S.W.I.M. to Make Disciples
June 30, 2022 at 12:58 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 1 CommentTags: Disciples, discipleship, John 15, Mark 9, quotes about swimming, swim quotes, swimming quotes
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
John 15:7-9
For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
Mark 9:31
Four Faces
June 24, 2022 at 3:07 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 2 CommentsTags: angels, beast with four faces, Biblical beasts, Ezekiel 1, four beasts, Genesis 9, Revelation 4
As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.
Ezekiel 1:10
And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
Revelation 4:7
And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.
Genesis 9:10
The four faces from Ezekiel 1:10 and Revelation 4:7 may be a representation of or reference to God’s covenant with Noah. The face of the man would be Noah himself. The fowl would be the eagle. The calf would be the cattle. And the beast of the earth would be represented by the lion (the “king of the beasts”).
Another – or an additional – possibility is that the four faces represent four different emphases of Christ given in the four different Gospels. Matthew presents Jesus as the King (the lion). Mark shows Jesus as the servant (the calf). Luke pictures Jesus as the Son of Man (the man). John sees Jesus as the Son of God (deity/eagle).
Abbreviated Words in Hymn Lyrics?
June 21, 2022 at 1:02 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 2 CommentsTags: Biblical Q&A, favorite hymns, hymn lyrics, hymns, Lily of the Valley, Q&A, singing in church
Question: Why do some of the older hymns we see in church have so many weird abbreviations in the lyrics? Like “tis” for “it is” and “ne’er” for never and “Heav’n” for “Heaven?” I thought at first maybe they were being abbreviated to fit on the screen, but “Heav’n” doesn’t take up any more space than “Heaven.”
Answer: I would like to defer on this because I don’t really know the answer. I CAN tell you that you are correct in surmising that fitting the words to songs on the projection screen is not the reason that the words are abbreviated, because they were abbreviated that same way in the old hymn books.
I suspect the reason in some cases has to do with the poetry of the lyrics. When dealing with meter and rhyme, certain verses or lines of lyrics need to have the same number of syllables to make them sound better. So, a middle consonant (like the v in “never”) or a beginning vowel (like the I in “It is”) may be removed to make a two-syllable word or phrase into one syllable, in order to fit the scheme of the rhyme. That’s my best guess, anyway.
However, I have absolutely no idea why the word “thought” is shortened to “tho’t” in the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul.” I can speak redneck country twang with the best of them, but even after three moon pies and a six-pack of R.C. Cola I can’t make “thought” sound like it has two syllables, and “tho’t” looks like it should rhyme with “shot” not “ought.” 
I wish I could help you, but, even though I love the theology and the words in most of the old hymns, music in general baffles me, and I have a poor ear for appreciating it, and a worse voice for singing it.
Safe and Secure: Eternally Ovine
June 16, 2022 at 3:11 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 4 CommentsTags: eternal security, eternal security of the believer, everlasting security, John 10, Jonah 2, once saved always saved, perseverance of the saints, regeneration, sheep, the Good Shepherd
In a previous lesson I stated that the doctrine of the eternal security of the believer is: All those to whom God in Christ Jesus grants eternal life will, without fail or exception, be held securely and safely by God’s power, and the eternal life they have received cannot be revoked, rejected, lost, stolen, given back, or otherwise reversed.
Q. Who saves people?
A. God does. (Jesus is also an acceptable answer!)
But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.
Jonah 2:9 (emphasis added)
When people are born again, are they born by their own will, or God’s will? According to John 1:12-13, God is the one who gives them to the power to believe, and they are NOT born of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of the will of God.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:12-13
So we must start off with the right question. NOT: “Can I lose my salvation?” BUT: “Can I lose the Lord’s salvation which He has granted to me?”
And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
John 6:39
This is not a question of human free will being cancelled. It’s a question of God’s will being carried out perfectly and unfailingly by Jesus.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
John 10:27-28
One objection to using John 10:27-28 as a prooftext for eternal security is that it says no third person (“neither shall any man”) will pluck or snatch or otherwise remove a regenerated believer (“My sheep”) from Jesus’s all-powerful hand. To the person making the objection, this leaves a little “wiggle room” (pun intended) for a person to remove HIMSELF from Jesus’s hand. It is commonly thought that, presumably, by sinning egregiously, maybe unrepentantly, or by willfully putting a stop to your own saving faith, then you could have personal saving faith in Jesus one minute, and then not have it the next.
However, this objection is an expression of the logical fallacy of special pleading. It effectively ignores the first part of John 10:28: “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish…” That is an absolute statement. ETERNAL life can’t be temporary or provisional life. Those qualifiers would negate the plain meaning of “eternal” by definition. Furthermore, note that the verse goes on to say: “And they shall NEVER perish…” There are no exceptions or subordinate clauses to the absolute certainty of the word “never.”
This helps us deal – in context – with Verse 27: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”. A person trying to deny the doctrine of eternal security will say, “Well, maybe someone becomes a sheep, recognizes the Shepherd’s voice, and follows… but then one day, this person stops following.” However, notice the syntax: It doesn’t say, “My sheep hear My voice, and IF they follow Me, then Verse 28 applies.” It doesn’t say, “WHILE they follow Me, Verse 28 applies.” It’s not conditional. It’s indicative. It’s a declarative statement. It’s declaring a fact. “My sheep hear my voice.” That’s how they know they’re truly sheep. They truly recognize and respond to the True Shepherd’s voice. “And I know them,” says Jesus. Jesus knows everything. He can’t be fooled. There are no mistaken-identity sheep who were temporary-sheep, and then later transformed back into goats or wolves or pigs to Jesus’s surprise. “And they follow Me,” He goes on to say. This is plain. It’s just a fact. The real sheep follow Him. It’s not a trial period of temporary ovinism. Once He turns them into sheep, they follow the Shepherd.
Another objection, though, by those who oppose the doctrine of eternal security is: “What if these sheep go astray?” That’s pretty easy to answer from the Bible: If they go astray, then the Shepherd brings them back.
For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
I Peter 2:25
Many arguments against the doctrine of eternal security are based, despite John 1:12-13, on certain notions about human free will. Here, that argument is normally manifested as something like this: “If these sheep choose to follow the Shepherd, can’t they just choose to unfollow Him?” The disconnect here is a failure to understand that they can only choose in accordance with their nature. Sheep are created by God’s will, so they have been given a sheep-nature. They are free in the sense that they are free to do what God made them to do. A popular caricature at this point of the discussion is for an opponent of eternal security to claim that this would just make Christians into God’s puppets, but this, too, is incorrect. Transformed sheep are not puppets. Their transformation makes them more truly free than they ever were when they were in bondage to sin.
A Recipe for Spiritual Growth
June 13, 2022 at 2:38 pm | Posted in II Peter | 4 CommentsTags: 2 Peter 1, Biblical recipes, commentary on 2 Peter, inerrancy of the Bible, recipes, spiritual fruit, spiritual growth, Sunday School lessons on 2 Peter, The Bible
Lord, please bless each and every one of us now. I pray that we and our families would receive the gifts of good health, stable finances, peace with our neighbors, and joy like a river in our souls. Only, Lord, if it brings glory to You, or helps to sanctify us, in Your good providence, then I pray you would take anything away from us that would make us self-centered or world-centered rather than Savior-centered and God-centered. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
The Book of II Peter is another letter from Peter – written after the first one (obviously) – probably to the same churches, and probably after the official persecution of his day had really been heating up. Also, as if that wasn’t bad enough, false teachers had started to infiltrate the churches. Now the teaching concerning moving from glory to glory – and enduring suffering and persecution – got even deeper.
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
II Peter 1:5
As Christians, we are growing, but this growth is not a passive process. We are to “give diligence” – to try hard and try often – to add to our own spiritual maturity and growth. There is a recipe we are to follow in II Peter 1:5-7, and, like a literal cooking recipe, not only must we have the ingredients, but we must follow the instructions.
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
II Peter 1:5
“Beside this” refers to the divine nature we have received upon being born again as a child of God. We are saved by grace through faith, and we are supposed to add virtue, which is a type of faith-in-action reflecting something valuable in us given to us by God (saving faith) which can be formed, developed, and shared. Then, to this virtue, we are to add knowledge. This means we become more intimately acquainted with God and we know Him better through His Word.
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
II Peter 1:6
Temperance is being even-keeled, not given to extremes, and God gives us an opportunity to show our trustworthiness not so much by controlling ourselves with our own will power, but by exercising our self-control in submitting to His control. Then comes the type of patience which is not mere idle waiting, but means enduring through a difficult and trying time while having a right attitude about the hardship we face. “Cleanliness is next to godliness,” says a well-known proverb, but here is it sandwiched between patience and brotherly kindness. Godliness is being affected by God’s grace so that we live in recognition of it and are motivated by it. Godliness helps produce the last two steps/ingredients in the recipe:
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
II Peter 1:7
Charity is Christian love. It is self-sacrificing, other-preferring love.
The ingredients in this recipe are important, and the order of the ingredients is also important. My wife (who is an amazing chef) and I used to chuckle at this little poem:
I didn’t have potatoes, so I substituted rice.
I didn’t have paprika, so I used another spice.
I didn’t have tomato sauce, I used tomato paste;
A whole can, not a half can – I don’t believe in waste.
A friend gave me the recipe; she said you couldn’t beat it.
There must be something wrong with her, I couldn’t even eat it!
I have lost my notes on who the author is, but it reminds us that it’s not enough to have the recipe. We must actually follow the recipe. Following God’s recipe makes sure that we get the proper spiritual nutrition.
Biologically, if we don’t get the proper nutrition when we are babies, it will affect our eyesight, but babies don’t see anything until they’re born. God opens our spiritual eyes when we are born spiritually. He lets in light.
But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
II Peter 1:9
The things that are lacking in someone who does not see well spiritually are the ingredients in Verses 5-7. Babies can’t see “afar off.” They are shortsighted. Spiritual nearsightedness is one symptom of not growing spiritually.
On the other end of the spectrum is a condition that affects the elderly: forgetfulness. Even after we’ve been saved for a very long time we still need to remember that we were purged from our old sins. Purging is sometimes painful. We should want to avoid getting dirty again, thereby putting ourselves through the pain of sin again. Spiritual nourishment sharpens our memory as well as our sight. People who can’t see and people who can’t remember where things are tend to stumble and fall.
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
II Peter 1:10
We must remember not only where we’ve fallen in the past, but, even more importantly, we need to remember what will keep us from falling.
Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
II Peter 1:13
We live in a temporary body, but we have been entrusted with an eternal treasure. It’s always right, and it’s never wrong, to feed on the the Word of God. That’s our main sustenance.
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
II Peter 1:16
The Apostles didn’t make up stories or myths. They saw Jesus’s ministry, miracles, Resurrection, and Ascension in person.
For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
II Peter 1:17
Peter, James, and John SAW the transfiguration. They BEHELD the glory of God, and lived to tell about it! They HEARD the voice of God (Matthew 16-17; Mark 9; Luke 9).
And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
II Peter 1:18-19
Even though they had heard the audible voice of God they knew that the Holy Scriptures were a more sure Word of prophecy.
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
II Peter 1:20
The Scriptures are not private in the sense they we can twist them to meet our personal preferences. All true believers have the same Spirit, and the Holy Spirit would not teach one believer something completely opposite from what He would teach another believer. Also, we can not separate out one Bible verse or passage of Scripture from all the others, and divorce it from the rest of the Bible. The Bible is cohesive and self-affirming in its consistency and continuity. It is not a “magic book” that secretly whispers different messages to different people.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
II Peter 1:21
The Holy Ghost wrote the Bible, using over 40 human instruments over more than 2000 years to write one big Bible with no contradictions or errors. The Bible is the infallible, inerrant, inspired Word of God. It is truth without error, but regardless of how often we repeat this doctrine, we still must do what it is says if we want to be spiritually fruitful and not spiritually barren.
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
II Peter 1:8
Walking BY Faith on the Bridge OF Faith
June 9, 2022 at 12:06 pm | Posted in I Thessalonians | Leave a commentTags: 1 Thessalonians, 1 Thessalonians 5, Bible study on 1 Thessalonians, Book of 1 Thessalonians, commentary on 1 Thessalonians, faith of Christ, lessons on 1 Thessalonians, Sunday School lessons on 1 Thessalonians
As Christians, the bridge that we are standing ON is all that is standing BETWEEN us and a long fall, followed by a sweeping-away in the current of water rushing by beneath our feet. Thankfully, though, the bridge on which we stand cannot waver in the wind; it cannot decay and rot; and it simply cannot collapse, even with the weight of all our baggage, faults, problems, and failures. It is the bridge of the faith of Jesus Christ Himself, and it is unchanging because He is unchanging. When He promises that you will do something and be something, you WILL do it and be it.
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
I Thessalonians 5:23-24
The bridge of the faith of Jesus Christ is a bridge we may never fall OFF, but it is a bridge we may fall ON. Therefore, in this series on I Thessalonians I have looked at three “legs” of the Christian life which strengthen our stand, and keep us from failing over on our own, or from being knocked over by the devil. These three legs are: God’s Spirit (the Holy Ghost); God’s Word (the Bible); and God’s body (the Church).
Here are previous lessons on the Book of I Thessalonians:
1. An Exemplary Church (1)
2. From Frequent Formal Faithful Following, Flows Full Foundational Fellowship (1:6)
3. Don’t Get Caught Up the Creek Without Your Oars (1:8-9)
4. The Joy of Maturity (2)
5. Trusted with the Treasure (2:4)
6. Quarterback Commandment No. 11 (2:2-6)
7. Quarterback Commandment No. 6 (2:9-12)
8. The Thousand Year Reign of King Jesus (2:9-17)
9. Strong Stable Standing (3)
10. Keep Walking until You Get Caught Up (4)
11. Marital Espionage (4:3-4)
12. God’s Specific Will for You (4:3-7)
13. Learning to Like Eternal Life (4:7-8)
14. Celebrating at a Funeral? (4:13)
15. Home Is Where the Soul Goes (4:13-18)
16. Comfort One Another (4:13-18)
17. Arose by No Other Name (4:14-18)
18. Quarterback Commandment No. 8 (4:16-17; 5:2-4)
19. Us and Them (5:1-11)
20. Beware the Father of the Furtive (5:4-5)
21. This Big Light of Mine (5:6)
22. The Helmet of Salvation (5:8)
23. T.K.O. Your Pastor (#1) (5:12-13)*
24. Quarterback Commandment No. 5 (5:12-14)
25. Seeing and Following Instead of Scratching and Stabbing (5:15)
26. Wake Up, Clean Up, and Dress Up (5:7-27)
*most-viewed entry in the category
His Way IS the Highway
June 7, 2022 at 3:16 pm | Posted in Isaiah | 6 CommentsTags: commentary on Isaiah, Isaiah 11, Isaiah 12, Isaiah 13, Isaiah 14, Isaiah 15, Isaiah 16, Isaiah 20, Isaiah 21, Sunday School lessons on Isaiah
In Isaiah Chapter 11 we find words of consolation concerning the Messianic kingdom or the millennial reign.
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
Isaiah 11:6
It appears that during this time the leopard, although perhaps not having its physical spots changed, will definitely have its predatory nature changed.
And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.
Isaiah 11:16
The highway is the smooth straight way prepared by the Lord. You may have heard someone say, “It’s my way or the highway,” in an egotistical, boastful way, but the Lord’s way actually IS the highway. There’s no option for another “way” of following God, but His way.
Chapter 12 gives a glimpse into how the Lord will be praised in that day.
And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
Isaiah 12:4
Chapter 13 is a prophecy about the ultimate doom of Babylon, which, along with Egypt centuries earlier, was a symbol of the world’s system, as opposed to God’s Kingdom. Chapter 14 contains prophecies about Babylon, as well as the Philistines. They were warned not to gloat over Judah’s troubles. Chapters 15 and 16 discuss the devastation of Moab. Isaiah was given prophecies for all the major nations in the area: the city of Damascus in Chapter 17; Ethiopia in Chapter 18; and Egypt in Chapter 19.
In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it; At the same time spake the Lord by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot. And the Lord said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia;
20:1-3
There is some debate about whether Isaiah was actually fully naked. It seems more likely that he wore a type of loincloth.
Chapter 21 deals with the defeat of Babylon by Elam and Media. Jerusalem is addressed in Chapter 22, and Tyre in Chapter 23. King Ahaz’s refusal to trust God and His Word had a serious impact on his whole nation. God holds those who know Him and His Word to a high standard of accountability. Reading the Bible should not seem like a burden for Christians. It is actually a privilege. However, it also poses a certain danger, because reading it, but not heeding it, is (1) vanity, and (2) dishonoring God by wasting the gift He has given us. Ahaz wasn’t the only one who acted one way in church and another way in in the governing of his political affairs. Virtually all of the high-level officials and prominent businessmen and leaders of his day were oppressing people. We can’t criticize our leaders unless we are living by a higher standard. Thankfully, there was a remnant that did not follow Ahaz into ungodliness and distrust of God’s Word.
Do We Really Need to Study the Bible?
June 2, 2022 at 3:01 pm | Posted in II Timothy, Uncategorized | 7 CommentsTags: 2 Timothy 2, Bible study, Biblical Q&A, King James Version, KJV, Q&A, study
Question: I know there’s a verse in the Bible that says we are supposed to study the Bible, but didn’t “study” mean something else when the Bible was translated into English?
Answer: I believe you are thinking of II Timothy 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The word “study” in that verse is translated from the Greek word spoudazo, which means to act quickly to give diligence to some endeavor. The King James Version of the Bible only translates it as “study” once, translating it as “endeavoring” or “being diligent” or “doing diligence” in other verses.
When people today hear the word “study,” what often pops into their minds is a person (a “student”) sitting at a desk (perhaps in a room called a “study”), reading a book, taking notes, and trying to memorize lessons or facts. Therefore, this is one of the verses that amateur skeptics like to use to discredit the KJV as being archaic and too-difficult-to-understand for modern readers. However, careful inspection shows that this example doesn’t serve that argument.
The English word “study,” derived from ancient Latin and Old French forms of the word, has had dual meanings since around 1300 A.D. It can mean to apply yourself through the study of books and course materials, or to give diligent attention to any subject, including the way you live your life. Therefore, it’s pretty easy to see why the KJV translators would have used it in II Timothy 2:15 as opposed to its synonyms with slightly different connotations that they used in other passages of Scripture. The reason is that II Timothy 2:15 is an exhortation to Timothy to be diligent in pleasing God specifically in the area of “rightly dividing the word of truth” (the Bible) and in combatting heresy and false doctrine – which contradicts the truth (II Timothy 2:14,16-18) – by being knowledgeable about the the Word.
This means that other versions which translate spoudazo as “be diligent” (NKJV) or “do your best” (NIV) are missing out on the emphasis of the need for pastors and Bible teachers (and, really, anyone who wants to be grounded in the Word of God) to spend time reading, meditating, memorizing, applying, and, yes, STUDYING the Bible.
The Deep End 
Hit the Hay or Hit the Bricks?
June 28, 2022 at 3:57 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 2 CommentsTags: Christian ministry, commentary on Exodus, common expressions, common expressions in the Bible, Exodus 5, hay, ministry burnout, straw, Sunday School lessons on Exodus
The common expression “hit the hay” comes from a time when mattresses and pillows were sometimes stuffed with hay. It means to go to bed and go to sleep. Technically, though, hay refers to grain crops and is typically used to feed animals. A more accurate expression might have been “hit the straw,” although that one suffers from a lack of alliteration. Both hay and straw are mentioned in the Bible. Here is one of the most well-known mentions of straw:
Exodus 5:1-8
The people had to gather straw to make bricks, and it is generally assumed that the straw was mixed into the mortar used to make the bricks. This may be correct, but it may have also been needed for burning in the fire used to bake the bricks.
Pharaoh hoped that God’s people would be too tired from all this work to worship God, or to stir up trouble. He wanted them so worn out that, by the end of the day, they wouldn’t have enough energy to do anything other than “hit the hay.”
Of course, Moses had been instructed by God to lead His people out of Egypt – to get them to “hit the bricks,” so to speak. God’s people had been serving Pharaoh when they should have been serving God. As Christians, we have to be be intentional about who we serve. The world will have us in bondage if we’re not careful – too tired to serve the Lord. When the world says “hit the hay,” we need to “hit the bricks,” and get to church, to get more involved in ministry. Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together (Hebrews 10:25). Some people get “church burnout.” They think the Lord is telling them to take some time off from church. I’m not talking about missing a service now and then for honest reasons, but we really must not take an extended time off from ministry. When Jesus spoke to people who were laboring and were “heavy laden” (Matthew 11:28), He didn’t tell them to take some time off or to take a break from the ministry, or to go somewhere where they would feel more appreciated. No, He told them to come to Him. When you are worn out, that’s when you ought to be most aware that you need Jesus and you need to be serving Him.