellious man who rejected God and ignored His warnings. He’s an example of how deadly the common sins of anger and jealousy can be. Judas is most infamous for his betrayal of Jesus. He was one of the twelve disciples who lived with and followed Jesus for three years. He witnessed Jesus’ ministry, His teaching and His miracles, first hand! Judas’ life teaches us to guard against the small, gradual failings, weaknesses, sins, that grow in strength and power in our lives that open the door to more deadly influences.

Judas reminds us that appearances can be deceiving. It’s hard to imagine how he could’ve betrayed the Lord! It should make us wonder how Christians who’ve seemingly known and followed Jesus and His Word, possibly most of their life, have fallen from faith – but it happens! The Pharisees were most infamous for rejecting the Savior! They emphasized personal godliness in their lives, their version of it, but in general they were self-righteous and self-satisfied in their delusion that they were pleasing God, all the while living in opposition to God’s will, basing their salvation on keeping the Law which they failed at miserably. They were the leaders and teachers of Israel who appeared sincere and faithful to the people! However, Jesus who can see the heart, called them hypocrites--whitewashed tombs.

The lessons we learn from Cain, Judas, and the Pharisees have a direct impact on what our Lord teaches us today. Jesus warns, not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven! We need to consider our Savior’s Words with the utmost urgency and seriousness! Those our Lord speaks of thought they had a close personal relationship with Him, they thought they were serving Him, that they were the Lord’s own! It’s certainly possible they were sincere but in truth they were sincerely deceived! We also need to examine ourselves in the Light of God’s Word to make sure our faith, hope, and love are firmly in Jesus and not divided with this world. We too can be deceived if we’re not on guard! It boils down to understanding: We Can’t have our cake and eat it too! May the Spirit bless…

We understand that It’s not possible to follow our sinful nature and our Savior because they are in direct opposition to each other. So we ask ourselves the question, are we doing the will of our Father in heaven?  To answer that we need to know what God’s will is. Ultimately, it’s trusting in His Son Jesus as our Savior and living for and serving Him. To do that we must deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him. Not half-heartedly but all out making every possible effort to get rid of anything in our life that’s contrary to His will and not make excuses for them! The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

We’re to strive to be dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.  Not because we “Have to” but because we want to! Because we love our Lord Jesus because He first loved us! We’ve experienced God’s saving grace in Jesus! We’ve seen the perfect love our Lord has for us that led Him to Calvary! In true Christian faith and love for our Savior we want to live for Him and serve Him in thankfulness for His living and serving us! For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. That’s God’s desire for us and all mankind! But there will be many who will try to justify their way of life, their actions, and their words as the Pharisees tried to do! Many will say to Jesus on that day, 'LORD, LORD, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' That Day is Judgment day and the answer is YES; they did these things in Jesus name but not as believers. Remember, Jesus’ Name means everything He has made known to us in His Word. The Word of God is living and powerful!

It doesn’t depend on the faith of a person to make it effective. Consider Judas, he was able to do wonders in Jesus Name, but he wasn’t the Lord’s. On that Day Jesus will declare to them, ‘I never knew you! Could there be a more heartrending and fatal judgment pronounced against anyone? They thought they were the Lord’s when in fact they were deceiving themselves. The danger arises for us when we think we’ve grown to the point where we know all we need to and then, rather than going all out to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we get lazy and put our faith life on cruise control which is deadly! It leads us to take matters of faith such as our Christian and congregational life and duties, for granted. It leads us away from Jesus and can lead to our Savior’s Words depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!

We understand that our Christian faith and life are about a whole lot more than just coming to church! It’s also about daily taking up our cross and following Jesus, it’s about serving Him and growing in faith and understanding, practicing what we preach, loving our neighbor as our self, in short, it’s about living our faith not putting it on cruise control! We learn ¹Judas to guard and fight against anything that could slowly take over and grow in strength in our lives and lead us away from our Lord. ²Cain shows us the deadly effects that two common sins, anger and jealousy, have on our faith. The ³Pharisees show us the certain eternal death of trusting in ourselves for salvation, an easy trap to fall into! No one is immune to these faith destroying sins, we want to always be on guard against them! We can’t have our cake and eat it too!

By God’s grace we’ve been called to faith in Jesus alone for forgiveness, life, and salvation. He is our Alpha and Omega! We have been given the Holy Spirit who dwells in us to strengthen and enable us to be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving ourselves.  May He enable us to take to heart and apply the saving lessons of His Word, to continually fight against our sinful nature that we may all one day hear that glorious welcome, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

Amen!

FALLEN FROM GRACE

Hebrews 6:4-6 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the Word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

The lives of those recorded in God’s Word have saving lessons to teach us. Whatever was written before was written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. But often those lessons are not what our sinful nature wants to hear. Consider the lives of  Samson, Solomon, and David as they have especially important lessons for us.

Samson was known for his strength. The Spirit would fill him with superhuman strength enabling him to fight against Israel’s enemy the Philistines. He was a judge  leader responsible for the welfare and protection of the people, in Israel for 20 years. He was a Nazirite, dedicated to the service of God from birth. Even so, Samson’s life was one of contradiction. He continually broke the rules of a Nazirite. He was a womanizer and a vengeful man. His life is an example of what happens when we allow our sinful nature to take over. The Spirit shows the foolishness of relying on our own judgment, instead of trusting our Lord! Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Solomon was known best for his wisdom (even though he had 700 wives and 300) concubines. Solomon loved the LORD. The Spirit worked through him to record the Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, and Proverbs. But he too had his weaknesses, he married pagan wives, built pagan altars for them, and even participated in pagan worship himself. Through Solomon’s life the Spirit shows us that life apart from the Lord is meaningless, no matter how educated, successful, or rich! We also learn from Solomon that ultimately our Lord and His Word are all that matter. Remember, Heaven and earth will pass away, but Jesus words will never pass away.

David is surely the most familiar and there are many events in David’s life that serve as lessons for us both good and bad. His life was eventful, he started out as a lowly shepherd boy, the Lord enabled him to defeat Goliath, in time he became the king of Israel. He was given many military victories. He was even called a man after God’s own heart. The Spirit worked through him to record many of the Psalms but we must remember David was also a murderer, an adulterer, and a prideful man. David’s life also shows how dangerous our sinful nature’s desires are when we follow after them. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

Samson, Solomon, and David were just like us, sinners who daily fought against the world, the devil, and their own flesh. They’re examples of how the Lord works through the lives of His children to accomplish His will but above all we see in their lives - the unfailing and ever-present grace and mercy of God. His patience and endless love for mankind. Keep in mind these men were heroes of the faith but Samson, the strongest man; Solomon, the wisest man, and David, the man after God’s own heart - all fell into unbelief!

Each of them turned their back on God and followed their sinful nature! Our Lord warns; it is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance! It was impossible for them to bring themselves back to faith. In each case they had grown lazy in spiritual matters! They became arrogant thinking far too highly of their own importance or ability. Rather than holding to and following their Lord in faith, they chose to follow their corrupted nature! The devil was able to drive a wedge between those heroes of faith and the Lord and they fell into unbelief! The results were devastating on themselves and their families. By God’s grace they were each brought back to faith but there was no guarantee that would happen! Are we willing to take that chance?

Our enemy’s only desire is to drag us into unbelief. The tempter never sleeps, never tires, he’s continually on the prowl, he knows our weaknesses far better than we do and he uses them against us! We need to ask ourselves, are we making it easier for him  by following our sinful nature? Remember, it is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. That should send a shiver up our spine, raise the hairs on the back of our necks! It’s not possible, if we fall from faith to bring ourselves back to faith! Only the Spirit can accomplish that through the Gospel BUT the Gospel is the first thing the fallen separate themselves from.  

We don’t like to talk about it but each Christian can name someone who has fallen away or on the verge! The reasons why don’t matter, the result is the same! Like Samson, Solomon, and David, they fell into unbelief, separated themselves from the Means of Grace, and can’t bring themselves back to faith! Our Lord’s Message is clear, we must understand what’s at stake; our salvation.

Our faith life is not a sprint, but a marathon filled with (skandalizo) spiritual death traps along the way. We  cannot get lazy in our faith life, this is a very real danger for every Christian as long as we’re alive! Our Lord, because His great love, shows us how to avoid the spiritual death traps that lead to unbelief. We are to grow! grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Continue gathering with like-minded believers, make frequent use of the Lord’s Supper, and in Christian love encourage and build up one another!

Jesus knows how weak we are and encourages us to pray! Watch and pray so that we will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak! We are to immerse ourselves in His Gospel, the power of God to salvation! We’re to hear and read His Word continually. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God! Our Redeemer wants us to turn to Him alone for life and salvation; Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We're to look to Jesus for forgiveness knowing the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, purifies  (cleanses) us from all sin. In other words, we’re to live and breathe the faith. Are we making every possible effort to remain faithful to our Savior? Samson, Solomon, and David probably thought so too!                                                          

Amen!

Do We Still?

Luke 4:18-19, 21 "The Spirit of the LORD is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor." He began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." 

Because of our sinful nature we tend to take the path of least resistance at times, you know, the easier way. If we’re not careful that way of thinking can slip into our faith life and that’s a problem because it’s not taking up our cross! Jesus cautions us; whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. It’s no easy task to take up our cross day after day and follow our Lord. It’s possibly the most difficult thing we do. It can wear on us, but do we still make that effort every day? Do we still have that zeal for our Lord? Is Jesus still our hearts desire?

Jesus came to give what no one could’ve ever dreamed up - salvation by grace through faith alone. As a result, we’re justified by faith apart from the works of the law. You’d think people would be overjoyed at that Message, to be relieved of the unbearable weight of God’s Law but most react just the opposite. Even though Jesus teaches throughout Scripture that the Law only condemns, that it has no power to save, that by the law is the knowledge sin. Many still think they deserve heaven! God’s Law acts, in part, like a mirror. When we look into the Law it reflects back the fact that we’ve failed, that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God! For that reason, everyone is destitute, penniless of any righteousness within ourselves!

We have nothing that we can use to bargain with God. But there is Good News, in perfect love for mankind, our Savior died so that we could be forgiven and saved by His grace alone. In Jesus we have unconditional forgiveness of every wrong, no questions asked, no strings attached! as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us! He assures us that He doesn’t even remember them anymore. Through Him the spiritually poor, (you, me, and all people) are given riches beyond measure and understanding! The free riches of God’s forgiving grace in Jesus. Make no mistake, we’re all completely dependent on Jesus’ righteousness alone!

That’s why He came! to heal the brokenhearted – everyone who realizes our sin and its terrible consequences. Jesus has healed our hearts, washed away our sins; given us peace with our heavenly Father, and a new life of saving faith! Jesus came to proclaim liberty to the captives. To set free all who were held prisoner by the power of sin and satan. Picture a dungeon, one of our own making, where we and all mankind were imprisoned awaiting eternal death! Our jailor was evil incarnate whose hatred for us goes beyond anything we can imagine!

Now, picture yourself chained in that dark, wet, dungeon; starving, dying, with no hope and no possible way to escape! That was our fate - until Jesus opened the prison door and set us free. To those blinded by the darkness of unbelief He gives recovery of sight. The Holy Spirit replaces the absolute darkness of death with the Light of Life – the power of God to salvation! No longer are we trapped in the depths of despair. Jesus set at liberty those who are oppressed, those who were slaves of their own mind and its corrupt desires! The souls of all throughout time who were chained in darkness Jesus has set free. He shattered those chains, forever destroying our adversary’s power over us. That’s the greatest act of love in all eternity, willingly taking all mankind’s sins upon Himself and dying the death we deserved to pay the full price for our redemption. Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. Jesus came to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. The time when God extends His saving grace to mankind. That time is right now and for as long as the Lord permits the world to continue! Jesus then spoke a most glorious revelation of mankind’s redemption; today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. This Message of perfect love and forgiveness, deliverance and life, is for all mankind! It’s the greatest Message of peace and love the world will ever know!

The OT faithful had waited thousands of years to hear those Words. It had been passed down from generation to generation, and now, before their very eyes, stood the fulfilment! Jesus the Messiah had come! But most had fallen into the deep and deadly sleep of spiritual indifference! Many no longer cared, they couldn’t even see why they needed to be forgiven, they thought they were good with God. It’s the same today! The saving Gospel, Jesus crucified for the sins of the world, often falls on indifferent ears.

By God’s grace we celebrate what the world despises and laughs at, our Lord’s Message of full and free salvation! Jesus has set us free from the prison of eternal death by forgiving us! He still freely gives that life and salvation to everyone who asks! He promises; ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  That’s our Savior’s boundless love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. That perfect love forever stands revealed on Calvary!  

But sadly, many are still blinded by unbelief, they ridicule and curse the Message of Life and Its Author! Their minds have been deceived by the world and its prince, they’ve turned their ears away from the truth!  They’ve grown indifferent and quite simply – just don’t care.

But, what about us? Have we grown spiritual indifferent?

Do we still trust in Jesus alone for life and salvation?

Do we still look to Jesus alone for strength and courage?

Do we still build our faith on the eternal foundation of His saving Word alone?

Do we still find joy in serving our Lord with our gifts?

Do we still have a burning zeal to share His saving Gospel with the world around us?

If not, we’re dead! We’ve fallen back into the death He saved us from! By God’s grace the Christian faith still burns brightly in this congregation. But we must always be on our guard! May the Spirit enable us to always see (through eyes of faith) what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God?

Amen

THE PERSPICUITY OF SCRIPTURE

THE PERSPICUITY OF SCRIPTURE

Presented to the South East Pastoral Conference

Jay Hartmann

   So called “men of God” or “theologians” have long claimed that the Scriptures are unclear and/or open to numerous interpretations, or that the interpretation of Scripture changes with the changing of times and morals; this simply is not so except to the spiritually blind and dead.

Our Lord makes that clear when He tells us; For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. Colossians 2:1-10 (NKJV)

And again; And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:19-21 (NKJV)

   That the Scriptures are clear and understandable by the “common person” is self-evident!  There is only one Spirit intended meaning of the Bible, not many as commonly held in our day. People have been fooled and satan has won a great victory by casting doubt on the perspicuity (clarity) of Scripture. The doctrine of the perspicuity or clarity of Scripture is simply this; our Lord has revealed to us in a clear and understandable manner all things necessary for salvation. The Psalms abound with statements affirming the clarity of Scripture.

Psalms 19:7-8 (NKJV) The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;  The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;

Psalms 94:12 (NKJV) Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law,

Psalms 119:104 (NKJV) Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

Psalms 119:130 (NKJV) The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

   Only because the Word of God, the Holy Scripture, possesses clarity can it make wise, impart blessedness, move us to hate every false way, and give understanding to the simple.

Again, through the Apostle Peter we have a statement of the clarity of Scripture.

And so we have the prophetic Word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19 (NKJV)

In the following is a reminder of the certainty of the clarity of Scripture.

And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 3:15-17 (NKJV)

   The Scripture had come to Timothy; yet, by virtue of its own clarity this Scripture had imparted full wisdom unto salvation.

   Scripture clearly sets forth all that we need to know for salvation. That is why it is able to make people wise for salvation through faith in Jesus. Probably even more abundantly Scripture asserts its clarity by simply presupposing it as a self-evident fact in various situations. In the Savior’s parable of the rich man and poor Lazarus, Abraham counters the rich man’s plea that Lazarus be sent from beyond the grave to enlighten his five living brothers, with the statement “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them” (Luke 16:29)This shows that these Old Testament Scriptures clearly presented everything that they needed to know in order to be saved.

   Jesus encourages His Jewish hearers in their searching of the Scriptures. He assured them they would indeed find life eternal thereby because the Scriptures testified of Him as their Savior. Such encouragement would be meaningless without a Scripture that is clear! You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me (John 5:39 NKJV).

   The Bereans, just “ordinary” members of a Christian congregation, carefully compared everything Paul had preached to them with what they themselves found in their diligent searching of the Scriptures. They believed that the Scriptures were clear; by commending their activity and designating it as noble, Paul attested to the clarity of Scripture. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. (Acts 17:11) (NKJV) Every admonition of Scripture to beware of false prophets “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves (Matthew 7:15 NKJV), every exhortation to hold fast the sound doctrine ; Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; (2 Timothy 1:13 NKJV),  and to hold fast the faithful Word (Titus 1:9 NKJV) holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict, presupposes a Scripture which is clear!

   This clarity is also asserted in every earnest warning against adding anything to God’s verbally inspired, inerrant, infallible Word or against subtracting anything from it.

Deuteronomy 4:2 (NKJV) You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

Matthew 5:19 (NKJV) Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Revelation 22:18-19 (NKJV) For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

   How could anyone know whether he was adding or subtracting to Scripture if It were not clear? Jesus states in John 8:31-32 (NKJV) Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” This again implies explicitly that Jesus has given us a clear Word so that it is possible to know whether we are continuing in it or not.

The clarity which Scripture ascribes to itself is, first of all, an outward clarity. It consists in this, that in the words and sentences of intelligible, comprehensible human language, Scripture clearly expresses all the truths which God has been pleased to reveal to us and which we need to know for our Christian faith and life now and for our eternal salvation hereafter. Scripture clearly expresses the truths which God wishes to convey and teach!

PERSPICUITY UNDERPINS ALL OTHER DOCTRINES

   Paul tells Timothy: 2 Timothy 3:15 (NKJV) and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Scripture and Scripture alone makes us wise unto salvation and it makes us wise through faith in Jesus alone! There is only one way of salvation for sinful mankind and that is through the free gift of God’s grace, through the gift of the perfect righteousness which His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, has won for us with His holy life and innocent suffering and death.  Acts 4:12 (NKJV) “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

   The one great Message of Scripture is the Message of this gift of salvation through Jesus. All that the Scriptures tell us serves the purpose of imparting this gift of salvation to us through faith and of making us blessed, rich, and fruitful in Its possession for time and eternity. Through the Gospel Message it creates faith in the sinner’s heart and in such faith comforts us with the assurance of unconditional forgiveness, life, and salvation. It constantly nourishes, strengthens, preserves the believer in faith, enables us to fight against all that is sinful, constrains and guides us in ever striving anew and more fully after all that is pleasing in God’s sight. Scripture and Scripture alone has such power to reprove, to correct, to instruct, such power to produce and sustain spiritual life.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. Scripture has this power because It (the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testaments) is the verbally inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God from beginning to end. Jesus said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63 NKJV). That is the spiritual clarity of Holy Scripture!

   When one reads the Scriptures, hears the Scriptures, it is the same as though God Himself were standing before you in person in all His holy majesty and were addressing only to you the Words of His love. The Scriptures are not merely a record of the past revelation of God; they are also and above all His ever present and powerful revelation. The Gospel of Christ is ever filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. It is well that we never lose sight of this spiritual clarity of the Holy Scriptures. We should constantly remember that none of these truths or any other point of Christian faith and life can be certain and remain certain for us unless we hold firmly to the fact and doctrine of the perspicuity of the Scriptures. For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes... Romans 1:16 (NKJV). We are, by the Spirit’s strength and power working in us, to hold fervently to the clarity of Scripture, by doing so we know that we are dealing with certainties and not the fallacious philosophies of men.

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:8 (NKJV)

And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:19-21 (NKJV)  

   In our day many have relegated the Scriptures to “just another holy writing of men,” open to various interpretations and meanings. If the doctrine of the perspicuity of Scripture were lost, and has been by many, then all doctrines will fall! Is that not obvious from the troubles we see in “mainline Christianity” today?

   Ravi Zacharias in his book called; “Jesus Among Other Gods” (Nashville: Wolfe Publishing, 2000) wrote: “We are living in a time when you can believe anything, as long as you do not claim it to be true. In the name of ‘tolerance’ our post modern culture embraces everything from Eastern mysticism to new Age spirituality. But such unquestioning acceptance of all things spiritual is absurd. All religions, plainly and simply, cannot be true.”

   The Lord tells us quite simply and clearly, A little leaven leavens the whole lump Galatians 5:9 (NKJV). We have seen the deterioration of what were once commonly held doctrines; creation, virgin birth, physical resurrection, even the central teaching of Scripture-Justification by Faith, be replaced by the false and damning teachings of men! And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men Matthew 15:9 (NKJV). When the clear teaching of Scripture is called into doubt it creates a domino effect, first one doctrine and then, given time, all will fall. What you have left is a vain and foolish religion of man, for man, by man! A common example of this is the “social gospel” of which our Lord clearly says; But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed Galatians 1:8 (NKJV). Our Lord warns us again quite clearly; 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 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NKJV).

   How can or does this impact us when we try to engage in doctrinal discussions with other denominations? We find ourselves talking to people who have little or no spiritual or moral absolutes. For most, all things are “relative”. This makes it very difficult, from a human point of view, to converse intelligently about matters of faith with these misled souls as they are not standing on the same level ground of Scripture. It is not impossible however, as we never limit the Spirit’s ability to shatter spiritual blindness through the “simple” Gospel message shared. Keep in mind, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV). The Lord does not hold us responsible for the effect His Word has on others, but He does hold us responsible for sharing that Word! But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear! 1 Peter 3:15 (NKJV) We are to continue to; Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching 2 Timothy 4:2 (NKJV). Many times, it may seem as if we are beating our heads against a wall; but ours is to plant, the Lord gives the increase!

CONCLUSION

   A precious and clear passage of Scripture such as; For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life John 3:16 (NKJV), is a glorious, simple, and clear proclamation of the Gospel. This passage has been called the Gospel in a nutshell, it is a passage even our children know and understand. We are reminded that God’s Word was never intended to be a “Book” that only the clergy or spiritually elite could understand. The Bible was written for you and me and all people. It is the Word of God, the way our Lord speaks to us and guides us. Our Savior tells us; “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” Romans 10:17 (NKJV). It is that simple because the Holy Spirit who works through the Word giving us understanding and guidance and through that same Word creates, strengthens, and preserves us in the Christian faith.

   There is only one Spirit intended meaning of God’s Word, one reason why our Lord gave us His Word, to reveal to us our Savior and thereby the Way of Salvation! You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me John 5:39 (NKJV). And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent (John 17:3 (NKJV). That is what is revealed to us in the Word, our Savior Jesus Christ and the forgiveness and life He offers to all! Scripture is clear on all points of faith and doctrine. Scripture clearly expresses the truths which God wishes to convey and teach! The Word must ever be preserved in its truth, purity, and clarity by God’s grace and guidance. Our Lord has revealed to us in a clear and understandable manner all things necessary for salvation; to concede the doctrine of the perspicuity of Scripture is to concede all!