Jim Wilson's Blog, page 17

Get Forgiven Like Abraham. Obey Like Joseph.

God, in inspiring the Bible, went through the Creation, theFall, and the Flood all in eleven chapters. It is as if God was in a hurry toget to Abraham. Then with the next 38 chapters God goes into detail on Abrahamand the next three generations. Abraham was the “friend of God” and the fatherof the Jews and the Faithful. David is a “man after God’s own heart.” TheMessiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the son of David.

“What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefatheraccording to the flesh, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham wasjustified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. Whatdoes Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him asrighteousness.’ Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a giftbut as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God whojustifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. David says thesame thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God creditsrighteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose transgressions areforgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sinthe Lord will never count against them’” (Rom. 4:1-8).

This is a portion of one of the great chapters on salvationby faith in the finished work of Christ. There is another emphasis besides theone on faith.

“God who justifies the wicked” (verse 5).

“Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not countagainst him” (Psalm 32:2).

Abraham was wicked. So was David. Abraham gave hiswife away twice because of fear for his own life (although in both cases Godprevented anyone from touching her). David took another man’s wife.

Abraham was justified. David’s sin was not counted againsthim. this is the message of Romans. Wicked men can be saved, made righteous,and greatly used of God.

However, Abraham and David were not men of integrityafter their salvation. There were no holy men.

Joseph was. So was Daniel. Joseph was sold as a slave by hisbothers to slave traders from a foreign country to another foreign, pagancountry. He had no Bible; Genesis was not yet written. He had a father at homewho thought he was dead. His mother had died in childbirth when Joseph was achild. As a slave, his owner’s wife tried to seduce him. Here is his answer.“No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing fromme except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wickedthing and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9).

Joseph would not take another man’s wife. She tried thisdaily. He refused and avoided her. Finally, she grabbed his coat. He got out ofthe coat and ran. She lied. He was put in prison. He was godly in prison andgodly when he got out.

Daniel was taken captive by the Babylonians. He and a fewothers were given special treatment. They ate from the king’s table. It wasgreat food for Babylonians. It was unclean food for the Jews. “But Danielresolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked thechief official for permission not to defile himself this way” (Daniel 1:8).

Daniel still had his integrity in his old age. “No whenDaniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairsroom where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got downon his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before”(Daniel 6:10). For this he was thrown to the lions.

These life and death decisions were simple for Joseph andDaniel because the decisions were made long before the temptation occurred.

We should make decisions on principle on absolutes and makethem in advance. We should not wait and consider the pros and cons at the time.We should obey by grace and faith.

We get forgiven like Abraham and David. This isrighteousness.

We obey like Joseph and Daniel. This is holiness.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

Viewpoint & Repentance

Our view of God, our view of our own sinfulness (or our ownrighteousness), and our view of the sinfulness of others all have an effect onhow and when we repent.

David had a greatview of God’s mercy and unfailing love and a great view of his own sin.

“Have mercy on me, OGod, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blotout my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me, against you, youonly, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are provedright when you speak and justified when you judge” (Psalm 51:1-4).

A simple parable presented by Nathan, the prophet, broke Davidinto repentance.

Job had a great viewof his own righteousness and a great view of God’s injustice to him.

“As surely as Godlives, who has denied me justice, the Almighty, who has made me tastebitterness of soul, as long as I have life within me, the breath of God in mynostrils, my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will utter nodeceit. I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny myintegrity. I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it; myconscience will not reproach me as long as I live” (Job 27:2-6).

Elihu spoke to Jobfor five chapters and God for four chapters before Job broke down inrepentance.

“My ears had heard ofyou but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent indust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6).

Jonah had a greatview of God’s graciousness and love and his own hatred for the Assyrians, theNinevites.

“But Jonah was greatlydispleased and became angry. He prayed to the Lord, ‘O Lord, is this not what Isaid when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish.I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger andabounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O Lord, takeaway my life, for it is better for me to die than to live’” (Jonah 4:1-4).

Job did not want God to forgive Nineveh. There is no clue inthe text that Jonah ever repented, though God continued to reach out to Jonah.(We can assume that Jonah repented, however, because presumably he wrote thebook of Jonah.)

We know of people who think they are too bad to be forgiven;others who think they are too good and do not need forgiveness; and others whothink others are going to hell and should not be forgiven.

“But where sinincreased, grace increased all the more” (Romans 5:20).

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

The Lord's Discipline

“My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do notresent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father theson he delights in” (Proverbs 3:11-12).

“And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragementthat addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, ‘My son, do not makelight of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone heaccepts as his son.’ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as hischildren. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are notdisciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, nottrue sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers whodisciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit tothe Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as theythought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may sharein his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Lateron, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those whohave been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:5-11).

“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnestand repent” (Revelation 3:19).

This is a truth that is emphasized in a breadth ofScriptures. The LORD disciplines those He loves. This discipline is notpleasant. He does it for our good. It results in sharing in God’s holiness,righteousness, and peace.

Psalm 32:1-5. Picture this:

Salvation:

“How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whosesin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not imputeiniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit!” (vv. 1-2).

Discipline:

“When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted awaythrough my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy uponme; my vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer” (vv. 3-4).

Response to the discipline is confession of transgressionand forgiveness as a result:

“I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did nothide; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’; and You forgavethe guilt of my sin” (v. 5).

Many Christians are under the discipline described in verses3 and 4, yet they will not repent and confess! They are missing the joy theyonce had. So they are not receiving the forgiveness, joy, or sharing in God’sholiness, righteousness, and peace.

This post coordinates with today's reading in the Tothe Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan,please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

Constant Victory

I came across the followingpoem (prayer) and devotional in Amy Carmichael's book Edges of His Ways:

 

Before the winds that blow docease,

Teach me to dwell within thycalm;

Before the pain has passed inpeace,

Give me, my God, to sing apsalm.

Let me not lose the chance toprove

The fulness of enabling love.

O Love of God, do this forme;

Maintain a constant victory.

 

Before I leave the desertland

For meadows of immortal flowers,

Lead me where streams at thycommand

Flow by the borders of thehours,

That when the thirsty come Imay

Show them the fountains inthe way.

O love of God, do this forme;

Maintain a constant victory.

 

"This prayer was writtenfor the ill, and for the tired. It is so easy to fail when not feeling fit. AsI thought of them, I also remembered those who, thank God, are not ill and yetcan be hard-pressed. Sometimes in the midst of the rush of things, it seemsimpossible to be victorious, always to be peaceful, always to be inwardlysweet. Is that not so! Yet that and nothing less is our high calling. So theprayer is really for us all." – Amy Carmichael

"But thanks be to God,who leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreadseverywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him" (2 Corinthians 2:14).

Because we are Jesus Christ’s,we have victory in Him, regardless of circumstance. Let us choose to live in Christ's victory today. God bless you.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

Fellowship & Division

During my 69 years of being a Christian,* Ihave been blessed in knowing thousands of believers in Christ. This blessing,however great, has had a little darkness in it.

The darkness was not in the unity of thebody—that was the blessing. The darkness was the differences the Christians hadwith each other. The differences were on many things, including baptism(different forms or meanings) and theology (Reformed, Dispensational, Wesleyan,Pentecostal, German Lutheran, Swedish Lutheran, Missouri Synod Lutheran, etc.They would not allow communion to someone whose church was in a different synodor denomination.)

Is there a common basis for fellowship in theBible?

There is a basis for breakingfellowship. Unconfessed immorality is one reason. “But now I am writing to youthat you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister butis sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard orswindler. Do not even eat with such people. What business is it of mine tojudge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?” (1 Cor.5:11-12).

Titus 3:10 is another: “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. Afterthat, have nothing to do with them.”

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watchout for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that arecontrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them” (Rom. 16:17).

We are to stay away from those who causedivisions.

There are many unbiblical reasons fordivision. I am writing this to help you recognize if you are part of theproblem. Our basis for fellowship with each other is this basic truth:

“Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remindyou of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you havetaken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the wordI preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received Ipassed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sinsaccording to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on thethird day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and thento the Twelve” (1 Cor. 15:1-5).

 

*Written June 2017.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

Responsibility in Evangelism

Here are a few thoughts on evangelism.

There is a key responsibility placed upon the unbeliever:

“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now hecommands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).

This is a command to all people everywhere. However,all people everywhere have not heard this command.

Let's look at the responsibility placed on the believer:

“For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will besaved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And howcan they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hearwithout someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they aresent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring goodnews!’ But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says,‘Lord, who has believed our message?’ Consequently, faith comes from hearingthe message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans10:13-17).

“To open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light,and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness ofsins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:18).

“Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupidarguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant mustnot be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant themrepentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come totheir senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captiveto do his will” (2 Timothy 2:23-26).

“Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatchingthem from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even theclothing stained by corrupted flesh” (Jude 22-23).

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation hascome: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciledus to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: thatGod was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sinsagainst them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We aretherefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal throughus. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians5:17-20).

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heavenand on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of allnations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of theHoly Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Andsurely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’” (Matthew 28:18-20).

These few sections are very heavy on the responsibility ofthe believers. They are the ones who are sent to bring good news. They are theones who make disciples, who turn them from the power of Satan to God, whosnatch men from the fire, who are kind and gentle, who have the ministry andthe message, and who implore on Christ's behalf to be reconciled to God.

Please reconsider whether any of these responsibilitiesdescribe you.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

Nations in Sin

The Bible speaks of the sins of wholenations in many places. Here is one of them:

“This is what the Lord says: Forthree sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath…” (Amos 2:6).

Scripture also speaks of the sins ofcities (e.g., Amos 1:3, 6). Jesus spoke of judgment on Chorazin and Bethsaida in Matthew 11:21 and of possible judgment onfive of the seven churches in Asia inRevelation 2 and 3. The collective sins of the people brought about thesejudgments.

The people of the Church today arenot known for confessing their sins. We are even less known for confessing thesins of the whole church or city or nation as Daniel did in Daniel 9:

“Lord, the great and awesome God, whokeeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments,we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we haveturned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servantsthe prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and ourancestors, and to all the people of the land.

“Lord, you are righteous, but thisday we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants ofJerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where youhave scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. We and our kings, ourprinces and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinnedagainst you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we haverebelled against him; we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws hegave us through his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your lawand turned away, refusing to obey you.

“Therefore the curses and swornjudgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured outon us, because we have sinned against you. You have fulfilled the words spokenagainst us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under thewhole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem.Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us,yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sinsand giving attention to your truth. The Lord did not hesitate to bring thedisaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet wehave not obeyed him.

“Now, Lord our God, who brought yourpeople out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name thatendures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. Lord, in keeping withall your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem,your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors havemade Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.

“Now, our God, hear the prayers andpetitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on yourdesolate sanctuary. Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see thedesolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of youbecause we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord,forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because yourcity and your people bear your Name” (Dan. 9:4-19).

As far as we know, Daniel was notpersonally guilty of the sins he confessed.

This post coordinates with today's reading in the Tothe Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan,please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

Three Prayers

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for eachother so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful andeffective” (James 5:16).

“This service that you perform is not only supplying theneeds of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks toGod” (2 Cor. 9:12).

“All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that isreaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the gloryof God” (2 Cor. 4:15).

These three verses have something in common. It is prayer.

James 5:16 tells us of the quality of prayer or, rather, thequality of the man who prays for healing. The next two verses tell of thequantity of men who thank God. 2 Corinthians 9:12 speaks of God’s people whoare grateful, having had their physical needs met by those who had given. Thisresults in “overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.”

2 Corinthians 4:15 is speaking of the salvation of more andmore people. This causes “thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”

Praying for the sick, giving to the poor, preaching thegospel to the lost! The church on the whole is weak in all these areas.

This post coordinates with today's reading in the Tothe Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan,please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

Transferring Dirt or Getting Clean

The Scripture that has been in my mind a good part of theday is Haggai 2:11-13:

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests whatthe law says: If someone carries consecrated meat in the fold of their garment,and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food,does it become consecrated?’ The priests answered, ‘No.’ Then Haggai said, ‘Ifa person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, doesit become defiled?’ ‘Yes,’ the priests replied, ‘it becomes defiled.’”

Notice this! Defilement, uncleanness, and dirt can betransferred. Cleanliness cannot be transferred. If I pour clean water intodirty water, does that make the dirty water clean? No! If I pour dirty waterinto clean water, does that make the clean water dirty? Yes! If I have dirtyhands and shake your clean hand, do I transfer dirt to you, or do you transferclean to me?

Dirt is transferred!

“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character'” (1Cor 15:33).

Washing gets rid of dirt.

“And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, youwere sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and bythe Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11).

 

Written December 2010.

This post coordinates with today's reading in the Tothe Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan,please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

Getting Free from Besetting Sin

There are only two things you can do at any given time: obeyGod or disobey Him. Obeying God and confessing your sin when you disobey iscalled walking in the light: as soon as you get in the darkness, you confessyour sin and get back in the light.

My book How to Be Free: More Essays on Christian Livingis about how to be free from besetting sins and obey God. It covers differenttopics like depression, worry, anger, low self-esteem, guilt, gossip, lying, acritical spirit, complaining, etc. It also talks about how to walk in thelight. The book is available at ccmbooks.org/bookstore and Amazon.

Sins do not travel in singles. If you have unconfessed sin,it sets you up for more sin. If you get into the habit of confessing sin, youwill not have to go through the ins and outs of obedience and confession somuch. Take care of sin when it occurs. Do not wait.

It is possible to walk in the light, which makes it easy toobey God. When you are walking in the light, you can rejoice always, you can beanxious for nothing, and you can give thanks in everything. You do not have tobe addicted to sin.

The best preventative for sin is being in the Word daily andchoosing to do what it says. If you are not reading your Bible daily, Iencourage you to join the To the Word! Bible Reading Challenge. You can findall the details at TotheWord.com. Do not worry that the plan has alreadystarted – just jump in with today’s reading, and catch what you've missed when the plan starts up again in September.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships