Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

5:1-12 The Beatitudes

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The Bible is_____________. (Fill in the blank) For us it constitutes the Word of God, written by inspired men guided by the Hoy Spirit of God. There are 66 books written by 40 individual authors in their own style but the words are inspired by an author who can never die. It was written over a period of 1600 years and after a brief creation story as introduction, it deals primarily with the created, us, and our separation from the Creator through disobedience.  From the third chapter of Genesis forward, the theme is one of redemption to overcome this separation.

We are urged and encouraged to read this book carefully and often.

When you purchase a new car, one of the contents of the glove box or compartment is an Owner’s Manual. It shows you where things are, tells of necessary service, and informs you as to how to interpret all of the little symbols that appear on the lighted dash of the vehicle. You are alerted if you have forgotten to fasten your seat belt, failed to completely close the door, or if you need an oil change. Should the air pressure for a tire be low, a little symbol reveals this. The tire does not have to be affixed to the car but may be flat in the trunk and you will be informed. Neat but also embarrassing if you fail to think of it.

As we read and analyze the Bible, we are warned not to take isolated statements out of context. It is imperative to know what was said before and what follows as well. Conclusion jumping is not a recommended feat for Biblical interpretation. We learn information easiest when it is tied to a story. In addition to all He can do, Jesus is the world’s master storyteller. He frequently taught in short stories called parables that were to teach one or two salient points. In contrast, Matthew chooses to relate Jesus’ most important teachings in simple statements. They are the Beatitudes and we are to be blessed for certain attitudes and behaviors.

Importantly, what is the context? Jesus has been tempted by the Satan in the wilderness and has bested him by the quoting of Hebrew Scripture. He then goes about calling some of His disciples who follow Him closely. Why? They think He is the predicted Messiah of God. Great crowds followed Him because He was able to heal diseases and sickness and not particularly because they reasoned that He was the Messiah.

The crowd was large (over 5000) and Jesus chose to teach them from a hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee. We all are aware of how well sound travels over water so this is an ideal spot. Note that His intimate disciples surround Him. His sermon is directed to His disciples and not to the vast crowd. It is not that the people are excluded but the teachings embrace the novel idea of Jesus interpretation of His messianic charge. What He says has application to all but individual application depends upon the listener’s concept of who this man is. (Matthew 16:13-14 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” )

With this background understood, Jesus then begins to teach the disciples (those who reason He is the Messiah) as well as the people of the land (those who reason He is a prophet). The understanding of the two groups as well as their interest is widely divergent. Jesus begins with the statements that we call The Beatitudes. The hearers are to be blessed if they cultivate certain attitudes. The first is “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” To be blessed is to be favored by God. No sooner than Jesus speaks than does He introduce controversy. Every Jew felt himself to be worthy of being in the Kingdom based on his ancestry traced to Father Abraham. As Jesus continued to speak, the crowd was held based on His mastery of speaking and teaching and not by the message that He delivered. Their interest was not in the spiritual but in the physical. They were an oppressed people who had been subjugated to foreign powers for the greater percentage of the last 500 years. They were seeking political liberation.

If they were unmoved by His opening statement, imagine their response when He ultimately followed with “love your enemies” and “pray for those who persecute you.” This not only sounded irrational but impossible as well. But they subsequently demonstrated that they could forgive Him for such spiritual statements, if He would merely feed them. They sought to make Him King after He fed the crowd of 5000 men. John 6:15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Before we rise to prosecute the Jews of Jesus’ day, perhaps we should look carefully at our own responses 2000 years after the fact. And what is the fact? The Bible clearly and factually details the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth from the grave. This is as well documented as any event in history. Does such influence us in the life that we seek to live?

The Mount Sermon was given and directed to those who would acknowledge Jesus not just as God’s Messiah but as His Son as well. We should and must seek God’s favor with our thoughts, actions and behavior. Surrender to God’s Spiritual guidance is essential for Kingdom living, now and in the future.

Jesus loves us enough to sacrifice for us. He leaves heaven to be incarnate as a helpless infant and grows to manhood in the setting of poverty. He is abused by those He has created and is able to pray for forgiveness for those who crucify Him. The pall of the death of the perfect man is over-shadowed by His resurrection from the grave. This is the universe changing occurrence of all time.

John 17:20-26   Jesus Prays for All Believers

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.  “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

The 17^th chapter of John is known as the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus. This is the prayer of Jesus from the upper room a short time before His arrest and ultimate crucifixion. His prayer is divided into three sections. First He prays for Himself, then for His immediate disciples and lastly for all believers. He makes a point of indicating that He is not praying for the world at this time. The reality of His prayer is that a time comes when believers and non-believers will be evident in the mind of Christ. Although Jesus comes for all who would accept Him as the Son of God and the Savior of the world, some will not and desire to have nothing to do with Him and the God He represents. The offer of the Kingdom of God and eternity in His presence has finiteness to it. In the words of a modern world philosopher, Yogi Berra, “When you come to the fork in the road, take it.” Not only is true Christianity a narrow road but it is a path less frequently chosen. The latter words are from the lips of Jesus.

Not everyone comes to Christ from similar circumstances. A classic example is Saul of Tarsus. (Acts 9:1-4 – Saul’s Conversion

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”) He is arrested from his persecution of the Church by a God directed strike of lightning. Hollywood capitalized on this approach over 60 years ago in the movie “Sergeant York.” A belligerent, drunk and vengeful Alvin York was also struck by lightning while riding a mule. He survived but the animal he was riding didn’t fare as well. The mule was on its side with its smoking iron shoes blown from its feet. Alvin promptly went into a nearby church and knelt at the altar. The majority of the rest of us, claiming Jesus as Savior, have come from less dramatic but also individual circumstances.

Jesus in His prayer to God desires that each one of us who believes in Him as Savior would be in unity with God as they are as Father and Son. We all are descendants of Adam by biology and procreation. If we remain as such, we have no oneness with God because of sin. However, by the aspect of faith, we can become of the humanity of Jesus representing a new creation eventually fit for the courts of God. Such a change makes us no less human so we are conflicted in our attempts to be holy as God is holy. (Leviticus 20:26 – You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.) Our opponents to prevent us from pursuing holiness are numerous. They include our own human natures, society in general, education, government, entertainment and on occasion, sadly the church and its teachers as well. The question then arises “How can I be certain of this salvation that I claim?” Am I guilty of a false assurance that leaves me condemned rather than saved? Will Jesus tell us to “depart from me, I never knew you”?

It is my firm belief that Scripture should afford you comfort. The purpose of preaching is to light the narrow path that leads to God rather than to burden you with doubt. What does Scripture, the inspired word of God, say?

The first verse learned by all is John 3:16. This is the promise of eternal life for believers. We know from previous study that this faith in Jesus is a gift from God. God in mercy gifts faith in Jesus to those Sons of Adam who are crushed by their sins. If this faith stimulates the intellect only (perceived in the mind) and does not energize the soul, one has only a false assurance rather than a true one. Those converted into the new humanity of Christ resemble Jesus and not Adam. The simple question for us all is whether we resemble Adam or Jesus. Be practical in this. Recognize that no one born in the natural way can ever be perfect in this life. Rebirth of soul is the beginning of a process that results in sanctification, the process by which we become more like Jesus and God the Father.

When Saul of Tarsus was arrested in his persecution of the Church, he remained in a death like state for three days. He was blind and neither ate or drank. (Acts 9:7-9 and the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.  Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.  And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.) What transpired during this time interval? He surely was crushed by his sin. He had been responsible for the deaths of multiple Christ followers. He had declared that Jesus was a false Messiah. The error of his judgment was apparent to him. Saul’s conversion did not make him perfect at this time but it did make him holy and set apart for God’s glory as the missionary to the gentiles.

Critical in this analysis of the assurance of our salvation is whether our wills are changed. Our wills are perhaps the deepest portion of our souls. Our conscience may afflict us for our actions or thoughts. Our emotions may overpower us by bombarding our affection. But, the true test for assurance is whether our wills resemble Adam or Jesus.

James in his short book summarizes this by noting that faith without works is not faith at all. It is merely intellectual unless it spurs our wills to compassionate action for others to glorify God. It is a willingness to place others first and ourselves second. The key for this is that these works are done to honor Jesus and not to draw attention to ourselves.

God does not desire for us to drown in a sea of doubt about the salvation of our souls but the Satan does. God wishes us to know it, claim it and live it.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Gospel means good news and it has a universal application. The impact of this good news is not relegated to a select group of people but has merit for all people and all times. Therefore the understanding of this concept of such news needs to be clearly understood. The magnitude of the importance of this issue is such that it is of great value in the life that we know now and what we shall encounter in the future. Our understanding of this concept is critical for our happiness now and for joy in the life to come. Being human as we are, we sometimes have difficulty in discerning what is truly good news. What initially may seem to be of great benefit overtime reveals it to be a hardship. Our news services periodically reveal the disappointing lives of those who win the lottery or are heirs to large sums of money. To be among the rich and famous may seem to be potentially joyous but in actuality turns out to be detrimental to true joy.

Good news, bad news stories abound in our culture and are often good for a laugh. One is of lifelong buddies from high school who loved to play softball together. They often wondered if there would be softball in heaven. One dies and the other has this dream of clarity that he converses with his friend in heaven. He asks his friend if there is softball in heaven.  His friend responds, “I have good news and bad news.” “The good news is yes, there is softball in heaven. The bad news is you are slated to pitch next Tuesday.”

Before we understand the good news, we must grasp the significance of the bad news. Simply, we must understand our need before we can truly appreciate the solution. (Genesis 3:1-5 The Fall of Man  Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”   The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ”

“You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman.  “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”) This narration conveys to us the initiation of sin for human kind. At issue is the distrusting of God and His character. Our ancestors chose to follow Satan rather than God and as a result all of mankind has followed on this path of rebellion. This is clearly the bad news. From this point forward the Bible deals with mankind’s involvement with sin that separates man from God and God’s choice to rescue us from such, the Good News.

Adult males with significant heart disease are frequently accompanied by their spouses when they visit the doctor. One such male was not doing well. After an exam, the physician instructed the man to dress and then invited his wife to come into his consultation office. Out of earshot of her husband, the physician told of his plan of action. Her husband’s situation was precarious and he must have lavish care and attention. Three hot meals a day, comfort, and total harmony. The physician stepped out, her husband came in and he asked what the physician had said. Without hesitation she replied, “You are going to die.”

Although the Bible abruptly brings us the bad news after a perfect beginning, God chooses to create the Good News. This Good News is bound up in the presence of the life, death and resurrection from the grave of God’s Son, Jesus of Nazareth.

Paramount in our understanding of this Good News is that Jesus is eternal and a co-equal with God. Our Tripartite God of Father, Son and Holy Spirit in past eternity agreed to the salvation of fallen man. Jesus, as the Son, agreed to become incarnate to provide for this salvation. Paul properly outlines this for us in Philippians 2:5-11. (Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,  in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.) At the heart of this scripture is the understanding that Jesus enters time and temporarily surrenders the use of His Godly powers primarily for the salvation of mankind. As Jesus of Nazareth, He is clearly God and clearly man. He is therefore of two natures. He is not a created being but is God incarnate, simply a human manifestation of the invisible God.

It is this miraculous happening that was announced by the angels to the shepherds in the hills of Judea at the time of His birth. This is the Good News. It is news of great joy that is not limited to one group of people or for one specific time. This announcement deals with the universally bad news of sin. Man’s choice of separation from God can be remedied by this Good News.

The central focus of this Good News is Jesus as the Christ of God. He and He alone is the focus of redemption. He is the solitary means and way into the presence of God for eternity. This narrow, less traveled road is difficult but careful consideration reveals its merit for this life and the life to come. The true awareness of the truth of this statement is not confined to the intellect but involves the soul. Such understanding is a gift from God. The gift of faith is awarded when we realize who we are in contrast to who God is. God is holy. We are fallen. We cannot go to where God is on our own. God in love sends Jesus to where we are to bring us new life.

Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”

“Which ones?” the man inquired.

Jesus replied, ” ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’^] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

We have spent the last many Sundays distinguishing between the outcome of sinners. Sinners come in two varieties, lost and saved. The saved variety have come to understand that they are separated from God for eternity unless they recognize and declare Jesus as their Savior. Having been crushed by their sin and led by the Holy Spirit, they seek relief by turning to God through Jesus. The Bible’s clearest illustration of this is the penitent thief on the cross who turns to Jesus as they both hang there dying. He requests that Jesus remember him when He comes into His Kingdom. As the result of this faith response, Jesus said “Today you will be with me in paradise.” It is clear that faith in Jesus to save him is the necessary attitude. The non penitent thief expresses no faith in Jesus as Savior and is therefore separated from God’s salvation. The latter must stand a judgment for his sins. The penitent thieves’ sins are judged on Jesus. Simply, he is saved.

Mark 10:17-18 (As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.) presents Jesus as questioning this man as to his knowledge of goodness. He calls attention to his reference to Jesus as “Good teacher.” Jesus question is, in light of the solitary goodness of God, “Do you recognize Me as being God?” If he did, this knowledge could only come from the Holy Spirit, otherwise, it is hidden from sinful man. (Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—) Both Matthew and Mark make it clear that he does not clearly know who Jesus is. (The Son of God.)

With this issue settled, his true understanding of who Jesus is, Jesus tells him to sell all he has and follow Him and be one of His disciples. The true central issue of his life becomes apparent. He has material wealth with which he cannot dare to part. He leaves in sorrow despite the fact that he has encountered the one who can lead him to eternal life.

The first issue is to deal with the rich man’s misconception about the law and salvation. He wrongly interprets that he has kept the law since a boy. Rather than this being a recommendation, it is in truth a feature that condemns him. No one but Jesus kept God’ law in perfection. The law was given to define sin and to demonstrate man’s sinfulness and his true need for a Savior. God’s demand is perfection in the keeping of the law. This is an impossibility for man.

In both Jewish and Christian religious thought, the rich man’s wealth was a gift of God. God could either enhance it or take it away. It was a gift to be used for God’s glory. Jesus recognized that wealth had become an idol for him and his allegiance to it was greater than his desire to intimately know God. He was unable to give it up as his main focus and to substitute God’s will in its place.

The rich man like the non-penitent thief on the cross was denied access to Jesus’ Kingdom. What are the salient points for us?  Lost sheep, the non-penitent thief and the rich man, remain lost. You cannot find your way into the Kingdom of God. You must be led to arrive safely in Jesus’ paradise. A lamb chop is about as close as most of us get to sheep. You find them in the butcher’s case in the Fall and then for only a short time. The meat has a heavier taste and is relatively expensive so there is perhaps not a great demand for it. Sheep are defenseless wanderers that must be led and protected. They are so helpless that if they roll on their backs with all 4 feet in the air, they will die of pneumonia unless righted in a short time.

So, the Bible calls us lost sheep in desperate need of a shepherd. It is not a very flattering picture. This lostness deals with our souls and speaks little of our intellects or worldliness.  It matters not where we stand in the world – rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief, lawyer, doctor, Indian chief. Without Jesus as our Shepherd, we cannot find our way into His Kingdom.

What is the central issue then for all who seek Kingdom entry? The critical issue to go from lost to saved is to contemplate what we are to do about sin, our disobedience to the wishes of God. If we realize that it is our disobedience to God’s will that separates us from God and this crushes us (our sin crushes us), God grants us faith in Jesus to be our Savior and Shepherd. He and He alone is the Way. God loves us all and desires that we spend eternity in His glory.

The issue is clearly not our own morality and goodness since we never can qualify. The stakes are too high. What is necessary to spend eternity in the presence of the perfect God is for us all to be perfected in our souls. This requires a miracle. This miracle is possible by the aspect of imputing our sins on to Jesus as our Savior and receiving His righteousness. This is all accomplished as the result of the love of God who readily gifts salvation to the humble, contrite and penitent sinner.

Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

The letters to the Corinthian church were written to clarify misunderstandings. After the original establishment of this church, confusion had seized them. So Paul’s words are to once more reveal God’s intentions. In his second letter, he explains what lies before them.

We find ourselves a little more than one month into a new year. For the present, our weathermen and women have done quite well for the Tennessee Valley. They told us to brace for snow and cold weather. As predicted, we had both. The ground remained frozen for many days in a row and this had not occurred in some few years. As I write this the prediction is for spring like weather for the next several days. The high is forecast for 56º-57º. We are forewarned not to be fooled for nature is nature. The source of our warmth is the sun and time must pass before a true spring will arrive and produce lasting new growth and renewal. The Bible warns us not to worship nature but rather to worship the God who stands behind it and served as its Creator.

Man’s predictions vary greatly in their accuracy. As a result we should clearly be wary of venturing into areas into which we have no experience or expertise. For example, how will the football Vols do this year? For the first time in years, Superman will no longer quarterback for one of our southern rivals. How will these ‘can’t miss’ freshmen prospects pan out? Whose off-field behavior will make it impossible for them to continue as an athlete? Suppose someone actually doesn’t make grades favorable enough to be eligible. We all know from observation or experience that the male teen’s mind is not hardwired for clearly rational decisions until it has aged into the 20s. The “can’t miss” in our society frequently do miss. Logically, we should be wary of our ability to foretell the future.

Paul has brought an entirely different way of thinking into the Greek culture of the Corinthians. The body was not merely evil as taught by the Greek philosophers, but  was God’s creation to house man’s essence, his soul. We all recognize that our bodies are temporary and terminate in death but our souls are eternal. They can never ‘not exist.’ As the adopted sons and daughters of God by the salvation of Jesus, our souls immediately go to the presence of Jesus. In Gods time, we will be given new spiritual bodies to house both our souls and spirits for eternity. We will then go about the practice of glorifying God and praising Him forever.

The Corinthians had become confused as to the conduct of these happenings so Paul writes to clarify and to assure. He then pens the important 10^th verse of chapter 5. (For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.) Notice that it speaks of the judgment seat of Christ. Judgment is always an anxiety producing word for we are all plagued with the guilt of disobedience. We are aware of God’s standard of purity and how miserably we fail it on certain occasions. What is imperative for us to understand is that this scripture has nothing to do with sin. Those appearing before the Bema of Christ have been absolved of the penalty of their sin. It was punished on the body and soul of Jesus on the cross in the past. This was the Good Friday event that the Gospels so clearly describe. Double jeopardy for forgiven and punished sin is not the desire of God. It does not happen. The nature of this appearance before Jesus is review and reward.

When we lost sinners come into the adopted family of God, we become indwelled by the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit dwells on the throne of our hearts. From here He directs, informs, leads, encourages and corrects us in our efforts to become more like Jesus. Simply, we become more holy as Jesus is holy. As the Holy Spirit seats Himself to rule and direct us, He gives us gifts. These gifts are to be used for the glorification of God. These are spiritual gifts to be used for the good of God’s Kingdom. We are each given a gift or more than one gift to build up the Kingdom of God in this life. God considers these gifts to be of equal merit and they are not to be used in a selfish fashion but for the glory of God. It is our utilization of these gifts and not our sins that is to be judged at this time. The question seems simple, “What did you do with what I gave you?” Reward will be given or withheld depending upon our actions in this life. Our works will be tested to determine our motives and our diligence. Failure at this time will prompt tears and regrets but not expulsion from God’s presence. We are there based on the righteousness of Jesus and not our own. What will the reward be? A greater role and responsibility in this Kingdom for eternity.

The question for each of us is “What is your gift or gifts?” It is not to be hoarded or used for yourself alone. It is to be put to work for the glory of God and His Kingdom.

The Coming of the Lord

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

We may like change and excitement, but most have a fondness for both stability and predictability. Not knowing or perceiving what is next is anxiety producing. A little knowledge of the future has a tendency to calm the nerves and promote tranquility.

I have previously related my abrupt call to active duty with the Army in November 1961. I was in my 2^nd year of post graduate training at U.T. Hospital and we had just moved into a small rental home in South Knoxville. The evening mail informed me of my immediate call to active duty and after three weeks of basic training at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. I was slated to serve 13 months in Korea. The group with which I was called consisted of 90-100 physicians also in the midst of training. In the midpoint of this period of training, an officer appeared in one of our classes to read a list of names of individuals with a change in orders from overseas assignments to stateside. The names were read in alphabetical order. Being a denizen of the end of the alphabet, I waited less than patiently to see if I was in the number with changed orders. Would the list be completed before reaching the “W’s” or would I be called at all? “Wender, Charles M., changed to Fort Eustis, Virginia.” It was a moment of grace. I would not be separated from my family for 13 months.

If it was really true that a monkey seated at a typewriter in Washington, D.C., made all the military decisions and typed out the documents, I was and still am grateful for his or her help.

The Thessalonian letters were written by Paul to a house church or churches who were suffering persecution for being Christian. His purpose was both to instruct and to strengthen. Persecution could easily be avoided if they were willing to denounce Jesus as their Savior and Lord. The stakes were obviously high and the dangers significant. To alleviate their anxiety, Paul reinstructs them concerning special issues. A universally special issue for each and every generation is, ‘What is my fate when I die?’

Inherent in all of our make-ups is the still soft voice that whispers that we are eternal. (Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.) Our souls last forever. Fortunately, most do not linger on the subject of their own bodily demise. This is handled best by planning and not denial or diffuse anxiety. Paul wants the Thessalonians to know what to expect and anticipate so they may keep their goal before them. We immediately sense that if this is an advisement for them as believers, it pertains to us as well. So, we need to review what we have stressed the last few weeks.

The confessing thief on the cross was promised that he immediately upon death would be taken to the presence of Jesus. “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” An amazing transition was to occur in a period of minutes and he would go from lost to saved to perfect based upon his faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. He was justified (cleansed) based on faith alone and had no good works counted to his credit.

In contrast, we reviewed the fate of the nonbeliever who makes no faithful response to Jesus as Savior. He was not ushered by angels to the presence of Jesus but instead was relegated to Sheol as a temporary resting place for the soul of the lost. Ultimately, he or she will be called before the Throne of God for a judgment of sin which still rests on their souls. This is the Great White Throne Judgment for those who have declined Jesus as Sinbearer. Since their sin has not been paid for they will be judged guilty and are sentenced to eternal separation from God. They are destined to be separated from God for eternity.

Today’s scripture deals with the rapture of the saved, the truth believing church who are resurrected bodily to be with their Savior. Their eternal souls are given spiritual bodies fit for the presence of God for eternity. The promise for the true follower of Christ is the resurrection of body, soul and spirit to be with the Trinity of God for eternity. This resurrection precedes the outpouring of God’s wrath against sin and the world.

Our acknowledged identification with the dying Christ has resulted in a miraculous transfer of our sin to Jesus and His righteousness to us. We encounter no further jeopardy for our sin in judgment (Christ is sufficient) and we are the adopted sons and daughters of God.

Paul goes further and reveals what was taught him by the Holy Spirit years ago in a wilderness setting. Following the rapture of the saved, the believing church to the presence of the Savior, a separate judgment occurs. This is not a judgment for sin since it was punished on Jesus 2000 years ago. The issue is different and serves as our next issue to review.

The whole purpose of Paul’s relating this to the Thessalonians and us is that it overcomes the anxiety of this world and the next. You must however desire and seek Jesus as Savior and Lord in this life.

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”  Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

The Fellowship of the Believers

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.

Last Sunday we looked at the judgment of those who reject Jesus as Lord and Savior. This is known as the Great White Throne Judgment.  Such a judgment is for those whose misdeeds (sins) rest on their soul and were not punished on Jesus 2000 years ago. Everyone appearing before this judgment will be found guilty and will be separated from God for eternity. What is not apparent to some now and in their lifetimes will then become painfully obvious. God is the source of light, life, goodness, grace and mercy. Judgment that separates one from God results in darkness, isolation, depression and hopelessness. The contrast results from being in or out of fellowship with God through Jesus Christ. One who rejects God’s offer of salvation and escape from his sins will be allowed to pursue eternity as they have their earthly, lives separated from God.

What is next for those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior and step out from secular society and embrace fellowship with God the Father through Jesus the Son? What happens to you in this life once you are redeemed and reborn in the image of Jesus? This is shown us in the description of the early church.

In the past a favorite 30 minute TV entertainment was Taxi. If home at that hour, Hollins and I usually watched and laughed. It was funny, sometimes surprising and the cast was sprinkled with actors who subsequently became successful in their craft. The set was simple and usually focused on a dispatching station where the drivers assembled. One of these drivers was Jim, a onetime preacher, whose comments and expressions assured you that his previous lifestyle of drugs and alcohol had destroyed a major portion of his brain. His off-the-wall statements and antics were funny and never expected. In one episode the taxi company was entertaining important guests and the scheduled entertainer did not arrive. To everyone’s horror, Jim began to do little party tricks such as gargling, etc. His peers were mortified. He sat down at the piano and began to play “Twinkle-Twinkle Little Star” with one finger but suddenly began to play classical music with grace and feeling. The look on Jim’s face revealed his surprise and he gushed out, “I must have had lessons.”

Peter, in his Pentecost Sermon, makes a very important disclosure in Acts 2:38 (Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.) The reborn sinner is gifted the Holy Spirit which comes to reign on the throne of the believer’s heart. It is this gift that is the assurance of salvation and rebirth and the source of direction, teaching and counseling.  You are marked for God by God. In addition, the Holy Spirit gifts talents to believers. This is borne out in the fellowship, teaching, prayer and other important roles of the church. Simply, the church membership is empowered with gifts to provide for the membership in particular and the world in general.

Not everyone is given the same gift so we find leaders, teachers, administrators, workmen, guides and the like. Scripture makes it clear that no one gift is superior to another and is essential for the well-being and the mission of the church.

Without either overlooking or embarrassing by omission or attention, I can see those who have these special gifts that are used and gifted freely. It is the utilization of these gifts collectively that advances God’s Kingdom. Very simply, this life is not primarily about us but about God.

Coach Bobby Bowden just recently retired as the head coach for Florida State University. He retired with some reluctance. I saw an interview with him several months ago and he indicated that he was reticent to retire because the only next large event following such would be his exit.

We previously explored the fate awaiting those who shun Christ and the judgment of their sin before the Great White Throne. What awaits the one who has trusted Christ and has been reborn in His image? We will appear before Jesus for a judgment but it will not be for our sins. There is no double jeopardy before God. If Jesus is your Lord and Savior, your sins, my sins, were judged and punished on His body and soul 2000 years ago. We appear for a different reason.

We will in the future explore this.

Christianity is to be practiced in fellowship. The church community is God’s choice for His worship and activity in this world. We are empowered for service by the Holy Spirit and it was upon the assembled believers that God’s Spirit fell and ignited the fire of Christian witness and service. Our spiritual gifts are not for our own benefit but are to be directed to the benefit of others. It is in service to others that we pay honor and homage to God.