GOSSIP - It Can Kill You!

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." (Ex. 20:16)

"And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." (Rom. 1:28-32)


"But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Rev. 21:8)

Gossip hurts. It can destroy relationships. It can harm the reputation of an innocent person that may never be overcome because the lie is out there. People will always believe what they want to believe. It dishonors God who is perfect and true. (1 John 5:6) The Word of God is clear that the fiery flames of hell await the gossip. 

The only way to avoid such punishment is that the gossip must repent and put their trust in Jesus who died for their sins. Jesus did not die to give permission to be disobedient to His word. He died because that is our death sentence. (1 Cor. 15:3) To the gossip I say look at the damage you have done to the children of God. Confess your sin to Him and accept Jesus as the One who paid your fine on the cross for there is no forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood. (Heb. 9:22) Once we turn to Jesus He gives us a new heart. (Ez. 36:26) Our old heart can only speak lies. (Gen. 6:5, Ps. 58:3) Even flattery can be false. Our new heart is circumcised with The Law of God written on it. 


“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast. And it shall come to pass that as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring harm, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, declares the Lord. In those days they shall no longer say:

“‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
    and the children's teeth are set on edge.’

But everyone shall die for his own iniquity. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jer. 31:27-34)

The Innocence of Animals

I was watching an episode of NCIS the other night. It is a show about the American navy's criminal investigations department. This particular episode began with a marine in Afghanistan whose job was to clear out mines so that civilian contractors can do their job in a given area. The show began with the sergeant and his specially trained dog that had the ability to sniff out explosives identifying mines. The dog finds a mine, the marine disarms it and then a sniper shoots the marine in the head killing him. The dog is fine. Thus begins the conflict that must be resolved. At the end of the episode NCIS identifies the sniper who is one of the American contractors and when he is accused he pulls his gun provoking the dog to jump on him to protect the special agent. And yes the dog gets shot. I cried. Fortunately the dog survives and even receives a military commendation. But I still cried.

I cried when old Yeller was shot. I cried when Sounder died. I'm a sucker for dogs suffering needlessly. So why didn't I cry for the marine risking his life? For that matter why don't I cry for the thousands of characters on prime-time TV who die? Probably because deep in my soul I know we deserve death. It's what we inherited from Adam. We die because we are bad people. (Rom. 6:23) The heroic character who dies is still human. Yet it's the dog we cry for. We deserve to die not the dog.

I wonder if the ancient Israelites cried when they brought their lambs, bulls or pigeons to be killed in their sacrifices? Did the leper weep over the bird that was killed when he became clean? (Lev. 14:5) Did the man who deceived his neighbor lips tremble when he brought his best ram from his flock to be sacrificed for his guilt. Or how about the person who unintentionally sins. Did he grieve over the female goat that died because of his mistake? (Lev. 4:27-29) For that matter what was in Abel's heart that inclined him to shed the blood of the firstborn of his flock resulting in God's favor? What was Mary & Joseph thinking as they brought two young pigeons when presenting Jesus to the temple? (Lk. 2:22-24) Perhaps a better question is, do we every think about the agony Jesus went through when on the Cross He died for us? He was innocent!

Deep in our souls we hold the truth of our creation. Animals are our companions. (Gen. 2:18-19) We talk to to them. We get upset when we hear stories of animal cruelty. But we just don't get all that upset of the soldiers who die in the line of fire. Or kids who die in a car accident. What grief do we have for the person who just dies. I am not talking about our family members  and close friends as we have a special connection to them. I am talking about our collective unconscious as a people. You see deep in our souls is the truth of our fall as well. We deserve death. And before we were exposed to the cruelty of the world, God killed an animal to cover our nakedness. (Gen. 3:21) Because of us, blameless animals die because without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness of sins. (Heb.9:22) But when an animal was sacrificed for our sins, our conscience was only temporarily pricked. Something permanent has to happen. And so God himself gave us His only-begotten Son shedding His blood for our conscience. (Heb. 9:14) You see, the blood of goats & birds can never truly take away our sins. They serve only as a reminder that God in His mercy allows us to continue living. On the surface of our thoughts we seldom think about it. But our conscience are often pricked when we see something blameless die instead. Our conscience should be pricked when we see Jesus die for us as well. After all, he is blameless.

For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
    you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Ps. 51:16-17)

St. Thomas the Faithful

The Incredulity of Saint Thomas by Caravaggio

Growing up I had always heard about the apostle who would only believe Jesus had risen from the dead if he could see and touch his wounds. (John 20:25) He was called doubting Thomas. I also remember sermons on how faith came to him when he was brought back into community. It was because he was absent from the upper room that he did not believe. The moral of the story, don't miss church.

In reality Thomas knew what to look for. He knew that by His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5) When faced with the gruesome reality of the scars of torture and death and the subsequent conquering of it by this carpenter/rabbi, Thomas could proclaim, "My Lord and My God." (John 20:28) If anything, this is a statement of absolute faith!

Unfortunately, growing up in church, I really did not understand what Christ's death and resurrection was really about. Much of what I heard was God loves me and there will be a pizza party for the youth next Sunday night.    No one really explained to me what was meant by this propitiation for sins, substitutionary atonement or a perfect sacrifice once offered. If I wanted to see God, I had to come to church. Thomas on the other hand wanted to see the marks of Jesus death, the signs of his personal salvation.

When we exclaim, 'My Lord and my God', we should see the wounds meant for us each time we break God's law. After all, sin is lawlessness. (1 John 3:4) Thomas knew that. For any of us to have a saving faith, we need to know that Jesus stood in our place on that bloody cross. We die because we are sinners. Yet eternal life is for those who believe that Jesus died for them thereby removing the sting of death which is hell. When Thomas saw Jesus, he saw the Man who stood in his place and that is faith!

As Christians, our invitation should not be 'Come to church' but Jesus died so that we may have eternal life. Even Jesus reminds us, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed!" (John 20:29)

Spiritual Warfare: Dealing with Doubts and Accusations

Our authority is found in Jesus Christ. He is authoring or writing our life to fulfill His purposes here on earth. But while we remain on earth awaiting our future glory we are often faced with doubts about where is God when trouble afflicts us or whether or not we are saved from the eternal judgment. Sometimes these doubts come though the imaginations of our mind and other times through other people who accuse us of a sin or character flaw. And why is this?

Gustave Dore's Depiction of Satan Being Cast out of Heaven in MIlton's "Paradise Lost"

At the Cross a battle was won. Jesus rose in victory over the strongholds of Satan. The very name of Satan means ‘accuser’. He accuses Job before God regarding the motivation of Job’s righteousness. (Job 1:9-11) He accuses the high priest, Joshua, before the angel of the Lord. ( Zech. 3) Satan uses our own thoughts against us when we do not see ourselves as God see us. And he can use the criticism of others and gossip of our neighbors to heap false judgments upon ourselves. All because Jesus won for us eternal life on Calvary. John in Patmos reminds us, And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!" (Rev. 12:10-12)

Satan’s time is short as he will be thrown into the lake of fire at the final battle. (Rev. 20:10) Until then he is confined to earth trying to bring the saints down with him. And he will if we don’t put on Jesus for our salvation. When we believe that Jesus did die for our personal sins paying our debt to the Law, our names will forever be written in the Book of Life. (Rev. 21:5-8)

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits  of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 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, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (Colossians 2:8-15)

Remember, when Satan brings up your past, remind him of his future!


Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The strife is o'er, the battle done,
the victory of life is won;
the song of triumph has begun.
Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The powers of death have done their worst,
but Christ their legions hath dispersed:
let shout of holy joy outburst.
Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The three sad days are quickly sped,
he rises glorious from the dead:
all glory to our risen Head!
Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
He closed the yawning gates of hell,
the bars from heaven's high portals fell;
let hymns of praise his triumphs tell!
Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Lord! by the stripes which wounded thee,
from death's dread sting thy servants free,
that we may live and sing to thee.
Alleluia!

---

Words: Symphonia Sirenum Selectarum, 1695;
trans. Francis Pott (1832-1909)

Where Is Our Heart in Worship?

In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it." (Gen. 4:3-7)

What is our attitude in worship? Is it something we 'must' do as in an obligation? Do we worship out of convenience when it suits our plans? Or do we worship God because we are in love with Him alone and cannot do anything but worship Him who gives us life?

The story of Cain and Abel is about two men from the same family. One labored the ground bearing fruit and the other tended sheep. The text only tells us that God had regard for Abel’s offering and not for Cain’s. It really does not say why. Mosaic law did require grain offerings so we cannot say God does not desire the fruit of the land. (Lev. 2) The clue maybe in the description of the offerings themselves. Abel brought forth the ‘firstborn’ and fat portions whereas Cain brought ‘an offering’ perhaps as an afterthought. And Cain did not take his rejection likely. Jealously ensued, murder and lying followed. In other words, we saw the true heart of Cain. (1 John 3:10) It is our true heart that God sees. (1 Sam. 16:7) Even a warning from God could not keep Cain from killing. So, when we gather for worship, let us ask ourselves, where is my heart in relation to my Maker? Is it centered on me and what I‘m doing, or is it totally centered on God alone and what He has done for me through His Blood upon the Cross?

The heart is the part of man which God chiefly notices in religion. The bowed head, and the bended knee–the grave face and the rigid posture–the ritual response, and the formal amen–all these together do not make up a spiritual worshiper. The eyes of God look further and deeper. He requires the worship of the heart. “My son,” he says to every one of us, “Give me your heart.” ~ J.C. Ryle

Do our Churches stand in Judgment of the World?

Do our Church buildings stand in judgment of the world? This question can be asked in this way, "Do our churches offer sanctuary to the elect?"

As I ponder the building of Noah's ark, I cannot help but wonder what were the people thinking as Noah built this huge ship. They walked by unaware of the coming judgment upon the world. Noah and his family were safe. They were invited by God along with His creation to take sanctuary inside the ship. Those left outside met their demise at the hands of our God. A God whose justice is perfect.

Image from Ancient Catcomb

"The ship was an ancient Christian symbol of the Church. It is the Church tossed on the sea of disbelief, worldliness, and persecution but finally reaching safe harbor with its cargo of human souls. Part of the imagery comes from the ark saving Noah's family during the Flood (1 Peter 3:20-21). Jesus protecting Peter's boat and the apostles on the stormy Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:35-41). It was also a great symbol during times when Christians needed to disguise the cross, since the ship's mast forms a cross in many of its depictions. In the same vein, the main part of a church's interior, the place where the people worship, is called a "nave," from the Latin "navis" -- ship." Taken from Jesuswalk.com

We, who are in the Church, should be escaping the storms of the world. We are seeking sanctuary in Christ’s blood that washes away our sin. (Col. 1:20-23) We are not to bring the world into the church. (1 Cor. 5:9-13) Noah was elected by God to take sanctuary in the ark. There was no good work he performed to earn this distinction. God favored him by His sovereign grace. (Heb. 11:7) Noah and his family had to separate themselves out from the world. And so, too, should we! (2 Cor. 6:14-18)

But if we bring the world and our unrepentant nature into the church, we have defeated the work of Christ upon the Cross! (Heb. 10:26-28) Like Peter who took his eyes away from the Savior trusting in his own righteousness, we will sink into the mire of the world. (Mt. 14:28-33) This results in the Church looking no different than the world.

Our churches should stand as structures of God’s judgment upon a wicked world and as a sanctuary to those who look to the cross to save us from our sins! As we enter a church building, let us leave the world behind, and look ahead to the Cross of Christ!

How do you present the gospel properly? | Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry

How do you present the gospel properly? | Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry

Good theology supports good evangelism! So often we just hear God loves you. But not the why and how of it. A proper understanding of the Gospel changes the heart of the sinner!

Perfect God, Imperfect Man

"Moses could mediate on the law; Muhammad could brandish a sword; Buddha could give personal counsel; Confucius could offer wise sayings; but none of these men was qualified to offer an atonement for the sins of the world. Christ alone is worthy of unlimited devotion and service" - R.C. Sproul in "Reason to Believe" p. 44

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:4)

Our Father in Heaven is the creator of the universe. He is perfect. Because we are not perfect, we cannot approach Him. Israel understood this as the Holy of Holies was separated from the rest of the temple by a thick veil. Behind it was the Ark of the covenant holding the perfect law, a reminder of our sinfulness. Daily sacrifices were made in the outer court for there cannot be the forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood.  (Hebrews 9:21-23) But daily we remained guilty.

But Jesus, the perfect Son of God, turned all that around. He made one perfect sacrifice. (Rom. 3:21-26) On that day, the veil of the temple was torn in two. (Mt. 27:51-54) We are no longer separated from the holiness of God. We have been adopted as His children. Sure, we are not perfect. But with the aid of the Holy Spirit, we are growing into the likeness of God’s Son. Only Christ, one with the Father, made this atonement, propitiation for our sins! He alone is worthy of our devotion!

And how do we know this once and for all offering was for us, the believer? God’s law is not separated by a thick veil, but is written on our hearts!

And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,"
then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more. "Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. (Hebrews 10:15-18)

Our conscience bears witness to God’s promised redemption.

By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. John (3:19-24)

Jesus, the Cure for Death and Dying

We die! It is a fact of life. But how many of us really understand why we die? Is it a purely biological phenomena that we come into the world, age, and die? Is it because we are not medically smart enough to cure and prevent illnesses that weaken our bodies and kill us? Or is it we have the misfortune of being in an accident that is fatal? We die because we cannot live forever by God's decree. Do we really want everybody to live forever? The murderer, rapist, thief, liars and idolaters. Do we want them to believe they have no condemnation for their sins? We all die. It's the reward for sin. Even for those of us who believe we are basically good! (Rom. 3:9-20)

Death came into the world at the very moment we chose not to follow God. Gn. 2:17) We are born in the likeness of Adam. (Gn. 3:5) His first son was a murderer. Not even God could stop him. (Gn. 4:6-11) God shortened man's life to reduce the opportunities to sin in the world. (Gn 6:3) And even this did not prevent Him from starting over. (Gn. 6:6)

Man can do no good. Even our good deeds are born from a self-serving heart. (Is. 64:6) So when we do not get the rewards we were looking for, we get angry, jealous and quarrelsome. So what is the solution?

The solution is to change our heart. ( Gk. metanoia = repent) But we cannot do this on our own. And this is where Jesus Christ comes in. He is the Holy one of God. When we see Him take our nature to the cross, see that He stood between us and God, taking upon Himself the punishment meant for us, we become sorry for our sins. And we want to put our trust in Him who died for us. After all, He rose from the dead. That’s right, he paid our penalty and shows us He is the Way to eternal life. We cannot help but look to Him for our salvation for our hearts are broken.

On that first Good Friday, Jesus died in our place. On that first Easter Sunday, He shows us that not even death can bind Him in a tomb. He is Risen! This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the proclamation of the Church. As the Rt. Rev, J. C. Ryle, the first Bishop of Liverpool states, "It is true that we deserve death - but Christ has died for us. It is true that we are guilty debtors - but Christ has paid our debts with His own blood. This is the real Gospel! This is the good news! On this let us lean while we live."

Christ our Passover

Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Cor. 5:6-8)

St. Paul was writing to a church that tolerated sinful behaviors within her members. The boasting he refers to is the tolerance they show to a particular member. In short, Paul reminds the early church that while we are in the world, we cannot be of the world. In other words, our behavior must reflect our new life in Christ. St. Paul uses the passover image of Christ to remind us that Christ passed over our sins. (Rom. 3:25) And just what does this mean?

The first passover occurred as God led the Hebrews to freedom. The Hebrews were held in slavery by the Egyptians who neither knew the God of Israel nor desired to love Him. Slavery meant no freedom for the Hebrews and pain, suffering and often a premature death for those who fought against the will of the their taskmasters. God brought an early death to the male children of Egypt. But, the Hebrews were saved. They were commanded by God to take an unblemished lamb, sacrifice it, paint the blood on their doors and the angel of death will pass over their home. They would then flee to freedom by the leading of God. Sin is much like a slave holder or task master. Paul reminds us that before Christ redeemed us, bought our freedom, we were slaves to sin. (Rom. 6:15-23) But Christ, the true paschal lamb, has passed over our sins. This does not mean Christ ignores our sin. It means we are freed from the slavery of sin. Death is the wage or reward of sin. (Romans 6:23) When Jesus died on the cross that first Good Friday, He became the Passover Lamb for all who put their trust in Him. Death no longer has the last word but rather the promise of eternal life. We have the freedom in the here and now to serve God and not our carnal passions. Our consciences are sprinkled with the blood of Christ. As the Letter of Hebrews tells us, "...how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works, to serve the living God." (Heb. 9:14)

As Easter approaches, let us remember with thankfulness the death Jesus offered up to God on our behalf much like the Hebrews understood the death of an unblemished lamb and the sprinkling of its blood on their homes, was the price for the freedom to serve God. Our consciences have been cleansed by the Lamb of God. We can serve God in righteousness. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us! Therefore, let us keep the Feast!