This weekend we celebrate the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Approximately half the world knows the story of how Jesus died and rose again. (Sadly, there is still half our world that has not even had a chance to reject Him because they have not even heard of Him. That is what missions and CTEN is all about.) But what happened to the other apostles? How and where did they die? ** Continue reading
Category Archives: Acts
We should obey Mary
Mary, the mother of Jesus, was surely a wonderful young woman. God chose her as a special vessel to bring His Son into the world and to raise Him as a boy. There are those who venerate her beyond what Scripture teaches but in my zeal to keep Jesus as the only way to the Father – not by obedience to the church, not by keeping the law, not by any other name than the name of Jesus (Acts 4:12) – I must be sure I do not denigrate the mother of our Lord, or for that matter, any other follower of Jesus.
I have decided a great way to bridge the gap between my view and those who overly venerate, perhaps even worship Mary, is to just encourage them to do what I do and “Obey Mary.” Continue reading
Should Christians serve in the military?
Some Christians refuse to serve in the military on religious grounds. So what of those who do serve? Are they disobeying God? In honor of Veteran’s Day let’s look into God’s Word and see what HE has to say.
Is sex before marriage a sin?
I was asked this question via a FaceBook chat. I anticipated after my answer they would sign-off with a quick “thanks” or try to justify why my answer did not apply. I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out they were sincerely desiring to know what God had to say about the issue and were willing to follow His instructions. Here is what I told them.
The Bible is very clear on that issue. In fact, it is probably one of the most clearly answered questions in all of Scripture. Typically “fornication” is the term used to refer to sex before marriage whereas “adultery” refers to sex after marriage with anyone other than your spouse. The Greek word the King James Version translates “fornication” actually includes many forms of sexual immorality (incest, prostitution, harlotry, etc) and so is often simply translated “sexual immorality”, so as not to limit its meaning to fornication. The Bible is clear that sex before marriage, and all sexual immorality, is a sin and warns of harsh penalties for those involved in it.
Here are just a few Scriptures – and there are many, many more – that address the issue:
(Acts 15:20; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9, 13, 18; 10:8; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Jude 7; Revelation 21:8).
The Bible teaches self-control and complete abstinence before marriage and a one-man, one-woman relationship after marriage both physically and in the area of the thought life.
The Bible teaches Situational Ethics
Acts 15:28-29 [the church in Jerusalem is telling the new Gentile converts that they do not have to obey the entire law of Moses but here were some things they should not do.]
“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well.
Wow. It sure was easy to be a Christian back then wasn’t it? Just four things to avoid and “you will do well”. In 2000 years we have added a lot to that list haven’t we? But, though these are called “essentials”, Paul later changes some of these requirements based upon the situation. Can something be right for one person but wrong for another person? Are there only two choices? Here is a summary of what the Word says.
Idols really are nothing but wood or stone. But some people who used to worship idols may have a hard time feeling right about eating meat offered to idols. If that is the case, even though there is nothing intrinsically wrong with eating it, it would be wrong for them to violate their conscience. Furthermore, even though I realize there is nothing wrong with eating meat offered to idols, if I am in a situation where it will cause one who is troubled by it to either stumble by judging me or be tempted to violate their own conscience by following my lead, then I will choose to not eat meat offered to idols or any meat for that matter. My brother’s conscience is so much more important than food. [See 1 Corinthians 8 & Romans 4]
Based upon the situation, the condition of your heart and dictates of your conscience, what another person may be able to do may be wrong for you to do. Contrariwise, what another might feel is wrong may be OK for you. [Obviously we are not talking about anything in direct violation of Scriptural teaching but rather matters of conscience.] How can this be so?
God understands the weak areas of my soul, areas that might tempt me where another might not have a problem. For example, there is no Biblical command against using “a little wine for thy stomach’s sake” (1 Timothy 5:23) but because I know my biological father was often drunk, likely an alcoholic, for me it would be a violation of conscience to become a casual or social drinker. There may be propensities toward evil in our soul that we are not aware of that God wants to protect us from by telling us “No, don’t go there” when He allows others to participate freely. It is so important we listen to that inner voice and obey, even if it does not make sense or even if others, even Christians, freely participate. Additionally it is also important we not decide what is right and wrong for everyone else. (Again, we are not referring to actions the Scripture clearly calls sin.)
____________________________
Romans 14:4
Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
God’s Foreknowledge
Acts 1:20 [speaking of Judas and how he betrayed the Lord]
“For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead be made desolate, and let no one dwell in it’; and, ‘let another man take his office.’
The Conundrum:
“If Adam’s sin was all part of God’s plan then his disobedience was actually fulfilling God’s will and therefore, not really sin.” Can it be sinful to do the will of God? In the same way here, it was prophesied that Judas would deny the Lord. This was part of God’s plan of salvation for mankind and yet Judas is condemned for carrying out God’s plan. Doesn’t that seem unjust? The answer isn’t really that difficult to understand.
It should be obvious it is never God’s will that man sin. God doesn’t even tempt us to sin (James 1:13). But God understands our hearts. He knows and remembers what we are made of – dust. Through His foreknowledge of future events and His complete understanding of our hearts, it is not difficult for Him to foretell our actions. Just as a parent can often predict which child will obey and which will disobey, God, who knows the hearts of all men, was able to predict how Adam would respond and Judas’ behavior. The idea of God knowing the hearts of me is even referred to later in this same event when deciding who would take Judas’ place. “And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, … Acts 1:24.
They were praying, Lord, just as you knew the heart of Judas and were able to predict his failure, you know the heart of these candidates to take his place. In your foreknowledge, guide this selection process and help us choose one who will not fail.
Finally, does God’s foreknowledge mean he is responsible for the actions that He predicts? Not anymore than the weatherman is responsible for the rain when he predicts it. Knowing what will happen, even if it is a certainty, is not causal. I know for certain the sun will rise tomorrow but certainly I cannot claim to have made it come up because I know that it will happen. No, man is still left to follow the nature of his own heart and reap the reward or consequences of following it.
_________________________
Hebrews 4:13
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
The Bible Teaches Situational Ethics
Acts 15:28-29 [the church in Jerusalem is telling the new Gentile converts that they do not have to obey the entire law of Moses but here were some things they should not do.]
“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well.
_________________
Wow, it sure was easy to be a Christian back then, wasn’t it? Just four things to avoid and “you will do well”. In 2000 years we have added a lot to that list. But, though these are called “essentials”, Paul later changes some of these requirements based upon the situation. Can something be right for one person but wrong for another person? Are there only two choices? Here is a summary of what the Word says.
Idols really are nothing but wood or stone. But some people who used to worship idols may have a hard time feeling right about eating meat offered to idols. If that is the case, even though there is nothing intrinsically wrong with eating it, it would be wrong for them to violate their conscience. Furthermore, even though I realize there is nothing wrong with eating meat offered to idols, if I am in a situation where it will cause one to stumble or be tempted to violate their own conscience by following my lead, then I will choose to not eat meat offered to idols or any meat for that matter. My brother’s conscience is so much more important than food. [See 1 Corinthians 8 & Romans 4]
Based upon the situation, the condition of your heart and dictates of your conscience, what another person may be able to do may be wrong for you to do. Contrariwise, what another might feel is wrong may be OK for you. [Obviously we are not talking about anything in direct violation of Scriptural teaching but rather matters of conscience.] How can this be so?
God understands the weak areas of my soul, areas that might tempt me where another might not have a problem. For example, there is no Biblical command against using “a little wine for thy stomach’s sake” (1 Timothy 5:23) but because I know my biological father was often drunk, likely an alcoholic, for me it would be a violation of conscience to become a casual or social drinker. There may be propensities toward evil in our soul that we are not aware of that God wants to protect us from by telling us “No, don’t go there” when He allows others to participate freely. It is so important we listen to that inner voice and obey, even if it does not make sense or even if others, even Christians, freely participate. Additionally it is also important we not decide what is right and wrong for everyone else. (Again, we are not referring to actions the Scripture clearly calls sin.)
____________________________
Romans 14:4
Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Why send missionaries?
I have been asked, “With so many non-Christians in America why send missionaries to other countries?”
You can sum the answer up in one word: access.
While there are many unbelievers in the US there are innumerable churches, Christian ministries, magazines, television and radio programs, even entire stations, plus thousands of pastors and, of course, other Christians to reach U.S. unbelievers. Over 1 out of every 4 full time Christian worker in the world lives and serves in the United States.
On the other hand, in many nations there is no, or very limited, access to the gospel – not on television, not on radio, no churches, no Christian publications, absolutely no way to discover who Jesus is. It is estimated that in some areas of the world there is only one Christian worker (a pastor, lay leader, missionary, etc) for every 1 million people.
One missionary, upon entering a village, began talking to a woman about Jesus. She directed him to a shop that could fix his sewing machine thinking perhaps that is what a “Jesus” is and that his was broken.
It is sadly true that there is an abundance of non-believers in the United States but there is also an abundance of believers who can easily make Christ’s name known. There are an endless number of opportunities for a seeker to discover who Jesus is and the message of salvation. We must ask ourselves: Should one group have multiple chances to reject the gospel when there are millions who have never even heard it for the first time?
Finally, Jesus commands us to go – to Jerusalem (or own city), Judea (the surrounding area), Samaria (our neighbors – even if they aren’t very friendly toward us) and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). It is not a “pick one” option. He said we were responsible for local and global, Jerusalem and the ends of the earth. Obedience demands we send missionaries. Are you ready to go?
_____________________
Matthew 28:18-19
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, …
The Coming of Jesus. Is He waiting on us?
Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
___________________
As one involved in missions I have often heard, even referenced myself, this verse as a challenge to get the job of world evangelization done so the Lord could return. In my heart it seemed strange that God would make the date of the coming of Jesus dependent upon our actions but that sure seemed to be what this passage was saying. After all, as I have heard reliable Bible teachers say, it is only humans who can declare the gospel since angels have never experienced it. Obviously the return of Christ was dependent upon us getting the job done, getting the gospel out to every nations, tribe, language and people. That’s an unbelievably huge (and frightening) responsibility for us weak, undependable human beings.
While teaching a series on the book of Revelation, I found a startling passage, telling of an event to come, that shed new light on this subject:
Revelation 14:6
Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.
So an angel will finish this task. The salvation of all mankind and the return of Jesus is not dependent upon me! (Duh.) What a relief!
Obviously this does not negate the importance of us taking the gospel “to every nation, tribe, language and people” because there are those alive in our generation who will not live long enough to receive the message from this angel. They are still dependent upon human instruments, obeying God – some of us by sending others and some of us by going ourselves – to bring them this vital message. But I am relieved to know that “the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority”(Acts 1:7) remain under His control and are not dependent upon me.
_________________
Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Sinning in the Will of God
Acts 1:20 [speaking of Judas and how he betrayed the Lord]
“For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead be made desolate, and let no one dwell in it’; and, ‘let another man take his office.’
______________________________
Someone asked, “If Adam’s sin was all part of God’s plan then his disobedience was actually fulfilling God’s will and therefore, not really sin.” Can it be sinful to do the will of God? In the same way here, it was prophesied that Judas would deny the Lord. This was part of God’s plan of salvation for mankind and yet Judas is condemned for carrying out God’s plan. Doesn’t that seem unjust?
The answer isn’t really that difficult to understand.
It should be obvious it is never God’s will that man sin. God doesn’t even tempt us to sin (James 1:13). But God understands our hearts. He knows and remembers what we are made of – dust. Through His foreknowledge of future events and His complete understanding of our hearts, it is not difficult for Him to foretell our actions. Just as a parent can often predict which child will obey and which will disobey, God, who knows the hearts of all men, was able to predict how Adam would respond and Judas’ behavior. The idea of God knowing the hearts of me is even referred to later in this same event when deciding who would take Judas’ place. “And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, … Acts 1:24.
They were praying, Lord, just as you knew the heart of Judas and were able to predict his failure, you know the heart of these candidates to take his place. In your foreknowledge, guide this selection process and help us choose one who will not fail.
Finally, does God’s foreknowledge mean he is responsible for the actions that He predicts.? Not anymore than the weatherman is responsible for the rain when he predicts it. Knowing what will happen, even if it is a certainty, is not causal. I know for certain the sun will rise tomorrow but certainly I cannot claim to have made it come up because I know that it will happen. No, man is still left to follow the nature of his own heart and reap the reward or consequences of following it.
____________________
Job 40:8
“Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
Romans 9:19-21
One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?” But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?'” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?