Nevertheless At Your Word I Will

Luke 5:1-11

Jesus charged His apostles to make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them upon His authority - Mt 28:18-19 “And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”. Teaching them to observe what He commanded - Mt 28:20 “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."’ -- Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ?

The mindset of a disciple was displayed when Jesus called Peter when Jesus was teaching at the Sea of Gennesaret (Sea of Galilee) - Lk 5:1-3 “On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.” When Jesus called on Peter to let down the net - Lk 5:4-5 “And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets."’ When Jesus called on Peter to lay down his net - Lk 5:10-11 “and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.” -- Did you notice the mindset of a disciple of Jesus?

We see the mindset of a disciple as we note Peter’s willingness to do the Lord’s word in letting down the net. Jesus instructed Peter to let down his net - Lk 5:4. Peter did not think it would do any good - Lk 5:5a. They had been fishing all night, they had caught nothing. Wouldn’t a fisherman know more about fishing than a carpenter? Yet Peter said, “Nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” - Lk 5:5b. Though he did not think it would work. Though it defied common sense, yet note the result of doing the Lord’s word - Lk 5:6-8 “And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord."’ The catch was overwhelming for one net, even for two boats. Peter was made aware of his own sinfulness. -- Here we see the mindset of a disciple: “Nevertheless at Your word I will...”

In laying down the net he and his coworkers were astonished at their success - Lk 5:9-10a. Jesus reassured Peter, and then called him and his partners to follow Him - Lk 5:10b-11. Though he did not think he could be any good (“I am a sinful man, O Lord!”). Though it meant leaving behind a successful business and family:

1) Peter left his wife (for the time being) - Lk 4:38 “And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf.”; Lk 18:28 “And Peter said, "See, we have left our homes and followed you."’; 1 Co 9:5 “Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?”

2) James and John left their father - Mt 4:21-22 “And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”

Yet they left all and followed Him! The result of doing the Lord’s word the Lord called them to even greater service - Lk 6:13-14 “And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew,” They would receive even greater rewards - Lk 22:28-30 ‘"You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” -- Such is the mindset of a disciple: “Nevertheless at Your word I will...” Peter, together with James and John, illustrate the attitude that must characterize a disciple of Jesus: a willingness to do whatever the Lord says, no matter the cost, even when we don’t understand why...

What is our willingness to do the Lord’s will in becoming His disciple? We may not think we can do any good. We might think we are too sinful, but Jesus calls sinners - Lk 5:8 “But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord."’, 32 “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."’ Even the rankest of sinners can serve Him - 1 Co 6:9-11 “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” We are to follow Him above all (family, work, self). Jesus must come before family, even self - Lk 14:26 ‘"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”; Mt 10:37 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”; Lk 9:23-26 “And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Jesus must come before work as well - Lk 14:16-24 “But he said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'" For those willing to follow Him, the rewards are great. In this present time, much more! - Lk 18:28-30a “And Peter said, "See, we have left our homes and followed you." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time,” In the age to come, eternal life! - Lk 18:30b “and in the age to come eternal life."’ -- Do we have the mindset to become a disciple (“Nevertheless at Your word I will )? What is our willingness to do the Lord’s will in being His disciple?

We will examine the answer to this question further when we continue the lesson next week.

Five Views Of Mark 16:16 - Cont.

There is another view sincerely held by many, and that is, "he who believes and `is not baptized' will be saved". This view is held by those who believe in salvation by faith "only". That one is saved before baptism. That baptism is not essential to salvation. Jesus and His apostles clearly taught differently. Faith "alone" cannot save. As declared by Jesus - Mt 7:21 `"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."; Lk 6:46 `"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?" As taught by His apostles - Ro 6:17-18 "But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness."; He 5:9 "And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,"; Ja 2:14 "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?", 17 "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.", 20 "Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?", 24 "You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.", 26 "For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead."; 1 Pe 1:22 "Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,"; 1 Jn 2:3-5 "And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him:"

Baptism is essential to salvation according to Jesus - Jn 3:5 "Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."; Mk 16:16 "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."; Mt 28:18-20 "And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."' According to His apostles - Ac 2:38 "And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."; 22:16 "And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.'"; Ga 3:26-27 "for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."; Co 2:12-13 "having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,"; Ti 3:5 "he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,"; 1 Pe 3:21 "Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,"

Again, I believe that those who hold this view (including personal relatives) are sincere, and are not knowingly twisting the words of Jesus. Yet, I cannot help but think of such people as Paul thought of his brethren in the flesh (Ro 10:1-3 "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.").

This leads us to the fifth and final view, one that I believe we are compelled to accept. "He who believes and is baptized will be saved." This view takes the words of Jesus at face value. No explanations are necessary. Jesus says what He means, and means what He says. We have already read previously what the Bible teaches. That one must "believe" - Ac 8:36-37. That one must be "baptized" to enjoy the forgiveness of sins - Ac 2:38; 22:16.

Which of the five views of Mark 16:16 do you hold to? He who believes and is baptized "will not" be saved? He who "does not believe" and "is not baptized" will be saved? He who "does not believe" and "is baptized" will be saved? He who believes and "is not baptized" will be saved? He who believes and is baptized will be saved? -- It should be clear there is only one view which is in harmony with Jesus ' words, as there is only one which does not involve "tampering" with the clear statement of Jesus! But perhaps more importantly, with which of these views is your life consistent? One may hold intellectually to the fifth view:

1) But act as though they believed the second view.

2) How? By never confessing faith in Christ and being baptized!

One may hold intellectually to the fifth view:

1) But act as though they believed the third view.

2) How? For though they may have been "baptized", they are not living the life of faith required of one in Jesus!

One may hold intellectually to the fifth view:

1) But act as though they believed the fourth view.

2) How? For while believing in Jesus, they have never submitted to being baptized!

Only those who have come to Jesus in faith and acted in harmony with His teachings can have the assurance of salvation. The words of the Bible are clear...

"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.'" - Ac 2:38

"And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." - Ac 22:16

Five Views Of Mark 16:16

How Some People Just Will Not Accept The Obvious

There is a statement of Jesus that is so plain, and yet so controversial that you rarely hear it referred to by denominational preachers, whether it be in their churches or on TV or the radio. That when they do, they feel it necessary to give an explanation that goes against the clear statement of Jesus. I have reference to the words of Jesus as found in Mark 16:16...

"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned"

To illustrate what I said earlier, let's take a look at four different views of this verse as taught by men, and then contrast those views with the one plainly stated by Jesus and supported by His apostles in their teaching and preaching...

The first view is one held by those who do not profess to be Christians, but for the purpose of our lesson should be considered. In essence, they would say, "he who believes and is baptized `will not' be saved." Two separate groups hold this view.

Atheists - who do not believe in God, heaven or hell, or salvation of any kind.

Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc., who believe in God (or gods), but who do not believe that salvation is to be found in Jesus and that to believe and/or be baptized is contrary to the will of God.

But those who accept Jesus and the authority of His apostles reject such a view. There is a God who offers salvation (contrary to the views of atheists) - 1 Ti 2:3-4 "This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." Salvation does come only through Jesus (contrary to the Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc.) - 1 Ti 2:5-6 "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time."; Jn 14:6 "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Though I doubt any at present actually hold to this view, there are some who do, and it only begins to illustrate how some are willing to deny the plain statement of Jesus.

Consider a second view, "he who `does not believe' and `is not baptized' will be saved. This view is held by "Universalist", who believe that God will save everyone eventually. To support their view, they will isolate some verses like 1 Ti 2:6 "who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time." But those who know the teachings of Christ and Paul likewise reject such a view. Jesus Himself told that there would be few who would be saved - Mt 7:13-14 `"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." Paul warned of those who would not be saved, but face the wrath of God - Ep 5:5-6 "For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience."

Most "Bible-believing, professing Christians" would never treat Mark 16:16 the way the first two views do. But as we consider two more views, we may start hitting closer to "home". But please understand...that we do so, desiring to "speak the truth in love"; and we pray that your love for the truth is such that you are willing to seriously consider what follows (see for example Ac 17:11). The third "view" then is "he who `does not believe' and `is baptized' will be saved." This view is held by most who practice "infant baptism." By "baptizing" (actually sprinkling, not immersing) infants incapable of faith they (esp. Catholics) indicate that faith is not essential to salvation. Some (esp. Lutherans) try to get around this by saying that God imparts saving faith to the infant so baptism can still save. By sprinkling or pouring instead of immersion, they also indicate Jesus did not mean what He said (the reason "baptized" above is in quotes).

Speaking the truth in love, we must point out that faith is a necessary prerequisite...

1.) For baptism - Ac 8:35-37 "As they were going along the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, "Look, there's some water. What keeps me from being baptized?" Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." He replied, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." So he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him."

2.) For salvation - Ro 10:9-10 "because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."

Sprinkling or pouring is NOT Bible baptism. The Greek word used in the Bible is "baptizo", and it means "to immerse". This is why baptism is described in the Bible as a "burial" - Ro 6:3-4 "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."; Co 2:12 "having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead." Sprinkling or pouring was substituted in the place of baptism (immersion) hundreds of years after Christ and His apostles. By keeping the "tradition of men" by sprinkling or pouring, we fail to keep the command of God" concerning baptism - note Jesus' condemnation of displacing God's commands by traditions of men, Mt 15:3-9 "He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.' But you say, 'If anyone tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is given to God, he need not honor his father.' So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'" Therefore, baptizing infants is without scriptural precedent. There are no commands or examples of infant baptism. Since the prerequisites of faith (Mk 16:16; Ac 8:37) and repentance (Ac 2:38;17:30) are beyond the infant's capability, they are not suitable candidates for baptism. I am confident that those who hold to the view of sprinkling infants are honest and sincere. But despite their honest sincerity, they are just as guilty of twisting the words of Jesus as are the atheists, unbelieving Jews (Muslims, Hindus, etc.) and the universalists.

But there is another view sincerely held by many, and that is, "he who believes and `is not baptized' will be saved". This view is held by those who believe in salvation by faith "only". That one is saved before baptism. That baptism is not essential to salvation -- This view is held for all practical purposes by most members of various denominations.

Having looked at four views of Mark 16:16 we will further examine these views looking for harmony the words of Jesus in our next segment of this lesson.

Binding The Hands of Jesus

Mark 15:1

In Mk 15:1, we read of how the enemies of Jesus bound Him in preparation for sending Him to Pilate...

“Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate.”

As we read this, it is easy for our hearts to be filled with sadness, and even with a touch of “righteous indignation” for that crowd that bound Jesus in such a way. And yet, there are few today who are not guilty of binding the hands of Jesus in a “figurative” way! To see what I mean, consider some of the various ways we can be guilty today of “Binding The Hands of Jesus”...

We can bind the hands of Jesus by refusing to obey the Gospel. In His great love for us, Jesus stretched out His hands and died for our sins. Even today, through His gospel, He pleads with all to take advantage of His vicarious suffering. He does not want us to suffer for the guilt of our own sins. In truth, then, His “tender invitation” of Mt 11:28-30 is still being offered today. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."’ But when one refuses to obey the Gospel the hands of Jesus are bound! There is no way such a person can then receive the benefits of Jesus death! For him or her, the death of Jesus was in vain!

Is this true of you? It is...if you have not yet accepted the gospel by obeying the commands of Jesus – Mk 16:15-16 “And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”; Ac 2:38 “And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” And if it is, then you will one day have to face the righteous indignation of Jesus Himself! 2 Th 1:7-9 “and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,”

But even those who obey the gospel can be guilty of “Binding The Hands Of Jesus”. How? One way is by refusing to be transformed. Christ will is that we be transformed. This transformation involves a renewal of the mind - Ro 12:1-2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”; Ep 4:20-24 “But that is not the way you learned Christ!-- assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” This renewal occurs as we read, study, and meditate upon the Word of God - 1 Pe 1:23-2:3 “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you. So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation-- if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.”; Ph 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Many Christians neglect the instrument by which we can be renewed. We do not “receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” - Ja 1:21b. Allowing other things to take precedence in our lives, we so “bind the hands of Jesus” that we do not change! Are you/we guilty of this? We are, if we neglect to study the Bible on our own! We are, if we fail to take advantage of opportunities to study with others! Neglect the transforming power of the Word of God, and we are just as guilty of “binding the hands of Jesus” as were those who delivered Him to Pilate!

We can also be guilty of “Binding The Hands Of Jesus” by refusing to pray. Jesus has become our “High Priest.” He became man for this very purpose - He 2:17-18 “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” He’s made it possible for us to boldly approach the throne of grace in prayer - He 4:14-16 “Since then 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 is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” As our high priest He is able to save those who come to God through Him - He 7:25a “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him,” He “ever lives” to make intercession for us - He 7:25b “since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

When we do not pray as we should Jesus cannot be our high priest, our intercessor! Figuratively, we’ve taken the “praying hands” of Jesus and “bound” them behind His back! Are you/we doing this? If so, what a travesty this is! For here is Jesus, who “lives” to intercede for us, but Who can’t, because we prevent Him from doing so by our failure to pray!

There is yet another way to be guilty of “Binding The Hands Of Jesus” by refusing to do our part in the church. The church is described as the “Body of Christ”… - Ep 1:22-23 “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” As His body, we are individually members of one another - 1 Co 12:27 “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” As members of one another, we are to care for one another - Ep 4:15-16 “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” It is through such “mutual edification”, that Christ provides much of His help for the members of His body!

But when we fail to do our share, again Jesus is “Bound”…! Just as our physical head can do little if our bodily members fail to follow its leading, so it is with Jesus and His church! Jesus could do so much more for His members, if only more of the members did their part! Have you ever considered it this way…? That by failing to do our part, we “handicap” the body of Christ? That because of our neglect, or apathy, or lukewarmness either the whole body of Christ suffers or others are forced to do “double duty” in order to make up the difference?

Yes, there are many ways we can be just as guilty of “binding the hands of Jesus” today as were the religious leaders in delivering Jesus to Pilate! But consider just one more... By refusing to share the Gospel with the lost… Jesus has made His disciples to be his “hands and feet” in taking the Gospel to the lost. Consider Mt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15-16; 1 Pe 2:9. In every case of conversion recorded in Acts, Jesus used a disciple to tell the good news. Jesus works the same way today! But to the degree that we keep the good news to ourselves we have “bound the hands” of Jesus once again! We hinder Jesus from telling others of His wonderful grace! Are we “binding the hands of Jesus” in this way? Every day, countless souls die with no hope of eternal life. This need not be, if more made sharing of the gospel the primary concern in their lives! Sadly, in too many cases the primary concern of Christians is the pursuit of pleasure and acquisition of worldly treasures!

Yes, one does not have to literally “bind the hands of Jesus” to be guilty of the same sort of offense that we read about in Mk 15:1; as we have seen, there are many other ways as well! Why not today, resolve to “loose the hands of Jesus” so that in us and through us He may accomplish His full desire? Which is:

To save us!

To transform us!

To use us!

Sins Of God’s Grandchildren - Cont.

Malachi 1:1-3:18

Having reviewed the situation and deteriorated relationship between God and His people we will now look at God's `Grandchildren' today. Such were the circumstances in the generation or two that followed the restoration of Israel. Today, many of us are a generation or two removed from a similar restoration by our ancestors. Might we be guilty of similar sins...?

Do we doubt God's Love…? It is not uncommon for some to question God's existence, let alone His love! Especially, if their faith is not a biblical faith. One that requires a firm conviction in the existence of God - He 11:1 "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.", 6 "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." One that comes from the Word of God - Ro 10:17 "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."; Jn 20:30-31 "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." Without such faith, they do not experience God's love. For faith leads to obedience - Ro 1:5 "through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,"; 6:17 "But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,". And it is in the keeping of God's commandments that we experience His love - Jn 14:21-23 "Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."

-- Without the same saving faith of their parents, the physical offspring of God's children will never experience the love of God, thereby possibly doubt God's love.

Do we dishonor God's name by attending services and offering spiritual sacrifices, but with little effort? Today we are to offer the sacrifice of praise to God - He 13:15 "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name." Yet the praise of God often pails in comparison to the praise of our favorite sports team, movie star, political leader, etc. We too can be guilty of sinning by offering halfhearted worship. For we are to sing "with grace in our hearts to the Lord" - Co 3:16. Will God be pleased with `blemished sacrifices' today?

-- Can one truly expect to receive God's blessings in their lives if they dishonor His Name by offering anything less than our best?

Do we desecrate His covenant by taking marriage and divorce lightly, though divorce and remarriage are strongly condemned by Jesus - Mt 5:31-32 `"It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery." With one exception provided by the Lord - Mt 19:9 "And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery."' Yet divorce and remarriage for unscriptural reasons has become rampant today. Despite the damage it does to the spouse and children. Despite the damage it does to our relationship with the Lord - 1 Pe 3:7 "Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered."

-- When children of God's children don't have the same faith as their parents or grandparents, we should not be surprised to see a rise in divorce and remarriage.

Do we disparage God's patience by questioning His eventual justice by saying "Where is the promise of His coming?" - 2 Pe 3:3,4 "knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation."' We may not say it in so many words, but do our lives reflect as much? We can try God's patience and longsuffering if we continue in sin; if we think lightly of sin - 2 Pe 3:9 "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." God's response will be "the day of the Lord" in which Jesus comes again - 2 Pe 3:10 "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed." God's response will be to judge the world! - 2 Th 1:7-10 "and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed."

-- Living like there will always be a `tomorrow', many of God's `grandchildren' give little thought to God's longsuffering and the need to repent.

Do we desert God's ordinances? Are we guilty of deserting or forsaking God's ordinances in His church such as baptism for the remission of sins? - Mt 28:19-20; Ac 2:38. Such as the Lord's Supper in memory of His death? - Ac 20:7; 1 Co 11:23-26. Are we guilty of deserting other commands of our Lord such as the command not to forsake assembling? - He 10:24-25. Such as the command to lay by in store, giving as we prosper? - 1 Co 16:1-2.

-- If we take such ordinances and commands lightly, is that not an indication that we may be God's `grandchildren' instead of His children?

Do we despise God's service? Jesus would have us seek the kingdom of God - Mt 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Do we despise God's service to make His rule and righteousness the first priority in our lives? With the assurance that He will provide for our necessities do we question the veracity of His words? Suggesting that it would be vain to serve God first in our lives? Implicating that those who put jobs or family first will be the blessed ones?

-- Those who are God's `grandchildren' will more likely trust in their own strength than in the value of serving God first.

We can see many similarities in the book of Malachi between those of his day who were a generation or two from the faith of their parents and many today who are `second or third generation Christians' -- Which is why the OT was written and preserved for our admonition - 1 Co 10:11. But notice toward the end of Malachi's message there is hope.... Those who feared the Lord spoke to one another - Mal 3:16a "Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another." The Lord took note, and a `book of remembrance' was written - Mal 3:16b "The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name." The Lord promised to make them His `jewels' and spare them - Mal 3:17 `"They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him."

-- It would become easy to discern between the righteous and the wicked, by their service to God - Mal 3:18 "Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him."

May we likewise encourage one another to serve God from the heart, out of personal conviction, that we may truly be God's children, not guilty of the "Sins Of God's Grandchildren"...!