Christmas Journeys

To you who are familiar with the blessed account of the birth of Christ I propose a question. Has it ever occurred to you how many journeys surround the story of our Lord’s birth? We are familiar with the journey that the wise men made to worship the Christ child, and we are familiar with the journey that the shepherds made to see the King of kings. But did you know that there are at least seven journeys connected with the narrative of the Saviour’s birth? I will give you each of these journeys along with a lesson we can learn from each one.

1. In Luke 1:11-20, the angel Gabriel journeyed from heaven to the temple in Jerusalem. He had a message to give to Zacharias the priest. This journey took place more than a year prior to Christ’s birth. Zacharias was told that he and his wife Elisabeth would bear a son and that his name would be John. Zacharias and his wife were old, well past child bearing age. Nevertheless, she conceived in her old age, bringing forth John the Baptist. The lesson learned from this journey is that of doubt, for Zacharias doubted the word of God. For this he struck dumb until he believed what God said.
2. In Luke 1:26-38, the angel Gabriel makes yet another journey. This time, he journeys from heaven to Nazareth to give a message to a virgin whose name was Mary. He told Mary that she would bring forth a son and that her son would be called the Son of the Highest. Mary, though a virgin, conceived and brought forth her firstborn son. Contrary to Gabriel’s journey to Zacharias, the lesson learned from Gabriel’s journey to the virgin Mary is the lesson of faith. Where Zacharias could not believe, Mary certainly believed. Though, like Zacharias, she questioned Gabriel, it must be told that she also affirmed Gabriel’s word, saying, “Be it unto me according to thy word.”
3. In Luke 1:39-56, Mary journeyed from Nazareth to the house of Zacharias and Elisabeth in the hill country of Judæa. Mary stayed with her cousin Elisabeth for three months. The lesson learned from this journey is the lesson of joy. Mary and Elisabeth rejoiced in the promise of God. God promised both Mary and Elisabeth a child. Elisabeth was seemingly too old to have a child, yet God miraculously gave her a son. Mary was seemingly too young to have a child, being a virgin. Yet when the promise of God came to them, they rejoiced together. This Christmas and every day, the saint of God has much about which to rejoice. Notice that Mary and Elisabeth did not wait until they held their babies in their arms to rejoice and praise God. They praised God at the promise alone. Just the word of God alone is sufficient for every Christian to rejoice.
4. In Luke 2:1-7, Mary and Joseph make a journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The lesson in this journey is the message regarding the sovereignty of God. It is written in the Old Testament, in Micah 5:2, that Christ was to be born in Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph may or may not have known this. Mary and Joseph, lived in the Galilean city of Nazareth. As the time draws near for Christ to be born, the Bible reader may wonder how Jesus is going to be born in Bethlehem if Mary and Joseph abide yet in Nazareth. Have no fear; God is sovereign! God is in control! If God said it, it will happen precisely as God said! Prophecy that God writes is more accurate than history that man writes! Cæsar Augustus, under the influence of the God of heaven, issued a decree that the whole world was to be taxed. I am convinced that God put it in his heart to decree such a taxation. As the result of this decree of taxation, the whole world was traveling from one place to another. Why all the hustle and bustle? The average person of that day would have responded that the hustle and bustle was for the purpose of taxation. From the standpoint of heaven, however, the world was on the move so that one baby boy could be born in Bethlehem! Never forget that God is in control.
5. In Luke 2:8-20, shepherds were in the field, keeping watch over their sheep by night. Suddenly, a heavenly host appeared to them, bringing them good tidings of great joy – that a Saviour had been born in Bethlehem. The angels told them that they would find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. So, in reply the angelic declaration, the shepherds departed for a journey to Bethlehem. The lesson learned in this journey was comfort. “Fear not,” the angel said to the shepherds. There is much to fear outside of Christ, but with Christ, and in Christ, there is nothing for the believer to fear.
6. In Matthew 2:1-12, wise men journeyed from the east to worship the Christ child. Of course, the lesson learned here is the lesson of worship. We do not know how many wise men there were. Many assume that there were three wise men because they brought three gifts. But the Bible does not say. Also, the wise men, though they did make it to Bethlehem, they did not make it to the manger. Matthew 2:11 tells us that they were “come into the house.” Evidently, by the time the wise men arrived, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were lodging in a house. The wise men expressed their worship to Christ in two ways. First, they worshipped by going; second, they worshipped by giving. Worship that is convenient is not really worship. Worship that costs nothing is worship that is worth nothing. If we are to truly worship, it must come from a heart that shows how much we love Him by going to the lost, and by giving to the needs of others.
7. The final journey of the Christmas story is the most important journey of all. This journey is the reason for all the other journeys that surround the Christmas story. The Saviour of the world, forsaking the ivory palaces of heaven, journeyed to this cold, dark, wicked world. Had Christ been born in a palace, He would have taken an incredible step down to do so. But He went further down than that! He was despised, rejected, and poor in this world that you and I might be rich in Him. At Christ's first coming, there were many journeys taken by men and angels. Now, Christ's second coming is near, and there is a journey that accompanies it. Only the saved by grace – the washed in the blood – the redeemed of the earth – the sanctified throng – are going. Everyone else will be left to face the wrath of God. Be ready to meet Jesus!

Merry Christmas!

The Believer’s Attitude Regarding Persecution

Having examined a few basic principles regarding Christian persecution, I wish to very briefly look at the attitude believers should have regarding persecution.

1. Pray Against It. In I Timothy 2:1-2, Paul exhorts Timothy to pray for kings, and for all that are in authority. Why? So that “we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” We should not desire that persecution come our way. We should rather pray that we continue to live peaceably with government officials, obeying the laws of the land until those laws contradict the laws of God. There is nothing wrong with hoping that persecution never comes. As a matter of fact, we are commanded to pray to that end! Of course, if persecution does indeed come our way, we should not let it deter us from serving God. But we should not wish for it.
2. Don’t Worry About It. In Matthew 10, Christ told His apostles that they would be delivered up to be persecuted. He then tells them in Matthew 10:19, “But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak.” What does “take no thought” mean? Does it mean to sit and worry about persecution until it gets here? Does it mean to tremble in your shoes because of fear? Absolutely not! I tell you what I am going to do: I am going to first pray that persecution does not come to the American church. I am going to then realize that persecution may very well come to us. Then, I am going to worry about it no further. If persecution comes our way, I have faith that God will give me grace. I am more concerned about lost people dying lost than I am about persecution coming. And that is the way it should be.
3. Glorify God in It. Should persecution come, we should seek to find a way to give God the glory in it. Believers should use persecution for the purpose of winning souls and thereby giving God the glory. May we say with Paul, “we glory in tribulations also.”
4. Benefit from It. In Romans 5:3, Paul says, “…knowing that tribulation worketh patience.” When persecution comes your way, you can allow it to make you bitter or make you better. Let us determine to glorify God in it, and let it work patience in us. We should seek to benefit from tribulation and persecution any way we can. We should use persecution as a means of drawing closer to Him.

Principles of Christian Persecution

In the late ‘90s, I ministered at a church in one of the states of the United States of America. I learned from one of the elders of that congregation that President Clinton was preparing at any time to declare martial law, and that he would round up Christians in the United States and place us in concentration camps.

Nothing of the sort ever happened.

Shortly after 9-11, I sat across the table from a minister who informed me that at any time, President Bush would send forces to “kick my door in” and haul me off, with other Christians, to concentration camps.

It never happened.

Now, we are looking into a new year, and there are many predictions as to what the new year has in store. In a most recent prediction, I heard that President Obama is ready to round up Christians and place us in FEMA camps. Because this is the story during every American presidency, I am not too worried about it, to be frank. However, it is worth noting, that even in the United States, our freedom to speak our beliefs and to practice our faith openly is slowly but surely eroding. The left-wing ideology that now rules this country promises us that we will always be permitted to speak our opinions, unless our opinions are contrary to left-wing ideology. In that case, our opinions are simply not tolerated. “Either you agree with gay marriage,” they tell us, “or you are either homophobic or full of hate.” At the same time, liberals HATE us for what we believe. That would indeed make liberals the biggest batch of hypocrites on the face of the earth. “Either you tolerate us,” they proclaim, “or you will not be tolerated!”

The fact of the matter is that Christians in the United States may not always have the freedom to worship and express our beliefs as we do today. Our nation currently has leaders in power who stand for every rotten thing under the sun. I am optimistic in hoping that the freedoms we enjoy today will always be enjoyed, but I am realistic in admitting that our enjoyment of such freedoms may not always be the case. Understanding that Christians may not always have the freedoms we enjoy today, let me give a few principles regarding persecution given to us by the word of God.

1. Christian Persecution is a Fact. In John 15:18, Jesus said to His disciples, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” In John 15:20, Jesus stated further, “If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” Jesus stated plainly that the world would hate and persecute us, and we should therefore expect it. As a matter of fact, Christian persecution exists throughout the world today. Many of my American readers do not understand this. We think that if it is not happening in the United States, then it is not happening. But there is no Muslim nation where Christians enjoy freedom, the most hostile of those nations being Iran, Pakistan, Sudan, and others. In China, the true Christian church meets underground, in opposition to the Chinese government. Christian persecution is a fact – Jesus said it would happen, and throughout the world, it is happening.
2. The Church is Appointed to Tribulation. I Thessalonians 3:3 makes this very clear. Now, some assume that because the church is appointed to suffer tribulation, the church is therefore appointed to suffer in the Great Tribulation. While I Thessalonians makes it clear that the church is appointed to suffer affliction, I Thessalonians also makes it clear that the church is not appointed to wrath (I Thessalonians 5:9). Jesus identified the Great Tribulation as a time of wrath in Luke 21:23. In I Thessalonians 1:10, Paul states that we have been delivered from the wrath to come. We are certainly delivered from hell, which is the wrath of God according to Revelation 14:10, but the wrath of which is speaking is not hell. Paul is rather speaking of the day of the Lord (I Thessalonians 5), which includes the Great Tribulation. So, while we are delivered from the wrath to come in the Great Tribulation, the church is not delivered from suffering in general, but is rather appointed to it. However, the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church. The church is a gospel ship that was designed for troubled waters! Some worry when waves of persecution beat against the ship. Do not worry – the church was built for persecution. The church grows in persecution.
3. Persecution Accompanies Revival. Every pastor would like to see revival. But remember – after 5,000 souls were added to the church in Jerusalem, the apostles stood before the council. Evangelism and revival run parallel to persecution.
4. One Man’s Persecution is Another Man’s Strength. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul writes in Philippians 1:14, “And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” Let me paint a picture of the scene. It is New Testament times. Young preachers are tip-toeing around, trying not to arouse the Roman government for fear of persecution. But one day, these young preachers hear that Paul, the old man, had been imprisoned for the sake of the gospel. When these young preachers heard that, they decided that if Paul, the old man, wasn’t afraid to do time in a dirty dungeon for the gospel, then they could preach regardless of consequences! Paul’s persecutions gave them boldness!
5. The Presence of False Prophets Accelerates Persecution. Jeremiah the prophet preached that Judah was to go into Babylonian captivity. This landed him in prison in Jeremiah 20. The reason for their persecution against Jeremiah was because Jeremiah’s message sounded extreme. Why did Jeremiah’s message sound so extreme to them? It is because there were false prophets who were preaching that Judah would NOT go into captivity. As more and more churches accept the gross sin of homosexuality, you can expect the message of the Bible to sound more extreme to those in authority. Persecution is sure to follow.
6. The Religious Leaders are Usually the Persecutors. There are exceptions to this generalization, but it is often the case that the religious people are the ones who do the persecuting. Religious Cain killed Abel; Pashur the false prophet placed Jeremiah in the prison; the Pharisees delivered Jesus to Pilate to be crucified; and the Pharisees and Sadducees persecuted the early church in the book of Acts. When persecution arises, do not look for religious lost people to come to your aid; they will be doing the persecuting!
7. The Persecuted Enjoy a Degree of Fellowship Unknown to Others. Few men suffered like Paul the apostle suffered. Yet few men enjoyed the fellowship of the Son of God as Paul did. If those who are persecuted will allow it to be so, the Son of God will be closer to them in persecution than at other times. Paul, who tells of his sufferings in II Corinthians 11, also gives us his heart’s cry in Philippians 3:10 – “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings.”
8. God Gives “Great Grace” to the Persecuted. In Acts 4, persecution heated up against the church. Yet Acts 4:33 tells us, “Great grace was upon them all.” Many of us Americans allow the thought of persecution to worry us. Know this – should that hour come, God will give us the grace to stand for Him no matter the cost.
9. Persecutors are Usually under Conviction. In Acts 7, when Stephen was stoned, those who cast the stones were “cut to the heart.” One of the men present at Stephen’s stoning was Saul of Tarsus. He was eventually saved. Always remember that those doing the persecuting are wrong, and they usually know it! They can’t stand the thought of it! We should pray for the salvation of persecutors.
10. The Persecuted Have a Great Reward. In Matthew 5:12, Jesus said, “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” When you are persecuted for the sake of the gospel, great is your reward in heaven!
11. Persecution Tests what is in the Heart. How serious am I about serving God? Let persecution come and everyone around me will find out! What if our freedoms were suddenly taken away? Would that change your determination to serve God? As for many Christians, I need not wait until persecution comes to find out how serious they are about their service to God; I just wait until midweek service. Some of the same Christians who assure me that they would stand firm in the midst of heavy persecution cannot attend midweek service because they are “too tired.”
12. The Footmen and the Horses. In Jeremiah 12:5, God says to Jeremiah, “If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied, then how canst thou contend with horses?” The illustration is a war-time illustration. The footmen are the soldiers on foot. When the battle intensifies, then the horsemen come. God says to Jeremiah, “If you cannot survive the foot soldiers, what will you do when the battle grows hotter, and the horsemen come?” That is a good question for many of our churches today. If we cannot stand what little pressure we have now, what are we going to do when the pressure intensifies?

The Glorious Liberty of the Children of God - Part 3

Christian Liberty – Using It, Not Abusing It

Having clearly seen the liberty that is afforded the children of God, it is now necessary to warn against the danger of abusing this liberty. While the God of heaven has meant for us to use this glorious liberty, He never intended us to abuse it. With liberty comes responsibility. Let us see, from a Biblical perspective, how this liberty may be abused, and let us purpose to only use it and never abuse it.

Using Liberty as a License to Sin

I believe, as much as anyone believes, that the Christian possesses a glorious liberty. Many who are ignorant concerning the Biblical teaching of Christian liberty immediately assume that proponents of Christian liberty are proponents of sin. While I am not authorized to speak on behalf of every proponent of Christian liberty, I will speak for myself. Nothing could be further from the truth! No one preaches Christian liberty with more fervor than I do; and no one preaches concerning the destruction of sin with more urgency than I do. When a believer sins, his fellowship with the Father is severed (I John 1:6); his prayers are hindered (Psalm 66:18; Isaiah 59:1-2); and if the believer does not deal with his sin by judging himself, the Father will chastise him (I Corinthians 11:31-32). And, oh how severe the chastening hand of God can be! Just ask King David as he comes back from his baby’s funeral how severe the chastening hand of God can be! Just ask the nation of Israel, who beheld their children become slaves in Babylon, how high the cost of sin really is!

As stated in the first part of this series, Christian liberty is a freedom from sin, not a freedom to sin. To sin under the guise of Christian liberty is to abuse Christian liberty. And to sin in this fashion is a double-sin. The actual sin is the first sin; using Christian liberty as the justification of the deed is the second sin. Using Christian liberty to commit sin is a sin in itself. Look at the warnings against such behavior:

Galatians 5:13 – “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”

I Peter 2:16 – “As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.”

Causing a Brother to Stumble While Using Christian Liberty

A second way to abuse Christian liberty is by using Christian liberty to cause your brother or sister in Christ to stumble. Three verses in I Corinthians 8 describe this abuse of Christian liberty:

I Corinthians 8:9 – “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak” (italics mine; added for emphasis).

I Corinthians 8:12 – “But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ” (italics mine; added for emphasis).

I Corinthians 8:13 – “Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend” (italics mine; added for emphasis).

Notice the emphasized words in the above three verses: “stumblingblock” in verse 9; “wound” in verse 12; and “offend” in verse 13.

These verses plainly teach that I should forfeit any liberty I have Christ if that liberty becomes a stumblingblock to my brother in Christ; or wounds my brother’s weak conscience; or offends my brother. Let us look at these words carefully to determine when a Christian should forfeit his liberty in Christ.

The words “stumblingblock” in verse 9 and “offend” in verse 13 are connected. In modern English usage, we often use the word “offend” to mean “to hurt one’s feelings.” When a person says, “I am offended,” what they generally mean is, “My feelings are hurt.” In modern English usage, the word “offend” can mean “to hurt one’s feelings.” As a matter of fact, some teach that, based upon I Corinthians 8:13, a Christian should forfeit his Christian liberty if another Christian simply disagrees with his usage of liberty. Some teachers teach that we should forfeit our liberty in Christ if another Christian is “offended,” which they define as “in disagreement with.” But this is not what the word “offend” means. Think about it. If I can only use my Christian liberty until someone disagrees with my usage of Christian liberty, then technically, Christian liberty is non-existent. It is a myth. If the Lord tells me that I have great liberty, but I can only use it until someone is “offended,” or as some define it, until someone “disagrees with” my usage of such liberty, then really, I have no liberty at all.

For example, consider a necktie. This will shock some readers, but there are places throughout the United States where pastors teach that wearing a necktie is sinful; that wearing a necktie is connected with pride. I am convinced that I have the liberty to either wear a necktie or remove my necktie. I have the understanding that, like the meat sacrificed to idols, wearing a necktie won’t make me any less spiritual, and removing my necktie won’t make me any more spiritual (I Corinthians 8:8). So, if I, while wearing a necktie, find myself among brothers who disagree with the act of wearing a necktie, what should I do? Should I forfeit my Christian liberty and remove my necktie? In the vast majority of cases, ABSOLUTELY NOT! “But your necktie offends those brothers,” you say. Actually, my necktie does NOT offend those brothers. Those brothers disagree with my wearing of a necktie, but “disagreement with” my necktie is not the same as being “offended” because of my necktie. People define the word “offended” in the modern sense, but the word “offended” is not used in the modern sense in scripture.

In our current 1769 edition of the King James Bible, the word “offend” does not mean “to hurt one’s feelings”; and “offended” does not mean “in disagreement with.” In Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary of American English, he gives several definitions of the word “offend.” In one particular definition, Webster defines “offend” as “to be scandalized; to be stumbled.” He then cites I Corinthians 8:13 as an example, which reads, “…if I make my brother to offend.” The definition of “offend” that is associated with I Corinthians 8 is “to be stumbled.” Thus, to “offend” is to “cause to stumble.” James Strong, in his Greek and Hebrew dictionaries, identifies the Greek word translated “offend” as “skandalizo,” which he defines as “to scandalize; to entrap; to trip up; to stumble, or entice to sin.” The word “offend” in the Biblical sense means “to cause to stumble; to cause to sin.”

In I Corinthians 8:13, Paul says that if meat makes his brother to offend, he will eat no meat while the world stands. Paul is clearly stating that if his liberty to eat meat causes his brother to stumble into sin, he will eat no meat while the world stands. The context of this passage bears this out further. Four verses prior, in verse 9, Paul says, “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.” A stumblingblock is “that which causes one to stumble.” In order for my Christian liberty to offend someone in the Biblical sense, it must be a stumblingblock to them. It must cause them to stumble into sin.

Let us go back to my “necktie” illustration. I stated earlier that should I, while wearing a necktie, find myself among brothers who disagree with the act of wearing a necktie, I should NOT remove my necktie. Those brothers, though they disagree with my wearing of a necktie, are not Biblically “offended” by it. They disagree with it, but they are not, in the Biblical sense, “offended.” My necktie, though they hate the sight of it, is not causing them to stumble into sin. My necktie is not a stumblingblock. As for those brothers who despise my necktie, their walk with God will not be affected in any way because of my necktie. As soon as I see that my necktie is offensive in the Biblical definition of the word – as soon as I see that my necktie causes a brother to stumble in his walk with God – as soon as I see that my brother stumbles into sin because of my necktie, I will, in the spirit of New Testament brotherly love, make sure that these precious brothers never see me in a necktie again. I will refrain from neckties before the conscience of my weak brother is wounded (I Corinthians 8:12). While my Christian liberty means much, my brother in Christ means more. And if using my Christian liberty may cause my brother to stumble, I will forfeit that liberty in a moment!

Making it Practical

Is there a way to make the teaching of I Corinthians 8 practical for today? Yes, there certainly is, and it would behoove us to do so. In making this doctrine practical, let me first address those who realize their liberty in Christ; then, let me address those who are bothered by those who enjoy their Christian liberty.

TO THOSE WHO REALIZE THEIR CHRISTIAN LIBERTY

As for those of us who realize our Christian liberty, we must remember that Paul gives us a strong warning that we not “wound our brother’s weak conscience” in allowing our freedom to be a “stumblingblock.” Let us remember that if our brother falls into sin because of our liberty, we will be held accountable. Because the privilege of Christian liberty is great, the responsibility that accompanies it is equally great.

If you realize your Christian liberty, I think that is great. But it is your obligation to be mindful of others. Suppose you meet up with a Christian friend whom you have not seen in a great while. Suppose you offer to buy his or her lunch. If you know that your Christian friend does not like to eat at places that serve alcohol, can’t you forfeit your Christian liberty for a meal in order to have fellowship with a Christian brother or sister? Why demand that the two of you eat lunch at Tumbleweed if you know it bothers them? Why not eat somewhere you know they will enjoy? Isn’t that the Christian thing to do? While we value our Christian liberty, we should value our brothers and sisters in Christ far more.

TO THOSE WHO ARE BOTHERED BY US WHO ENJOY OUR CHRISTIAN LIBERTY

Now, I want to give a closing word to those who are bothered by us who enjoy our Christian liberty. I have the liberty to eat at a restaurant that serves alcohol; to wear a necktie; to have a Facebook account; and to access the internet. If you are bothered by any of these, then I am talking to you.

First, if you claim to offended by someone using such liberties as I mentioned, then you should be aware of the Biblical term “offend.” If you claim to be offended by my necktie, then you are claiming that my necktie is causing you to stumble into sin. You should know that, if this is the case, you hold a good deal of responsibility for your stumbling into sin. We should never let anything cause us to sin. “If your right eye offend thee, pluck it out.” We should never let anything come between us and God.

Second, if you are bothered by the above-mentioned liberties of mine, let me say that the Bible says you are weak, and you have an obligation to become strong (Ephesians 6:10). I can be patient with someone who thinks that wearing a necktie is a sin, if they were converted in the last three months. But if you have been saved for over five years, and you still think that taking a necktie off makes a person more spiritual, then you are extremely malnourished. Spiritually speaking, you are “skin and bones.”

Third, let me make a statement that I made in my previous post. If you wish to forfeit your Christian liberty, please note two things. First, be aware that “stricter” does not mean “more spiritual.” As a matter of fact, the Corinthians who could eat meat sacrificed to idols were the strong Christians, while the Corinthians who abstained from meat were the weak ones. Also, keep in mind that no sect anywhere is as strict as the Pharisees of Christ’s day. Yet no sect anywhere is as hell-bound as the Pharisees were (Matthew 23:33). Second, when you forfeit your Christian liberty in order to be stricter, do not become angry with other Christians who choose to enjoy their Christian liberty.

The Glorious Liberty of the Children of God - Part 2

Enjoying Christian Liberty

Titus 1:15 – “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”

Three times in the New Testament, the subject of Christian liberty arises. It arises because strong Christians were enjoying their Christian liberty, and weak Christians were offended by it. In the case of Titus chapter 1, Christian liberty is seen in contrast to the commandments of men. In Romans 14 and I Corinthians 8, the subject of Christian liberty is raised in the issue of meat – whether or not Christians can eat meat that had been offered to idols.

Meat Sacrificed to Idols – I Corinthians 8

Allow me to paint a picture of what is happening in the New Testament. Some Christians purchased meat from a pagan temple. When weaker Christians saw this, they were offended. They thought that, by purchasing the meat, those Christians were taking part in idolatry. The weaker Christians were offended even more when some of the Christians would not only purchase meat from pagan temples, but they would also sit down and eat the meat inside the pagan temple (I Corinthians 8:10)!

Please note that Paul never condemns purchasing or eating meat that had been offered to idols. He doesn’t even condemn eating the meat inside of a pagan temple! As a matter of fact, Paul describes those who can eat such meat without feeling guilty as being strong. Those who feel guilty for eating such meat, however, he describes as weak (I Corinthians 8:10), having a weak conscience (I Corinthians 8:12).

Notice this. This is very important. The stricter ones – the ones who abstained from meat offered to idols – were considered to be weak Christians, while the ones who could eat of the meat without any sense of guilt were considered to be strong Christians (I Corinthians 8:7). I have seen this reversed in many churches. Some people think that they are more spiritual because they are stricter. In reality, however, the strictest are often the weakest.

Now, let us apply this to some issues of Christian liberty that are prevalent in today’s church. Today, we are not concerned with meat sacrificed to idols, but there are some issues with which the church today must deal. I get tickled when I look on Facebook, and someone announces that they are deleting their Facebook account in order to be more spiritual. There are actually preachers who preach that having a Facebook account is wrong. Some preach the same about the internet, claiming that it is a sin for an individual to access the internet. Though there are many issues with which I could deal, let me deal with the issue of Facebook as an example.

Let us use the principles found in I Corinthians 8, and apply those principles to the internet and Facebook in particular. Like the meat offered to idols, the internet and Facebook are not sinful in themselves. You may say, “Some people get on Facebook to gossip.” I say, “Some people don't get on Facebook to gossip!” It is a sin to be a talebearer (gossiper) either on or off Facebook. But if a person gets on Facebook to gossip, then Facebook is not the problem; gossip is the problem! I do acknowledge that anyone with a Facebook account ought to access Facebook with caution. People have met old acquaintances on Facebook and ended up shattering a family with adultery. But even then, Facebook is not the problem. The problem lies in the heart of the individual who is accessing a Facebook account. In Paul’s day, it was no doubt a sin to engage in idolatry (as it is today). If eating meat offered to idols caused one to worship an idol, then the meat was not the problem; idolatry was the problem! Strong Christians could eat the meat without any guilt because they had no idolatry in their hearts. And strong Christians can have a Facebook account without misbehaving.

You see, weak Christians in Paul’s day were stricter than the strong Christians. They deprived themselves liberties that Christ had given them. They had the liberty to eat any meat, whether it had been sacrificed to an idol or not. This is because, as strong Christians understood, an idol is nothing. Strong Christians knew that false gods are powerless figments of their worshippers’ imaginations. Because of this, it didn’t matter whether the meat was sacrificed to those idols or not. Paul explains this in I Corinthians 8:4-6. Paul goes on to say that those who do not know that an idol is nothing, and consequently refuse to eat meat sacrificed to idols, are the ones with a weak conscience.

This brings me to another point about the weak Christians in the Corinthian church. The Corinthian epistle was the only New Testament epistle that addressed the gift of tongues. When it came to the gifts of the Spirit, the Corinthians claimed to be spiritual. Yet, they were the most unspiritual church in the New Testament. They were divided instead of united (chapter 1); they were carnal (chapter 3); there was fornication among them (chapter 5); they were taking each other to civil court (chapter 6); they had issues concerning marriage (chapter 7); they had weak Christians who condemned themselves for eating meat sacrificed to idols (chapter 8); they had an authority problem (chapter 11); and they were devoid of teaching regarding the Lord’s supper (chapter 11). The same ones who showed how much “Holy Ghost power” they had by speaking in tongues didn’t have enough power to eat a slab of meat because it was offered to a powerless, pagan idol. And my, do we find this today! The ones who claim to have the most “Holy Ghost power” are some of the strictest ones. They abstain from everything! They can’t go somewhere if sinners are there. They can’t go to a restaurant that serves alcohol. I am convinced that Paul, who didn’t mind eating meat in a pagan temple (I Corinthians 8:10), wouldn’t mind eating a meal at Texas Roadhouse. But some can’t go to a place like that. Where’s all that Holy Ghost power they talk about? If they had real Holy Ghost power, they would be able to go to the gates of hell to win souls and not worry about being contaminated by the sins of others! But, like the Corinthians, they don’t have the power like they think they do! Since someone needs to say it, I’ll go ahead and say it – if you do not have enough power to get on Facebook without gossiping or committing adultery, then your power is pretty useless.

Now, let me go ahead and tighten this on down. It is clear that the strong Christians were the ones who could eat the meat sacrificed to idols. It was the weak Christians who could not do so, lest they defiled their conscience. I have brought this out several times in several different settings. I have had people, in defending their strict lifestyle, brag about how weak they are. Now, it sounds humble to hear someone talk about how weak they are. But Paul was not commending the Corinthians for being weak. It was a sharp rebuke when the Hebrew writer told the Hebrews that they should have been strong enough to teach the principles of God, but instead were weak and needed milk. When a Christian admits to being weak, they are admitting to being disobedient to God. We are commanded in Ephesians 6:10 – “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.” You’re not supposed to be weak; you’re supposed to be strong! And if you claim to be filled with the Holy Ghost, you above all others should be strong! You should be strong enough to go around sinners without being defiled! You should be strong enough to get on Facebook without sinning! You should be strong enough to win souls in the red light district! You should be strong enough to go to a wicked workplace and live for God! You shouldn’t have to abstain from everything in the world if you are as strong as you should be!

One more point before I move on. What about these preachers who preach that Facebook is a sin? What about those who refuse to have a Facebook account, thinking that they are more spiritual because of their abstinence? Let me say that the Bible gives a clear answer regarding them. What about the weak Christians who refused to eat meat sacrificed to idols? Were they better off? NOT ONE BIT! Look at what Paul says regarding the weak Christians who thought they were spiritual by abstaining from meats:

I Corinthians 8:8 – “But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.”

Meat is not the problem! Idolatry is the problem! If you can eat the meat without partaking in idolatry, have at it! You were no more spiritual for eating or for rejecting the meat! That’s the Bible answer. You may think you’re spiritual because you have no Facebook account. I am here to tell you that it doesn’t make you one bit spiritual to either have or delete a Facebook account.

Now, how do I feel personally about ministers who abstain from Facebook, thinking they are more spiritual as a result of it? Or those ministers who abstain from restaurants that serve alcohol? First of all, I feel that they will stand before God for themselves. They can do whatever butters their bread. Do I commend them for abstaining from things that are not sinful to start with? No. I don’t admire them; I don’t look up to them. To be truthful, I pity them. I feel badly for them because they have such elementary understanding (if any) of the Biblical doctrine of Christian liberty. Please note that I do not hate such ministers. But I am convinced that their abstinence from “meat” does not make them one bit spiritual, whether or not they think it does. On the contrary, it betrays the fact that they are weak when they have been commanded to be strong.

Conclusion

When a person loves the Lord with all their heart, they want to draw close to Him. However, instead of drawing close to God in a Biblical manner (prayer, the word of God, attending church, soul winning, etc.), many times they try to get closer to God by giving up “things.” However, these people often show their instability when they do this. They get rid of Facebook for a while, and then they get back on. They abstain from the internet for a while, and then they get hooked back up. What would end the turmoil and instability is an understanding of Titus 1:15:

Titus 1:15 – “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”

Unto the pure all “things” are pure. You can clearly see that “things” are not the problem. If you want to draw closer to God, then getting rid of “things” is not the way to go. Seek God in prayer and in His word. Now, if God instructs you to get rid of anything, then do it by all means. “Things” in themselves are tools that can be used for either good or evil. In context, Titus 1 is speaking of “commandments of men” (Titus 1:14). Getting rid of “things,” such as meat offered to idols, a Facebook account, or a restaurant that sells alcohol, are often the result of “commandments of men.”

Please understand that these principles found in I Corinthians 8 regarding meat offered to idols may apply to a lot of issues, not just Facebook or restaurants that serve alcohol. I only used these issues as examples because they are familiar to some with which I am acquainted. They can apply to nearly any issue where someone preaches a particular behavior to be a sin though the Bible does not condemn such. These principles apply to preachers who think they are spiritual because they do not wear a necktie; Christians who think they are spiritual because they abstain from putting up a Christmas tree; and on and on the list could go.

Also, please note that I am not angry with any of you who simply do not wish to have a Facebook page or go to a restaurant that serves alcohol. If you abstain from such because it makes you feel more spiritual, then I wish you the best. I say that with an honest heart. I only ask that you realize that you have more liberty in Christ than you are enjoying. Consequently, I ask you to refrain from doing as the false teachers of which Paul spoke who “came to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 2:4). If you are going to forfeit your liberty in Christ, please do not grow ill toward us who choose to enjoy our liberty in Christ.

It would be beneficial if preachers today would stop treating symptoms and start treating the root of the problem. If a pastor has a man in his church who met someone on Facebook and split up that person’s family, I wish that pastor would advise the man to delete his adulterous heart instead of advising him to delete his Facebook account. Many preachers who spend their time preaching against “things” usually miss the weightier matters of the heart. Unto the pure all “things” are pure.

In Romans 14, the subject of meat and Christian liberty is again the subject of discussion. In verse 22, Paul says, “Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.” If there is no Bible that declares it to be a sin, God said you are happy person if you can partake of it without any sense of guilt. This is the liberty of which God wants His children to partake.

Counting My Blessings

The way to be thankful is to be “thinkful.” Dr. Curtis Hutson said, “The more you think, the more thankful you will be. So, the folks who are not thankful don’t think much.” I have been thinking, and it has prompted me to give thanks. Allow me to briefly give a few things in life for which I sincerely thank God.

1. First and foremost, I am thankful for the salvation of my soul. Along with this, let me say that I am thankful that, when I was lost, I learned the truth regarding salvation. You can ask the next ten people how to be saved and go to heaven, and you will get fifteen different answers. Some say that observing sacraments is the way to be saved (and even then, you do not know for sure whether or not salvation has been attained). Others say that salvation is a process of saying a prayer, being baptized, and joining a certain church. Others say that one must repent of one’s sins, be baptized, and speak in tongues in order to be saved. Some cling to law-keeping, commandment-keeping, and a system of good works for salvation. There are many churches, but very few know soup beans from apple butter about the Biblical manner of salvation. I am thankful that, as a boy, I attended a church that preached the unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ. That pastor preached that all that was needed to secure my salvation was provided by Jesus Christ. He preached that I could perform no single work of my own to receive salvation; I must fully trust Christ’s finished work to be saved. I placed all my faith in Jesus Christ, and because of His shed blood, my sins are paid in full. The moment I placed my faith in Christ, I “believed on Jesus Christ” and was saved in a moment’s time! My salvation is solely in Jesus Christ! Christ is my Saviour! In the word of God, Jesus said, “He that believeth on me hath everlasting life” (John 6:47). John the Baptist said, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:36). John the apostle said, “But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31). Peter said, “Whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43). Paul said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). The only way I could die today and not be saved is if the word of God is false or if the blood of Jesus Christ turns out to be insufficient. That’s why I won’t lose any sleep tonight worrying about my salvation! I thank God for His unspeakable gift!
2. I am thankful for the assurance of salvation. I won’t spend a lot of time here, but I must speak of it. I am thankful that, not only am I saved, but I know it! When God blessed me with salvation, He also blessed me with a good dose of assurance! Suppose an angel was to come to me tonight and say, “Bob, I just came from heaven. I just looked into the Lamb’s book of life, and your name is not found there.” I have all the right in the world to look that angel in the eye and tell him that he doesn’t know what he’s talking about! God’s word says I’m saved! If an angel from heaven tells me otherwise, I am instructed by scripture to let that angel be accursed (Galatians 1:8)! I’m not only saved by the grace of God, but I know it, and there’s not an angel from heaven or a devil from hell that can convince me otherwise.
3. I am thankful that God has met every material need in my life. I have a comfortable place to live. Every time I am hungry, I always have plenty to eat. I do not know what it is to have to go to bed hungry. When I wake up in the mornings, I have plenty of clean clothes from which to choose to wear. On Sunday mornings, it is not an issue of whether or not I have a suit to wear, but which suit I wear becomes the question. I must decide if I will wear a brown pair of dress shoes or a black pair. When it is time to go somewhere, I have a vehicle to drive (that is paid for). When bills are due, I have always been able to sit down and write a (good) check to pay for them!
4. I am thankful for friends and family. Having attended many funerals and conducted many of them, I know how fragile life can be. I know firsthand that just because someone in my family is here this year is no indication that they will be here next year. It may be dismal, but it makes me thankful for the friends and family in my life.
5. I am thankful that both my parents are yet living. I know of some who have buried a parent who was younger than my parents are. I hate that anyone has ever had to bury their parents, but I am thankful that my parents are alive and well.
6. I am thankful for my health. I do not have congestive heart failure; I do not have diabetes; I do not have high cholesterol; I do not have a terminal illness. I have a strong heart and strong lungs. Again, I know that I am better than no one who may not be as blessed in the area of health. But I am compelled to stop and give thanks to the One who sustains me.
7. I am thankful for my physical senses. I am glad that when I open my eyes, I can see. I am thankful that I am able to walk and talk. Though it is impaired, I thank God for my hearing. As I type this, I am enjoying instrumental music. Not everyone is able to enjoy the gift of sound. I would be sinning to enjoy the use of my ears without thanking God.
8. I am thankful for my congregation. Serving as pastor has its challenges, but it sure makes it easier when you have good people to pastor.
9. I am thankful for my library. I own a good collection of books. I do not know how many I have because I am always buying them. I have a good collection of books on my shelves, books on my laptop, and books on my Kindle Fire. Among the genres of books I have are commentary, reference, history, biography, sermon books, and a small handful of fiction. If all I had was a Bible, there’s no doubt I would enjoy good fellowship with God. But how my life has been enriched because of good reading material!
10. I am thankful for Facebook. It has been a source of blessing in my life. Because of Facebook, I have been able to connect with people from the past; many of which I would have most likely never seen or heard from again. It has been a blessing to connect with former classmates, former teachers, and people whom I have met in my travels. It has been a blessing to keep up with the lives of many friends through the means of Facebook.

There are many other blessings for which I could give thanks. But for the sake of time, I will conclude. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Psalm 100:4 – “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”

The Glorious Liberty of the Children of God - Part 1

The Fact of Christian Liberty

Romans 8:21 – “Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”

Introduction

In our text, Paul speaks explicitly of the “glorious liberty of the children of God.” It is a fact that God’s children have liberty. The next few posts have been born out of a concern for so many Christians who have liberty, but thinking it to be a mark of spirituality, they forfeit their Christian liberty. This forfeiting of Christian liberty originates often out of a heart that loves God. They love God so much that they desire to be close to Him. However, since they do not know how to draw close to God, they get rid of “things,” cease to take part in various activities, delete their Facebook accounts, and put restraints on themselves – restraints that are neither instructed nor commanded by the scripture. The “things” they are giving up to get closer to God are not sinful; but because it makes them feel spiritual, they strip away their own liberty. However, as we will see later, stripping away your own liberty does not make you any more spiritual than the one who enjoys his liberty. As a matter of fact, the Christian who enjoys his liberty is referred to as the strong Christian; the Christian who condemns himself unnecessarily is considered the weak Christian.

Some who are reading this right now are already objecting to my words because they have stripped themselves of their Christian liberty, and they do not want anyone else to have liberty either. But the liberty we have in Christ was given to us to enjoy. When the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, he instructed Timothy to charge them that are rich not to trust in their riches, but rather to trust in the living God. He then reminds Timothy that God richly gives us all things to enjoy (I Timothy 6:17). It is hard for those who constantly strip themselves of their liberty to enjoy anything! But God richly gives us all things to enjoy!

Of course, when I speak of Christian liberty, I am not speaking of liberty to sin. As for the individual who hears the term “Christian liberty” and automatically assumes that liberty to sin is what is meant, that person does not know anything about the Biblical doctrine of Christian liberty. So, what is meant by the term “Christian liberty”? Let us see.

Liberty from What?

It is interesting that, on the day of Pentecost, Peter quoted from the prophet Joel. Toward the end of Joel’s prophecy, Peter quotes it this way – “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). In the book of Joel, however, Joel records a slightly different wording. Joel writes, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be delivered” (Joel 2:32). Now, there is no contradiction here at all. Calling upon the name of the Lord brings salvation, and that salvation is deliverance – a setting free.

Real, Biblical salvation is deliverance. Those who have been saved have been set free! But the question now arises – set free from what? There is a host of various types of bondage from which the Christian has been set free – and these freedoms compose the sum of what is meant by the phrase “Christian liberty.”

First, it must be noted that the man who is saved by the grace of God is delivered from the bondage of corruption. Our text, Romans 8:21, speaks of the creation itself which shall one day be delivered from the bondage of corruption. Believers have already enjoyed such deliverance. When I was born the first time, I was born of corruptible seed. I was born of the flesh. The seed of which I was conceived was a corruptible seed. I was first born of a seed that is capable of dying – and this flesh will one day die. However, when I was born again, my inner man was born of an incorruptible seed – a seed that will never die. Therefore, my inner man will never die. This is called everlasting life. The liberty that the creation of God will one day enjoy is a liberty that the children of God already enjoy – the liberty from the bondage of corruption. Our text calls this liberty THE GLORIOUS LIBERTY OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD!

Second, the child of God is delivered from the Law of Moses. Romans 7:6 declares, “But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” Many Christians do not enjoy this freedom. They say and believe that they are under the Old Testament law. The law could never give life (Galatians 3:21). The law condemns, declaring guilt (Romans 3:19). Therefore, those who are under the law are under its guilt and condemnation. You cannot have it both ways. You cannot be bound to the law and yet be free from its guilt and condemnation. Such a state does not exist. The only way to be free from the guilt and condemnation of the law is to be free from the law itself. And such liberty has been granted to the Christian.

Third, the Christian is delivered from not only the law, but also the curse that the law brings. Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” Three verses earlier, Paul defines the curse of which he is speaking – “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Those who are under the law are under the curse (Galatians 3:10). And the curse is defined as the obligation to keep the whole law. Everyone I know who claims to be under the law picks and chooses what portion of the law they want to keep and what portion they want to say is fulfilled in Christ. The very law they say they are under does not permit them to do this! The very law they claim to keep says that they are under the whole law or none at all! I do not have to keep the whole because Christ kept the whole law, delivering me from the law and its curse.

Fourth, Christians are delivered from the fear of death. Hebrews 2:15 says, “And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” I do not know of a greater bondage than living in fear of death. What a blessing to know that, since I have been saved, I have no need to fear death. It will be better on the other side of death than it is on this side! Only Christians have this assurance.

Fifth, Christians are delivered from sin. Matthew 1:21 says, “And thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” Romans 6:18 says, “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Unfortunately, many who have had an experience from the wells of salvation do not enjoy the freedom from sin. Many Christians stumble, often repeatedly, over the same obstacles. They spend their lives getting what appears to be victory over a sinful habit, only to succumb to its temptation yet again. I would tell such a believer that this does not have to be the story of your Christian walk. There is victory over sin!

Sixth, the children of God find in their salvation deliverance from men. Though many Christians do not enjoy this liberty, it is available to the redeemed. I Corinthians 9:19 says, “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.” Paul made himself a servant to all men, but only to win souls. Outside of winning souls, Paul was bound to no man. No man controlled what Paul preached. Unlike Matthias, Paul was not chosen by man to be an apostle (Galatians 1:1). Paul was not interested in pleasing man. Every believer has the right to enjoy this liberty. Although we should submit to the authority of man so long as it does not interfere with the authority of God (Romans 13:5), when it comes to the Christian life, we should seek to please God. It is noteworthy that, when the issue of Christian liberty arises in the New Testament, it is most always because weak Christians condemned themselves because they had broken one of the commandments of men. We will look at this further in the next post.

Last, in the package of salvation comes deliverance from this present, evil world. Look at Galatians 1:4 – “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” Many Christians know little of separation from the world. The man who has been saved is a new creature in Christ, and should be different from the world around them. As a Christian, you should not look like the world. As a Christian, you should not behave as those in the world. You should not sorrow as those in the world sorrow. You should not pattern yourself after the world’s heroes. You should not entertain yourself with God-hating, Christ-hating, church-hating entertainment. Do you wish to be a soul winner? Do you wish to win your family to Christ? You will never do it until you live separated from the world. If you’re in the same muck they’re in, you have nothing to which to win them. Jude said in Jude 22, “And of some have compassion, making a difference.” Do you want to make a difference? You will never make a difference if you’re not different. Liberty from the pull of this world is available to, and should be enjoyed by, every Christian!