The most tragic life

The Bible tells us that Jesus chose twelve disciples to be his full time followers and helpers. These are their names:  Simon who Jesus surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John the sons of Zebedee. Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus (sometimes called James the Less), and Lebbaeus whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanites  or  Zealot and Judas Iscariot.

Jesus gave these men power over all demons and to cure all diseases. They also were called to preach the gospel of repentance (Matt 10:1-8a; Mark 6:8-13; Luke 9:2-6).

But, there was one disciple who did all the things the 11 did, but was not true. He was Judas Iscariot the last one always mentioned in the roll call of the apostles.

It is important that we ask the question, was Judas genuinely saved at one point, but due to his betrayal of Jesus lost his salvation and became eternally lost or was he chosen like the rest, but was never a true follower of our Lord Jesus?

                This matter is critical and we need to examine it carefully.

Jesus knew along Judas would betray him for he said in John 6:70-71, “Did I not choose you the twelve and one of you is a devil?” He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.

So, we must ask another question, why did Jesus choose Judas knowing he would betray Him?

Jesus chose Judas to fulfill the word of God. Judas betrayal is prophesied by King David in Psalm 41:9: “Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.”

David was most likely speaking about an actual friend, but the Spirit of God prophesied through David to speak about the future betrayal of Jesus by Judas. There are several prophesies in the Bible that are what scholars call  Messianic  prophesies (i.e. referencing the Messiah). Psalm 41:9 is one of them.[i]

Jesus quotes this same verse the night of his betrayal at the last supper which was the institution of holy communion; a sacrament that believers practice today. Jesus said in Matthew 26:24, “The Son of Man goes as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better (italics added) if that man had never been born.” What an indictment against Judas! We must keep in mind is that not only did Judas betray the Messiah the savior of mankind, he betrayed God Almighty in the flesh!

                Most tragic.

Now I must ask the billion dollar question, since it was prophesied before he was born that he would betray Jesus, how could Judas be held responsible for his actions? Judas betrayal was predetermined by God. Did not God plan the betrayal of Jesus?

The answer is yes. [ii]

Although God knows all things and sovereignly made provision for the betrayal of His Son by Judas, it by no means made Judas less culpable for his sinful actions. Jesus taught a doctrine of repentance and salvation for three years so he had no excuse for his behavior.  Judas acted independently because of his love for money. That is why he sold Jesus out for 30 pieces of silver; the price of a slave (Ex 21:32). This also showed Judas contempt he had for his Lord; Judas regarded Him as a common slave. Truly Judas had been possessed by the devil at this point (Luke 22:3; John 13:27). Judas was unaware that he was fulfilling prophecy. He willfully betrayed Jesus because he was evil; how much more so should he be righteously condemned when he was in the presence of Jesus for three years?

Jesus reiterates in John 17:12 that Judas amongst the twelve was lost so that scripture could be fulfilled. Judas was chosen for that reason and that reason alone; he was never chosen for salvation as the others were.

 Just like Joseph’s older brothers sold him into slavery for twenty shekels of silver the price of a slave at that time, in like manner Judas sold Jesus as a slave to his enemies (Gen 37:28; Matt 26:15). Judas followed Jesus not because he loved Him and recognized his own sinfulness. He did it for the money ultimately.

Sounds like a lot of false teachers today who are only in the church for the money. They do not love God or His people.

                What ended up being Judas’s fate?

Fear and  guilt gripped Judas once he realized the enormity of his sin for he said to the religious leaders, “I have betrayed innocent blood and threw the money down in the temple and hanged himself “(Matt 27:3-5).

Did Judas repent? Yes.  But it was not godly sorrow that led to genuine repentance and salvation. Judas was a pathetic victim of his own inherent wickedness acted out to the full. Judas thought it was better as we say “on the other side”  where he thought the grass was greener. Since Judas loved money, he felt by getting money by any means necessary; even betraying Jesus, it would satisfy him. But once he was stricken with guilt by sending an innocent man to his death for chump change, and realizing his lust for money brought only condemnation instead of satisfaction, Satan who was in him drove him to kill himself which brought him satisfaction for he comes  only  but to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10).  Our adversary the devil goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8).

That is what he did with Judas, and that’s what he wants to do with us.

 

                                                          Concluding Thoughts

Judas no doubt was the most tragic soul in all of human history. Why do I say that? He had all the privileges of the other disciples. And for a time, appeared to be genuine follower of Jesus Christ. It goes to show us that appearances are often tragically deceiving. Judas preached the gospel, performed miracles, healed diseases, cast out demons, raise the dead (Matt 10:8). Learned from the greatest Teacher, Preacher, Prophet, Evangelist, Apostle of the universe the Lord Jesus Christ. And yet for all that, died and went to hell for a mere 30 pieces of silver?

                Unthinkable.

Jesus himself said it would have been better for Judas not to have been born than to betray him (Matt 26:24). Judas with open eyes knew what he was doing although he was unaware of the depth of his treachery until Jesus was condemned (Matt 27:3). Judas felt sorry for what he did, but that ungodly sorrow impeded his ability to genuinely repent for sinning against the almighty. His guilt drove him to destruction instead of godly sorrow and repentance. He was driven away from God instead of to God. Had Judas not killed himself he could have gone to Jesus and begged for forgiveness, but he never gave himself the chance for the guilt of his sin was far greater than any humility he may have had  to implore God’s forgiveness of his sins.

Jesus restored Peter when he denied Him (John 21:15-17). Judas was beyond restoration once he committed suicide. He was/is eternally lost.

  

---

[i] Some others are Psalm 22, 34, 68, 69.

 

[ii] God’s reason for planning Jesus’s betrayal and capture was so that he could be crucified, buried and raise from the dead for the elect’s justification. The Father planned this out of love for mankind. Judas’s reason for betraying our Lord was purely from hatred and selfish motives. What Judas and the devil  planned for evil, God orchestrated it for good; the salvation of mankind. God uses good and evil to fulfill his sovereign plan proving he is Lord over all things; even the evil which also serves Him.

What Jesus you want me to mutilate myself?

In Matthew 5:27-30 Jesus preaching at the sermon on the mount teaches these words:

                “You have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that whosoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish than for your whole body to be cast into hell.”

                This is very strong language from our Lord. Is Jesus advocating self mutilation? No. Jesus is using a literary rhetorical device called Hyperbole. He is using exaggerated language to drive home his point. [1]Jesus is discussing the sin of adultery. This sin along with all sin is so dangerous and deadly, that it would be better to dismember any offending parts of our body, cast it away from us so that the whole body would not perish in hell on account of that offending body part. However, that will never work because the sin does not reside just in our flesh. It resides in the heart; the engine that drives our body.

Casting off a sinning member of your body will not get rid of sin.

                Matthew 15:18-20a Jesus speaking said, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things that defile a man…”

                The point Jesus was making is that what we do comes from our core being the heart, and the outflow of those behaviors mentioned above are made manifest through our flesh. So, in the final analysis our bodies are the victims of our corrupt minds.  The heart and body work together when doing good or evil. The heart conjures up the expression, and the body fleshes it (pun intended) out.

                Let’s examine one more account of hyperbole in the Bible.

 In John 6:47-66 we read:

            “⁴⁷ Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. ⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. ⁵⁰ But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

⁵² Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

⁵³ Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁵⁵ For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. ⁵⁶ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. ⁵⁷ Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” ⁵⁹ He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

⁶⁰ On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

⁶¹ Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? ⁶² Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! ⁶³ The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. ⁶⁴ Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. ⁶⁵ He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”

⁶⁶ From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him” (NIV).

Two things this text is not teaching is 1) cannibalism and 2) communion. Once again, Jesus is teaching by way of hyperbole. Although Jesus is using what his audience deems as crass language; eating his flesh and drinking his blood, He is using this analogy to express that He is the True Manna from heaven, i.e. the Bread of Life. Anyone that eats his flesh, and drinks his blood (not literally, but spiritually), that believes on Him will have eternal life. His audience should have grasped this truth, but they were spiritually dead (vs. 52).

That is why they turned their backs on the Lord (vs. 66).

Although the language is extreme which was Jesus intent, it drives the point home. He is the bread that we all must partake of in order to be saved.

Although we know Jesus primarily  taught by way of parables, hyperbole was another teaching method implored by our Lord.

---

[1]  We all do this in everyday vernacular, e.g. “I’ve told you this a million times! I’m dying to go on vacation. This book weighs a ton! I’ve got a million things to do, et al.” All of these phrases are hyperbole.

 

 

The tale of three rich men

In the New Testament 3 rich men are described, the rich young ruler, the rich man and a beggar named Lazarus, and lastly a tax collector named Zacchaeus.

What I would like to do is make some comparisons and differences between the three of them.

1.       Let’s start with the rich man and the beggar Lazarus.

In Luke 16:19-31 we read the following, “¹⁹ “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. ²⁰ At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores ²¹ and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

²² “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³ In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. ²⁴ So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

²⁵ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. ²⁶ And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

²⁷ “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, ²⁸ for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

²⁹ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

³⁰ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

³¹ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

2.       The rich younger ruler

¹⁶ Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

¹⁷ “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

¹⁸ “Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, ¹⁹ honor your father and mother,’^[a] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b]”

²⁰ “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

²¹ Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

²² When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

²³ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴ Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁵ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

 

3.       Zacchaeus the tax collector

 19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. ² A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. ³ He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. ⁴ So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

⁵ When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” ⁶ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

⁷ All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

⁸ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

⁹ Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

 

                                                                       Comparisons

What we see with the first rich man is not a godly man by virtue of the fact that he dies and goes to hell (Luke 16:23). There’s a comparison between the rich man in hell and the rich younger ruler who turns his back on Jesus; both men were self righteous, unrepentant and selfish rejecting God’s word.

Self righteous - With the man burning in hell we see his insolence when he has the audacity to demand that Abraham send Lazarus from the dead to warn his five brothers of the place of torment he forever dwells in. Abraham declares to him even if someone would rise from the dead they would not believe. They are to listen to Moses and the prophets (i.e. the word of God) (Luke 16:29-31). The rich young ruler also was self righteous in that he claimed he kept the commandments of the law and was not in any lack. This speaks to his unwillingness to recognize his own sinfulness and spiritual deficiency. What we discover is that he loved his material wealth at the expense of his own soul which makes him utterly poor toward God. See also the parable of the rich fool (Matt 16:26;Luke 13-21).[i]

Unrepentant – Not once did the rich man in hell repent for his sinful life on earth. Rather he simply wanted relief from his torment. He never considered why he was being punished.  He showed contempt for the beggar Lazarus by not helping him, and he dishonored God by not honoring the poor (Proverbs 17:5;Matt 25:41-43). He wanted Lazarus to dip his finger in some water and cool his tongue due to his torment (Luke 18:24). Likewise the rich young ruler also believed by keeping the law he could earn his way to heaven, but once Jesus commanded him to forsake his treasure on earth, sell what he had and give to the poor, take up his cross and live a life of self denial, he refused by walking away sealing his doom (Matt 19:21-22).

This posture, turning the back on Jesus when he lovingly commands all to repent is the attitude of the majority of the earth. The rich ruler’s disobedience to this command proved he was an unrighteous man and needed salvation by grace through faith not by or because of works(Ephesians 2:8-9).

 Selfish – Jesus exposed the rich young ruler’s hypocrisy by 1) when he commanded him to give to the poor. By the young ruler refusing proved that he did not observe law as carefully as he thought.  He did not love his neighbor as himself. 2) he worshipped his possessions above God which made the ruler idolatrous violating the first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).

 

                                                                        Differences

We now come to the third of the rich men Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector; meaning he had tax collectors working under him called publicans. Tax collectors were Hebrews that worked for Imperial Rome. In the eyes of the natives this made them traitors for Jews hated paying taxes to Rome. To make matters worse the tax collectors charged more tax than what the law required so this made them rich by extortion angering the Israelites even more. The Jew classified the tax collectors in two groups: gabbai and moksha. The first group levied taxes on agricultural goods and census taxes. The second group collected taxes from travelers.[ii] Jesus referred to the tax collectors in an indicting way to those who listened to him preach  when referring to those that love and greet their loved ones as opposed to showing love and kindness to their enemies which is a sacrificial selfless love. Jesus said even the tax collectors do that. Jesus was simply saying those whom you regard as the worst of all is your love no better than theirs (Matt 5:46-47)?

Jesus also stated that tax collectors and prostitutes would enter the kingdom of God before the religious leaders would due to their repentance(Matt 31:32). The idea that Jesus declared that tax collectors and prostitutes the under belly of society were more righteous than them infuriated the religious elite. The Pharisees and the upper echelon of society regarded tax collectors as the scum of the earth and the very worst of sinners. In their mind there was no way possible for these of type of people to be saved.

Zacchaeus upon hearing the preaching of the Lord Jesus demonstrated true repentance by stating that he would give half his goods to the poor, and anyone he cheated he would repay 400%. He was totally the opposite of the rich younger ruler who refused to sell his goods, give to the poor, take up his cross and follow Jesus. Jesus declared that salvation had come to the house of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:10); the outflow of his regeneration was manifested in his willingness to pay more restitution than the law required of him.

The unfortunate legacy the rich younger left was the Lord Jesus saying, “How hard is it for those that have riches to enter into the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:25). Jesus followed that thought with another emphatic statement regarding who can be saved, “With men this is impossible (italics added), but with God all things are possible” (Matt 19:26).

 

NOTES

---

[i] There are some scholars that believe that this account is an actual event and not a parable. Ordinarily when Jesus utters a parable, proper names are not used. In this particular account 3 proper names are used, Abraham, Lazarus, and Moses

[ii]  J.I.Packer, Merrill C. Tenney, Will White Jr, The Bible Almanac (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1980), 530

Does God still heal today? The purpose of Miracles

Healing is a broad subject in the Bible. It describes healings of various kinds in the O.T. such as people: Abimelech (Gen 20:17), Naaman the Syrian (2 Kings 5:14). Of the nation Israel (Hosea 6:1; Jer 30:17). Even of water (Ezekiel 47:8).

The area I would like to focus on  is the supernatural gift of healing with a subtopic of miracles described in the N.T. particularly in I Corinthians 12: 9,29,30.

The word healing in the Greek is iama which means to cure, to make whole physically and figuratively. The gift of healing was strictly regulated to the era of Jesus and the Apostles. Most in the Church would disagree with this conclusion, but let me ask the reader, if this supernatural gift was still operating like self proclaimed faith healers and others suppose, why aren’t there any verifiable, empirical evidences of these miraculous healings?

When we read the gospels, and the book of Acts, they are littered with healings and miracles Jesus performed along with His disciples.

To name a few:

a.       

Jesus heals the sick and casts out demons (Matt 4:24)

b.      Jesus heals a leper (Matt 8:3; Mark 1:40-44; Luke 5:12-14).

c.       Jesus heals the Paralytic (Matt 9:7; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26)

d.      Jesus raises a girl from the dead (Matt 9:25; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56)

e.      Jesus feeds over 5,000 with 5 loaves and two fish (Matt 14:17-21; Mark 6:31-44; Luke 9:11-17; John 6:10-14)

f.        Jesus heals the Paralytic at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:8-9)

g.       Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead (John 11:44)

h.      Jesus cast demons (perhaps as many as 2,000) out a man from the country of the Gadarenes (Mark 5:5-13; Luke 8:26-39; Matt 8:28-34)

i.         Jesus command the sea and wind to be still and they obey him proving that He has control even over the elements of nature (Mark 4:39)

j.        Jesus walks on water (Matt 15:25; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:14-21)

k.       Jesus caused a large amount of fish to be caught by the disciples (John 21:6)

l.         God heals a lame man through Peter and John declaring the name of Jesus (Acts 3:8)

m.    Stephen the first Christian Martyr performed great signs and wonders among the people (Acts 6:8)

n.      Philip a disciple preached the gospel to the Samaritans and performed miracles (a temporary sign gift of the early church mentioned in I Cor 12:10)

o.      Peter heals Aeneas who had been paralyzed for eight years (Acts 9:32-35)

p.      Peter raises Tabitha-Dorcas from the dead (Acts 9:36-41)

q.      Peter is miraculously freed from prison by an angel of the Lord (Acts 12:8-10)

r.        Paul cast  the spirit of divination out of a girl who made her masters a fortune by fortune telling (Acts 16:18)

s.       Scripture records God worked unusual miracles (signs) by the hands of Paul (Acts 19:11-12)

Now, why did Jesus, the Apostles, and their close associates perform these miracles in the first place? Scripture gives a couple of reasons:

1.      

    To authenticate the messenger and their message.  Jesus said, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe” (John 4:48). Jesus also said, “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves” (John 14:11).

  a.        Jesus  rebuked the Jews In John 10:25 when He said, “I told you and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name they bear witness of me.

 b.   Peter preaching on the day of Pentecost said, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs which God through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know” (Acts 2:22).

c.       Scripture tell us many signs and wonders were done through the hands of the Apostles and all were healed (Acts 5:12, 16).

d.      2 Corinthians 12:12 Paul tells the Corinthians that the signs of an Apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

2.       So those that witnessed the miracles will believe in Jesus:

a.       “But many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples which are not written in the book. But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:30-31)

It is important we realize that signs and wonders did not  always produce faith in those that witnessed them. We know this from the O.T. when Moses performed signs amongst Pharaoh, and the Egyptians, and when he performed miracles amongst the children of Israel in the wilderness; most of that adult generation over twenty years old died without ever seeing the promised land due to willful unbelief (Exodus 7:3-4; Numbers 14:11-36). That was not their design. The signs were a support to the message and messenger so those that heard the gospel would believe. Miracles were performed due to many having no faith in the words of Christ and the Apostles.

Consider this logic for a moment, if every believer could perform signs and wonders like the Apostles of the first century, we wouldn’t be able to distinguish the Apostles of Christ from anyone else. The miraculous works performed by them gave proof that God was with them in a supernatural way.

Also, if so-called “ Apostles”, and “prophets” of today had these supernatural endowments, why don’t they demonstrate that by going to the hospitals, and heal all the sick, go to grave sites and raise the dead, cast out demons, make the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, etc?

The obvious answer is that they do not have the power Jesus and the true Apostles  had over 1900 years ago.

Does God still heal? Absolutely!  He can heal anyone instantly if He chooses to as an act of pure mercy and love. He also heals I believe through modern medicine with physical therapy, and through  prayers of the saints (James 5:16).

Even more important the healing God is doing all the time is the healing of the soul from sin; by far the most important miracle! Listen to the wisdom of the apostle Peter: “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes (or wounds) we are healed” (I Peter 2:24).

Isaiah some 700 years earlier said the same thing: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

Both of these passages speak of being healed from sin’s disease, not physical healing as most have taught.

The main goal is our salvation, not our physical well being although important to us far less important than our souls being saved.

                                      IN SUMMARY

The gift of healings and miraculous signs is not in operation today. For if it is as I mentioned earlier in the article, why do we not see empirical evidence of these miracles today? When Jesus and the apostles performed miracles they were evident and verifiable.  Also, if someone does perform a miracle, it does not mean their power is from God. Jesus made that very clear in Matthew 24:24 in the latter days, “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders so as to lead astray, if possible even the elect.” These charlatans ability to perform miracles will be very convincing and so compelling that many will believe in them (i.e. the fake christs and prophets). [i]

As a matter of fact, listen to what Jesus says at the end of his sermon on the mount regarding those that claim to perform the miraculous in his name:

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess to them, I never knew you; depart from me ye that work iniquity” (Matt 7:22-23).

The word knew here is the Greek word ginosko which simply means to know. In the context of Matt 7:23, Jesus is saying He never had a relationship with these individuals who claim to have done these miraculous signs . This definition is according to Vine’s expository dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. A lexical aid of the N.T. gives another meaning which states that to know in the same context is to approve or acknowledge with approbation.

So those that Jesus condemned here are those He has never approved of, acknowledged or has ever had a relationship with. Jesus knows who they are creationally for He made them, but He’s never known them intimately and personally like He knows his sheep (John 10:27-30).

Those that reportedly performed these miraculous signs put the cart before the horse; meaning that they figured their “good works”  of miracles would get them into heaven. They desired the power of God without the forgiveness of God through His  Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance of sin and contrition was not their aim. The wanted to be saved by works perhaps thinking they can impress and bribe the Lord. This is the mindset of the world at large; thinking they can merit God’s grace – blasphemous (Eph 2:8-9)! Jesus knowing the hearts of wicked men justly condemned them to eternal damnation for they were willful violators of God’s law. Only those that do the will of God will enter heaven (Matt 7:21).

Contrary to popular belief miracles and healings were not frequent in scripture. The only periods where the phenomenon occurred and was concentrated was first during the period of Moses and Joshua, then Elijah and Elisha, and Jesus and the Apostles. Less than 400 years of human history when you combine all the dispensations. Authentic signs and wonders will occur again in the Great Tribulation with God’s Two Witnesses (Rev 11:3-7) and with the Seal, trumpet and bowl judgments described throughout the book of Revelation; a period that lasts only three and half years.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                              END NOTES

---

[i] The beast or the Antichrist will have the ability to perform miraculous signs on earth by the power of Satan (2 Thess 2:3,9). His companion the second beast or false prophet will perform miraculous signs also during the Great Tribulation (Rev 13:13-14). What is most important is the source behind any miracle(s), God or Satan?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    

                                                                  

Because of Love...

The rescue

I’m chosen from eternity past no thanks to me at all For it pleased you Lord to save my wretched soul Translated from death to life Hell I still deserve You saw fit to call me your son

My sin debt is paid Jesus bore my guilt my Savior incurred my wrath Clothed with righteousness seated in heavenly places I’m accepted now in the Beloved

Granted me faith and repentance to believe For my salvation I could never boast Could never seek God unless you sought me first So tenacious with your love

I inherit all good things for you’re merciful indeed For in you I brag and boast I’m in your grip you will never let me go baptized in the Holy Ghost

Eternal life reside inside me One day I’ll shed this tent of corruption To be clothed immortal I rejoice in hope My tears are gone for I’m no longer alone

Amazing grace how sweet the sound you reversed the curse of Eden Where sin abounds grace abounded the more Death and hell defeated

I sing your praises day and night for you judged me not according to my sins Rather your love brought me in when I groveled in sin hateful toward you yet you redeemed me anew

I’m in love with a man Christ Jesus-God manifested in the flesh What a strange idea who’s heard of such things My affection for you because of your first-love for me

  

My eyes are enlightened I no longer live in darkness Your word is alive health to my bones Insatiable my desire for truth Hunger increases my desire to live holy Being transformed inside out                                              

I no longer serve sin for now I have a new Master For I have power now to resist temptation Confirming daily to the image of my Savior help me suppress the wicked deeds of the flesh

I’m compelled to tell others of your love and grace to me Many will refuse affirming their perdition Too bad for them they will lose their soul for loving this life too much

You hear when I pray now My petitions are your delight I have sweet communion with you  I’ve been made a priest the veil was torn in two your presence between the cherubim

You are the author and perfector of my faith You will preserve me til the end I’ll stumble much but never finally for you are my everlasting life

Written August 3^rd 2013

Does God still speak today?

                                            

For most that read this question they would say “of course God still speaks to us today”. To most this is a silly question, but I would like to analyze it for a moment.

I’m asking the question in light of the Bible. When we read the phrase, “The word of the Lord came to me saying…”, That phrase was authoritative. The men that heard that phrase knew the Lord was speaking to them, and recorded what they heard.

These men were Leaders, Judges, Prophets, Kings, Apostles of Jesus, and other Disciples.

            

But, it is important we ask the question, Is God speaking to us in the same manner now that He spoke back then?

Certain men in scripture heard God speak audibly to them like we speak to one another. Many believe God speaks audibly to them today. How do they know it’s God, and not some other force or spirit leading them astray?

God through Moses gives this litmus test in Deuteronomy 18:18-22 he says, “I will raise a Prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And whosoever will not listen to my words, I will require it of him. But the Prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods that same prophet shall die. And if you say in your heart, “How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?” – when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true (emphasis added), that is a word the Lord HAS NOT SPOKEN; the prophet has spoken presumptuously. You shall not be afraid of him.

Any word that God has genuinely spoken through his servants will/must come to pass – every time! God never speaks an idle word.

God told Jeremiah I will be with your mouth, and that He put His words in the mouth of the Prophet (Jeremiah 1:9).

In Isaiah 6:7 we see an angel from heaven taking a hot coal with tongs from the heavenly altar touching the lips of Isaiah signifying his sins had been forgiven. This was Isaiah’s ordination for his prophetic office – meaning Isaiah was now fit to be God’s mouthpiece.

These three men and many others in scripture received direction revelation from God. What they declared was 100 percent correct, because they were spokesman for God. The words they spoke were always God’s words – never their own.

Jesus said in John 6:38 said, “For I came down from heaven not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me.”

Jesus in John 12:50b said that, “What I say therefore I say as the Father has told me.”

So, in the light of the aforementioned, how should we respond to someone now when they say” the Holy Spirit told me…”

That person with or without knowing it is declaring that they are receiving direct revelation from God; just the like prophets of old. This is a frightening thing when we consider God’s revelation/canon is finished. There is nothing left to be revealed by God. We have  a completed text from Genesis to Revelation. What more needs to be said?

Those that are claiming to have a word from the Lord are in essence saying that God is still speaking like He did in the Old and New Testaments. This means since we have a closed canon/bible, there are currently extra-biblical revelations going on; people are claiming to speak in the name of the Lord when He IS NOT speaking to them at all. This makes those that claimed to be speaking false prophets (2 Peter 2:1).

Point blank, the writer does not believe God is dispensing new revelation through anyone, because we have a closed, completed canon of scripture.

Think about it, what more information is there to reveal when the last book of the Bible (The Revelation) clearly describes what will happen in the future and for all of eternity?

Concluding, does God still speak to us? Yes through his holy revealed Word. I believe He can also speak to us inaudibly in our spirits. Consider John 14:26, “But the Helper the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

The Spirit will only teach us the words of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit guides us in all truth because He is Truth (John 16:12-13). Contrary to that is not the Spirit of Christ, but the spirit of the antichrist (I John 4:3; 2 John 7).

A third way God speaks to us audibly is through the wise godly counsel of fellow believers (Psalm 119:24; Proverbs 1:5; 11:14; 15:22).

So, if someone approaches you and claims to have a word from the Lord, I would be very careful (the writer is extremely skeptical of this), examine carefully what they say against revealed scripture and see if the thing uttered comes to pass (I Thess 5:21; I John 4:1).

One last passage in Amos 3:7, “For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.” Since all are not prophets of God, God could not have spoken to every person directly in that fashion.

When God spoke to the man of God, the prophet prophesied to the people.

All the prophets are dead. Hebrews says in these last days God has spoken to us by His Son the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb 1:2).

Jesus exceeds all the prophets for He is their creator and redeemer.

We in the church do prophesy today, not new revelation directly from God, but canonical revelation directly from God through his prophets of old who recorded God’s words – Holy Scripture.

Because of sin...

Before redemption

I  love to hate and hate to love impenitent in mind and speech Self righteous my lot evil my bread anger is what I drink

Devoid of God’s Spirit hell bound I hasten deceived due to blackness of soul So internally diseased metastasized at heart unaware I need spiritual healing

Dead man walking sin killed me at birth due to Eden’s transgression My adamic nature toxic It shakes it’s fist at the Almighty thinking I’m owed a debt

I’m on edge all the time I rejoice in scandal willing to catch a case Anger is perfect humility I despise Cancerous to all around me

I’m a religious zealot a legalist to the max modern day Pharisee judgmental hypocrite unbeknownst to me I’m merciful to none and critical of all fiending for the highest places in the courts

Unforgiven when trespassed no ounce of compassion boastful reaction even when offender is contrite Cold 

hearted dog rips flesh off the bone my wrath gives me the juice to retaliate

I mock at iniquity trivialize my depravity never as bad as the next guy My “penance”  I believes saves me feeling good regarding benevolence for I’ve made the world a "better place"

Believes Jesus loves me and died for my sins truth for me merely academic Refuse to repent for it involves radical commitment for what would my peers think of me

   

Unaware I need a heart transplant of soul for I’m a tomb walking aimlessly on earth Yet I refuse the truth want to earn heaven’s glory that I may brag of my earthly virtue

Nearer to death than I care to know never realizing my father Satan desires my eternal expiration For he hates my guts he’s doom to Gehenna desires to share his damnation with all

Come short of God’s glory continually I’m a sinful marksmen never hitting the target Tired of hearing  gospel preachers Talk too much Bible commanding me to repent

I continue to harden myself against truth for I despise God’s love Not realizing I’m near the point of no return when salvation for me will be too late

I’m devoid of true joy my lows are greater than my highs Yet due to pride I refuse to realize an intervention Divine is my solitary hope tonight

The thing I love (sin) has lied betrayed and is killing me daily for my fidelity to it is vanity The lover I sought  never loved me back Been made a slave my life long

Is there any hope for me

Sequel to follow. Written August 3, 2013