Biblical Financing

There is no doubt that finances can turn into trials as well as temptations. In fact, there comes a time in every person’s life when they will be faced with the trial of want and the trial of plenty. The Bible has many verses dedicated to the handling of finances. The book of Proverbs is filled with it, and there are many who know the warning in Matthew 6 regarding money, “24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Matthew 6:24. James also touches on the idea of finances in his Epistle. Today we are going to be looking at James 1:9-12 to see the response to their trial in the rich and the poor man.

“9 Now the brother or sister of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10 but the rich person is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so also the rich person, in the midst of his pursuits, will die out. 12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

James 1:9-12

Verse 9 almost sounds like a contradiction. How can a person of humble or lowly circumstances have a high position? Here James is calling on the persecuted Christian who most likely has lost their home and their material belongings to praise God. As we saw last week, when we face trials we are given an opportunity to grow in the Lord. This passage brings to mind that of the Israelites in the desert. They had been released from their captivity and were told that they would inherit a land of milk and honey. And yet, every step of the way they complained. They complained about the bitter water (Exodus 15:22-24), the lack of food (Exodus 11:4-6), the leadership (Numbers 14:1-3), you name it they complained about it. This is no different than us today who are caught up with “keeping up with the Jones’” we look at those around us and see what they have that we do not, and instead of praising God for what He has given us, we complain. Just like the Israelites, when we spend our time complaining rather than praising, we will not see God’s blessings that He has set before us. Instead of focusing on what we don’t have, we need to focus on what we do have. We are citizens of heaven where every good and precious thing stems from. Do not let your humble situation cause you to take your eyes of the Lord. Instead look around and see what He has blessed you with!

The book of Proverbs has many verses regarding financial advice, however, the verse that comes to mind when reading James 1:9-12 has always been Proverbs 30:7-9. ““Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: 8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” This passage relates to this segment of James because it is showing the two responses that we have when we are faced with trials of want and trials of plenty. We see here that if we face the trial of want with the mentality of grumbling and trying to get more then what God has given us, we dishonor Him. We are not facing the trial with joy like we discussed last week. On the other hand, if we are in a trial of plenty, we run the risk of disowning God and all that He has done for us. This scenario is described in James 1: 10-11.

Where verse 9 sounds like a contradiction, the verses regarding the rich man almost seem harsh. After all, James is describing this man as someone who will wilt during trials. The reason for James is to use this terminology is because when we have plenty, we tend to have the idea that we earned it on our own merit and forget where all good and precious things come from. This is where the trial of plenty comes into play. Unlike during trials of want where we need to rejoice in what God has given us, during trials of plenty we need to humble ourselves to recognize who has given us these blessings.

The reason for the rich man to humble himself can be found in Jeremiah 9:23-24, “23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”” Here we see that the rich man should not boast in his riches but only in that he understands and knows the Lord. For a person to successfully go through a trial of plenty, they need to understand that it has nothing to do with them and everything to do with what God has given them. And just like the flowers and grass described in James 1:10-11, if they unsuccessfully place their riches upon themselves, God can take away what He has given.

With James comparing a rich man verses a poor man in response to what they have been given, it is important to notice one thing. It is not our physical riches that get us through trials, it is our riches in Christ. “6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it, either.” 1 Timothy 6:6-7. These verse highlight the fact that no matter what our situation may be, we need to glorify God. To praise Him through our trials is the only way that we can succeed in them. The rich man and the poor man are equal in one thing, they both need a Savior. “The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all.” Proverbs 22:2. To succeed in a financial trial, the Christian needs to remember that our material belongings on earth mean nothing, it is our richness in Christ that has true value. “19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Matthew 6:19-20. Yet do not misunderstand what God does. At times He will give you the financial gain, He could very well give you the bonus, the promotion, and a new position that brings with it more financial stability. This does not mean you are sinning or have somehow cheated the system, but God in His all-knowing self has orchestrated something particular for you to have these gifts. Just look at the rich men God has used over the years; Job, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Solomon, Joseph of Arimathea, women disciples funding Jesus, and many others. All of these people were very rich, yet all would have and at times did give it up to follow God. God will use whomever He wants. It is up to us to recognize what He has given us and use it accordingly. The fact that God places so much emphasis on making sure we understand this indicates that man innately struggles monumentally with this. Instead of looking at others, we should look to Christ; no matter what He has given us, we should be following His guidance and using His blessings to their fullest extent.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

Not So Minor After All

The Basics Course is continuing, but I realized I should probably help explain a rather large issue that many people tend to have regarding the next 12 books of the Bible. Typically called the Minor Prophets, they have regrettably been passed over by many for three reasons.

1)      Misrepresentation by being labeled as “Minor.” No part of God’s Word should ever be viewed as minor. However, the prophets of Hosea through Malachi have been considered minor due to the length of their written documents. If you have ever seen a piece of dynamite or perhaps a grenade explode, you know that something quite small can be rather large in its impact. The splitting of an atom creates catastrophic results. These Minor prophets are writing about grand and devastating moments in history that impact the entire world.

2)      The second misrepresentation is to think they have nothing for believers today. This is very wrong, for much of what these prophets are declaring are actually coming to pass today. While these books are historical in nature, they reveal for us God’s character and prophetic action which will come about in its due time.

3)      Finally, the Minor Prophets point out that no matter the time frame, circumstances, or environment, there is no man that is without failure. Our sin does not come to fruition based on our situation, but rather because who we are. God’s Word points to a need for Jesus Christ to come and rescue us. The Minor Prophets help reveal the need for a Savior, but also provides the valuable information on how to identify the Messiah from the counterfeits. They help us understand what Jesus must do for Israel to finally come to the realization that their King is Jesus Christ.

So, as we continue going through these 12 books; please remember they are minor only in size of reading, not in textual information or quality of information. Paul reminds us “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” 2 Timothy 3:16-17. So, dig into the Minor Prophets with the same vigor as you would any other book of the Bible, but remember the same rules apply.

Golden Rule Number 1. Pray for wisdom that God guides you in understanding and rightfully discerning His Word. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, it is the glory for us to search it out. God loves to help you and I when we seek to know more about Him in His word.

Golden Rule Number 2. Scripture answers Scripture. Somewhere else in the Bible, is the answer to what you are pondering about in whichever passage you are reading.

Golden Rule Number 3. Context. Context, Context! Read it seriously. Ask yourself “What is the context of what is being read?”

Gold Rule Number 4. The original language knows best. As much as some might say that God’s Word is only KJV, NASB, or NIV, it is not. Go back to the original Greek and Hebrew!

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

RE-POST FRIDAY

A final look back into our series of the time that the church is in! Read it HERE!

Successfuly Navigating Trials

Last week we discussed the aspect of counting it joy when we are faced with trial. We know that we do not have an impartial God, He is actively with us and helping us in our trials. This week, as we continue to look at James 1:2-8, I want to discuss that if we are to successfully go through a trial, we need to know that our faith will be tested. “3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” James 1:3 We can face a trial with joy because we know that a trial gives us the opportunity to become more Christ-like. Trials also separate the born-again believer from those who profess to be followers of Christ, we will discuss this distinction later. One thing that needs to be understood is that trials work for the believer, not against them, this can be seen in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “17 For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,”

But how can a trial be for our good? When we envision a trial, we see something that is difficult for us or something that is an annoyance. The second half of verse three shows that through trials we receive endurance. This is echoed in Romans 5:3-4, “3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,” We receive endurance when we remain steady in trials by leaning on God. Our trials produce a greater testimony for God’s grace and mercy. It is why reading the stories of those who faced and overcame trials in the Bible is so encouraging. We see how God worked through them and our faith grows. “4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” Romans 15:4

The third aspect of going through a trial with joy is to “4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:4 We know that God does not put us through anything without a reason, we may not always know the why of the specific trial we are or have gone through, but we can be assured that God has meant it to give us endurance and a greater testimony. It is why we need to allow God to work through us when we are going through a trial. Imagine it this way, you have just received some bad news perhaps a sickness or a loss of job. For someone who is enduring this trial with joy they are keeping their focus on Christ, they are not sitting in a corner doing nothing. The outside world will see this individual and see how their behavior is pointing back to Christ.

The final aspect of having joy in a trial is to ask. “5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:5-8.

This passage can be broken into three segments. The first is to ask in wisdom. Wisdom is the practical application of the knowledge that we have. One of the many characteristics of God is that He loves to grant wisdom to those who will ask and in verse five we see the word “generously”. This word means that God will give freely without any ulterior motive simply because it is in His nature to give. God loves to give good things to those who follow Him, “7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:7-11.

Wisdom also allows us to understand how to use our trials and circumstances for God’s glory, a topic that will be discussed in a later post. When we are faced with trials we need to ask for wisdom so that we do not waste the opportunities that God is giving us to mature or to be a witness to others. I highly encourage you to read a chapter of Proverbs a day if you not already, it is a great book that is filled with much wisdom and it conveniently has a chapter for each day of the month.

The next way that we can ask is to ask in faith. The rest of the passage describes a double-minded person, this is a person who follows the Lord when it is easy but still desires the things of this world. They are not leaning on the Lord for every situation, good or bad and instead are relying on the world to fix their problems. We have already seen the consequences of doubt when we discussed Peter walking on water in Matthew 14:22-33, but the Bible has other examples of what it means to be a double-minded person. Ephesians 4:14 calls us to no longer be children who follow any idea that seems biblical, “14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”. We need to remember that we have a God who is bigger than what we are facing and there is no problem to big or small for Him, it is why John 14:13-14 states, “13 And whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”

Finally, I want to leave you with a reminder. We will face trials, there is no getting around that, but our reaction will determine the outcome. We can be like the double-minded man and fail, or we can lean on God and go through our trial with the joy of knowing that He is working through us and producing endurance for the faith. However, if we fail to lean on the Lord and instead whine about our trial that we are facing, we will often end up repeating it. We are called to do all things without whining, “14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing,” Philippians 2:14 In our current world, we need more people who respond to trials with joy and leaning on the Lord.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

The Basics: A Brief Overview of the Book of Daniel

The Basics course is designed to help brothers and sisters in Christ, who have a desire for a brief study over each of the books of the Bible. While being more than just a timeline, it is designed to give a person a more realistic overview of the entire Bible. As well as pointing out different highlights along the way. Imagine riding in a car and seeing exit signs for a town. Each sign gives a brief glimpse of what is inside, while if you wanted to thoroughly investigate the town you would have to take the exit. This series is a collected work of the books of the Bible while continuing to drive past each of the exits. I would encourage you to take any exit and allow the Lord God to direct your path to where He would guide. 

The Bible is written into 66 different books. Each one unique on its own but designed to be with its other collected works. 

Cautionary Note: This work is not to argue for the authenticity of the Bible nor is it to argue over the mechanics of how God used man to write His Words. This is designed as an overview for someone to review the book in passing. Nevertheless, we here at Mill House Ministries believe that the Bible is without error and was written by God, through His divine attributes, through man. 

These overviews are sequenced in the below fashion. Each overview is designed to flow in unison. 

1.) Introduction

2.) Who wrote it

3.) When did they write it

4.) Key topics

5.) Key sections

6.) Books that interact with each other

7.) Analysis of the Book

As previously stated, if you find yourself drawn to one of these books, please take the time and see what God is wanting to show you in that book. 

BASICS COURSE: 

Daniel

INTRODUCTION: 

The Persian officer stretched his back looking out over the palace balcony, he watched the starlight twinkle and the rooftop glisten with torchlights being lit by the locals. Behind him, men stand waiting for the host of the meeting to arrive.  Some grumbled, while others waited in silence. For him it was always a moment of wonder. How could a captured Judah prisoner from the once great Babylonian empire come to such heights and respect?  When his own Persian Empire had captured Babylon, he had thought all advisors would have been executed, and some had been. Yet, this one wasn’t. This Judah prisoner was no longer a prisoner, in fact it had been many years since anyone had thought of him in such a manner, and most just knew him as the King’s most old and trusted advisor. This old man stood in power and prestige, and he did it without a single hand of mischief, deceit, or even treachery to his own people. It was as if a divine hand was upon his very actions. The Persian locals called him “Lion Tamer” after he walked out of the lion’s den, however personally the officer knew him as a trusted advisor. Anyone who had a question or needed advice knew who in the palace to go to. If the Lion Tamer was guilty of anything, it was his dutiful prayer life. His God must have truly thought he was something special. Suddenly, the officer’s thoughts were pulled back into the room when the door opened. The men around the table all stood at attention waiting for the final arrival to come sit first. Once they all sat down, the room was silent as the old man looked at each one at the table with a soft smile. It was the officer who finally broke the silence, “Well Daniel, what are the orders from the King?”

WHO WROTE IT: 

The book of Daniel is named after its author, Daniel.  

WHEN DID THEY WRITE IT: 

If there is one book of the Bible which has had more argument regarding the date, it would be Daniel. Due to the intricate prophecies discussed in the book, many scoffers believe it is impossible for it to be written where it claims. Nevertheless, according to Biblical scholars, archaeologists, theologians, and historians Daniel was indeed written around 606 B.C and was finished by the same author in 536 B.C. As we will discuss, the date this book was written is foundational to so much more.

KEY TOPICS:

The book of Daniel is a book describing the rest of human history through the eyes of the Jewish people. It is here that God outlines His master plan on what will happen before the coming of Jesus Christ to reign for 1,000 years. It is here that Daniel prophecies the exact date that Jesus would come the first time to Jerusalem and present Himself as King, but only to be rejected. Daniel does more than just give details of the Jewish nation, but also gentile nations and people that wouldn’t show up for hundreds of years such as Alexander the Great, Cleopatra, Antiochus IV, Anti-Christ and so many more. The book is a marvelous pronouncement of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. 

KEY SECTIONS:

To break this book into sections would be an injustice to the reader. But rather, I would guide you to undertake the book carefully to review the information as Daniel intended it to be. The book should be taken seriously, with the topic being discussed by Daniel taken to other scripture for its continuity. Do not read Daniel and attempt to interpret it based solely on one verse or even two, but rather the circumference of Biblical cohesion.

BOOKS THAT INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER: 

There is not a book of the Bible that does not have some relevance to or from the book of Daniel. To best understand Daniel, like Revelation, one must study the rest of scripture to see what God has declared.

ANALYSIS OF THE BOOK: 

  Out of all the books of the Bible, Daniel is my favorite. Daniel is a man on fire for God but proves we can stand for Jesus and work in this world. For Christians today who claim we need to hide in communities and run far away to where we believe we will not be persecuted, they should read Daniel. For those who do not know human history, you should read Daniel. If you want to know what is going to happen to Israel, read Daniel. If you want to see how much God is not reckless with His love, read Daniel. If you want to understand how much the Devil hates Israel and those who would seek Jesus, just read the book of Daniel. Daniel is a book that if read seriously, you will be naturally drawn to wanting to know more about the Jewish people, the coming Messiah, and what is to come shortly upon the earth. The book of Daniel is so precise with world events, that those who oppose the Bible have tried to discredit it. Because if they cannot discredit the book of Daniel, it means that God is in charge and understands what is going to happen and there is a coming day where Jesus will reign. Daniel is a critical book for any believer in Jesus to study, but it is also a foundational book for those living today to understand what is happening around the world. Daniel, like Revelation, if read and studied should excite the born-again believer! What was promised as signs of Jesus soon return are starting to manifest itself. Daniel is a key book for any believer to have in their pocket to reflect on how we should interact in this world, the spiritual world, and how we should be expecting Jesus.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

RE-POST FRIDAY

A look back into the third warning found in the book of Hebrews! Read it HERE!

Joy in Trials

Now that we have a better understanding of who James was and why the book was written, we need to discuss some of the topics that the book of James contains. Since James is writing to encourage individuals to grow and be mature in the faith, it hits on some very confrontational topics. To mention a few, James discusses trials, wealth, temptation, works, the damage a tongue can do, and wisdom. These are all topics that come about as a person is growing in their faith. One thing that I have always appreciated about James is that he is very straight to the point. Right after his introduction, which as we discussed last week glosses over that he is the brother of Jesus Christ and instead is focusing on James being a bondservant to Christ, James goes right into the topic of trials.

“2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

James 1:2-8

When I read this passage, there were four things that immediately stood out to me when we are faced with trials. First, we need to count our trials with joy. Second, we need to understand or know why we are faced with trials, then we need to let endurance work through us, and finally we need to ask God when we are in trials. Understanding these four aspects allow the Christian to grow in maturity in their faith, it is how we are to succeed in our trials.

The first point is to count our trials. This does not mean to physically count how many trials we have faced, instead we need to “2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,” Counting is an evaluation term, these means that when we are faced with trials we need to evaluate what God is doing through us and what He is trying to teach us.

To face a trial with joy is not something that comes easily. Too often people complain about whatever trial they are facing. The issue with this is that it does not allow for the Christian to grow, it keeps them stunted. There is one aspect of being a Christian that is constant, we are not promised an easy life. We need to understand that it is not “if” but “when” we will fall into trials. Many people have the idea that by being a follower of Christ they will somehow avoid the pains of this life. Nowhere in the Bible is this promised, in fact this verse alone shows that we will face trials. What makes the Christian unique, is that when we are faced with trials we have the undeniable hope in Jesus Christ. “33 These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

One thing that facing a trial with joy does not mean is that we are not to put on a fake smile. When we are faced with a trial we should not act as if nothing is wrong or try to make ourselves a martyr, we need to keep our focus on Christ and what He could be doing through us. When reflecting on a trial I am reminded of our Lord and Savior on the cross. He had asked God the Father to remove this trial from Him if it was His will, Luke 22:42a. However, through His obedience to God the Father’s will by saying “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Luke 22:42b, Jesus Christ brought salvation to the world. We know that Jesus did not face the cross with a smile, but He faced it knowing that the end result would be something great. “2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

Do not forget that God understands what we are going through! He isn’t a million miles away but rather He is with us. This is powerful for us to understand when it comes to encountering trials. What is so unique about God that James and others in the Bible display, is the incredible detail that God has placed in revealing His presence and support for us while we are in these trials. For those who are searching for how to count a trial as joy, just take into consideration that God is right there helping you and providing you with exactly what you need in order to come out on the other side.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

Acting On God’s Word

I wanted to write a quick post today regarding a small transition in my spring line up of posts. As you might know, in the fall we were doing the “Basics” a simple systematic study of the books of the Bible. We stopped for the Holidays to discuss the birth of Christ and have since started the book of 1 John. We will continue to do 1 John but will take the next few weeks to finish the Old Testament in the Basics course. After which we will continue in our study of 1 John. The reason I am wanting to do this is for three principles.

1)      As believers we should know the Bible in its entirety. “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him” Proverbs 30:5.

2)      We need to recognize what is going on in the world and reflect on what God’s word says so that we can know how to interact with those who might not know Jesus. “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock” Matthew 7:24. This gives us the opportunity to reveal what God says in a practical manner. For those who listen to the Word and see how it can be applied in today’s circumstances will also find themselves with joy, peace, and an overall sense that God is in control of their life.  

3)      Many believers are being told things that are plainly not Biblical. We want to give you a road map to be able to review the material and see where God is calling you to go deeper. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” Matthew 6:33.

God cares for the believer, and we are to be smart in the circumstances we find ourselves in. Jesus says this in Matthew 10:16, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” We as believers in Jesus Christ, are currently in a kingdom that is not of our heavenly Father’s. We are ambassadors in this foreign land. We are to be wise as serpents, knowing what to say and what not to say. We are to be as gentle as doves, knowing how to best help those around us and reflect God’s love to all. So, for the next couple weeks we will finish the Old Testament and then we will pick up 1 John in the summer. By doing this, when we reference something in 1 John you will know what book of the Bible we are talking about. As for the New Testament, we are currently praying about how best to do the Basics course and when we should. Nevertheless, I want to end on reflecting on the core principles on why we are doing this. Here at Mill House Ministries, we do our best to decide on posts, Bible topics, and ideas that are Biblical and Christ centered. Our goal is to equip you with the Word of God so that you can know Jesus Christ as we do and be eagerly awaiting on Jesus Christ.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

RE-POST FRIDAY

A continuation of our study in the time that the church is in! Read it HERE!

Who Is James?

One thing that shocked me when I first became a believer, besides how wholly incompetent I was to be good enough to save myself, came when I realized that Jesus Christ actually had siblings. This was something that had never been taught to me the times that I did go to church and I had the assumption that He was an only child. However, when you look at Matthew 13:55 you clearly see that Jesus did in fact have half siblings,“55 Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is His mother not called Mary, and His brothers, James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?” In fact, it was one of these half-brothers who wrote the book of James, which is where I am wanting to go next with our study. But before we begin the study into the book of James, I feel it is important to understand who exactly he was.

As mentioned above, James was the half-brother to Jesus, the child of Mary and Joseph. However, in spite of having the Son of God as his older brother, James did not at first believe that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, “After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. 2 But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.” John 7:1-5. James is a great example of those who have the head knowledge of how to be saved but have never had that personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. James lived with Jesus, was around for his ministry, and yet did not believe. Through James, we see that if we have godly parents, godly spouses, or godly friends it does not make us a Christian. Without personally repenting of our sins and asking Jesus Christ to forgive us, we will not enter the kingdom of God, we cannot get there based on our relationship to anyone or anything else.

Unlike with Saul, who became the Apostle Paul, we don’t have a record of when this disbelief moved to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. What we do know about James is after he received this faith, James became the leader of the church in Jerusalem once Peter was released from prison (Acts 12:17) and chaired the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:13). James was a deeply prayerful man who was on his knees so often that his knees grew calloused. And his introduction in James 1:1 shows more of his character, “James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” James 1:1a. James does not mention that he is the brother of Jesus, showing his humility in acknowledging that he is a bond-servant meaning that he was devoting his obedience and loyalty to Jesus Christ.

Through reading the book of James, you can see that he was a man who desired for the church to grow in the Lord. He also did not sugar coat issues in the church, something we will see as we begin our study. He did not ask people to change, he demanded it. He was practical in his writing, James didn’t just tell people that they needed to be wise, but showed how to discern wisdom from folly.

Now that we understand a little more about who James was, I feel it is important to discuss why he wrote the book of James. “To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.” James 1:1b. James intended his letter for Christian Jews who were scattered outside of Jerusalem. James was writing to them because they were being tested and facing temptations to sin. In short, they were failing to live up to what they professed. The Jewish Christians were living for the world, not controlling their tongues, and were disobeying God’s Word. These are all issues that are still prevalent in the church today, this is why I believe that the book of James need to be studied. James was dealing with an issue then that is common today, spiritual immaturity. We do not have enough churches and church members coming together to grow one another. We either have churches who refuse to do Bible studies or small groups or we have individuals who believe that Sunday morning is the only amount of nourishment that they need for the week. Therefore, we have Christians who lack the ability to defend what they believe and are incapable of guiding others in their faith with Jesus Christ, they are failing to be as Proverbs states, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17. As we begin our study in the book of James, I hope this study will highlight areas that need growth.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

The Real Source to the Conflict

There is no simple way to bring this up, but it is all over the news and it’s something we as believers need to be ready to discuss. The invasion of Ukraine is another prime example of why we need Jesus Christ on the throne in Jerusalem! Many have already discussed the politics of how this has come to pass, and many have started to point the position of blame at different groups. However, I am yet to see a person point to the source of the real issue. The Russian/Ukraine conflict is an indicator of why there needs to be Jesus Christ sitting on the throne in our lives and in Jerusalem. And one day He will, just look at what the Angel Gabriel said to Marry about Jesus, "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." Luke 1:31-33.

Sin is a powerful thing, and without God in our lives, man will do wicked things. So, I would tell you to pray for the people in this conflict, pray for the leaders to find a peaceful resolution, and pray for God’s righteousness to shine.

 “First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4.

Finally, I would call you to pray for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to come and take the Church away and proceed with the next stages of human history. There is still 7 years of Tribulation and then the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ which will have Jesus reigning in Jerusalem for a thousand years.

We should be praying for this! When asked by the disciples, Jesus even instructed them to pray for His kingdom! “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven” Luke 11:2. The final prayer in the Bible is Revelation 22:20 which is a prayer asking Jesus to come! “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

But finally, we should be acting on our faith. This has been abused by many so-called pastors and religious leaders today. Our faith needs to be a verb, where our actions proceed out and people know who we are based on God’s love that we show.

“What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” James 2:14-18.

It is no doubt that things will get worse before they get better, but for the believer this is our time to shine. This is when our “A” game needs to be at its best. Pray more, love more, and most of all seek the Lord in His Word more than ever before. Do not stop meeting together, but rather seek all the more to spend time in worship and prayer for this darkening world. I will leave you with this, let us be the description of what Jude says in verses 20-25, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. 24 Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority before all time and now and forever. Amen.”

God has given us work to do, let us be about His business!

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

RE-POST FRIDAY

Join us as we look at the second warning found in the book of Hebrews. Read it HERE!

An Announcement: The Book of James

Persecution of Christians has always taken place, and as these days get darker this fact will not change. It is why believers before us, believers now, and believers after us have and will find solace in the pages of the Bible. There are many different passages in the Bible that offer words of encouragement for the born-again believer. However, one of my favorite books of the Bible that also offers an insight into Christian living is the book of James.

The book of James is written by the half-brother of Jesus Christ. This writing has taken place approximately 48-49AD. This book is a practical reflection for the Christian to see how they are living and how it matches with what God says. With verses like “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22 and “6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our body’s parts as that which defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.” James 3:6 it is easy to see how the book of James reaches the heart of the issues that many Christians today face in regards to living out their faith.

Over the next several weeks, we will be discussing in detail the book of James. However, in order to do it justice, and to avoid burnout from the study, we will be regarding the book in sections. While this is a short book, only five chapters, I want to ensure that we are all accurately reflecting upon the words in this book that so often leaves the reader reflecting on their own daily actions. This is why we will be studying the book one chapter at a time over several weeks. I will also be adding in different topical posts before we begin a new chapter. I hope that by doing this, we can all sit and reflect what Jesus Christ has for us to learn in this self-reflection book, the book of James.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

Our Heavenly Advocate 1 John 2:1-2

It is no surprise that man fails more often than we succeed. As believers, this is also the case. Our very nature is defined by sinful action and imperfection. You might not want to hear this, but you are no different now than you were before you were saved. Believers in Christ are as guilty as a nonbeliever. The difference is we have an advocate and someone who we have allowed to pay the fine of our actions for us. This might sound hypocritical, and you would be right. However, it was God’s design set forth for us. The Apostle John helps us see this powerful reality, 1 John 2:1-2 “1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”

  John recognizes that there is danger of sin entering our life and distracting us from what God has planned thus, John goes to warn the reader “so that you may not sin.” This warning is to remind us that we need to abstain from sin. But we will eventually fail, miss the mark, and sin. When this happens, the Christian has an advocate in Jesus Christ, “And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Dr. Jerry Falwell stated once regarding this passage, “but if any man sin, that is if any believer who has already acknowledged that he was a sinner, and has already been cleansed from his sin by the atoning sacrifice of Christ, if this person should be led off into sin, would he be eternally lost? He could sin, but he would not be hopelessly lost, because we have an advocate.” This is reiterated by Jesus Himself in the Gospel of John, John 10:28-29 “28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given [them] to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of My Father’s hand.” Dr. Jerry Falwell would continue to identify this reality of Jesus’s role in a Christian’s life with reflecting on 1 John 2:1-3, “Advocate (Greek word parakletos) is the word John used four times in his gospel for the Holy Spirit as ‘Comforter.’ It is not so much ‘comfort’ as ‘encouragement’ or ‘help’ which is usually meant by this word, and the help sought is pictured as an advocate (which word comes from the Latin equivalent of our Greek word here) or ‘attorney.’” Jesus is our advocate and helper. He stands watch for us so that when we sin, He can “advocate with the Father” on our behalf. I can only imagine messing up and God sitting on His righteous throne saying, “JL has failed to be perfect” and Jesus steps up, “Father, I can vouch for my child, he is righteous through me.” When Jesus advocates with the Father, this means he is standing before the throne and is literally advocating on your behalf.

  But Jesus isn’t done there, and John is wanting to make sure the reader understands such a declaration of Jesus’s actions of love for us that He died for us. “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins,” What does this word “propitiation” mean? Comes from the Greek word ‘hilasmos’ which means a price or a fine that must be paid. Jesus was the fine and the price for yours and my sin. But God grants free will, He grants the ability for people to choose, and John is wanting to make this evidently clear, “and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” This does not mean that there is universal application of this pardon and payment of our sin, for the sinner must be willing to recognize someone who is willing to make the payment. This is what makes a relationship with Jesus so amazing, there is nothing you can do to earn this payment, this advocate for your sin. All you can do is accept the person who is willing to pay and allow Him to be your advocate. John wants the reader to understand something that is surreal, our God is actively watching, comforting, and being there for us each and every step. It is why it is ridiculous for a person to state they can lose their salvation. How can you lose something you could never earn or hold onto yourself? How can you be capable of such a responsibility? Frankly you and I cannot, and John is wanting to make this truth known before he continues in the book.

  For us today, this means simply we try to not sin, not because of salvation’s sake, but for love’s sake. We follow the Lord’s commandments for the sake of following our blessed Savior and with the faith that He knows what is best for us in our own life. There is nothing to do with salvation in this picture, and rather keeping us growing in our faith. For those who are not saved, Jesus has died for you and rose again for you. He is sitting at the right hand of God the Father and wants to advocate for you, but you need to be willing to let him. Ask Him to be your advocate and ask for forgiveness and know that God made the way and is willing to give you this once in a lifetime opportunity. If you ever have questions, please reach out to Mill House Ministries and we would be happy to help you understand who Jesus is and how you can know Him as well.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

RE-POST FRIDAY

A continuation on our review of our In What Time Are We In series. Read it HERE!

Understanding Scripture

When I first became a believer, the Old Testament was hard for me to understand. And I can even admit to this day, almost a decade after I have placed my faith in Jesus Christ, the Old Testament is still often confusing, at first I struggled with understanding why I needed to study it. After all we are no longer under the old covenant restrictions so why should we still be studying something that at first glance, no longer is applicable? The answer to this question is quite simple. We are no longer bound to the 10 Commandments and the sacrificial law that is prevalent in the Old Testament, however the Old Testament points to Jesus Christ and laid out the situations that the Messiah would accomplish. I once had it described to me this way, “The Old Testament points to Jesus Christ, while the New Testament shows how Jesus Christ completed the prophecies in the Old Testament.”

The entirety of the Bible shows how God has been in control of the world, its actions, the rise and fall of nations, and ultimately the plan for salvation from the very beginning. There is nothing that has taken place that has surprised God because He is in control of it all. It is for this reason that we must not only study the New Testament, but the Bible in its entirety. In his book, Experiencing the Cross, Henry Blackaby describes our Biblical knowledge this way, “His Word is not simply principles or concept to increase your head knowledge, but a vehicle for your relationship with the living God, a personal encounter that anchors His truth in the center of your being, equipping and encouraging you to live it from your heart.” To have a better understanding of God, then we must know His Word; to know His Word, we must study it.

That is my goal for today, I want to point out some of the Old Testament scriptures that have been completed in the New Testament. We simply don’t have the time to thoroughly discuss each and every one, after all there are 109 separate and distinct prophecies in the Old Testament regarding the first coming of the Messiah. Maybe you have seen these verses and the responses found in the New Testament. This list should hopefully allow you to view the Old Testament in a new way and hopefully you find yourself encouraged to read through the Old Testament again and see it in a new light.

The first set of scripture that I want to discuss is one that regards the Messiah’s place of birth. In the Old Testament, the description of the Messiah’s birth can be found in Micah 5:2, “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His times of coming forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” Here we see that God is stating that from Bethlehem will come from God a ruler who was there from long ago and will rule for eternity. We see in Matthew 2:1 that this is where Jesus Christ was indeed born, “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,”

The entirety of Isaiah 53 is a chapter that is devoted to discussing the Messiah and what He would go through on earth. I encourage you to read this chapter and then go through the gospels and see how Jesus Christ has fulfilled it. One example is Isaiah 53:4-6, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” In this passage we see that God will bring about one who will be a sin bearer for the rest of the world. This was answered in 1 Peter 2:24, “24 and He Himself brought our sins in His body up on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds you were healed.”

The Old Testament even describes the exaltation at the right hand of God that Jesus Christ has accomplished. “The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”” Psalm 110:1. Mark talks about Jesus sitting at the right hand of God in Mark 16:19, “19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.” Mark 16:19.

As I have already mentioned, there are 109 separate prophecies regarding the first coming of Jesus Christ. However, the Old Testament does not only describe events that the Messiah would need to accomplish. In the pages of the Old Testament are also descriptions of historical events that have happened recently. God through the Old Testament even reveals how Israel would come back in a single day to be recognized by the international community at large.

“Before she was in labor, she delivered; Before her pain came, she gave birth to a boy. 8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be given birth all at once? As soon as Zion was in labor, she also delivered her sons.” Isaiah 66:7-8.

May 14th 1948, the world came to a screeching stop when the little nation of Israel was born. After almost 2,000 years, the Jewish people were once again in their homeland under their own flag. In a single day a nation was born. The neighboring nations immediately invaded, their desire was clear: to kill the peaceful Jews. However, God granted an Israeli victory.

Even recently I have started a study on the minor prophets and have seen how the Old Testament points to the New Testament. Hosea chapter 2 describes how the Jewish nation will chase after anything but God, “Upon her children also I will have no mercy, because they are children of whoredom. 5 For their mother has played the whore; she who conceived them has acted shamefully. For she said, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.’ 6 Therefore I will hedge up her way with thorns, and I will build a wall against her, so that she cannot find her paths. 7 She shall pursue her lovers but not overtake them, and she shall seek them but shall not find them. Then she shall say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband, for it was better for me then than now.’ 8 And she did not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the wine, and the oil, and who lavished on her silver and gold, which they used for Baal” Hosea 2:4-8 we see this taking place now as many Jews deny that Jesus is the Messiah. However, as we see in the end of the passage, there will come a day when they will return to God.

I hope these verses have given you a chance to see how the Old Testament is still as prevalent today and why it needs to be studied along with the New Testament. If we wish to know God more fully, we need to understand all of His Word, we cannot be focusing on the New Testament and ignore the Old Testament. The Bible in its entirety shows us how God is in control even now.

See the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

Examining the Infinite God 1 John 1:8-10

This week we are going in deep, so put on your thinking cap.

What is so unique about something that is infinite? It must always be reliably the same. If something can change, then there is a breakdown of the consistency. This means that if something is to be forever, it must be the same. Something that was, and is, and that will be, cannot have change. That would deny the very essence of it at any point in time. The laws of nature and physics demand such painstaking reflection of infinite. What does this mean for us today? It means that God’s declaration in Revelation 1:8 needs to be examined for His authenticity, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’” He claims that He was always the same, is always the same, and will always be the same. This is powerful for it allows us to examine His characteristics and evaluate the declaration; because if it is true than it has a powerful dynamic for us. But what in the Bible could we review that would show God’s character, actions, personality, and standard to which would indicate His declaration of infinity? The answer is quite simple and can be found in 1 John 1:8-10.

“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”

Here we see a standard that God is portraying to the reader through His apostle John. God is laying out the foundation yet again for His standard and what He means by perfection is the only thing that will bring about eternal life. When a man believes they have no sin, they are deceiving themselves. Ironically Satan does not do the deceiving here, but man does it to himself. Genesis 2:8-17 being our downfall has given us the opportunity to know what is right and wrong, but also to fall away from what is right and choose what is wrong. Because of this we can deceive ourselves into thinking we are without sin. So far we have seen God is consistent with making absolute statements, which is by itself a character of only someone who is absolute. God has claimed His current state is without sin. Yet, He quickly continues to reveal His characteristic with the resounding absolute statement “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Here God does two things that reflect His infinite character. He first declares that He has a way for sin to be dealt with. This is huge because man has been trying since Genesis chapter 3 to be without sin and have failed each time. He is declaring that He has a way to change the circumstances we find ourselves in today. Second, God is promising permanent change. This is massive because man is naturally not infinite, if something that in its very nature is always adaptable to change and imperfection than there must be a constant to help facilitate change. The only way for something that is capable of change can be influenced into staying infinite at a specific standard, it requires to be stimulated by something that is already at that standard and unchangeable. This in “Christian” terms would be known as being “born again.” God, who is infinite, is promising infinitely that the individual with sin needs to be changed in order to provide the necessary attributes that derive what is “infinite.” Have I confused you yet? Let us break this down a little further. When God saves us from our sin and causes us to be born again and saved, He is in fact causing an action that only can describe God attributes. When God says, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.” We are rejecting the actionable traits of God.

But why go through this philosophical discussion today? What is the “So what?” for us today? Simply put, these three verses provide the necessary measurable, quantifiable, and accountable actions to hold God’s declarations as authentic and reliable. For only something outside of change can make infinite declarations. The fact that God provided the only way for sin to be removed, and that being Jesus Christ, indicates just who He is as God and represented to us in His Son the Messiah Jesus Christ.

In this letter, John is deliberately continuing to affirm to the reader just who is Jesus Christ. While today might have dug into the philosophical world, do not lose sight on the contextual reality of Jesus Christ and what He has done for you and I! John is wanting the reader to understand this because where he is going next in his letter will require someone who is infinite to be able to make such claims.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

RE-POST FRIDAY

We begin our look back into the study of the warning passages found in the book of Hebrews. Read it HERE!

A Call to Prayer

Today I want to take a quick moment and step outside of our typical Biblical topics, in exchange I want to instead ask you all to take a moment a pray. With each passing month it is as if the standard for things that would never happen change. A few years ago the idea of government lockdowns was unheard of in certain areas in the world; now we have seen a worldwide shut down to various degrees. The idea of forced vaccination would have been laughable, but this has come to pass. The world is steadily growing more hostile and I can’t help but be reminded of Matthew 24:6-13“6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains. 9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

While we could write a post on just these verses alone, that is not what we are going to do today. Instead I want to ask our readers to carve out a moment today and throughout the coming months to pray for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. Right now, our brothers and sisters in Ukraine are at the top of my list for prayers as the world is waiting to see who will blink first in the challenge that is facing them. Brothers and sisters in Taiwan are under severe threat of a Chinese invasion. Matthew 24 reminds me that these challenges would be prevalent in the last days, but this does not mean that we need to be frightened of the future. For us born-again believers, we have a greater future hope with Christ coming for His church. What I am asking you, our beloved readers, is to pray for strength and endurance for our fellow believers. We do not need to know each other’s names or situations to be praying for one another, we simply need to bow our heads and pray with an open heart. The Holy Spirit will guide our prayers, “26 Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27.

Today I hope that you will take a moment and allow the Holy Spirit to guide your prayers, you may be surprised at what you find yourself praying for. I also hope that as you pray, you find comfort knowing that there are other believers who are praying for you as well. Christians today need to stand together and show the world that we are not frightened by what is occurring, use our prayers and the encouragement that we receive from them as a light to guide those who are lost to Christ.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

1 John 1:1-7

Now more than ever before, people are questioning the authenticity of Jesus Christ. As the days grow darker, many see themselves being swept away by the troubles of this world. Unfortunately, instead of running to Christ, they seek after answers that are pleasant to the ears and sought after confirmation bias tactics to make sense of what they see happening. However, God’s word is applicable each and every day of our lives and in any scenario. 1st John is a perfect example of such application with the Apostle John writing to today’s believers regarding the authenticity of Jesus Christ and how we can have assurance of Jesus Christ’s personhood, Godhood, and perfection. As we will see, if Jesus was not man than there was no sacrifice; if He is not the Son of God, then He is a lie; if He had sin, His sacrifice was meaningless. For Jesus to be all He claimed to be, He had to have all of what He claimed to be. The Apostle John wants the readers to understand such intricacies and so much more. I would like to encourage you to stay with us as we adventure into 1 John and see the wonders of God and how our relationship with Him is contingent on Christ alone. If you haven’t read the introduction to this series, after reading this go read last week’s post. Let us begin!

1st John starts much like how the Gospel of John ends, with a declaration of Jesus Christ’s account being true. “this is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.” John 21:24-25. John begins 1st John in like manner, wanting the reader to know that the Son of God is Jesus Christ. “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life 2 and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was revealed to us 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete” 1st John 1:1-4.  

While the Gospel of John was for the purposes of salvation, “but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” John 20:31, 1st John was written so that the believer would know they were saved, “These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete” 1st John 1:4, and 1st John 5:13, “these things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

The Apostle John is wanting the reader to understand that all of his work can be boiled down to this simple truth, man needs a relationship with Jesus Christ. Simply put, John wants you and I to know Jesus and have certainty in Jesus Christ’s salvation in our lives. John wants the reader to have fellowship with God, “we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.” 1st John 1:3 Here we see a true reasoning of why believers should be eager to share the gospel with their family, it is so that they too can have fellowship with God as we do and that our fellowship with each other can become that much richer.

As powerful as John’s statement is, he quickly pivots to a new topic; one regarding Christology (the study of Jesus Christ). Here John makes a powerful statement, “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin“ 1st John 1:5-7. Dr. Ed Hindson helps identify the significance of the two verses, “John has made it clear that the purpose of his writing is that the believers might have true fellowship; he now proceeds to make some subtle philosophical implications about fellowship with God which will apply to the present circumstances of the believers. ‘God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.’ Here are the two great symbols suggesting moral purity and evil; John says literally that there is not even one bit of darkness in God.”[1] For those who would declare God to not be perfect, nor to identify His perfect judgement, they are denying His deity.

Simply put, John is starting off wanting the reader to be firm in their salvation in Jesus Christ. The carpenter from Nazareth was in fact God’s Son and without Him we are destined for failure. Next week we will continue into the aspects of fellowship and see just how far God had to go to bring you back into love. To get to heaven, you need Jesus Christ, and the apostle John is laying this foundation in a basic understanding.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

[1] Liberty University Commentary on the New Testament pg. 718.