Jim Wilson's Blog, page 5

God’s Interest in Everyone

Have you ever noticed that God expresses a personal interestin everyone? Here are a few of those statements:

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as someunderstand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, buteveryone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

“This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all mento be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God andone mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as aransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time” (1 Timothy 2:3-6).

He has given us some commands to obey concerning everyone:

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers,intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone” (1 Timothy 2:1).

“Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or thechurch of God—even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am notseeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved” (1Corinthians 10:32-11:1).

“And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he mustbe kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he mustgently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading themto a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escapefrom the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will” (2Timothy 2:24-26).

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the propertime we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we haveopportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong tothe family of believers” (Galatians 6:9-10).

We find we are to pray for, to be kind to, to not stumble,and to please all people; all of this is part of the means of their salvation.We are also to be good to everyone. 

Are we obeying God in practice and with the salvation of allpeople in mind?

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

Politics vs. Gospel

Dear X,

You said in your last letter that you were most sociallyactive in terms of things like the war, racial problems, and other issues thatcan be affected by taking political action.

I am sure you realize that John Wesley declared that it isno Gospel if it is not at the same time a social Gospel. “First as a greatevangelist and then as a zealous reformer, Wesley grappled with such greatsocial issues as ignorance, education, money, war, poverty, liquor, andslavery. These problems he tackled with holy zeal.”

J.W. Bready, a Christian historian, said, “If Wesley andWhitefield spent their careers as social reformers, they would have liveddisillusioned and died heart-broken men. From their efforts, however, emergedthe most profound political and social achievements, thus illustrating history’s central truth that the changingof the hearts of men is ever the surest road toward lifting the level ofhuman society.”

I would agree with you in most cases about the great socialneed in our society. But I don’t think we should go at it backwards.

In Christ,

Jim Wilson

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

A Malignancy Medicine Can’t Heal

Dear Susan,

I want to thank you for raising your son so well. He is awonderful husband and a great father. I understand that his decision to leavethe medical profession in order to be a pastor was a disappointment to you. Ican understand why. The medical profession is held in high esteem all over theworld, and the pastor’s income is small compared to a doctor’s.

I thought I could shed some light on his reasons. I made asimilar decision when I was 29 years old. I had a professional education to bea naval officer, and I practiced it for 6½ years. I had a wife and threechildren with a well-paying job.

During those years on active duty, I saw thousands ofimmoral, profane officers and men. While on active duty, I was able to helpperhaps 100 of them become moral men. These men were otherwise healthy andintelligent. But spiritually they were sick with a malignancy that the medicalprofession could not cure.

I had been cured of this evil my second year at the U.S.Naval Academy. I knew intellectually, and spiritually, the solution to theirproblems (including marriage).

For the next five years after resigning from the navy, Itravelled to all of the academies—navy, army, air force, coast guard, merchantmarine, plus several other military schools including the Royal MilitaryCollege in Canada. Men’s lives were changed everywhere I went. For the nextfive years, I spent most of my time at the U.S. Naval Academy. The last fortyyears, I have been working at civilian colleges.

The first twenty years of my life, I tried being good.Compared to others, I succeeded. I did not drink, smoke, use profanity or evenslang, or have sex. The last two years of that twenty was in the Navy. I wasbetter than most people, knew it, was pleased with it, and took credit for it.I was not happy, joyful, nor at peace. That story is told in my booklet Saved from Being Good.

If I had had cancer and heard of a simple, free cure forcancer and took it and was cured, I would want to tell everyone who had cancerof this simple and free cure.

However, if I thought that I should not force my experienceon anyone else and therefore told no one, it would be immoral of me. I would beobligated to spread this good news.

I am going to quote some scripture to you, some from Jesusand some from St. Paul. I am not expecting you to obey these, because no onecan obey them. I want you to know what they are and know that even if youwanted to you couldn’t obey them.

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good tothose who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someonetakes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone whoasks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do toothers as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, whatcredit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. And if you dogood to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what creditis that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full.But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting toget anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of theMost High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, justas your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:27-36).

St. Paul wrote, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done,but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth andrenewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through JesusChrist our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might becomeheirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I wantyou to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may becareful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellentand profitable for everyone” (Titus 3:5-8).

God is going to judge us by His standard, not by ours. Hedoes it by an absolute standard, not by a comparative standard. This may notmake sense to you.

I could not live by God’s standard, and your son could not.So we both called on His grace and mercy.

St. Paul wrote, “You see just at the right time, when wewere still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). “But Goddemonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christdied for us” (Romans 5:8). “He was delivered over to death for our sins and wasraised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:25).

Christ died for the ungodly. He loved and died forsinners. It is necessary to be ungodly in order to go to heaven. Christdid not die for good people. Good people do not need forgiveness. St. Paulwrote, “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). “For all havesinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “The wages of sin isdeath, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”(Romans 6:23).

No one naturally can live a righteous life.

When your son received Christ, he received a new nature.When that happened, it was then possible to live a righteous, holy life with adesire to live it. He married a woman whose life had also been changed when shereceived Christ.

You might not understand why they do what they do, but youmust know that they are happy and loving to everyone. They do not do this justby choice, but because they have the fruit of the Spirit which is described inGalatians 5:22: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” These aregifts from God, not earned or deserved.

I realize you might be upset by this letter. You know thatyour son has something in his life that you do not have and did not give to him.This is something good that came from God.

God loves you because He is love and has love for everyone.

With love,

Jim Wilson

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

The Only Way

Among nominal Christians, some world religions, and evensome real Christians, there is a belief that many ways lead to God.

Here are three verses that followers of the Way shouldmemorize and meditate on:

Jesus: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and thelife. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6).

Peter: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is noother name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

John: “No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoeveracknowledges the Son has the Father also” (1 John 2:23).

There is no wiggle room in these Scriptures. They are eithertrue or false.

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

A Comprehensive Commission

“Then he opened their minds so they could understand theScriptures. He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Christ will suffer andrise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sinswill be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem’” (Luke24:45-47).

This is a comprehensive commission. It includes:

•           the person:Christ

•           theresources: the power of God

•           theobjective: all nations

•           themessage: the suffering, burial, and resurrection of Christ

•           the means:the preaching of repentance and forgiveness of sins

•           thestarting point: Jerusalem.

It seems to be fairly common in the churches since thecommission was given to leave out some of the content, either in belief or inpractice. Please take an inventory of your life as a Christian and see if youbelieve and practice this commission. What have you left out?

This post coordinates with tomorrow's reading in the SamePage Summer Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily readingplan, please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading withus.

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

Avoiding Commands We Don’t Want to Obey

We Christians spend a lot of time figuring out the meaningof Scripture verses which are not very clear on the surface. What are we goingto do with these verses after they are understood?

a)         Believethem?

b)         Obey them?

c)         Teach themeaning to someone else?

d)         Debate themeaning with someone else?

Normally the vote goes to c) and d).

What about the verses which are very clear? Options c) andd) then are not part of the multiple choice; everyone understands them. Thatmeans we are stuck with a) or b) or both. Here is a possible evasivealternative—read them fast and don’t meditate on them.

Here is a better sequence:

            Are theverses true?

            Are theyauthoritative?

            Thank Godfor them!

            Meditate onthem!

            Obey them!

Please practice on the following passage:

“Then Jesus said to his host, ‘When you give a luncheon ordinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your richneighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. Butwhen you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid atthe resurrection of the righteous’” (Luke 14:12-14).

You may ask, “Do I have to do this all of the time?” I amnot sure there is anyone with authority to answer your question. Of course, ifit is a rhetorical question, then you already have the answer.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

·      Have I ever obeyed these commands ofJesus?

·      How many times?

·      Do I want to obey?

·      Do I intend to obey?

·      If so, when?

·      If so, how many banquets am I willing to providefor how many people?

·      Or would I rather give money to a skid rowmission so they can obey this command for me?

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

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

Helping Others & Staying Out of Sin

“Brothers, if someone is caught in sin, you who arespiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may betempted” (Gal. 6:1).

“If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven– if there was anything to forgive – I have forgiven in the sight of Christ foryour sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware ofhis schemes” (2 Cor. 2:10-11).

The connection between these two verses of Scripture may notbe obvious. There are, I think, two connections:

1. “You who are spiritual” and “I have forgiven in the sightof Christ for your sake.” A spiritual person must be forgiven and forgiving.

2. “But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted” and “inorder that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”There is a parallel between watching yourself and being aware of Satan’sschemes.

Here are a few other Scriptures with similar warnings:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Puton the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’sschemes” (Eph. 6:10-11).

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, thatHe may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He caresfor you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around likea roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:6-9).

The first part of each of the verses above are a few reasonswe cannot help others: we are not spiritual, gentle, forgiving, strong in theLord, or humble.

The second part of each is why we fall: we do not watchourselves; we are outwitted, we are unaware; we are not alert.

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

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

Who Will You Imitate?

People are followers; people are imitators. They copy otherpeople in language, manners, dress, and conduct. This characteristic describes100% of the population—in other words, all of us. Initially, we do not get to choose whom we copy. We are borninto a certain family, in a certain culture. We imitate those who are olderthan we are and those we are next to. We have their language, accent, diet,clothing, and profession.

There is something common to all the cultures of the world.In the Scripture, it is called several things. One of them is “human tradition,”and the other is “the basic principles of this world.”

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow anddeceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principlesof this world rather than on Christ” (Colossians 2:8).

“Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of thisworld, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules?” (Colossians2:20).

“So also, when we were children, we were in slavery underthe basic principles of the world” (Galatians 4:3).

(But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how isit that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do youwish to be enslaved by them all over again?” (Galatians 4:9).

Another description is “the law of sin and death.”

“But I see another law at work in the members of my body,waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law ofsin at work within my members” (Romans 7:23).

“Because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of lifeset me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2).

“But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves tosin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted”(Romans 6:17).

“And that they will come to their senses and escape from thetrap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:26).

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared intheir humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power ofdeath—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Hebrews2:14-15).

It is human nature to imitate downward and not upward.

“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that youmust no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. Theyare darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God becauseof the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Havinglost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as toindulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more” (Ephesians4:17-19).

“They will be paid back with harm for the harm they havedone. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blotsand blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. With eyesfull of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they areexperts in greed—an accursed brood!” (2 Peter 2:13-14).

“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit thekingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolatersnor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves northe greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdomof God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

It does not have to be this way.

“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some whoare ignorant of God—I say this to your shame” (1 Corinthians 15:33-34).

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in theLord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in allgoodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord” (Eph.5:8-10).

These two passages both have to do with Christians living inthe presence of unbelievers. The first has to do with being influenced by theevil companions, the darkness. The second has to do with your life affectingthe darkness.

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

Differences in the Discovery of His Grace

Excerpted from The Narrative of Surprising Conversionsby Jonathan Edwards

These gracious discoveries given, whence the first specialcomforts are derived, are in many respects very various. More frequently,Christ is distinctly made the object of the mind in His all-sufficiency andwillingness to save sinners; but some have their thoughts more especially fixedon God, in some of His sweet and glorious attributes manifested in the Gospel,and shining forth in the face of Christ. Some view the all-sufficiency of themercy and grace of God; some, chiefly the infinite power of God, and Hisability to save them, and to do all things for them; and some look most at thetruth and faithfulness of God. In some, the truth and certainty of the Gospelin general is the first joyful discovery they have; in others, the certaintruth of some particular promises; in some the grace and sincerity of God inHis invitations, very commonly in some particular invitation in the mind, andit now appears real to them that God does indeed invite them. Some are struckwith the glory and wonderfulness of the dying love of Christ; and some with thesufficiency and preciousness of His blood, as offered to make an atonement forsin; and others, with the value and glory of His obedience and righteousness.In some, the excellency and loveliness of Christ chiefly engages theirthoughts; in some, His divinity, that He is indeed the Son of the living God;and in others, the excellency of the way of salvation by Christ, and thesuitableness of it to their necessities.

What glorious contemplations these seeking sinners had ofGod’s glorious way of redemption! In Psalm 85:10, we read, “Mercy and truth aremet together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” Here the harmonyof the divine attributes meet together at Calvary, manifesting the glory of Godin the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6).

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

Christ Will Do

Excerpted from The Narrative of Surprising Conversionsby Jonathan Edwards

Horatius Bonar tells of an awakened soul in Scotland who, inthe bitterness of his spirit, set himself to work and pray, in order to getpeace. He doubled the amount of his devotions, saying to himself, “Surely Godwill give me peace,” but the peace came not. He set up family worship, saying, “SurelyGod will give me peace.” But the peace came not.

At last he bethought himself of having a prayer-meeting inhis house, as a certain remedy; he fixed the night, called his neighbors, andprepared himself for conducting the meeting by writing a prayer and learning itby heart. As he finished the operation of learning it, preparatory to themeeting, he threw it down on the table saying, “Surely that will do; Godwill give me peace now.”

In that moment a still small voice seemed to speak in hisear, saying, “No, that will not do; but Christ will do.”

Straightway the scales fell from his eyes and the burdenfrom his shoulders. Peace poured in like a river. “Christ will do,” washis watchword ever after.

How many dear sinners today, under the burden of the wrathof God, think that by committing good deeds, they can atone for their sins. Howmany miss the way of salvation because they refuse to humble themselves andacknowledge that they can do absolutely nothing to merit the favor of God bytheir own acts of goodness. “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckonedof grace, but of debt, but to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him thatjustifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Rom. 4:4-5).

 

I will not work my soul to save

For that the Lord has done

But I will work like any slave

From love to God’s dear Son.

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