Can a Rich Person Go to Heaven?

“For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” -Luke 18:25

These strong words were uttered by none other than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. This statement immediately follows the account of a man whom we know as the “rich young ruler.” The ruler, perhaps a religious ruler, came to Jesus to inquire what it was he must do to inherit eternal life. Christ answered that he need only keep the commandments. To this, the ruler replied that he had kept all the commandments from his boyhood until the present. Christ then instructed him to sell everything he had and give to the poor. Upon this, his face expressed his sadness as he departed with his head bent as low as his spirit.

Upon the ruler's departure, Christ then turned to his disciples and remarked how hard it is for the wealthy to find a place in heaven. In our text of study, we see that Christ taught that it is not only hard for a rich man to be saved, it is actually impossible. Christ plainly stated that you will witness a camel entering through a needle's eye before you will witness a rich man entering heaven. Make no mistake about it – Christ was referring to a sewing needle. Some have tried to downplay the Lord's words by stating that the “Needle's Eye” was a gate in Jerusalem that was so small that camels found great difficulty when passing through it. There was a gate called the “Needle's Eye,” but it was not built until the middle ages and was non-existent in the time of Christ.

Some of you reading this post are stunned that the Lord's words are so strong. You are not alone; the disciples found themselves stunned by these words as well. When told of the impossibility of the rich finding salvation, the disciples replied, “Who then can be saved?” Note the Lord's answer:

“The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” -Luke 18:27

It is impossible for a rich man to be saved – but our God works the impossible. If you meet a wealthy Christian, then do not say you have never seen a miracle. Why is it described as impossible for a rich person to be saved? The simple answer is that the wealthy person needs nothing, so they think. The first step to finding salvation is the admission of your need for it. Until you see a need for salvation, you will remain lost. Consequently, the wealthy person sees no need for anything, including and especially Jesus Christ. Everything that Christ offers – the wealthy person feels that they can buy it. Because of this, it takes a divine miracle for God to save one who is rich.

In my next post, I will look at the Christian who desires to become wealthy. Are there wealthy Christians? Yes. Are there wealthy Christians who are living an abundant Christian life, making a tremendous impact for the kingdom of God? They are very few and far between. Why is this? We shall see in the immediate upcoming post.

Shame and the Gospel

Two words, seemingly unrelated, are “shame” and “gospel.” Shame is defined by Noah Webster as “Reproach; ignominy; derision; contempt; dishonor; disgrace.” The gospel of Jesus Christ is defined by Paul the apostle in I Corinthians 15 as the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ – the message that brings salvation to a dying soul. The despicable, stomach-turning characteristic of shame should never be associated with a subject as glorious as the gospel of Jesus Christ. In spite of this, many have unapologetically mixed the precious elements of the gospel of Christ with their own shameful ideals. Allow me to expound upon this.

Some Are Ashamed OF the Gospel

Romans 1:16 – “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation; unto the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

By declaring that he was not ashamed of the gospel himself, Paul is also teaching us that it is possible for a person to be “ashamed of the gospel.” And it is clearly seen all around us that many professing Christians are ashamed of the gospel. The lack of soul-winning among Christians is evidence enough that professing Christians are ashamed of the gospel. The very souls who have been set free by the Bible message of salvation are ashamed to declare the very gospel that has made them free! One would think that deliverance from binding sins would in itself give courage and strength to the Christian to be a soul-winner. But, as I find often, many who have been delivered, are ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Why are people who have set free by the gospel ashamed of the gospel? Some are ashamed of the gospel because its message is unpopular. In our society of tolerance, Jesus’ words are not in sync with such ideals. Words such as “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me” rub the world the wrong way. Every Christian reader needs to understand this – the sick, perverted world in which we live will never accept your message. Those who are publicly against Christ and in alignment with this world absolutely HATE the gospel. Yes, they preach tolerance, and they themselves are the most hostile, intolerant people toward Christianity. They preach freedom of speech for perverts, cross-dressers, and those who are “transgender;” but they turn around and attempt to take away such freedoms from Christians. They want Christ removed from the public square; they want religion to stay within the four walls of the church; they want preaching that is against sin to be defined as a hate crime. Liberalism is, by definition, hypocrisy.

But Christians should not be surprised. Our Lord told us it would be this way, only promising that it would get worse! Look what He said:

John 15:18-20 – “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.”

John 16:2, 3 – “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.”

Jesus told us it would be this way! When you take your stand for Jesus, you will be hated by this world! You will be an outcast! You will be falsely accused, cast into prison for the sake of the gospel, and even killed for the gospel of Christ. But remember this – Christ was rejected for you! Christ stood alone for you and me. He died alone and forsaken of the Father on Golgotha’s rugged brow. Whatever the cost to follow Him will surely be worth it. While Christ suffered, separated from the Father, He promised us that we would never suffer alone, for He promised, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you!” So, dear Christian, stand for Jesus! Say with Paul the apostle, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ!” He was not ashamed to suffer for us; may we never be ashamed to suffer for Him.

Mark 8:38 – “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Luke 9:26 – “For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.”

Some Are a Shame TO the Gospel

Volumes could be written concerning the truth that some live in a way as to shame the name of Jesus Christ. His name is holy, righteous, and pure, and if you are going to declare it, you should live a lifestyle that backs up your words. Look at this:

II Timothy 2:19 – “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

Plainly, the apostle states that if you name the name of Jesus Christ, then depart from iniquity! When a Christian sins openly before this world, he becomes a shame to the gospel with which he associates himself.

While it is true that the world will hate us, as we have already seen; while it is true that we will no doubt be falsely accused; DO NOT give the world a reason to accuse you! Professing Christians and ministers have brought much shame to the cause of Christ. I am told of ministers who contract debt and do not pay! I am told of Christians who borrow money and do not pay it back. I am told of Christians who, on the job, do not work their fair share. I know of professing Christians who will have their electricity to be shut off before they’ll get up off the couch and work for the money to pay the electric bill! All of these things bring shame to the name of Jesus Christ! I do not wish to be ashamed OF the gospel, but neither do I wish to be a shame TO the gospel!

Some Preach a ShameFUL Gospel

How glorious is the gospel of Jesus Christ! Dr. M.R. DeHaan said, “There are only two religions in the world – the DO religion and the DONE religion.” Man’s religion, or the DO religion, says that if you are to be saved, you must “do this,” “do that,” “perform sacraments,” “be baptized,” “keep laws,” “keep commandments,” “dress this way,” “dress that way,” and on, and on, and on. While I believe in living right (so that I am not a shame TO the gospel), “doing things” does not comprise salvation. “Doing things” to be saved is man’s false religion.

God’s religion, however, is the DONE religion. The final cry of our Saviour from the cross was “It is finished!” There is nothing left to perform for our salvation. There is nothing left for you and me to do. We must simply place all of our faith in what Christ has already completely done on Calvary’s hill. The songwriter put it this way:

It is finished; what a gospel!
Nothing has been left to do,
But to take with grateful gladness
What the Saviour did for you.

It is finished; Hallelujah! It is finished; Hallelujah!
Christ the work has fully done; Hallelujah!
All who will may have their pardon
Through the blood of God’s own Son.*

To preach anything less than salvation by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ is to preach a shameful gospel. There is a problem with preaching that salvation either attained or maintained by keeping laws and commandments. The problem is not that those who preach in such a way are too strict; the problem is rather that they are not strict enough! The act of keeping laws and commandments is not “going overboard;” it is actually “not going far enough!” Keeping laws and commandments, being baptized, performing sacraments, and all other efforts of mankind is not too much for salvation; it is not enough for salvation. Notice:

Matthew 5:20 – “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

The Pharisees, the religious leaders of Christ’s day who preached strict adherence to rules and regulations, had a problem. It was not that their rules went too far; it was that their rules DID NOT GO FAR ENOUGH! So many today have read the above verse and have preached that we need to be stricter than the Pharisees if we are going to be saved. But that is not what Jesus preached. The answer is not more rules, more strictness, more sacraments, and more works of man! These things were not sufficient for salvation to start with, and they’ll never be sufficient for salvation, no matter how much of them you have! The attempt to keep laws, commandments, baptisms, and sacraments is man’s DO religion. The righteousness that far exceeds the law-keeping of the Pharisees is the righteousness of Christ. Christ is all my righteousness. His work is absolutely complete, and brings full salvation with no work of man added to it whatsoever!

To preach any other salvation, one is preaching a shameful gospel. May every Christian declare with boldness the true gospel of Jesus Christ without shame, living a lifestyle that supports such a message, and testifying only the work of Jesus Christ for the salvation of this lost and dying world.

*M. Fraser

Crucified with Christ - Part 2

Up to this point, it is been brought out, hopefully clearly, that those who are saved are not striving to be crucified with Christ; WE ARE crucified with Christ. Sadly, I hear so often individuals testifying that they wish to have their flesh crucified every day! How tragic that many are attempting to accomplish daily what Christ accomplished once for all! In the previous post, I examined a few scriptures that are commonly used by those who wish to have their flesh crucified daily. In every scripture that they use, the Bible plainly states that the believer’s crucifixion of the “old man” is not something done daily; it is rather something done when Christ died! Our crucifixion of our “old man” is WITH CHRIST. This means that we died when Christ died. At this time, I would like to examine one more passage used by these people.

Take up your Cross Daily

Luke 9:23 – “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

If the reader is one who advocates this “crucified daily” doctrine, I can hear him now. “See there,” he says, pointing to the above verse. “Let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

Yes, I believe that believers should take up their cross daily and follow Christ. But notice – this scripture does not command me to be crucified daily; it rather commands me to take up my cross daily. What is meant by the phrase, “Take up his cross daily”? Jesus defines this phrase for us in the previous verse. Let us look at the verse preceding our verse of study:

Luke 9:22 – “Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.”

In this verse, Christ tells us plainly what His cross is. Christ’s cross is defined clearly. He would be slain, and He would rise again on the third day. Then, He admonishes His disciples to likewise take up a cross for themselves. Somehow, however, when many speak of the cross of the believer, they want to be “crucified every day,” and they wish to stop there! Christ’s cross did not end with His death upon the cross. Look at Luke 9:22 again – “Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and BE RAISED THE THIRD DAY.” Christ was not just crucified; He was also buried! Christ was not just buried; He was raised from the dead! He was not just raised from the dead; He LIVED upon the earth for forty days! He did not just live upon the earth for forty days; He ascended to the Father and He lives forevermore!

After Jesus tells His disciples that He would bear a cross, be slain, and be raised again, He then commands them to take up their cross daily. What is the meaning of “Take up thy cross daily”?

Every day, I need to realize that when Christ died, my old man died, as clearly shown in the following verses:

Galatians 2:20 – “I AM CRUCIFIED with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 5:24 – “And they that are Christ’s HAVE CRUCIFIED the flesh with the affections and lusts.”

Galatians 6:14 – “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world IS CRUCIFIED unto me, and I unto the world.”

Colossians 3:3 – “For ye ARE DEAD, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”

Romans 8:10 – “And if Christ be in you, the body IS DEAD because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”

“Taking up my cross” does not just mean realizing that I died with Christ, when Christ died, but it also is composed of realizing that when Christ was buried, I was buried with Him:

Romans 6:4 – “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death…”

Colossians 2:12 – “Buried with him in baptism…”

The meaning of the phrase, “Taking up my cross” is not limited to merely understanding that I died when Christ died; or that I was buried when Christ was buried; but it also includes the understanding that when Christ rose from the dead, I rose with Him!

Romans 6:4 – “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

Colossians 2:12 – “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”

Colossians 3:1 – “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”

The meaning of the phrase, “Taking up my cross” does not even stop with my “new man” being resurrected when Christ rose. Christ ascended into heaven, and is set down at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 12:2); and every believer ascended with Christ when Christ ascended, and we are, as far as God Almighty is concerned, set with Christ in heavenly places:

Ephesians 1:3 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”

Ephesians 2:4-6 – “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

This phrase, “Taking up thy cross” does not even stop with believers ascending with Christ into heavenly places. Now that Christ has ascended, He lives forevermore, never to die again! We, who are saved by the grace of God, have been given eternal, or everlasting life NOW! Just as Christ ascended to live forevermore, believers have ascended with him into heavenly places to live forevermore.

John 14:19 – “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.”

Romans 5:10 – “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

This phrase, “Taking up thy cross” does not end with the believer being crucified every day. Rather, it is fulfilled when we daily identify with Christ – realizing that we died when Christ died; that we were buried when Christ was buried; that we rose when Christ rose; that we ascended when Christ ascended; and because Christ lives forevermore, we live forevermore! Yes, I want to live as though my “old man” is dead, and should certainly do so. However, I do not want to stop there! I want my “new man” to live! I have heard people say (sincerely yet erroneously) that “Christ died so I could live.” That’s not entirely right. In reality, Christ died so that my “old man” could die. He rose again so that I could live! Jesus said, “Because I live, ye shall live also!” Listen to me very carefully. The “new man” living in newness of life is every bit as much part of “taking up your cross” as the “old man” being crucified. Don’t stop with the crucifixion of the “old man!” And don’t try to crucify the “old man” every day; the Bible couldn’t be plainer – your “old man” died when Christ died!

I hear people say (again, sincerely yet erroneously), “I want to live the crucified life.” NOT ME! I don’t wish to live a “crucified life.” When Christ died, my “old man” died a crucified death. Now, I wish to live a resurrected life! I want my “new man” to LIVE! It is God’s will for us to LIVE! Paul states in Philippians 1:21, “For me to LIVE is Christ and to die is gain!” Jesus stated in John 10:10, “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Christ rose so we could live! And His resurrection is part of the way of the cross.

A Look at Romans 6

The best definition of the phrase, “Take up thy cross” is found in the sixth chapter of Romans. In this chapter, Paul gives three steps to victory over sin. To have victory, there is first, something we must KNOW; second, there is something we must RECKON; and third, there is something we must YIELD. First, there is something we must know:

Romans 6:6 – “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”

“Knowing this,” Paul says, “that our old man IS CRUCIFIED with Him!” The first step to gaining victory in our lives is knowing that the crucifixion of our “old man” was WITH CHRIST – it took place when Christ died.

I am not trying to be critical, but I am trying to be honest. Out of all the individuals who are trying to crucify their flesh every day, I have never met one of them who have victory. I have never met one of them who are confident in Christ’s work. They are, for the most part, living in torment. They constantly live in fear that maybe they are not “crucified enough.” The only way I can’t be ‘crucified enough’ is if Christ wasn’t crucified enough, because my “old man” was crucified with Him! Those who KNOW THIS live in deeper depth of victory than those who do not KNOW THIS!

Second, there is something we must reckon:

Romans 6:11 – “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

“Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin,” Paul says. Noah Webster defines “reckon” this way: “To count; to number; that is, to tell the particulars.” I know that I died when Christ died, but simply knowing it won’t give me victory. I must reckon my life to be that way. I must live outwardly what I know inwardly. This is reckoning! And notice what it is exactly we are to reckon – “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, BUT ALIVE UNTO GOD!” The crowd who tries to crucify their flesh daily is not big on being “alive unto God!” Don’t just count, or reckon, your “old man” dead, but count your “new man” alive unto God!

Third, there is something we must yield:

Romans 6:13 – “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”

The third and most important step to victory is YIELDING. Allow me to look briefly at two verses at which I have already examined:

Colossians 3:5 – “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

In this verse, as I previously pointed out, the “members” we are to destroy are SINS. Fornication, uncleanness, and so forth.

Romans 8:13 – “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

In this verse, similar to the previous verse, we see that it is, not the body to be mortified, but rather the DEEDS of the body.

I humbly ask the reader to follow me just for a brief moment. The reader may ask, “If our ‘old man’ died when Christ died, then why are we still tempted to sin?” The answer is very simple. Though my “old man” is dead, sin is yet alive! Sin does not die! For this reason, we must mortify our members which are upon the earth, which are the sins he goes on to mention. Because sin does not die, we mortify the deeds of the body.

Every time you are tempted to sin, you have two choices. You can either reckon yourself dead to sin, and alive to God, yielding yourself as instruments of righteousness; or else you can yield yourself to the sin, as instruments of unrighteousness. When you KNOW that your “old man” died when Christ died; and you RECKON yourself dead to sin and alive to God; and you yield yourself to God, mortifying the deeds of the body; then you will live! You will then live the abundant, resurrected life!

This is the meaning of Christ’s words, “…take up thy cross, and follow me!”

Conclusion

The scriptures are clear – the crucifixion of my “old man” is WITH CHRIST. This means that I died when Christ died. Because my crucifixion is with Christ, there is only one possible way I can be crucified every day, and that is if Christ is crucified every day. Now, I ask the reader, especially if the reader is of the opinion that we must crucify our flesh every day, “Will Christ be crucified every day?” “Is Christ supposed to be crucified every day?” If you are a Catholic, then you would answer “yes” to these questions. The Bible, however, answers “NO” to these questions. The Bible plainly declares that Christ will only die once for sins:

Romans 6:9, 10 – “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, HE DIED UNTO SIN ONCE: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.”

Hebrews 10:10 – “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

The Bible further declares that it is a blasphemous thought to suggest that Christ will die more than once:

Hebrews 6:4-6 – “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened…If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance, seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”

Clearly, Jesus Christ will never die for sin but once. The Bible, just as plainly, teaches that the crucifixion of our “old man” is with Christ. The only way that I would be willing to be “crucified” every day is if Christ will be crucified every day. I am only willing to be crucified WITH CHRIST, and Christ most certainly will NOT be crucified ever again. Neither will I. My “old man” died when Christ died.

Crucified with Christ - Part 1

For those who read this post, it is necessary to understand two facts: first, it is not my goal to offend the reader; and second, it is not my goal NOT to offend the reader.  Exclusively and without exception, it is my objective to declare the truths of God’s word.  Knowing this, I ask the reader to read the post in its entirety, especially before contacting me regarding its contents. 

Today I deal with a common misconception found in many churches.  Provided that you have been an attendee of a conservative church for any length of time, you have undoubtedly heard this line before: “We need to crucify our flesh.”  Or, perhaps you have heard it this way: “Every day, we need to keep our old man buried.”  I have heard this one: “I want to live a crucified life.”  Phrases such as these are commonplace in many churches; yet these are NOT biblical phrases.  While they sound pious, these expressions often originate from those who of the mindset that the Christian life is hard; that if we make it heaven, we’ll arrive but barely.  Those who preach this teaching usually define this phrase, “crucifying our flesh,” to mean “making ourselves miserable; denying ourselves of any pleasure; self-deprivation.”  However, when the Bible speaks of believers being “crucified,” or “dead to sin,” the scriptures are dealing with our “old man,” or the individual we used to be prior to obtaining salvation.

Recently, I sent a text message to a friend of mine.  Though I do not remember its exact wording, it went something like this: “I will not be crucifying my flesh today.”  I went on to explain my reasoning.  This friend texted me back, stating why he would be crucifying his flesh that day.  Assuming that the reader will be patient with me, I wish to give reasons from the word of God why I will not be crucifying my flesh today.  If you are of the mindset that we need to crucify our flesh every day, I hope you will at least give me your attention.  While you may not agree with me, I only ask that you will hear me out.  To begin, I wish to examine a few passages of scripture often used by this crowd who desires to crucify their flesh daily.

Passages in Galatians

Galatians 2:20 – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 5:24 – “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”

Galatians 6:14 – “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

I encourage the reader to read the above verses two or three times each.  Read them slowly.  Read them honestly.  Read them without regards to any opinion of your own.  If this is done, the reader will be forced to admit that there is a mood of finality to the believer’s crucifixion.  Yes, I believe that every believer should be crucified.  I believe that my “old man” should be crucified.  When I say, “old man,” I am referring to the individual I was before I was converted.  The above verses, however, do not teach that I should be crucified; the above verses teach that I am crucified!  Look at them again (italics mine, for emphasis):

Galatians 2:20 – “I am crucified with Christ.”

Galatians 5:24 – “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts.”

Galatians 6:14 – “…the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

Yes, I believe that those who are saved should be dead to the world, and dead to sin.  But I believe more than that – those who are saved are crucified with Christ.  If you are saved, you are dead to sin and the world.  Listen to me very carefully.  I am not trying to be crucified with Christ – I am crucified with Christ!  I am not striving to be dead to sin; I am dead to sin!  There is a sense of finality to these verses.  Paul did not say, “I am trying to be crucified with Christ”; Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ.”  Paul did not say, “They that are Christ’s should strive to crucify the flesh”; he plainly says, “They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh.”  Paul does not declare, “The world should be crucified unto me”; he says rather, “The world is crucified unto me.”  Can’t you see the finality of our crucifixion with Christ?  The Christian life is not a daily attempt to crucify the individual you used to be; the Christian life is rather living out a realization that the individual you used to be IS DEAD!  I am not trying to do away with the man I used to be; the “old man” is already done away with!  He is gone!  He has been crucified!

When Was my “Old Man” Crucified?

“If your ‘old man’ has already been crucified,” you may ask, “then WHEN were you crucified?”  Let us examine our text again for the answer (again, italics mine, for emphasis):

Galatians 2:20 – “I am crucified with Christ.” 

The answer is plain as day.  Paul plainly states, “I am crucified with Christ.”  My “old man” died when Christ died.  When Christ was crucified, I was crucified.  The man I used to be was executed on a cross on Calvary’s hill over 2,000 years ago.  Once the reader understands this, the fog lifts!  What a great joy it was when I finally understood that what I was trying to do daily – i.e. crucify my flesh – was already completely finished 2,000 years ago!  When reading the remainder of this post, keep in mind that the Bible plainly teaches that believers have already been crucified, and that crucifixion is with Christ.  Don’t forget it – we died when Christ died. 

Mortify Your Members!

Colossians 3:5 – “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

Here is yet another verse used by those who wish to crucify their flesh every day.  Understanding that the word, “mortify” means “to kill,” we have here a command to kill our members which are upon the earth. 

Look carefully at this verse.  “Mortify your members,” it declares.  Then, the verse defines the members we are to destroy.  It is not our flesh that we are to destroy; it is a collection of various sins that we are to destroy.  Whatever causes us to be tempted while living in this flesh – destroy it!  If it is a temptation to you, get away from it.  Listen to me very carefully.  If you wish to use Colossians 3:5 to preach that we need to crucify our flesh daily, that’s your business.  But if you’re going to do so, you need to back up two verses and do something with Colossians 3:3.

Colossians 3:3 – “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”

Before Paul tells us to mortify our members, he just as plainly tells us this – “Ye are dead!”  He does not say, “Ye are striving to be dead”; he says, “Ye are dead!”  I do not need to destroy my “old man” today; my “old man” was destroyed upon an old, rugged cross.

Mortifying the Deeds of the Body

Romans 8:13 – “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

Here is another verse used to show that we need to crucify our flesh daily.  This verse, however does not teach us to mortify the body, or the flesh; it rather teaches us to mortify the deeds of the body.  As we just saw in Colossians, we will be tempted to sin.  These sins need to be destroyed!  It is not our flesh, or our “old man” that needs to be destroyed, for our “old man” has already been destroyed!  In the chapter we are currently discussing, Romans 8, look at what Paul states just three verses prior to our verse of study:

Romans 8:10 – “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”

Did you catch that?  Three verses before Paul teaches us to mortify the deeds of the body, he states, “If Christ be in you, the body IS DEAD!”  When did our “old man” die?  When Christ died!  Paul teaches this again very plainly!  If you are going to use Romans 8:13 to prove that we need to crucify our flesh, then be honest with the word of God and use Romans 8:10 with it – “If Christ be in you, the body IS DEAD!” 

I Die Daily

I Corinthians 15:31 – “I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.”

Another verse popularly used to promote the daily death of the believer is before us.  I hear it said often, “Paul said, ‘I die daily.’”  Yes, he did.  But Paul is not speaking here of dying out to self, or dying out to sin.  This entire chapter, I Corinthians 15, is dealing with the doctrine of the resurrection.  Paul is teaching the Corinthians the chief importance of believing that we will one day be resurrected.  When Paul says, “I die daily,” he is teaching us that he counts himself as dead every day!  He places himself in jeopardy continually for the purpose of propagating the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Why does he do so?  Because he knows that death is not final!  There is a coming resurrection, and Paul will be resurrected.  His statement, “I die daily,” refers to his willingness to place his life in jeopardy on a daily basis.  You say, “Where did you get that?”  I say, “I got it out of the Bible.”  If you’ll look at the verse again, reading the surrounding verses with it, you will find that Paul is telling the Corinthians that he jeopardizes his life continually, and he wouldn’t do it if the dead rise not:

I Corinthians 15:30-32 – “And WHY STAND WE IN JEOPARDY every hour? I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, IF THE DEAD RISE NOT? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.”

So, to say that Paul’s statement, “I die daily,” is referring to “dying out to sin,” or “dying out to self,” is to take the scripture grossly out of context.

TO BE CONTINUED…

The Baptism with Fire

I have not been fire baptized. I have no desire to be baptized with fire. I shall, by the grace of God, never be baptized with fire. I know that some sing, “Tell ‘em I’m saved, sanctified, Holy Ghost filled, and fire baptized!” Nonetheless, I have not been fire baptized.

These statements will undoubtedly shock some of my readers. This baptism of which John the Baptist spoke, that is, the baptism with fire, is possibly one of the most misunderstood teachings of scripture. In 1895, there was a movement which sprung from the Methodist movement. They were the “Fire-Baptized.” Even today, there are some groups who still identify themselves as the “fire-baptized.” Those who are part of these groups are not baptized with fire, though they claim to be.

What is this baptism with fire? Who is, or who will be, baptized with fire? These questions can be answered clearly from the word of God.

Matthew 3:11 – “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”

As we begin our study, it will benefit the reader to know five facts. First, it was John the Baptist who spoke of being baptized with fire. As a matter of fact, John the Baptist was the only individual in the Bible who used the words, “baptize with fire.” Second, John spoke, not only of being baptized with fire, but also of being baptized with the Holy Ghost. Third, John’s declaration that some would be baptized with the Holy Ghost is found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Fourth, John’s declaration that some would be baptized with fire is found only in Matthew and Luke. Please note that in the gospel of Mark, John the Baptist declares that some would be baptized with the Holy Ghost, but he says nothing of anyone being baptized with fire. Fifth, Jesus Christ never used the term, “baptized with fire,” although He did use the term, “baptized with the Holy Ghost.”

Since John the Baptist was the only individual in the scriptures who used the term, “baptize with fire,” let us look at John’s ministry. First, we will look at his ministry from the books of Matthew and Luke, where John speaks of Christ baptizing with the Holy Ghost AND WITH FIRE. Then, we will look at John’s ministry from the book of Mark, where John speaks of Christ baptizing with the Holy Ghost, but does not mention any baptism of fire.

The Ministry of John the Baptist – Matthew’s Gospel

Earlier in this post, I used Matthew 3:11 as a text. In Matthew 3, there are two distinct groups of people present, listening to the preaching of John the Baptist. This is a very important point. I encourage the reader to read Matthew 3:1-12 carefully.

The first group of people who are present and listening to John’s message is John’s disciples.

Matthew 3:5-6 – “Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.”

Do you see it? The first group that is present in Matthew 3 is the disciples of John – the ones who WERE BAPTIZED OF HIM IN JORDAN, CONFESSING THEIR SINS.

But these who confessed their sins and were baptized were not the only ones present. There was a second group present. This second group did not confess their sins. This second group was not baptized by John. This second group was not John’s disciples. Look at the next verse:

Matthew 3:7 – “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”

So, in Matthew 3, there are two groups listening to the preaching of John, and consequently, there are two baptisms mentioned – the baptism with the Holy Ghost, and the baptism with fire. The first baptism mentioned, the baptism with the Holy Ghost, pertains to the first group, the disciples of John who would go on to believe on Jesus Christ. The second baptism mentioned, the baptism with fire, pertains to the second group, the Pharisees and Sadducees, who would go on to reject Jesus Christ.

John’s message is simple – those who accept his message, receiving the One who is to come after him, will be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Those who reject the One coming after him will be baptized with fire.

The Ministry of John the Baptist – Luke’s Gospel

In Luke’s account of the ministry of John the Baptist (Luke 3:1-22), John speaks of both a baptism with the Holy Ghost and a baptism with fire. Just as in Matthew’s gospel, there are two groups present in Luke 3. In Luke 3:7, John speaks to the Pharisees and Sadducees, referring to them as a “generation of vipers.” In Luke 3:21, we are told of others who were baptized of John. So, as in Matthew’s gospel, we have the same occurrence in the gospel of Luke. In Luke 3, there are two groups of people listening to the preaching of John. Consequently, there are two baptisms mentioned:

Luke 3:16 – “John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.”

Again, John is speaking to his disciples, who would go on to believe on Jesus Christ, saying that Christ would baptize them with the Holy Ghost. John is also speaking to the “generation of vipers,” who would go on to reject Jesus Christ, promising that Christ would baptize them with fire. There are two distinct baptisms for two distinct groups.

The Ministry of John the Baptist – Mark’s Gospel

I have asserted that the baptism with the Holy Ghost, of which John spoke, is for John’s disciples, who would go on to believe on Jesus Christ. The baptism of fire, on the other hand, is for the “generation of vipers,” the Pharisees and Sadducees, who would go on to reject Jesus Christ.

Mark’s gospel bears this out further. In Mark 1, the ministry of John the Baptist is given in only a few verses (Mark 1:3-8). Watch carefully. In this passage, John’s disciples, those who confessed their sins and were baptized by John, are present.

Mark 1:5 – “And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.”

However, in Mark’s account of John’s ministry, there is no mention of the “generation of vipers,” the Pharisees and Sadducees who would go on to reject Christ. In Mark’s gospel, there is only one group present – those who confessed their sins and were baptized of John.

It is no surprise, then, that in Mark’s gospel, where only John’s disciples are present, John does not mention a baptism with fire. The baptism with fire is reserved for the “generation of vipers,” who are not mentioned in Mark’s gospel. Therefore, in Mark’s gospel, John mentions a baptism with the Holy Ghost, but not a baptism with fire.

Mark 1:8 – “I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.”

Jesus and the Baptism with the Holy Ghost

At this point, it is noteworthy that while Christ mentions a baptism with the Holy Ghost once, Christ NEVER mentions a baptism with fire.

Acts 1:5 – “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”

In the above verse, to whom is Christ speaking when He says, “YE shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence”? The answer can be found three verses prior, in verse 2 – “the APOSTLES whom He had chosen.” Christ told His apostles that they would be baptized with the Holy Ghost shortly. Why did He not tell them that they would be baptized with fire also? Did He forget? No, He did not forget to mention a baptism with fire. Christ did not tell His apostles that they would be baptized with a baptism of fire because the baptism with fire was not reserved for them. The baptism with the Holy Ghost was reserved for them. The baptism with fire is reserved for Christ-rejecters, and is only mentioned when Christ-rejecters are present. In Acts 1, Christ is speaking to His apostles, not to Pharisees, Sadducees, or any other Christ-rejecters. Consequently, Christ does not mention a baptism with fire.

What is the Baptism with Fire?

I have shown clearly that the baptism with the Holy Ghost is reserved for those who accept Christ, while the baptism with fire is reserved for those who reject Christ. But what is the baptism of fire?

I started this post with Matthew 3:11. I want to show that verse again, but this time, I want to you to see it with the verse before it and the verse after it. Please read all three verses carefully:

Matthew 3:10 – “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”

Matthew 3:11 – “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”

Matthew 3:12 – “Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

In verse 11, John states that Christ will baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire. In verse 10, what is the last word of the verse? FIRE. In verse 12, what is the last word of the verse? FIRE.

In verse 10, what is the fire about which John is speaking? Is it a “Holy Ghost” kind of fire? Not at all. It is a fire of judgment. John tells us that there are two types of trees – those with good fruit and those with bad fruit. John tells us that there is a time coming that the trees with bad fruit will be cut down, separated from the rest of the trees, and cast into the fire. The fire of verse 10 is hell fire.

In verse 12, what kind of fire do we find? Again, we find two groups – the wheat and the chaff. John again tells us that there will be a time of separation, when the chaff will be separated from the wheat, and then burned. This fire, like the fire of verse 10, is the unquenchable fire of hell.

In verse 11, the verse between these two verses, what is the fire with which Christ will baptize? In the context of Matthew chapter 3, it is clear that there are two groups in verse 11. Christ will baptize the first group – the “trees with good fruit” of verse 10 and the “wheat” of verse 12 – with the Holy Ghost. He will baptize the second group – the “trees with bad fruit” of verse 10 and the “chaff” of verse 12 – with unquenchable fire. The baptism of fire is the casting into the unquenchable fire of hell, reserved only for those who reject Christ.

Unity in Spite of Differences - Part 3

Previously, I have been discussing the need for unity among genuine Christian believers. I have shown that “unity” is not equivalent to “sameness.” God desires for His church to be in unity, but He does not desire for each of His children to be exactly alike. While there are some areas in which agreement must be prevalent, there are others in which disagreement is perfectly permissible. Some of these areas of possible disagreement include details of the salvation experience, methods adopted for prayer, styles of preaching and teaching, and denominational affiliation. Now I take up the matter of worship and show how that two genuine believers may, in some ways, worship differently, and yet find common ground upon which to fellowship.

WORSHIP

In many ways, I hesitate to even begin a discourse on this subject, being fully aware that a single blog post will never begin to introduce the subject of worship, let alone expound upon it. Tucked behind the discussion of worship is the realization that God Almighty, the God of the Bible, is tremendously great. When it begins to even remotely dawn on you how great God is, only then will you begin to understand that no form or method of human worship adequately exalts Him to His proper place. There is no way to put in all of the disclaimers here. I understand that, in the Old Testament, God prescribed sacrifices as a form of worship. And, when done as instructed from a pure heart, God accepted those sacrifices as a manner of worship in which He was pleased. Even then, I am not sure that God believed that the worship of man matched the holiness, purity, and majesty of God; but He nonetheless accepted – or perhaps settled for – such worship.

Bringing the idea of worship into the present day, let us be honest and admit that there are saved people in other churches besides the type of church you attend. Let us be honest further and admit that within the walls of those other churches, the people love Christ every bit as much as you do. To deny this is to be either ignorant or dishonest. Whose method of worship is correct?

So far as the New Testament is concerned, we know that worship must be done “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). What exactly does it mean to worship “in spirit?” Oh, I know. It means that everyone must sing the same songs your church sings; that everyone must pray in the same manner that your church prays; that everyone must preach in the same manner that your preacher preaches. The Bible, however, does not specify that everyone must do everything in their worship as your church does it. I have already explained how that methods of preaching, teaching, and praying may be different. There are other aspects of worship that also may be different.

In some good, Bible believing churches, the people do not use musical instruments at all. In other Bible believing churches, the church utilizes only a piano, or perhaps a piano and an organ. They feel that other instruments give the worship service too much of a “secular” feel. In other Bible believing churches, the policy regarding musical instruments is “the more the merrier.” In many cases, those who use little or no musical instruments look at others who use more musical instruments with disdain, claiming that the use of too many instruments in a church is “irreverent.” On the other hand, those who use a variety of musical instruments often look at those who use little or no musical instruments as being “dry.” In actuality, however, God judges our worship by the spirit we display in our hearts and not by the musical instrument we play with our hands.

Consider further the varying demeanors presented in worship. The services in some Bible believing churches are rather formal. The songs that are to be sung are chosen before the start of the service. During the presentation of the sermon, the congregation is rather reserved. In some churches, the congregation says nothing during the sermon. In other churches, the congregation may give forth an occasional “amen.” In yet other churches, the congregation may be on their feet, sometimes even shouting during the sermon. Where, in the Bible, does it declare that one such method is right and the other is wrong? Some may insist that “spontaneous” worship equals worship that is “out of order.” However, in churches where the worship is less formal, the members know exactly what is going on and there is actually no confusion at all. In the more formal churches, many feel that their formality is in itself a noble and respectable worship given to a God of order and design. The truth is, in both kinds of churches, there are souls who have been saved and love their Saviour. These methods of worship are, in themselves, neither right nor wrong – only different.

CONCLUSION

So much more could be said regarding worship, as well as other subjects I have discussed in this series. But, as inadequate as the discourse has proven to be, I will conclude my thoughts on the subject of unity. How can unity best be illustrated? If “unity” is not “sameness,” then what is it? If unity does not exist because of the absence of differences, then what illustration could I give that would successfully show how we can achieve unity in spite of differences?

The illustration that, in my opinion, best describes the unity of believers is the illustration given in I Corinthians chapter 12 – the illustration of a body. The body of Christ is just that – one body made up of many members. The body of Christ – the church – has been issued a Great Commission. We have a task to perform. In order to perform the task, the body will use each of its members – and will use them differently. Each member of the body functions differently, but the goal of completing the task is that which unites us. We are all working for a common cause – for a set purpose. It is in this purpose that each member of the body unites. It is in the function of each member where we differ. The eye does not function the same as the hand. But no need to worry – it is not supposed to!

Suppose I set out to mow my grass using a riding lawn mower or a zero-turn-radius mower. The job seems simple enough. What parts of my body would I use to accomplish the task? I would use my eyes to see the path in which I am mowing. I would use my ears to listen. When I hit a stump, my ears would tell me. I would use my sense of feeling to tell if the mower vibrated too much because of too much grass in the deck, etc. I would use my hands to steer. I would use my feet to operate the clutch or other pedals. I would use my sense of smell to detect a possible gas leak or perhaps something burning in or around the engine. When the job is completed, many members of the body were used to accomplish the task. The members of the body that were used functioned very differently from each other. The hands did not function in same way that the ears functioned. They were very different; yet both were needed. The feet operated one way and the eyes operated another; yet neither the feet nor the eyes were right or wrong – they just functioned differently. While each member of the body functioned differently, each member of the body was united for a common purpose – to mow the grass.

The body of Christ has been given the threefold task of getting God glorified, getting the church edified, and getting sinners justified. It will be done when every member of the body does its job – though different from other members in the body. As members of His body, we may be different from one another in personality, function, or methods employed – but we can unite in accomplishing the task at hand.

Unity in Spite of Differences - Part 2

In my previous post, I introduced some thoughts regarding unity and division, and began looking at examples in which Christians can differ and still achieve unity. Two such examples of possible Christian differences include details surrounding one’s experience of salvation, as well as a Christian’s method of prayer. Let us examine more ways in which two genuine Christians can be different.

STYLE OF PREACHING AND TEACHING

Almost as numerous as the number of preachers is the styles of preaching they employ. This part of my post is not exclusive to ministers only; for many Christians who are not preachers have an opinion as to how a sermon should be conducted. Some (ministers and non-ministers alike) believe that all preaching should be loud and exuberant. Many Christians believe that teaching is boring. Consequently, some ministers, either due to their own opinions, or in submission to the opinions of others, teach either very little or not at all. As for some ministers’ preaching, they think that if they are not hollering and running around, then they are not preaching. I pity the Christian who will not receive from a preacher because they do not like his style of ministry. Everyone in the church would be better off if we would remember that preachers are different from one another. Some preachers are loud; others are quiet. Some use illustrations; some simply expound the scripture. Some use props in their messages; others only use words. Some sermons are very short; others are very long. None of this is good or bad – just different.

AFFILIATION

I believe it is commendable for a minister of the gospel to be a reader. It is good for a minister to invest in worthwhile books. However, I do not think a preacher should read many theological books until that minister is solid regarding his own beliefs. Authors are different from one another. If you are easily swayed, then you will change your mind about every subject each time you conclude a book on that subject. But if you are unshakeable regarding your own beliefs, then books, even the ones that differ from your viewpoints, can be helpful.

I do not have a large library, but I do have a good library. I read after many authors whom I deem to be good authors. Listen to me very carefully. Although I regard many authors in my library as good authors, I do not agree with any of them – not a single one – all the time. If I were to discard every book in my library in which I do not agree with every sentence, then I would have no library. I regard many of the authors in my library as men and women of God. Yet, they associate with different doctrinal and ecclesiastical bodies. William Booth was the Methodist who founded the Salvation Army. Booth was an incredible soul winner. Frank Boreham was a Baptist. Arno C. Gaebelein was a Methodist whose writings on prophetic subjects were profound. Matthew Henry, the great expositor, was an English non-conformist who was an ordained Presbyterian. Alexander MacLaren was a Baptist known for his expository messages. George Matheson was a member of the Church of Scotland. He penned the beautiful hymn “O Love that Will Not Let Me Go.” J.C. Ryle, whose classic works on the gospels, as well as his work on the subject of holiness has blessed many ministries, was Anglican. We will forever be indebted to Alexander Whyte, who gave us his superb work on the characters of the Bible. He was a member of the Free Church of Scotland. C.I. Scofield was a Congregationalist. A.B. Simpson was a Presbyterian. Charles Spurgeon was a Calvinist Baptist. John Owen was a Congregationalist preacher and Puritan leader. G. Campbell Morgan was a Congregationalist. Henry C. Morrison was a Methodist. Martyn Lloyd-Jones was a Presbyterian. H.A. Ironside began in the Salvation Army and later served as pastor of the Moody Memorial Church. J.H. Jowett was a Congregationalist. A.J. Gordon was a Baptist. John Wilbur Chapman was a Presbyterian evangelist who associated with D.L. Moody and was a hymn writer. He wrote the hymn “One Day” (“Living He Loved Me”). Peter Cartwright was a Methodist. John Broadus was a Southern Baptist, as was B.H. Carroll and R.G. Lee. Phillips Brooks, author of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” who was known for his “Lectures on Preaching” which he delivered at Yale University, was an Episcopal Bishop. Charles Finney was a Presbyterian. Isaac M. Haldeman was a Baptist. He served as pastor of the First Baptist Church of New York for over fifty years. Clarence Macartney was a Presbyterian who was at the forefront of the fundamentalist/liberal controversy at the turn of the twentieth century.

I could go on, but the point is made (rather successfully). There are men and women who are close to God who do not belong to your group. There are differences in affiliation. We could have a debate as to whether or not denominations should even exist. But regardless of that, the truth is that they do, in fact, exist. And whether you like it or not is irrelevant – there are those outside of your clique who will be saved, who will go to heaven when they die, and who will impact the kingdom of God before they get there. If you do not associate with anyone unless they are just like you, I pity you. You must be a miserable creature. With that kind of policy, you are starving no one of nourishment except yourself.

TO BE CONTINUED…