Holy Week: Thursday

THURSDAY OF HOLY WEEK: Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:7-39, John 13:1-17:26

And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."
Luke 22:31-32

What happened: The evening began in the Upper Room.  Jesus was with the disciples as He gave the incredible teaching known as the Upper Room Discourse (John 13-16). Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper.  Upon leaving the Upper Room, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane where He was arrested.  Later that night Peter denied knowing the Lord.

Key thoughts: So many things that took place that night that were of great importance that it is hard to pick one event on which to focus our attention.  Let’s consider one set of events that likely impacted Peter the most.

In the Upper Room, Peter insisted on his fidelity to Jesus, stating, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be."  Jesus, seeking to turn down the volume of Peter’s pride, replied, "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.  But [Peter] spoke more vehemently, ““if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!"" (Mark 14:29-31).

As most of us know, Peter denied Jesus exactly as Jesus foretold that he would.  And as most of us know, after Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus restored Peter (John 21:15-17).

Judas betrayed Jesus and Peter denied Jesus.  Why was Peter restored and Judas was not?  I believe the chief answer is found in Jesus’ words to Peter in Luke 22:31-32:

And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."

Because Peter was truly one of Jesus’ sheep (and Judas appears not to have been), Jesus prayed for Peter in conjunction with Peter’s denial. 

Application: Why do we not all end up like Judas?  Why are we who often fail, as Peter failed, forgiven and restored?  Because Jesus prays ceaselessly for His people (Hebrews 7:25). 

When we do not fail, and even when we do, and when we are forgiven and restored, let us remember it is not because we are so faithful. It is because Jesus prays for us!

Holy Week: Wednesday

WEDNESDAY OF HOLY WEEK: Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11, Luke 22:1-6

Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?" And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him. Matthew 26:14-16

What happened: Judas plotted to betray Jesus.

Key thoughts: The Bible does not tell us precisely why Judas betrayed Jesus, so we have nothing but speculation regarding Judas’s motivation for committing this highest act of treason. Might it have been that Judas felt like Jesus wasn’t moving fast enough, or deliberately enough, to overthrow the Romans and establish His earthy kingdom? Might Judas have reasoned that he could speed things up a bit? We really do not know. What seems unlikely is that Judas wanted Jesus to be crucified, otherwise, why would he have been sorrowful that Jesus was indeed being crucified (Matthew 27:3-5)? All we can do is speculate, and be careful not to allow our theories to become dogma.

Application: All of us, at times, and to varying degrees, are given to speculate about other people’s motives. That is dangerous business because we cannot see what is in other people’s hearts. And, by the way, we ought be thankful that other people cannot see our hearts either! We can take two applications from this:

First, let us be wary about thinking we can accurately judge other people’s motives because we can’t. And when we do, we usurp what is only God’s domain.

Second, let us not rationalize our misdeeds because we insist that “we meant well.” Doing what is wrong, with even the best of intentions, cannot excuse sin. Let us not forget Jesus word’s concerning Judas: “Woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born,” regardless of Judas’s intentions.

Holy Week: Monday & Tuesday

MONDAY & TUESDAY of HOLY WEEK: Matthew 21-26, Mark 11, Luke 19-21

Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. Mark 11:15

Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS’? But you have made it a 'DEN OF THIEVES.'" And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching. Mark 11:17-18

What happened: Two things: Jesus cleansed the temple of religious corruption and taught many things, including several key parables and the Olivet Discourse (about the destruction of Jerusalem).

Key thoughts: As the Great High Priest, Jesus demonstrated His disdain for religious corruption that enriches the elites on the backs of the common people. By teaching, Jesus exemplified the most important activity in worship and the role of those who lead: teaching the Scriptures.

Application: Let us never forget or downplay the danger of monetizing the Christian faith and/or our worship. While giving is a key component of Christian worship, when money is the focus—especially when it enriches some at the expense of others—it is sinfully wrong.

Likewise, let us learn from Jesus that preaching is the center-point of Christian worship. Let us remember that even the layout of the Church changed at the time of the Reformation, as biblical worship was rediscovered and reclaimed. The pulpit was prominently moved to the center. When an altar, or a so-called “praise band,” is the focus, the Church is again losing its way.

Holy Week: Sunday

This week we will consider the events of what is often referred to as Holy Week—what happened from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday. Two explanatory notes: (1) There are differences of opinion in exactly what took place on each specific day. (2) Much more could be said about each day than this blog is able to cover. Therefore these blogs will be general and inconclusive, but I trust thoughtful and helpful.

PALM SUNDAY: Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, John 12:12-19

“The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna! 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!' The King of Israel!" Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: "FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SITTING ON A DONKEY'S COLT." John 12:12-15

What happened: Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt commemorates His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Key thoughts: Jesus entered as King, not only of the Jews, but as King of kings. What happened was sadly misunderstood, as the joyful people believed that Jesus was coming merely as an earthly Messiah who would drive out the Roman oppressors and reestablish a new and improved kingdom, like that of David’s.

Application: People still misidentify Jesus every day! Common errors about Jesus include supposing that He was merely a teacher who came to show us a better way to live. Others erroneously insist that He came to make us healthy and wealthy.

Who is Jesus, and what did He come for? What happened that week tells the true tale. He came in humility to lay down His life by dying on the cross to pay the penalty for His people’s sins. He rose from the dead to defeat sin, death, and Hell for His people. The correct response: Believe in and love Him as Savior. Obediently follow Him as King of all kings and Lord of all lords!

Biblical Worldview: 101A (6)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2

What are some of the moral implications of being created in the image of God? I say some, because there are many more than a blog post can tackle. First, understand that bearing God’s image is not a material likeness because God is not a material being. Bearing the image of God is about mirroring God’s values and priorities as revealed in His Word the Bible.

Second, being created in the image of God means that we are not our own, and we are accountable to God, whose image we bear. Accountable in what way? Accountable to represent Him accurately. What good is a mirror that distorts your image? It is good only for the trash. Likewise, we are in trouble with God when we misrepresent Him (His values and priorities).

Third, our representation of God begins when we begin (conception), and ends when we die. It means representing His values and priorities every minute of every day we are alive. I’m only skimming the surface here, but here are some key issues in life in which this matters:

• Human life is sacred from the moment of conception. What does that say about abortion?

• Human life includes children. What does that say about how we raise, educate, and treat image bearers when they are children?

• Because all human beings are image bearers of God, every human being is to be treated with appropriate dignity. What does that say about civility and human rights?

• God says murderers are to be subjected to capital punishment (Genesis 9:6). Why? Because desecrating a human life is desecrating the image of God (same verse), and therefore a sin against God Himself. What does that say about capital punishment?

• Because human life is sacred, homicide (terminating a human life), even when it is not premeditated murder, is also a desecration of the image of God, and therefore a sin. What does that say about infanticide, suicide, and euthanasia?

Wrapping up this series on biblical worldview, the moral implications of the sanctity of human life are vast. And the sanctity of human life is but one area in which our worldview matters. We dare not think we have a biblical worldview if we do not think as God thinks (as revealed in the Bible).

I pray that you will join me in seeking to know what God thinks about everything (as revealed in scripture). Let us be transformed by the renewing of our minds to think as God thinks about everything. Let us identify where we do not, and cast off all thoughts that do not align with God’s (2 Corinthians 10:5). Then and only then can we say we have (and are continually developing) a biblical worldview.

Biblical Worldview: 101A (5)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2

We left off yesterday saying that worldviews are not something we always think about, but they are what we always think with. In other words, some people do not know what their worldview is, but it is revealed by what they think about everything. Others claim their worldview is one thing, but what they think about everything reveals that their worldview is not what they say it is. For example, a biblical worldview is not saying that one has a biblical worldview if one does not think biblically—no matter what they claim.

A biblical worldview is nothing more or less that thinking biblically about everything.

Every worldview has moral implications. Why? Because morality is something we all think about, whether we are aware of it or not. A biblical worldview is morally in step with what the Bible says about every moral issue.

A most fundamental issue is not simply that we believe that human beings are created in the image of God, but what it means that we are the image bearers of God. More pointedly, what are the moral implications of the fact that human beings are created in God’s own image?

Next time: Some moral implications of being image bearers of God.

Biblical Worldview: 101A (4)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2

While the Bible does tell us everything we need to know, it does not tell us everything explicitly. In other words, God’s Word does not give us a name of the person we are to marry. It does not give us the name of the company for which we are to work. It does not tell us the address of the house we are to live in. However, God’s Word gives us principles that, rightly understood and acted upon, lead us to do God’s will implicitly.

There are biblical principles that teach us what kind of person to marry (and not to marry!). There are more than enough biblical principles about living within one’s means that instruct us regarding financial responsibility, and the dangers of indebtedness that direct us to be wise regarding where we can afford to live. I trust that you understand the point.

This does require us not only to know the words in the Bible but also to understand the meaning and the biblical principles found throughout the Bible—and to make biblically wise choices.

What has this to do with having a biblical worldview? The Bible is more of a road map than a GPS. The GPS in our phones tells us every turn to make. A roadmap requires us to see that there is frequently more than one way to get somewhere, and that we are responsible to wisely choose the best route. So to have a biblical worldview, we need to know the Word of God, not as a GPS, but as a road map.

There is yet another crucial component to having a biblical worldview. It is not merely knowing what the Bible says (both explicitly and implicitly), it is having a true heart’s desire to live according to what the Bible says.

Whether one truly has a biblical worldview answers this question: “What difference does it make in our lives?” A biblical worldview is made up of a boatload of beliefs that we may not think about all day, every day, but they are beliefs we always think with all day, every, day. (I got that concept from John Stonestreet). Read that sentence again to be sure you understand it because it is that important.

I’ll explain that a bit more next time.

Biblical Worldview: 101A (3)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2

I hope that you are born again, and therefore indwelt by the Holy Spirit. I hope you are squared away with the first two questions of a biblical worldview: (1) Where did we come from? and (2) How will everything end? What is next?

Being saved and knowing the beginning and end of all things is an essential start, but developing and living by a biblical worldview does not end there.

Did you catch the word developing in the previous sentence? As mentioned in the previous post, each and every one of us is responsible to learn what the Bible teaches—about everything. Everything? Yes, everything. In the Bible God reveals everything we need to know about everything. Let me unpack that.

First, the Bible does not tell us everything we may want to know, but it does tell us everything we need to know. Isn’t that what 2 Peter 1:3 says, “[By] His divine power [God] has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” But we dare not miss what Peter says next (v.5): “…also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue [excellence], to virtue knowledge.”

We do not add anything to our faith to be saved, but we do need to add knowledge to saving faith to mature in our salvation. Why? Because we do not automatically know everything God has revealed in His Word because we are saved. Rather, because we are saved we can understand His Word, and we have a desire to know more and more of God’s will as revealed in His Word. It is not enough to believe the Bible is the inerrant (unable to err) Word of God, and be content to not know what it says. We must develop a biblical worldview by being life-long learners of God’s Word.

Second, God’s Word reveals everything we need to know, either explicitly or implicitly. More on that next time.

Biblical Worldview: 101A (2)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2

So you think you have a biblical worldview because you believe in God? That is only the beginning. There is much more to a biblical worldview than belief in God—though it starts there. Who is the God you believe in? The Bible declares that there are “lords many and gods many” (1 Corinthians 8:5). But there is only One true and living God, all others are “so-called” or false gods.

Is the God you believe in the God of the Bible? Sadly, many claim to believe in the God of the Bible, but they know precious little of what the Bible says about God. That sparse knowledge of what the Bible says about God is generously seasoned with false notions about God—notions that come from the world, false religions, and from our own imaginations.

Because God is infinite, there is a lot to learn about Him. Though we cannot know everything about God (in this life), we must never be satisfied with our level of knowledge about Him. Instead, we must always want to learn more in order that our belief in God is biblically accurate and that every false idea about God is purged from our thinking. The only way this is done is by continually reading the Bible and by listening to the Bible being taught every chance you can. How serious are you about that?

The next step is to ask ourselves, “What difference does my biblical worldview make in my life?” Having grown up in the church with a steady diet of Bible, I believed the biblical truths about God that I knew—but my beliefs (which were woefully incomplete) made precisely no difference in my life. I had knowledge but I was simultaneously content to live a sinful lifestyle. Why? I had a respectable amount of biblical knowledge, but I had zero biblical worldview. This is tragically true of many people who profess faith in God, and even in His Son, Jesus Christ!

The first step in this regard is to be born again by the Holy Spirit. Being born again comes with a changed heart and new affections. Unless you are sure you are born again, cry out to God to change your heart!

More next time…

Biblical Worldview: 101A (1)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2

As you may know, I listen to Al Mohler’s podcast, “The Briefing,” every day. I also listen to, “The World and Everything In It,” (TWEII) at least a few times each week. One of the features on TWEII that I consider most important is the talks with John Stonestreet. He is the president of “The Colson Center,” a ministry that focuses on Christian worldview issues. I want to share and comment on some points Stonestreet recently made on TWEII podcast.

“To be human is to have a worldview. It doesn't mean that everyone’s aware of their worldview, right? Everyone has one but we don’t talk much about them!”

I remember the first time I heard this truer-than-true concept many years ago. It was stated differently. “Worldviews are like belly buttons. Everybody has one, but few ever talk about them.” True enough. But maybe Christians should talk more about our worldviews. Why? Because unlike belly buttons, we need to be more aware of what our worldviews are. Why? So that we can actively see that our worldviews are biblical and that we are consistently living by them.

What is a worldview? In the simplest sense, one’s worldview answers two questions that are more important than most people might realize. According to Stonestreet, the beginning point of a worldview answers these two questions:

Where did we come from, and how is everything going to end?

There is certainly more to a biblical worldview, but there is not less! How do you answer those two questions? Some answer, “I don’t know, and don’t much care.” Others point to evolution and so-called random chance as a beginning, and war or an ecological disaster as a probable ending. Neither of these are biblical—not by a longshot!

A biblical worldview begins and ends with God. “In the beginning God created…” (Genesis 1:1). Everything begins with God. God created all things (except for Himself, as He is uncreated and self-existent). And the end? Time (as we know it) ends with the Second Coming of Christ and God’s final judgement. A biblical worldview understands that there is no actual “ending.” Rather, after God’s final judgment is eternity, either enjoying God’s unmitigated presence in Heaven, or suffering God’s righteous wrath in Hell.

Do you have a biblical worldview so far? More next time.

More thoughts on authority

And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Matthew 7:28-29

Speaking of authority, all believers need to know and be reminded that even in the Church (and in local churches) there are voices that tend to inflate their authority. And there are believers who submit inappropriately to authoritative voices that do not have authority.

There was a popular tract in the 70s that began: “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.” While that is true about God, sadly there is no shortage of well-meaning people who also “have a wonderful plan for your life.”

God’s Word has absolute authority. People who speak for God (whether pastors/elders or well-meaning friends) have no authority apart from the Word of God. (A limited exception is parents over children still in their homes.) When people speak the Word of God—accurately—the authority is God’s, not the speaker’s.

One of the surest marks that a group is “cultic,” (not necessarily a cult) is abuse of authority—dictating what people must do in matters about which God’s Word is not explicit. Let me give an example.

While God’s Word is explicit about honoring the Sabbath, not all believers are in agreement as to how to honor the Sabbath. We can say what God’s Word says about it, but we cannot do as the Pharisees did, adding our particular convictions about every detail of how others must honor the Sabbath. I use this as an example, but the lesson applies to a myriad of other matters.

Be careful about ordering your life based on what any preacher, teacher, or author says that goes beyond scripture, which alone is supremely authoritative.

Thoughts on authority

And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Matthew 7:28-29

The Sermon on the Mount (SotM) concludes with 7:27. But Matthew added an all-important footnote in (v.28-29). Let me share a couple of insights into this epilog:

The people were astonished by Jesus and this most important sermon. There are many things about the Sermon that no doubt shook the people who heard it. Jesus spoke about many things, even though touching each issue somewhat briefly. But according to Matthew, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, what astonished them most was the authority with which Jesus spoke.

Is that because the Jewish religious leaders did not speak with authority? Heavens no! They were very authoritative, especially when it came to brow-beating God’s people with their take on (and many additions to) God’s law. They were authoritative in condemning sinners and in exalting themselves as the most righteous of all people. Read the gospels and tell me they did not speak authoritatively!

But Jesus spoke with a different kind of authority. Old Testament prophets were accustomed to saying: “Thus says the LORD.” The common manner of Pharisaical teaching was to cite prophets and other teachers, which is why in the SotM, Jesus said: “You have heard it said,” referring to exalted teachers quoting each other. They did this to feign having authority.

Compare that with Jesus, who said “You have heard it said, BUT I SAY!” Jesus did not have to cite other experts to inflate the importance of His words. He didn’t even speak like the prophets who said, “Thus says the LORD!” NO! He said, “I SAY!” By doing this, Jesus was not only claiming the authority of His words. By saying, “But I Say,” He was claiming to BE THE LORD! That being true, what higher authority could there possibly be?

One last observation: Many of us have Bibles in which the words of Jesus are printed in red. There is nothing wrong with that. It can be helpful to quickly identify the actual words Jesus spoke. But it can also be unhelpful if we assign the words in red as having more authority than the rest of the Bible. Why? Because, “All Scripture [every word in the entire Bible] is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Let us hear and heed every one of the supremely authoritative words of God Almighty that make up the Bible!

Wisdom and foolishness

"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." Matthew 7:24-27

Three observations:

First, note that the two parties in the parable represent the wise and the foolish. In the Bible foolishness is not a mental problem, it is a spiritual problem.

Psalms 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."

Second, note that the wise and the foolish are characterized by where they built their houses. The wise built his house on a solid rock foundation, and the fool on a foundation of shifting sand. As the foundation goes, so goes the building! In the parable, building one’s house represents living one’s life.

How did Jesus identify the two foundations? A less than careful reading leads many to think the rock foundation is that of one who hears God’s Word, and the sandy foundation is that of one who does not hear the Word of God. But that is not what Jesus said. Jesus said both heard the Word of God. The difference is that the wise, rock foundation heard and obeyed God’s Word, whereas the foolish, sandy foundation heard God’s Word but did not obey it.

Let us not miss this. We dare not comfort ourselves because we attend a church where the Word of God is preached, if we do not obey what we hear—even though our obedience is imperfect. Neither let us comfort ourselves because we read the Bible—even regularly—if we are not seeking diligently to obey God’s Word.

Third, note that both houses experienced storms and even floods. Being saved and walking in obedience does not exempt anyone from difficulties in life. The difference between those walking in obedience and those who are not walking in obedience is not the presence or absence of life’s storms. The difference is in being able to endure the inevitable storms of life.

Remember that the context is the Sermon on the Mount, and that these last verses are the conclusion of the Sermon. In this Sermon, Jesus has been describing the lifestyle of citizens of the Kingdom of God. He has been describing Christian discipleship. Jesus’ conclusion is a sober reminder that it isn’t enough to hear (read) the Sermon. It isn’t even enough to understand and believe the sermon. The wise desire and make every effort to obey the teachings of the Sermons—and indeed the entire Word of God.

Separation from God?

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
Matthew 7:21-23

Having commented on good works that are in fact lawless deeds, allow me to conclude our consideration of these verses with a few thoughts about separation from God. There is no ultimate separation from God, even in Hell. Psalm 139:8 makes it clear that if we are cast into Hell, God is there. What then does it mean to be separated from God? We are can be separated from certain attributes and blessings of God.

As the image bearers of God, all human beings have a unique connection with God from the moment of our conception.

Before a person is saved, he is separated from God’s saving (redemptive) grace. The lost are not separated from God entirely, since God’s common grace is shed on all people as the suns shines and the rain falls on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45).

Once saved, the redeemed are transformed from children of darkness into children of light (Ephesians 5:8). And because the redeemed still sin, while our sin separates us from some aspects of God’s pleasure, blessing, and from the most intimate of fellowship, we are never separated from Him (Hebrews 13:5). The saved can never be severed from God’s redemptive love and grace (Romans 8:33-39).

But what of the lost after death? Aren’t they completely separated from God forever? No. Though the lost will ultimately be separated from the common graces of God that they enjoyed in life, they will never be separated from the righteous wrath of God. They will only wish they could be separated from God’s eternal wrath.

There is no complete separation from God.

Good works that are lawless deeds?

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
Matthew 7:21-23

There are two additional observations on this passage that I should like to comment on.

First, good works that are lawless deeds. The people insisting that they performed good deeds and/or engaged in religious practices were said by Jesus to be practitioners of lawlessness (KJV “workers of iniquity). What is up with that? Virtually everyone understands and agrees that a person’s bad deeds count against them. How is it that some good deeds count against a person as well?

Isaiah 64:6 says that “our righteousnesses are like filthy rags” before God who is holy and who commands us to be holy as He is holy. Because our best is never perfect, it falls short of God’s standard of judgment, which is perfection. Therefore, not only do our bad deeds count against us, so do our good deeds that are not done perfectly, including with pure motives (for God’s glory).

The only good deeds God approves of are those done by those who are “in Christ” that, though still imperfect, are done as acts of grateful and obedient worship in response to God’s grace in Christ. Therefore, no good or religious acts of non-believers can be considered righteous. Likewise, sadly, many righteous acts performed by the redeemed fall short as well.

Let us, therefore, seek to perform the good works Christ as prepared for we, the redeemed, to walk in (Ephesians 2:10).

Second, separation from God. Next time.

On Judgment Day: Will you be known by Jesus?

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
Matthew 7:21-23

On Judgement Day, all will be judged. Do not miss that Jesus is the Judge, for He said, “Many will say to Me in that day.” And He will pass the final judgment as He says, “And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me…”

Note also the ultimate basis of that judgment according to Jesus in this passage: being known by Jesus results in salvation, whereas not being known by Jesus results in damnation. No amount of righteous or religious works can save anyone—salvation is only found in being known by Jesus. This truth resounds in Jesus’ words in John 10:26-28:

But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

Jesus knows His sheep. His sheep believe in and follow Him with righteous living. Their righteous living does not make them known to Jesus, nor does it save them, nor adds anything to their salvation. Their righteous living serves, rather, to validate that they are known by Jesus, and that they know Him.

Those who are not known by Jesus are not His sheep. And they do not follow Him, no matter how religious they may be.

What does this tell you about Jesus? What does this challenge you to do?

Judging ourselves lest we be judged (and condemned)

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' Matthew 7:21-23

These verses speak of the most important judgment of all. They speak of Judgment Day—the day on which everyone will be judged with finality. Note who the Judge is: Jesus.

Note also that not everyone is saved. Jesus talks about those who are not saved—specifically about the unsaved who are surprised because they were sure that they were saved. What a dreadful day that will be for this group of people!

Though the text does not explicitly say this, there is an implicit warning that we need to judge ourselves so that we will not be condemned on Judgment Day. How are we to judge ourselves?

1. Have we responded correctly to the gospel in faith? Are we aware that we are sinners deserving God’s wrath? Knowing that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves, and that Jesus is the only way, have we trusted in Him alone?

2. Since receiving Christ by faith alone, have we lived our lives seeking to follow Jesus as Lord? None of us does this perfectly, but have our lives been lived in such a way that they testify that we are in fact saved? (It is not about perfection, but direction.)

Both of these are absolutely necessary. Apart from faith in Christ, no one is saved (John 3:16, 14:6). Apart from a changed life of discipleship, there is no assurance that a person’s faith is genuine (1 John 2:3-5).

Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:21-23 underscore the fact that salvation is not by works. Those being condemned in the passage are not condemned because of a lack of good works. Those in view did good works and Jesus did not dispute that. But He called them “workers of iniquity (unrighteousness)” (KJV). Why were there religious activities deemed unrighteous? Because they were done to earn salvation (which is impossible), instead of as the result of faith in, and love for, Jesus Christ.

Judgment Day is sure and it is final. Therefore, let us examine ourselves to see that we are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). And let us judge ourselves so that we will not be judged and condemned (1 Corinthians 11:31).

Judging those who speak for God

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Matthew 7:15-20

Once again, Jesus commands that we make judgments, particularly about those who allegedly speak for God. This applies to everyone who purports to speak for God. This is not limited to those who presume to call themselves or claim the office of Prophet. In our day we are wise to automatically doubt the veracity of anyone who claims to be a prophet in that sense.

Jesus’ words about judging those who speak for God applies to all preachers, teachers, and authors. It applies to counselors, and even friends or family members who offer counsel. How do we judge them? Here are five criterion:

First, in this passage Jesus calls us to “know them by their fruits.” Their fruits means two things: (a) the results of their words; and/or (b) the spiritual fruit (maturity) in their own lives.

Second, God warned in His law (Deuteronomy 18:20-22) that we are to judge the genuineness of a prophet who speaks about the future by whether what he says will come to pass actually comes to pass. So much for the majority of end times gurus. The penalty for false prophets who fail this test in the Old Testament was death!

Third, Isaiah 8:20 warns not to heed the words, of those who claim to speak for God, that are not according to the Word of God (the Bible), because “there is no light in them.” In other words, we are not to trust anyone who says anything that is not biblical.

Fourth and fifth, 1 John 4:1-6 gives two more tests: (a) If a person is wrong about Christ (God’s most complete and perfect “Word”), we are not to trust their words about any other spiritual matter. (b) Because the words of God are routinely rejected by the world, if the world heeds the words of a so-called prophet, we can be assured they are not God’s Words.

So, again, Jesus’ words, “Judge not” (Matthew 7:1) cannot mean that we are to make no judgments whatsoever. Clearly, Jesus’ words in the rest of the chapter (as well as the rest of the Bible), command us to make many judgments about many things. What we are not to do is condemn anyone since that job belongs to God alone!

Judging between two paths

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:13-14

This verse requires believers to be discerning to judge between two paths: the path than leads to destruction and the path that leads to life.

That many judge wrongly and end up on the path that leads to destruction—and only a few correctly chose the path that leads to life—serves as a sober warning that we must be very careful when making this judgment. The reason why the path that leads to destruction is so popular is that it appeals to the sinful nature in every naturally born person. The path to destruction promises happiness, never holiness.

The narrow path that leads to life is the path of faith in Christ and Christian discipleship. This path is less appealing to the natural man because it is not about happiness. It is the path that demands self-denial and a cross (Matthew 16:24). But it is the only path that leads to life (Matthew 16:25).

Besides making the right choice when it comes to following Jesus or not, even after we are saved we must choose between the paths numerous times every day. It’s called dealing with temptation. As I am sure every believer knows, Christians continue to be tempted by thousands of minor decisions throughout our lives, even after we have been born again and are following Jesus as Lord.

We must never stop exercising spiritual discernment in these judgments regarding these two paths this side of glory!

Instruction related to judging and judgment (Pt.1)

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 7:13-14

The rest of Matthew chapter seven may seem like disconnected thoughts on a sort of spiritual laundry list of dos and don’ts. They can be understood that way as far as applying the various verses of instruction, but we do not want to forget the context. To better do that, let me suggest that you read verses 6-27 (below) without verse divisions. Read it aloud if you can. Read it two or three times, asking the Lord to show you the big picture of what Jesus is saying (largely about judging and judgment).

""Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." Matthew 7:6-27

In the next few blogs we’ll consider each section in turn.