Jim Wilson's Blog, page 9

Glory to God in the Highest

Merry Christmas! When Jesus came to this earth, He did notcome alone. He was attended by a multitude of the heavenly host. How many thisis we do not know. It was a lot. “And suddenly there appeared with the angel amultitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying [not singing], ‘Glory toGod in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased’”(Luke 2:13-14).

There was a similar event recorded in Revelation, also aboutthe Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God.

“Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numberingthousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircledthe throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they weresaying: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth andwisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’ Then I heard everycreature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and allthat is in them, saying: ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb bepraise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’ The four living creatures said, ‘Amen,’and the elders fell down and worshiped” (Revelation 5:11-14).

Here it speaks of angels in myriads of myriads and“thousands of thousands.” A myriad is 10,000. Here it is plural, morethan one myriad of other myriads. If it were one myriad times one myriad, thatwould be 10,000 x 10,000 or 100 million. This was myriads of myriads, which isa minimum of 200 million plus thousands of thousands, millions more.

Jesus’ birth got praise to the Father and peace to men. Hisdeath got more praise in Heaven. That is the reason for the mass angelic praiseat His birth and after His death and for His death. The heavenly host did notsing here. This Christmas, let’s just say in unison what they said in unison.At Easter we can say, in unison, what the hundreds of millions said in Heaven.

The following is the reason for the birth and death of Jesus:

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared intheir humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holdsthe power of death—that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14).

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

At Home with the Lord

St. Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die isgain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor forme. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desireto depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessaryfor you that I remain in the body” (Philippians 1:21-24).

“We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away fromthe body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).

I am not anticipating going to be with the Lord imminently,but it will not be in the distant future.* I am ready to go. This readiness hasnothing to do with merits; I had none and have none.

“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived andenslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy,being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God ourSavior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, butbecause of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal bythe Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ ourSavior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirshaving the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:3-7).

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. Wehave seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father,full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

“You see, at just the right time, when we were stillpowerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for arighteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. ButGod demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners,Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).

“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 inslavery by their fear of death” (Hebrews 2:14-15).

This is what Christmas is all about.

 

*Written December 2008. Jim went to be with the Lord in2022. 

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

The Reason for Christmas

“Grace and peace to you from God our Fatherand the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from thepresent evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be gloryfor ever and ever. Amen” (Galatians 1:3-5).

“But when the time had fully come,God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law,that we might receive the full rights of sons” (Galatians 4:4-5).

These two verses give us the reasonfor Christmas:

·       to rescue us from this present evil age

·       to redeem those under the law so that we might receive thefull rights of sons

Rescue, redeem, receive, from “thepresent evil age” to “full rights as sons.”

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

Favorite Verses

Here are a few of my favorite verses in Scripture:

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

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers,so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory ofChrist, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

“The person without the Spirit does not accept the thingsthat come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannotunderstand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The personwith the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is notsubject to merely human judgments” (1 Corinthians 2:14-15).

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

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds aresteadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3).

“But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hiddenfaults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression” (Psalm 19:12-13).

“Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wiseby the standards of this age, you should become ‘fools’ so that you may becomewise” (1 Corinthians 3:18).

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestowsfavor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk isblameless. Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you” (Psalm84:11-12).

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”(Philippians 4:4).

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s willfor you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we willbe has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shallbe like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

There are many more.

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

The Glorious Riches of Christ

“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles theglorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Weproclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we maypresent everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with allhis energy, which so powerfully works in me” (Colossians 1:27-29).

Let me break this down in short phrases so we can savor themseparately and then again as a whole.

·      Glorious riches

·      Christ in you

·      The hope of glory (the certainty of glory)

·      Proclaim Him

·      Admonishing and teaching

·      Everyone with all wisdom

·      Everyone perfect in Christ

·      With all His energy

·      Powerfully works in me

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

The Purpose of Our Speech and Actions

Here are two verses that have a close relationship with eachother:                   

“Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, tobuild him up” (Romans 15:2).

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, thatit may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29).

Do you see the common thread? Building others up!What we do and what we say is to benefit other Christians.

Here are similar thoughts on evangelism:

“Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself aslave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew,to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (thoughI myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those nothaving the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free fromGod’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. Tothe weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men sothat by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of thegospel, that I may share in its blessings” (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).

“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. Follow myexample, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:32-11:1).

This is not optional! What we do and what we say is not forour good but for the good of many that they might be saved.

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

The Quantity of God's Grace

“From the fullness of his grace we have all received oneblessing after another” (John 1:16).

“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble’” (James 4:6).

“But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many diedby the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift thatcame by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! …. Forif, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, howmuch more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of thegift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ…. The lawwas added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, graceincreased all the more” (Romans 5:15, 17, 20).

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that inall things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in everygood work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

“And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out toyou, because of the surpassing grace God has given you” (2 Corinthians 9:14).

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for mypower is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladlyabout my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians12:9).

“In him we have redemption through his blood, theforgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Ephesians1:7).

“The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly,along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 1:14).

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternalglory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restoreyou and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:10).

This grace has been given to me in many ways:

•           My birth

•           Saving mylife at two years old (from scarlet fever, diphtheria, and smallpox)

•           My familyin growing up

•           ReceivingChrist at 20 years old

•           Saving mylife at 22 (mine explosion)

•           My wife andmy marriage of 58 years

•           My childrenand grandchildren and their husbands and wives, and my great-grandchildren

•           Saving mylife at 77 years with quadruple-bypass surgery

•           The graceof preaching Christ for 70 years

•           A multitudeof friends in Christ

•           Manyinstructors within and outside the faith

•           Commongrace

“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledgeof God and of Jesus our Lord” (2 Peter 1:2).

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

Rewards & Obedience

There are rewards in heaven.Should they be a motivation to obey God?

If they were the lonemotivation, the obedience might not be real. And of course that would be knownby God.

If these rewards areconnected with our love for God and love for others, they are  apromise given by God and should be rejoiced in. Here are a few of the promisedrewards:

“He who receives you receivesme, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives aprophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone whoreceives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteousman's reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of theselittle ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainlynot lose his reward” (Matthew 10:40-42).

“Those who are wise willshine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many torighteousness, like the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).

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

Revival & Riot

In October of my sophomore year atthe Naval Academy, I passed from death to life. I had just turned twenty yearsold. Eighteen months later, my life began to have an effect on my classmatesand those both junior and senior to me. This continued for the next seven yearswhile I was on active duty in the Navy and ever since in civilian life.

During my seventy-three years as aChristian, I have seen men turn to Christ and experience the joy of havingtheir sins forgiven. I have also seen the harassment they get because of JesusChrist. Some of them came through the persecution, and some of them caved.

What happened in the cities in theBook of Acts happens to every new Christian. It is “revival and riot” on anindividual level all over the world. Jesus prepared us for this beforehand.

“All this I have told you so that youwill not go astray. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time iscoming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. I havetold you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you.I did not tell you this at first because I was with you” (John 16:1-4).  

“Blessed are you when people insultyou, 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 sameway they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12).

“If the world hates you, keep in mindthat it hated me first” (John 15:18).

Paul said it, too. “In fact, everyonewho wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy3:12).

And Peter… “Dear friends, do not besurprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strangewere happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings ofChrist, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you areinsulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit ofglory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer orthief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if yousuffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear thatname” (1 Peter 4:12-16).  

Because of this truth many Christiansdo not want to live godly lives. They know that they will suffer persecution.

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

The Only Two Types of People

Here are a few observations from my time doing personalevangelism.

Mormons are not Mormons; they are just natural men.

Muslims are not Muslims; they are just natural men.

Atheists are not atheists; they are just natural men.

And many “Christians” are not Christians; they are naturalmen.

There are only two types of people in the world:

1. Forgiven people.

2. Unforgiven people.

1. People who are going to heaven.

2. People who are going to hell.

1. People who are saints.

2. People who are sinners.

 

1. People who are spiritual.

2. People who are natural.

 

1. People who are dead to sin.

2. People who are dead in sin.

 

1. People who are slaves of God.

2. People who are slaves of sin.

 

Here are a few characteristics of the natural man:

“The person without the Spirit does not accept the thingsthat come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannotunderstand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit” (1Corinthians 2:14).

“Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you wouldlove me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me.Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’sdesires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, forthere is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for heis a liar and the father of lies’” (John 8:42-44).

 

The Mormon wants to ask you the question, “Is Joseph Smith atrue prophet?”

The Muslim wants to ask the question about Muhammad.

The atheist wants to ask the question about “No God.”

 

They are non-questions, but if asked, the answer is a simple“No” without ever looking at their “evidence.”

 

At Lystra, Paul did not study Lycaonian or Zeus theology.

At Ephesus, Paul did not study Diana.

At Philippi, he did not debate the Romans.

At Athens, he did preach on the “Unknown God,” but did notdebate the others.

At Corinth, he preached Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

 

We have a specific, positive, loving, gospel message fornatural men, men who are slaves of sin and afraid to die.

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