We now come to the subject of baptism and its role, if any, in God’s redemptive plan for mankind.  For us to journey through this, we need to be honest about this idea of “unmerited grace.”   Unmerited simply means not deserved or merited (i.e., deserved or be worthy of).  The idea is that the grace of God, culminated in the work of Christ His Son on the cross, which opened the doorway to salvation for all who believe, can NEVER be earned by anything one does.  Thus, as some reason, the act of baptism, because it is something one does, cannot be necessary for salvation because salvation “is a gift of God, not of works” (Ephesians 2:8-9).  I understand the struggle, I truly do.  But for those who refute the faith driven act of baptism, what about the sinner’s prayer?  As Franklin Graham asks viewers to invite Jesus into their hearts in his recent television spot, he says, “Just pray this prayer…”.  Isn’t that something you are doing?  Logically, if we take this idea of unmerited grace to its fullest conclusion, all would be saved, for no one would need to do anything, including believe.  But as we saw last week, Jesus Himself revealed that believing, the very cornerstone of man’s involvement in God’s redemptive plan, is a work; that is, an act on man’s part.  With this in mind, let’s consider the subject of baptism and its role in salvation.

“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the

name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…’”  (Acts 2:38)

Moved by the gospel, wanting to know what to do next, if anything, Peter answers their question, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”  The answer is simple and life changing.  Now that you believe, repent, and be baptized.  We covered this idea of repentance last week.  Now we look at the act of baptism.  One of the first things we need to do is determine whether this is water baptism or the baptism of what some call “the Holy Spirit.”  There are many avenues we could take and somewhere down the road we will consider journeying down them.  For today though, I want to bring us to one text that I believe reveals with clarity that the command to be baptized here given by the Holy Spirit through the apostle Peter is referring to water baptism.  Our text is Acts 8, a familiar text of the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch.  You may remember that Philip, directed to the eunuch by the angel of the Lord (Acts 8:26), reveals to him who the prophet Isaiah was talking about by preaching “Jesus to him” (Acts 8:35).  Philip, one of seven men chosen in Acts 6:5 who were “full of faith and the Holy Spirit”, the same Holy Spirit that had guided the apostles into all truth in Acts 2, reveals God’s redemptive plan to the eunuch.  This would be Philip’s only time teaching this man, a one-time bible study if you will.  What did he teach him?  We know he taught him about Christ, but what else though?  Listen to what the eunuch asked, “See, here is water.  What hinders me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:36).  Who taught him about water baptism?  Better yet, why would he be taught about it?  Then, we read, “And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him” (Acts 8:38).  This is what the Holy Spirit guided Philip to teach and do.  Thus, it would make sense then to conclude that the Holy Spirit would also have Peter, along with the other apostles, teaching and doing the same thing.

Let’s consider an illustration I have used before to help us grasp how the act of baptism need not be viewed as a work of merit; but instead, a step of submissive faith.  Man’s Situation: If I was standing in a third story window of a building engulfed in flames, facing certain death by the flames that surround me.  I could leap, but that too would only bring death.  I am in need of being saved!  I call for help on my cell phone and soon the firemen show up.  They access things and determine the only way to save me is to use an airbag.  They deploy it and beacon me to jump.  I yell to the fireman who is urging me to jump, “I am afraid!”  The fireman says, “Trust me and you will be okay!  The airbag will catch you!”  My fear is replaced with trust, and I leap, escaping certain death and finding the joy of life anew.  I roll off the airbag and say, “Wow, look how I saved myself!”  NO, that would be absurd.  I turn to the airbag and begin to praise it.  Of course not!  What I do first, is thank and praise the firemen for saving me.  Yes, I did need to act.  But most important, I had to put faith in the fireman and what he has done to save me.  That confidence in him is what moved me to leap into the airbag.  The airbag, although necessary to save my life, does not get any of the glory, only the fireman.  Why?  Because without him, salvation would be possible.

The act of faith driven water baptism is no different.  It is someone who has come to realize their need for Christ’s saving grace, for they are aware of sin and the death that it brings (Romans 6:23).  They realize that salvation is impossible within themselves, they need a Savior, and His name is Jesus Christ.  They also see the need to repent, to turn away from sin and the deception of this world and all the false promises it offers.  By faith, they submit to the act of water baptism, not to in some way meriting or earning salvation.  On the contrary, this newfound faith puts its trust in no one other than He who hung on the cross in their place, knowing that when they are baptized in water, it is “in the name of Jesus Christ” that they do so.  Peter spoke of this very thing, “And that water is like baptism, which now saves you.  Baptism is not the washing of dirt from the body.  It is asking God for a clear conscience.  It saves you BECAUSE Jesus Christ was raised from death” (1^st Peter 3:21). 

We return to Acts 2:38 and end with this idea of baptism’s role in salvation.  When faith in who Christ is and what He has done for sinful man is grasped, the natural question is, “What shall we do?”  The answer, Peter says, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…”    As the ETRV reads, “Then God will forgive your sins…”. Thus, baptism has nothing to do with trying to earn salvation.  It is an act of faith of one helplessly in need of salvation and who trusts fully in the One who has provided all that is needed to be saved.  Thank You Lord for being so gracious towards sinful man.

Dennis

In John chapter six we read of a miracle where Jesus feeds the five thousand with five barley loaves and two small fish, with twelve baskets of the barley loaves left over.  The next day, the people went looking for Jesus, finding Him in Capernaum (v24).  They asked Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”  In the following couple of verses, Jesus says something rather interesting, which in part was, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life…” (v27).  They then respond, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” (v28).  His answer, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent” (v28).  The Greek word translated “work” means to toil, to act.  Now we come again to Acts 2 where the Jewish people would be faced with a painful, yet hopeful truth.  Their Messiah had come!  And they put Him on a cross!  What an emotional rollercoaster that must have been for so many.  I can understand why many of them were “cut to the heart”; that is, I am pierced, stung, smitten. (Acts 2:37).  Convinced now of this truth (Belief, i.e., faith), they ask an important question Peter and the other apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”  The ETRV says, “Brothers, what shall we do?”  Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, which is guiding him into all truth, answer their question.  It is his answer that we consider in part today.

“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized

in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” (Acts 2:38)

Many in the religious world struggle, if not downright disregard the act of water baptism.  We will cover that soon.  That said, those same people would never negate the necessary choice to repent.  Exactly what is repentance and what does it look like?  We gain a little insight when we read the ETRV of Acts 2:38, “Change your hearts and lives…”.  The Greek word means to think differently or afterwards, i.e., consider.  It is used in Luke 13:5 when Jesus exhorted His hearers to repent or likewise perish.  Early in His ministry, Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).  It was a central part of John the Baptist’s message (Matthew 3:2).  It is used in Acts 3:19 by Peter after he spoke the gospel to them saying, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…”.  So, what is repentance?  One commentator writes, “Repentance implies sorrow for sin as committed against God, along with a purpose to forsake it.”  Repentance is a choice rooted in the conviction of the cross of Christ, who He was and why man so desperately needs Him.  It is a choice that moves the believer beyond a mere emotional response to the gospel, to a conscious decision that is now convicted that change is needed.  Repentance is something you do, and it begins with a change of mind.  But is it only an act of the mind?

As we saw in the beginning, one of the most important works (i.e., acts) of man is to believe if he or she desires eternal life.  But is it the only act?  Peter’s answer reveals that repentance is also needed; that is, a change of mind if you will.  Is that it?  What does repentance look like?  Surely it would be evidenced in some fashion, however imperfectly it may be at first.  The bible does give us some insight to help answer this question.  In 2nd Corinthians 7:10, God provides us with some practical truths about repentance.  First, it is driven by “godly sorrow” which takes place in the mind of the believer.  Next, that sorrow “produces repentance” in the believer.  That word “produces” comes from the same Greek word we find in John 6:28.  This sorrow which has overcome the believer has a purpose; that is, to bring about repentance.  As one commentator puts it, “A man who mourns over sin as committed against God, and who seek to God for pardon, will reform his life and truly repent.”  There is no true repentance if it is only a change of mind, for if the mind truly changes, so will the direction of the one who has changed their mind.  One person writes, “The predominantly intellectual understanding of metanoia as change of mind plays very little part in the N.T. Rather the decision by the whole man to turn round is stressed.”  Once again, the simplicity of the ETRV brings this out, “The kind of sorrow God wants makes people decide to change their lives.  This leads them to salvation, and we cannot be sorry for that.”

So, we go back to Acts chapter two and ask a very legitimate question, “What sort of repentance were they to offer after Peter had proclaimed to good news of Christ?”  How would they change their lives?  We know they believed and were cut to the heart.  We know they desired to do what was right but were unsure what to do.  Peter answered, first you need to repent.  Change your mind about who Christ truly is, “both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).  You turned away from Him when you nailed him to the cross.  Now, you need to turn towards Him and live for Him.  That repentance will be evidenced in part, by your willingness to be baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).  For in that act of faith driven obedience, you are revealing that He truly is both Lord and Christ in your life.

Dennis

I used a verse last Sunday in the lesson that I would like to revisit, only because I didn’t really expand on it much, if at all.  And although its thoughts may not be considered in such detail when sharing the gospel with others, I believe it would be something worthy of visiting once someone obeys the gospel.  So, before we look at the verse I am talking about, I want to start by sharing these words from Jesus, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13).   The translation called The Message reads, “This is the very best way to love.  Put your life on the line for your friends.”  This selfless act of love is mentioned again in 1^st John 3:16, where we read in part, “And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”  The type of care and concern we are exhorted to have towards one another is on display in these words and it is beautiful.  Dying for someone!  For a brother or sister in Christ!  Substitute myself, my life, to protect the life of another.

As the apostle Paul writes about Christ, he says, “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die” (Romans 5:7).  What is the difference between these two individuals?  If I understand it correctly, the “righteous man” is seen as someone with great integrity, while the good man seems to also have the qualities of “kindness, amiableness, tenderness” (Barnes).  It seems reasonable that the latter is someone who would easily fall into that friendship role with others.  The point is, both individuals represent a person with qualities that would give reason to this act of selfless love by the giving one’s life for one of them.  But, when push comes to shove, not many people are worthy of such sacrifice.  With this in mind, let’s transition to our verse for today which is found in 2^nd Corinthians 5:21.  As we consider this verse, I want us to seek to understand the idea of Substitutionary Atonement and how it fits into what has already been said above.

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us…” (2^nd Corinthians 5:21a)

What is meant by substitutionary?  The word substitute means a person or thing acting or serving in place of another.  I am a visual person, and so I think we can gain insight by looking briefly at Luke 23:13-24.  In this text we find that Jesus has faced His accusers, and like I mentioned last week, the only thing they could bring are false accusations.  Pilate proclaims to the crowd, “And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod…indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him” (Luke 23:14-15).  Jesus was innocent!  Thus Pilate, with the intent to release Jesus, is faced with a crowd that cries out against it, demanding that Barabbas be released instead.  It is here that we begin to grasp this whole idea of substitution.  They wanted a rebellious murderer released (Luke 23:19), instead of the One who “knew no sin”.  Outrageous!  But it was all part of God’s plan.  You see, “He made Him” for this very reason.  This word made means I do, act, cause.  The story of the Christ gives the appearance that mankind was in control, but they weren’t.  God, knowing what sinful man would do to His Son, gave His Son nonetheless.  One commentator writes, “The Son of God has become incarnate for our sins and has suffered and died in our stead.”  It would be through this sacrifice of His Son, that He planned “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4), that sinful man would find the opportunity to be redeemed through faith.  What does it mean that Jesus would “be sin for us”?  God substituted His Son Jesus, sinless, to take the place of mankind, sinners.  Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior of the world, “bore our sins in His own body” (1^st Peter 2:24) when He went to the cross.    Hebrews 10:14 from the Message reads, “It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people.”  He substituted Himself in our place!  Charles Spurgeon once said, “If you put away the doctrine of the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ, you have disemboweled the gospel, and torn from it its very heart.”

“…that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2^nd Corinthians 5:21b)

We have been hearing a lot about the idea of reparations lately in the news.  It means the act of making amends and it is part of understanding atonement.  Atonement is the act of making amends for an offense or injury.  Christ’s atoning sacrifice presents sinful man, once a slave to sin (i.e., unrighteousness), to now, through faith, become “slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:19).  I like how the ETRV translates Romans 3:22, “God makes people right through their faith in Jesus Christ.  He does this for all who believe in Christ.”  One commentator writes, “It means that we are made righteous in the sight of God; that is, that we are accepted as righteous, and treated as righteous by God on account of what the Lord Jesus has done….The idea is, that on account of what the Lord Jesus has endured in our behalf we are treated as if we had ourselves entirely fulfilled the Law of God, and had never become exposed to its penalty.”  What we deserved because of our sins; Christ took upon Himself.  What we do not deserve; that is, to be accepted as righteous in the sight of God, is only possible because God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us.  It is only in Him, through Him and because of Him that we can confidently claim to be righteous!

We come full circle and remind ourselves of this simple and potentially life changing truth, “But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).  Would you die for a brother or sister in Christ?  Better yet, would you die for someone who was your enemy?  Christ did!  He substituted Himself, being obedient to His Father’s plan, so we can become the righteousness of God in Him.  Heavenly Father, thank You for the substitutionary atonement found only in Your Son Jesus Christ!

Dennis

When it comes to faith (i.e., belief), the idea of Jesus being the Lamb of God is a sobering thought.  The fact that He “Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree” (1^st Peter 2:24) is something to rejoice about, while at the same time, cause us great sadness because it was for us and because of us that He gave His life.  When we consider the story of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts chapter 8, we find the Holy Spirit working in his life to bring the gospel to him through Philip.  That Good News which Philip would share with the eunuch, involved helping the eunuch to see the great price that was paid for his sins.  In v26 the angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”  It was on this road that he found the eunuch reading from the prophet Isaiah (Acts 8:30).  Taking the opportunity, Philip asked a question, “Do you understand what you are reading?”  The Eunuch responds with a question, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” (Acts 8:31).  The eunuch was reading about someone but could not understand who it was talking about.  He would then ask this question, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” (Acts 8:34).   The very next verse reads, “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him” (Acts 8:35).  The ETRV says, “He started with this same Scripture and told the man the Good News about Jesus.”  What was the Scripture that would be used to point this man to Christ?  What was it he needed to understand so he could believe and find salvation?

“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before

the shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth.”  (Acts 8:32, cf. Isaiah 53:7)

In a recent lesson, I had said, “In order to understand the Good News there is need to understand the bad news.”  Maybe, instead of bad news, I should say sad news.  For Philip to answer the “who” which the eunuch desired to know, he would need to explain the why behind it.  I wonder, would Philip had gone to Isaiah 53:4, as he began to point the eunuch towards the cross, where it says, “Surely He has bourne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.”?  The cross, the hideous scene of the cross.  Yet with all that was shared last week concerning how Jesus served people, He would be viewed as “smitten by God and afflicted”; that is, he deserved what was coming to Him!  It would make sense for him to point the eunuch to these verses.  I suspect he would then go on to vv5-6 and reveal the reason for that cross and that reason was “our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5).  Mankind has a sin problem!  What the eunuch was searching for, maybe something he never totally grasped before, was his need for healing from his own sin.  That healing would come through Christ and His cross which He bore in our place.  And as He did, He said nothing!  Matthew writes, “But Jesus kept silent” (Matthew 26:63).  Jesus said nothing to defend the false accusation brought against Him. 

“In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare

His generation?  For His life is taken from the earth.  (Acts 8:33, cf. Isaiah 53:8)

Why this humiliation?  He was innocent of all charges!  He was God in the flesh (John 1:1; 14) who came to heal His people, yet they rejected Him.  The perfect Lamb of God would face injustice in order “that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26).  What did the prophet Isaiah mean when he wrote, “who will declare His generation?”  If I understand it correctly, when someone was convicted and led to execution, there would be a “crier” who would follow the procession declaring, “Whoever knows anything about his innocence, let him declare it now.”  No one spoke on His behalf!  His disciples had “forsook Him and fled” when they came to arrest Jesus (Mark 14:50).  Peter, the one who promised allegiance to Christ, when faced with the possible consequences of that commitment, quickly denied Christ (Mark 14:66ff).  No one came to His defense!  NO ONE!  He was denied justice!  He was put to death!  The innocent in place of the guilty.  This is who the prophet Isaiah wrote about.

I look back at our text and remind myself of the question that was asked, “…of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” (Acts 8:34). So eager to learn was the eunuch.  And Philip started where the eunuch was at and taught him about the Good News of Jesus Christ.  That Good News was simple, yet life changing.  You see, Isaiah the prophet was speaking of someone who would come years down the road.  This person would face individuals that wanted nothing better than to see Him die.  Evens so, He remained quiet before His accusers.  He would be humiliated before the crowds and falsely condemned.  He would face this daunting task alone, for no one would defend Him.  Why?  I wonder if he would have continued reading, coming to this verse in Isaiah 53, “And He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (v12).  Maybe it was then he looked at the eunuch and said, “I am one of those transgressors, and so are you.  You see, He gave His life on that cross to heal sinful man.  This is the One whom you are reading about.”  Who is He?  He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  His name is Jesus Christ.

Dennis

Last week’s lesson entitled, The Need for Biblical Faith, was far from one of my best lessons.  I will not make excuses; but rather, take what was presented and try to do better.  In that lesson, I talked about two key ingredients if you will, of God’s redemptive plan for sinful man.  These were embodied in the church at Thessalonica in the way of their eagerness to hear the message, as well as welcoming it into their lives.  Down the road we will consider three other things that play a role in God’s plan for redeeming those who have come to believe in Christ.  It is here that I would like to spend some time over the next couple of weeks.  What is it that we are to believe about Christ.  Many of us have heard the saying, “It doesn’t matter how much you know; it matters who you know.”  You might remember the words of Jesus from last week’s lesson, ““He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).  I suspect you are familiar with Acts 4:12 as well, “Jesus is the only one who can save people.  His name is the only power in the world that has been given to save anyone.  We must be saved through him!” (ETRV).  As I said last week, there are some things God wants us to know when it comes to salvation, but none is as important as coming to know the ”Who” that makes it all possible.  Take away the who, and what we do does not matter in the end.

“Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly…” (Acts 2:36)

The ETRV reads in part, “So, all the people of Israel should know this for certain…”  Just a few verses prior to this, Peter would say, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words…” (Acts 2:14).  This tone reveals the urgency of things.  But what were they to know?  It is not what you know; but rather, know who!  To the Jews on the day of Pentecost, the question seemed to be, “Do you realize who He is?”  They knew Jesus, or at the very least, knew of Him.  Peter makes it clear, He walked among you, served many of you, healed some of you, and He is the One many of you were responsible in some way for putting Him on the cross (Acts 2:22-23).  He is the One “God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it” (Acts 2:24).  What follows is a prophecy of David who proclaimed long before the Christ came, “For You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” (Acts 2:27).  To the Jew, this would be familiar to them, for what Peter spoke was in part from the Old Testament prophesies.  They were waiting for Him!  The woman at the well said, “’I know that Messiah is coming.’ (who is called Christ)…Could this be the Christ?” (John 4:25, 29).  Simeon, as promised by the Holy Spirit, would not see death until “he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:26).  And when he saw the baby Jesus has proclaimed, “For my eyes have seen Your salvation” (Acts 2:30).  All these years of anticipation, waiting and hoping for the Christ to come, well, He has come.  I can sense the overwhelming reality that must have started to sink in too many who were there that faithful day.

“…that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:36)

We know that these words penetrated many who were there, for “they were cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37).  Another translation uses the word pierced.   The Greek word can also mean stung, smitten, i.e., agitate violently.  It is fair to say that they were overwhelmed with what had taken place; that is, Jesus’s death on the cross.  Why?  Because God had made Him Lord.  We again look back to the text concerning something that Peter had said, “The Lord said to my Lord, sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool” (Acts 2:34, 35).  King David had spoken these words long ago, pointing to someone who was to come.  That someone was Jesus!  As one commentator puts it, “The Son of God, and the hope of their nation, they had put to death.”  He whom you put to death, God has made Lord; that is, “that God had exalted him to be the king so long expected; and that he had given him dominion in the heavens, or, as we should say, made him ruler of all things.”  Then, there is the fact that God also made Him the Christ (Messiah), that is, the Anointed One.  The Jews anticipated the coming of the Messiah (remember John 4:25).  This anticipation is seen in the question John the Baptist asked Jesus through two of his disciples, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3).  The Healer of their nation.  The Messiah whom they had spoken of for years.  The One where their hope was placed, they could not see, even when He was right in front of them. 

If I were to be honest, there is a part within me that instinctively moves to Acts 2:38, and for good reason.  But today, I pause and wrestle with the profound thoughts of what they heard back then.  I try to place myself in their shoes as they hear these words for the first time.  The horrific stories of the cross of just days before, where this menacing man was finally quieted, all while the celebrating the Day of Pentecost.  Only to find out that He was the one which they yearned for for so long.  This Jesus, whom you crucified, God has made both Lord and Christ.  It would be difficult for them not to be cut to the heart.

Although we are distant from these events, it does not make it any less important, and hopefully no less impactful.  We too, must assuredly know.  Know what?  We will consider that later.  What matters right now is who we know!  You see, it was not just because of them that Jesus went to the cross.  It was Jesus who “bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed” (1^st Peter 2:24).  We need Jesus!  He is the who that makes redemption possible.  For God has made Him to be both Lord and Christ for evermore.

Dennis

When it comes to evangelism, the subject of faith is right there at the top, and for a good reason. Paul would write to the church in Rome, “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). We will talk more about this idea of calling on the name of the Lord in a later lesson. Still, the question is then asked, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14) The critical need for believing and having someone prepared to talk about the Christ is at the core of the subject of salvation. Salvation is not void of human involvement. We have spoken about our task of sharing Christ with others; today, we consider believing, that is, the hopeful by-product of sharing Christ with others. If you are wondering how vital believing is, consider these words from Jesus himself, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).   So, what does it mean to believe? We will not answer every aspect of this question, but we can consider a couple of basic things concerning belief from Paul’s writings to the church in Thessalonica.

“For this reason, we also thank God without ceasing because when you

received the word of God which you heard from us….” 1^st Thessalonians 2:13

Over the years, many of us may have seen the “steps to salvation” teaching tool. Although it may seem mechanical in some ways, it presents some simple truths about God’s plan for redeeming sinful man. The first two are linked together, and they are hearing and believing. Two words caught my attention as I considered this idea of believing. First, there is the word “received,” which means to learn. There is a learning process that unbelievers must go through, just like we did. At times, it is essential to understand where someone is in their thinking before you try to teach them from God’s word. Then there is the word heard, which means to listen. We should consider the importance of this word. Listening is vital! There will be those who “Keep on hearing, but do not understand” (Isaiah 6:9). Historically, we find God’s people themselves being hard to hear, so it should not surprise us that many today will not listen. So, we see two-character traits of those who will come to know what biblical faith is: they are listeners and learners. I like the ETRV here, “Also, we always thank God because of the way you accepted his message. You heard it and accepted it as God’s message, not our own.”  The later part of that verse gives us further insight into believing.

“…you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is, in truth, the word of God,

which also effectively works in you who believe.”  1^st Thessalonians 2:13

Paul says they “welcomed” (NKJV) or “accepted” (NIV) the words which he shared with them as “the word of God.”  I remembered years ago, someone sharing 1^st Thessalonians 4:8 with me. They did so because I was frustrated that few wanted to hear the word of God. It reads in part, “So anyone who refuses to obey this teaching is refusing to obey God, not us.”  Of course, there is always much to learn about presenting God’s word to others. Even Jesus could not win over the majority through His words. With a genuine love for the lost, we do our best to share the truth with others. Ultimately, the decision is theirs to make. The church in Thessalonica welcomed what was taught to them, grasping that it was the word of God that was being spoken. To have biblical faith, one must accept the Bible as God’s very words, “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2^nd Timothy 3:16-17). Once again, I like the ETRV, “Using the Scriptures, those who serve God will be prepared and will have everything they need to do every good work” (v17). Thus, we understand when Paul writes about how the word of God “effectively works in you who believe.”  Biblical faith must see the Bible as it is, the written word of God, if it has any chance of bringing about salvation and setting the course of life down a path that seeks to do His will each day.

Today we have briefly considered two things surrounding biblical faith. First, it is the result of someone willing to listen and learn. Second, they are eager to listen and learn because they acknowledge the source of that which is being shared with them, God. When these two traits are present, the opportunity for a biblical faith that leads to salvation is ready for development. The simple truth is this, “But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). Dear God, help us to be ready to share the faith with those around us in hopes that we may find someone who diligently wants to seek You.

Dennis

Over the past few years, I have made a concerted effort to speak about the great hope that is found in no one else other than Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior.   Paul wrote to the church in Rome, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13). The writer of Hebrews talks of a faith which had a “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). One verse that I find so comforting is this, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” (1^st Peter 1:3). There is so much GOOD NEWS in the message of Christ! Why say this? Well, there is a part of the gospel that is more difficult to discuss, for it collides with the very idea of the Good News. If we are going to evangelize, what follows needs to be part of the discussion. It should not overshadow the beauty of the cross, but it needs to give insight into the purpose of His cross. So, with a gentleness of spirit, I want us to consider the judgment to come as seen through the writings of Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, as he writes to the church in Thessalonica.

“…in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God,

and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2nd Thessalonians 1:8

You may remember from last week’s lesson that some doubted the actual return of Christ (2^nd Peter 3:3). Here, Paul is using the impending judgment of Christ to try and encourage the church. Why? The church in Thessalonica had great faith, and their care for one another was noteworthy (2^nd Thessalonians 1:3). This was admirable because their “patience and faith” was during times of “persecutions and tribulations” (2^nd Thessalonians 1:4). He reasoned with them, that this will all be worth it and that those who trouble them will not go unpunished. When? “When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels” (2^nd Thessalonians 1:7).   Vengeance! The NIV uses the word “punish.”  This word carries the idea of vindication, full (complete) punishment. God directs this judgment towards those who have inflicted harm upon God’s faithful, His church. But it is not only against them, for it includes all “those who do not know God, and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” will also face this plight.  One commentator says this speaks of those “who do not embrace it and practice its percepts in their lives.”  What is the point? The Holy Spirit thought it necessary to write to the church and encourage them to remain faithful. Part of the encouragement pointed them to judgment, letting them know that a time would come when God’s faithful would rise to victory while those who opposed them and God would receive their due. What would be their due?

“These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence

of the Lord and from the glory of His power…”  2nd Thessalonians 1:9

Let’s be honest; this does not feel like the gospel, right? That said, I remember something Paul wrote to the church in Colossae, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love…” (Colossians 1:13). Through the beautiful gift of Christ, we have been moved from one place (darkness) and to another (the kingdom of the Son of His love) where we find redemption and forgiveness. That means that the other place, darkness, has neither. There, there is no hope. Those who find themselves there when He returns will face punishment. The word punished means justice, and the word destruction means ruin, doom, and death. I can see why I wish to avoid this subject, for it is so direct and uncomfortable. Although these two words adequately present the dreadful consequence for those who reject Christ, the following thought grabbed my attention. For it talks of how these nonbelievers will be shut out “from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power when He comes…” (2^nd Thessalonians 1:9). Can you imagine what it will be like for those who ignored the gospel, opposed the gospel or denied it, only the find themselves face to face with the Christ, where “every knee should bow” (Philippians 2:10). This image humbles me.

Judgment is why the gospel is so important. This judgment is why we, the church, are encouraged to speak of Christ to a lost and dying world, of which we were once a part. Life has consequences; it simply does. Jesus is the answer to those consequences that sin would bring about. Freedom is found only in Him! Hope is found in no other! He is the GOOD NEWS. Why? Because he is the solution to the bad news that will come to everyone who does not know him when judgment comes.   

Dennis

I have been corresponding with a woman in Biddeford; her name is Linda Hinkley. She has been going through a bible correspondence course, doing an excellent job. Along the way, she has sent me some questions that often have nothing to do with the lesson she is doing. The last question she asked me was this, “What is the great commission?”  I wrote back to her Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  If we were to simplify the mission of the church, this would be it. Paul said it this way in Ephesians 3:10, “that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church.”  You and I, those in Christ Jesus, have been given the incredible task of sharing the hope that is in Christ. Acts 4:12 in the ETRV says, “Jesus is the only one who can save people. His name is the only power the Lord gives to save anyone in the world. Our salvation comes through him!”  Jesus himself claimed, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). This is our mission! So, I asked myself, “What can I learn from the early church to help empower me for this mission?”

“So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord…” (Acts 4:24)

This chapter begins with Peter and John teaching “the people and preaching in Jesus the resurrection from the dead” (Acts 4:2). This bothered some Jews to the point that they took Peter and John into custody. When confronted by some religious leaders, we again find Peter and John boldly preaching about Christ. Wanting to stop this message from spreading further, these religious leaders thought, “let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name” (Acts 4:17). Their threats did not phase Peter and John, so they were let go. Afterwards, Peter and John “went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them” (Acts 4:23). What was the first thing they did? They “raised their voices to God with one accord.”  They prayed together! Prayer is a critical tool when it comes to evangelism.  Paul asked the church in Ephesus to pray “for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19).  Looking back in Acts 4, consider what they prayed: “Lord, You are God!”  They exalted God to His rightful position in life. He is the creator of all things! When the church understands that God is in control, the church’s mission is on solid ground.

Their prayer continues, first quoting the words of David found in Psalm 2:1-2. Then they pray, “For truly against Your Holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together” (Acts 4:27). They remember the opposition which Jesus faced by so many and the cruel death at the hands of these very people. But the next set of words speaks loudly to these early Christians. All of it was “to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done” (Acts 4:28). The ETRV says, “These people who came together against Jesus made your plan happen. It was done because of your power and your will.”  They were acknowledging God’s sovereignty. When the church unites together under the care of their sovereign God, His will can be done.

“Now, Lord, look on their threats and grant to Your

servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word….” (Acts 4:29)

Finally, with the knowledge that such threats are real and the efforts of Satan to stifle the proclamation of Christ apparent, they seek God for boldness. This Greek word means all out-spokeness, i.e., frankness, bluntness, assurance. One commentator writes, “This is an instance of heroic boldness and a determination to persevere in doing their duty to God. When those in power assail us, when the world persecutes us, and we are in danger, we should commit our way unto God and seek his aid so that we may remain focused on the path of duty.” They did not want their circumstances to deter them from their mission. And they knew that within themselves, without their sovereign God empowering them through the challenges they faced, their mission would be lost.

So, what do I walk away with after considering this text anew? What does it teach me about the great commission that is ours today? First, I need to; we need to unite in prayer to our God. The great commission is the mission He has given us. We, like them, need to acknowledge His sovereignty over all things. He has created all things and reigns over them all. Second, we need to seek Him for the boldness to speak of Christ to others. We NEED Him if we are going to fulfill His mission. And if you are wondering if it works, consider the close of Acts 4:31, “…and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”  Heavenly Father, grant your servants boldness to speak of Christ to those around us. Help us to unite together in this mission.  Why?  Because His name is the only power in the world that God gives to save anyone.

Dennis

With the start of a new year, I believe the first lesson needs to set the tone for the year and point us in a specific direction. As I gave this some thought, I remembered a Bible verse someone presented to me that I posted next to my desk. It is a verse that reminded me about something worthy for us all to be reminded of in our walk with Christ. Before I tell you the verse, we need to get some background.

Our text for today will come from Isaiah, the prophet. Some have said that his prophecies bring with them a paradox. On the one hand, he writes of judgment because of the sins within His people, Judah. Isaiah 2:8 says, “Their land is also full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.”  God’s people had become prosperous and, in so doing, found themselves turning from their God. They had become rebellious towards Him, as in Isaiah 6:9, “Go, and tell this people: Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.”  Judgment would be coming, “The strong shall be as tinder, and the work of it as a spark; both will burn together, and no one will quench them” (Isaiah 1:31). As sad as this story is, Isaiah the prophet also speaks of hope. For God their Redeemer (Isaiah 43:14) will gather the remnant of His people, “Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west” (Isaiah 43:5). God has always yearned for His creation to trust in Him. It is here that we consider Isiah 41:10.

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God.”

 Isaiah 41:10

As one commentator writes, it is essential to remember that these words are “addressed to the exiled Jews during their long and painful captivity in Babylon.”  You can imagine how they must have struggled under the oppression of their captives and the regret of their sinful behavior that brought them to this point. But what God promised them back then is true today for His people. What is His promise? Before we can answer that question, there is something they would need to do. He wants them, in the face of adversity, to not fear and not be dismayed. As is often the case, I like the simplicity of the ETRV, “Don’t worry…Don’t be afraid…”. As one person writes, the “reason why they should not be afraid. God was their protector.”  God invited them to look towards Him once again, for He is with them. He is their God (ELOHIM, their mighty, great, awesome ruler). They had lost sight of that truth, which was why they were where they were at the time. The truth is, it is so easy to lose sight of God, right? The business of life. The trappings of this world and what it has to offer, which at best is temporary. It is easy to allow circumstances to hold you captive, distorting reality and dismantling hope. With a renewed focus on the One who can redeem them from their plight, He makes a promise.

“I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

Remember, this is a people under great duress, no longer the prosperous nation they once were. They were defeated as a nation and broken as a people. There is hope! He will strengthen, that is, to be strong, alert, courageous, brave, stout, and bold, which God uses to describe what He is promising. He will help; that is, support them. He will uphold them; that is, lay hold of, to hold up. Isaiah 35:4, “Say to those who are fearful-hearted, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with a vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.'”  He was the God they once knew, who freed them from Egyptian bondage, and brought them safely to the promised land. He, their mighty and awesome God will once again redeem His people. One person writes this about what God wants His people to know anew: His “hand was faithful, that it might be relied on, and would secure them.”

These same promises are ours today. In the face of a rapidly changing world, so many around us are trampling on once long-held beliefs about God. Maybe our lives may reflect more of an image of someone who has lost sight of God. It happens…right? As God, the great Redeemer, invited them, so He invites us, don’t be afraid or dismayed! I am your God! Look towards Me, and I promise to strengthen, help, and support you. This aid was His promise then and it is ours now. Help us, Lord, to trust in You, the only true great, and awesome God. Amen.

Dennis

As I thought about the birth of Christ, I read the story in the scriptures anew. In Luke 2:8-20 we find an angel of the Lord telling some shepherds, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people” (10). This “good tiding” or, as your translation may read, good news, is the Greek word euaggelizo: to announce good news. The good news is this, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). As the story unfolds, these shepherds find the baby Jesus in the place told them by the angel, “lying in a manger” (Luke 2:16). What happens next is seldom spoken of, “Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning the Child” (Luke 2:17). Those the angel of the Lord spoke to, now find themselves sharing it with others. Luke 2:20, “Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.”

The story shifts to some other individuals displayed in the typical nativity scenes, the three wise men. The number three is because the wise men offered three gifts. In reality, no one truly knows just how many wise men went to worship the baby Jesus that day. Another interesting thing is it appeared when they did go, some time had passed, and Jesus was no longer in the manger, for in Matthew 2:11, we read, “And when they had come into the house…”. Their intent, as seen in Matthew 2:2, was to “worship” the newborn child Jesus. And when they found Him, they “fell down and worshipped Him” (Matthew 2:11). As we know, “they presented gifts to Him; gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11).

Giving gifts is how they responded, as they witnessed a moment in history that would change the world. For most, if not all of us, we have come to know the profound gift of Immanuel, God, with us. Our lives are now changed and hope renewed; the question might be, “How do we honor the gift of Christ?”  One thing is for sure, we can never, and I mean never, repay it, let alone think we deserve it. It would be difficult to answer that question fully in just one or many lessons. But I came across an answer that reminds us of the gift we can offer our King for all He has done.

And above all things have fervent love for one another,

for “love will cover a multitude of sins.’” (1^st Peter 4:8)

So much of our worship towards Him has to do with our care for one another. The apostle Paul speaks of this idea, encouraging the saints to “be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another” (Romans 12:10). Okay, though, I know you remember the one other verses, we still need reminding. The appeals are numerous: “through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13), “be kind to one another” (Ephesians 4:32), “comfort one another” (1st Thessalonians 4:18), and “be hospitable to one another” (1st Peter 4:9). These give us a glimpse into the vision Jesus had for the church which He purchased with His blood. We are in a recovery-type mode right now, seeking to reignite the care and involvement we once cherished only a couple of years ago. We can see from this text and others within the Scriptures this love is desperately needed for our spiritual well-being. But we are reminded that there is more to it than our benefit.

“If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies,

that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ…” (1^st Peter 4:11)

I am mindful of our recent lesson series on Colossians, where the apostle Paul encouraged them and us, saying, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17). All things! This gift called Christ, given to sinful man, offering reconciliation to all, is meant to impact our lives. Through our service to one another and the proclamation of this glorious message of hope, we honor our God. It is the way that we offer our lives as a “living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). I like how the ETRV translates this verse, “Considering what he has done, it is only right that you should worship him in this way.”

 As this year comes to a close and the new year draws ever closer, may we be reminded by this Christmas holiday just how incredible the gift of Christ is to us all. And may we also consider how we might honor Him in return, giving Him the gift we all can gift, our lives. Thank You, Jesus, and Heavenly Father, for offering Him in my place. I can never repay it, but I can honor it.

Dennis