July 21, 2016

GOD is enough by Gary Rose


It is only the third week in July and already I am fed up with politics! I don't care for either of the main candidates and any other contender really has no real chance of winning the oval office. So, what will I do? I will pray about it, until I get an answer! Let God show me, for I can not decide myself.

And then there is something one of our ministers (Larry Shatzer) said last night- something like... (paraphrased) Don't be deterred from our mission of the great commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

Somehow, this picture seemed appropriate and Psalm 91 does as well....

Psalm 91 (WEB)

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
  2 I will say of Yahweh, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.”
  3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler,
and from the deadly pestilence.
  4 He will cover you with his feathers.
Under his wings you will take refuge.
His faithfulness is your shield and rampart.
  5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
nor of the arrow that flies by day;
  6 nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
nor of the destruction that wastes at noonday.
  7 A thousand may fall at your side,
and ten thousand at your right hand;
but it will not come near you.
  8 You will only look with your eyes,
and see the recompense of the wicked.
  9 Because you have made Yahweh your refuge,
and the Most High your dwelling place,
  10 no evil shall happen to you,
neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
  11 For he will put his angels in charge of you,
to guard you in all your ways.
  12 They will bear you up in their hands,
so that you won’t dash your foot against a stone.
  13 You will tread on the lion and cobra.
You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot.
  14 “Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him.
I will set him on high, because he has known my name.
  15 He will call on me, and I will answer him.
I will be with him in trouble.
I will deliver him, and honor him.
  16 I will satisfy him with long life,
and show him my salvation.”

Now, it would be easy to misinterpret this Psalm, as is shown in Matthew 4 by Satan, but the point here is this: God will help you, and in HIM you will find all the help you really need. 

Yes, I care who leads this nation, but no matter who wins, God will ultimately decide the fate of this nation.  He has raised up societies before and tore down others as well- and HE can do it again. 

May God show all who seek after HIS WILL the correct path!!! As for me- I am still waiting....

Bible Reading July 21 by Gary Rose


Bible Reading July 21 (WEB)

July 21
1 Chronicles 24-26

1Ch 24:1 These were the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
1Ch 24:2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office.
1Ch 24:3 David with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their ordering in their service.
1Ch 24:4 There were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers' houses; and of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers' houses, eight.
1Ch 24:5 Thus were they divided impartially by drawing lots; for there were princes of the sanctuary, and princes of God, both of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.
1Ch 24:6 Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the scribe, who was of the Levites, wrote them in the presence of the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites; one fathers' house being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.
1Ch 24:7 Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
1Ch 24:8 the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
1Ch 24:9 the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
1Ch 24:10 the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
1Ch 24:11 the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
1Ch 24:12 the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
1Ch 24:13 the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
1Ch 24:14 the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
1Ch 24:15 the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,
1Ch 24:16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,
1Ch 24:17 the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul,
1Ch 24:18 the twenty-third to Delaiah, the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
1Ch 24:19 This was the ordering of them in their service, to come into the house of Yahweh according to the ordinance given to them by Aaron their father, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, had commanded him.
1Ch 24:20 Of the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.
1Ch 24:21 Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the chief.
1Ch 24:22 Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.
1Ch 24:23 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.
1Ch 24:24 The sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir.
1Ch 24:25 The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.
1Ch 24:26 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah: Beno.
1Ch 24:27 The sons of Merari: of Jaaziah, Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.
1Ch 24:28 Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
1Ch 24:29 Of Kish; the sons of Kish: Jerahmeel.
1Ch 24:30 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after their fathers' houses.
1Ch 24:31 These likewise cast lots even as their brothers the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites; the fathers' houses of the chief even as those of his younger brother.

1Ch 25:1 Moreover, David and the captains of the army set apart for the service certain of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with stringed instruments, and with cymbals: and the number of those who did the work according to their service was:
1Ch 25:2 of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asharelah, the sons of Asaph, under the hand of Asaph, who prophesied after the order of the king.
1Ch 25:3 Of Jeduthun; the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Yahweh.
1Ch 25:4 Of Heman; the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth.
1Ch 25:5 All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
1Ch 25:6 All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of Yahweh, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps, for the service of the house of God; Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman being under the order of the king.
1Ch 25:7 The number of them, with their brothers who were instructed in singing to Yahweh, even all who were skillful, was two hundred eighty-eight.
1Ch 25:8 They cast lots for their offices, all alike, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.
1Ch 25:9 Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah; he and his brothers and sons were twelve:
1Ch 25:10 the third to Zaccur, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
1Ch 25:11 the fourth to Izri, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
1Ch 25:12 the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
1Ch 25:13 the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
1Ch 25:14 the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
1Ch 25:15 the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
1Ch 25:16 the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
1Ch 25:17 the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
1Ch 25:18 the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
1Ch 25:19 the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
1Ch 25:20 for the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
1Ch 25:21 for the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
1Ch 25:22 for the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
1Ch 25:23 for the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
1Ch 25:24 for the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
1Ch 25:25 for the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
1Ch 25:26 for the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
1Ch 25:27 for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
1Ch 25:28 for the one and twentieth to Hothir, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
1Ch 25:29 for the two and twentieth to Giddalti, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
1Ch 25:30 for the three and twentieth to Mahazioth, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
1Ch 25:31 for the four and twentieth to Romamti-Ezer, his sons and his brothers, twelve.

1Ch 26:1 For the divisions of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
1Ch 26:2 Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
1Ch 26:3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.
1Ch 26:4 Obed-Edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethanel the fifth,
1Ch 26:5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; for God blessed him.
1Ch 26:6 Also to Shemaiah his son were sons born, who ruled over the house of their father; for they were mighty men of valor.
1Ch 26:7 The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brothers were valiant men, Elihu, and Semachiah.
1Ch 26:8 All these were of the sons of Obed-Edom: they and their sons and their brothers, able men in strength for the service; sixty-two of Obed-Edom.
1Ch 26:9 Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, valiant men, eighteen.
1Ch 26:10 Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him chief),
1Ch 26:11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brothers of Hosah were thirteen.
1Ch 26:12 Of these were the divisions of the doorkeepers, even of the chief men, having offices like their brothers, to minister in the house of Yahweh.
1Ch 26:13 They cast lots, the small as well as the great, according to their fathers' houses, for every gate.
1Ch 26:14 The lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counselor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.
1Ch 26:15 To Obed-Edom southward; and to his sons the storehouse.
1Ch 26:16 To Shuppim and Hosah westward, by the gate of Shallecheth, at the causeway that goes up, watch against watch.
1Ch 26:17 Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and for the storehouse two and two.
1Ch 26:18 For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.
1Ch 26:19 These were the divisions of the doorkeepers; of the sons of the Korahites, and of the sons of Merari.
1Ch 26:20 Of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.
1Ch 26:21 The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of the fathers' houses belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli.
1Ch 26:22 The sons of Jehieli: Zetham, and Joel his brother, over the treasures of the house of Yahweh.
1Ch 26:23 Of the Amramites, of the Izharites, of the Hebronites, of the Uzzielites:
1Ch 26:24 and Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler over the treasures.
1Ch 26:25 His brothers: of Eliezer came Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomoth his son.
1Ch 26:26 This Shelomoth and his brothers were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the heads of the fathers' houses, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the army, had dedicated.
1Ch 26:27 Out of the spoil won in battles did they dedicate to repair the house of Yahweh.
1Ch 26:28 All that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated, whoever had dedicated anything, it was under the hand of Shelomoth, and of his brothers.
1Ch 26:29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.
1Ch 26:30 Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers, men of valor, one thousand seven hundred, had the oversight of Israel beyond the Jordan westward, for all the business of Yahweh, and for the service of the king.
1Ch 26:31 Of the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even of the Hebronites, according to their generations by fathers' houses. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valor at Jazer of Gilead.
1Ch 26:32 His brothers, men of valor, were two thousand seven hundred, heads of fathers' houses, whom king David made overseers over the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites, for every matter pertaining to God, and for the affairs of the king.


Jul. 20, 21
Acts 13

Act 13:1 Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Act 13:2 As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them."
Act 13:3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Act 13:4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.
Act 13:5 When they were at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. They had also John as their attendant.
Act 13:6 When they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar Jesus,
Act 13:7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God.
Act 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.
Act 13:9 But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him,
Act 13:10 and said, "Full of all deceit and all cunning, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
Act 13:11 Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is on you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a season!" Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him. He went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
Act 13:12 Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
Act 13:13 Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.
Act 13:14 But they, passing on from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia. They went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down.
Act 13:15 After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak."
Act 13:16 Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen.
Act 13:17 The God of this people chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they stayed as aliens in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm, he led them out of it.
Act 13:18 For a period of about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.
Act 13:19 When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land for an inheritance, for about four hundred fifty years.
Act 13:20 After these things he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.
Act 13:21 Afterward they asked for a king, and God gave to them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
Act 13:22 When he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he also testified, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.'
Act 13:23 From this man's seed, God has brought salvation to Israel according to his promise,
Act 13:24 before his coming, when John had first preached the baptism of repentance to Israel.
Act 13:25 As John was fulfilling his course, he said, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. But behold, one comes after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'
Act 13:26 Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to you.
Act 13:27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they didn't know him, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.
Act 13:28 Though they found no cause for death, they still asked Pilate to have him killed.
Act 13:29 When they had fulfilled all things that were written about him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb.
Act 13:30 But God raised him from the dead,
Act 13:31 and he was seen for many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people.
Act 13:32 We bring you good news of the promise made to the fathers,
Act 13:33 that God has fulfilled the same to us, their children, in that he raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second psalm, 'You are my Son. Today I have become your father.'
Act 13:34 "Concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he has spoken thus: 'I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.'
Act 13:35 Therefore he says also in another psalm, 'You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.'
Act 13:36 For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw decay.
Act 13:37 But he whom God raised up saw no decay.
Act 13:38 Be it known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins,
Act 13:39 and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Act 13:40 Beware therefore, lest that come on you which is spoken in the prophets:
Act 13:41 'Behold, you scoffers, and wonder, and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work which you will in no way believe, if one declares it to you.' "
Act 13:42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.
Act 13:43 Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
Act 13:44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God.
Act 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.
Act 13:46 Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, "It was necessary that God's word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
Act 13:47 For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, 'I have set you as a light for the Gentiles, that you should bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.' "
Act 13:48 As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
Act 13:49 The Lord's word was spread abroad throughout all the region.
Act 13:50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders.
Act 13:51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium.
Act 13:52 The disciples were filled with joy with the Holy Spirit. 

Saved by Grace J. C. Bailey


http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Bailey/John/Carlos/1903/Articles/savedbyg.html

Saved by Grace

Before we study this subject we shall define it. Thayer's Greek English lexicon says that “grace is that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm; grace as used of the kindness of a master toward his inferiors or servants, and so especially of God toward man.” Winston's Dictionary: Grace: Biblical meaning: “God's unmerited mercy toward mankind.” As we study the Word of God I think we shall learn that these two meanings are borne out.
Why do we need the mercy (grace) of God? Scriptures teach that all have sinned (Romans 3:23). Is there an intelligent man who will question that statement? In the 1900 years since the New Testament was written man has made great progress in many ways but it is still as sadly true now as then, that all have sinned. How serious is this, that all have sinned? The Word of God assures us that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
Salvation is in Christ and in none other: “And in none other is there salvation; for neither is there any other name under heaven given among men, wherein we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). “For the grace of God hath appeared bringing salvation to all men” (Titus 2:11). Some have contended that Christianity is the Western man's religion. This verse shows that this is not true. Sin is not a prerogative of the West -- all have sinned. So God's grace does not belong in any exclusive way to the West. Grace brings salvation to all men.
I would like to point out here some teaching from the Scriptures: “The flesh profiteth nothing” (John 6:63). Again: “Peter opened his mouth, and said, 'Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is acceptable to him'” (Acts 10:34,35). The scripture further teaches: “Wherefore we henceforth know no man after the flesh: even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more” (II Corinthians 5:16). So all have sinned. Grace is extended to all. Grace is for all. Christ is the ruler of all. After He arose from the dead He declared: “All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:18-20). All need grace and all can have grace to be saved.
Some people have the idea that they are good enough to go to heaven, or that they can go to heaven by their own righteousness. We cannot be saved by our righteousness for the Word of God expressly says: “For by grace have ye been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). Thus, no one can save himself without Christ. On the other hand, no one is so bad that Christ cannot save him. “He is able to save to the uttermost those that draw nigh unto God through him” (Hebrews 7:25).
It is true that grace has been extended to all men. It is not true that all men have access to grace. For we have access to grace by faith (Romans 5:1-2). There is no respect of persons with God. God's grace is extended to all believers. Listen to the apostle Paul: “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him. For, whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:12-14).
It is by faith that we have access to God's grace. The word “justify” means “to pronounce free from guilt or blame.” Now we read Romans 3:24: “...being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” So we see that grace works by faith and the redemption is in Christ Jesus. So we must be in Christ to have this redemption. Our sins have been forgiven in Christ Jesus. All spiritual blessings are in Christ (Ephesians 1:3), we are baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27).
Grace is the gift of God; this we have learned in the Scriptures we have studied. Here is God's unmerited favor. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). So God's grace is extended to the believer. Paul wrote to the Romans and said: “Because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). Grace is extended to those who believe in the shed blood of Jesus as the means of justification: “...whom God set forth to be a propitiation through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of sins done aforetime in the forbearance of God” (Romans 5:25). Grace is for all. That is, it is for all believers.
We must believe in the blood of Christ as an atonement for sin. We must believe in the resurrection of Christ for our justification (Romans 4:25). We must believe that justification is in Christ Jesus. The Scriptures plainly teach that all spiritual blessings are in Christ (Ephesians 1:1). 
Finally, we learn that we are baptized into Christ. Let us read together: “Or are we ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death: We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in the newness of life” (Romans 6:3,4). Again, the Scriptures declare: “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).
God's grace has appeared, bringing salvation to all men. That salvation is in Christ and in none other. We must believe in Christ. We must believe that his blood atones. We must believe that He was raised for our justification; that He saves those who obey him: “...and having been made perfect, he became unto all those that obey him the author of eternal salvation” (Hebrews 5:9).
In the light of the above we can understand the significance of what Jesus said: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16). We should have no difficulty accepting the command of the Holy Spirit: “And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
After that we read: “Then they that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls” (Act 2:41). They had believed through grace. They had obeyed through grace. Then God added them to the body of Christ. God's grace is always there if you believe and obey.
J. C. Bailey, 1981, Dauphin, Manitoba

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

Did Jesus Deny His Deity? by Eric Lyons, M.Min.


http://apologeticspress.org/AllegedDiscrepancies.aspx?article=4833&b=Mark

Did Jesus Deny His Deity?

by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

The New Testament writers repeatedly testified to the fact that, though Jesus “was in all points tempted as we are,” He was “without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Paul claimed that Jesus “knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Peter said that Christ “committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”—that He was the perfect sacrificial Lamb, “without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 2:22; 1:19). Likewise, John wrote that in Christ “there is no sin” (1 John 3:5). Jesus was supremely “pure,” “righteous,” and “good” (1 John 3:3; 2:1; John 10:11,14).
Additionally, the New Testament has much to say about the divine nature of Christ. Jesus claimed to be the Messiah (Mark 14:62; John 4:25-26), Whom Isaiah prophesied would be “Mighty God” and “Jehovah” (Isaiah 9:6; 40:3). Jesus accepted worship while in the form of a man (John 9:38)—implying that He, too, was Deity (Matthew 4:10; cf. Acts 12:21-23; 14:14-15). Jesus forgave sins, which only God can do (Mark 2:5-10). The apostle John said that Jesus “was God” (John 1:1). Jesus claimed to be “one” with God (John 10:30), leading His hearers to believe that He made Himself “God” (10:33). And, after the apostle Thomas called Jesus “Lord” and “God” (John 20:28), Jesus immediately acknowledged Thomas’ faith, rather than deny the deity that Thomas had just professed. In his letter to the Philippians Paul wrote that Christ Jesus “being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God” (Philippians 2:6). In fact, “in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9).
In light of the fact that the Bible claims repeatedly that Jesus was both “good” and “God,” some contend that in Mark 10:18 (and Matthew 19:17) Jesus said just the opposite. In an article titled “New Testament Contradictions,” Paul Carlson stated that Mark 10:18 (among other passages) is “an embarrassment to the church,” as it indicates “Jesus did not consider himself sinless” (1995). By saying, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God” (Mark 10:18), allegedly “Jesus made a clear distinction between himself and God,” and, according to Muslims, Matthew and Mark “believed that Jesus wasnot God” (“The Bible Denies…,” 2014, emp. added). According to skeptic Dennis McKinsey, in Mark 10:18, “Jesus is not only admitting that he is not perfectly moral but that he is not God” (McKinsey, 2000, p. 247).
Does Jesus actually admit not being “good” and “God” in Mark 10:18? How did Jesus respond to the wealthy young ruler who asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Did He deny being perfectly moral and Divine? The simple fact is, Jesus never denied being good or God.
So what did Jesus mean? Before answering this question, one must keep in mind that Jesus often responded to questions in unexpected, masterful ways. He offered thought-provoking, soul-searching answers (often in the form of questions) that, unfortunately, many people have misinterpreted. [Consider, for example, when the Pharisees asked Jesus about why His disciples allegedly broke the law of Moses and plucked heads of grain as they walked through the fields on the Sabbath. Rather than explicitly deny that the apostles were disregarding the Law of Moses, Jesus asked His accusers two very appropriate (and very perceptive) questions:
Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? (Matthew 12:3-5).
Although many have misinterpreted Jesus’ response on this occasion to justify situation ethics, Jesus did nothing of the sort. The only “law” that Jesus’ disciples broke while going through the grain fields (Matthew 12:1-8) was the Pharisaical interpretation of the Law (see Lyons, 2003 for more information; see also Miller, 2004).]
The rich young ruler was confident in his keeping of various commandments (Mark 10:20), but he surely never thought that Jesus would instruct him to sell whatever he had and give it to the poor—to leave everything and follow Him (10:21). Similarly, when the young ruler initially came to Jesus, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” he never expected Jesus to say, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God” (10:17-18).
The young man seems to have regarded himself as “good” (since he professed to have kept all of the commandments that Jesus mentioned—Mark 10:20). Perhaps the gentleman simply wanted to know—from one good man to another good man (a “good teacher”)—what do I need to do to inherit eternal life. Rather than immediately answer the young man’s question, however, it seems Jesus first wanted (1) to humble him, by highlighting that he was not as “good” as he considered himself to be, and (2) for him to realize Who exactly he was questioning. He wasn’t merely petitioning a “good” (Greek agathosman.
The Bible records various (mere) human beings who were called “good” (agathos). Luke recorded that “Barnabas was a good man” (Acts 11:24). Paul indicated that Christians are to “do good to all” (Galatians 6:10). (Are Christians who do good, “good” Christians?) Even Jesus stated previous to His encounter with the rich young ruler that “a good man out of the good treasure of his heart, brings forth good things” (Matthew 12:35). Thus, clearly when Jesus spoke to the wealthy ruler He was not using “good” in the sense of a man being “good.” Rather, He was using it in the sense of God being absolutely, supremely good. The kind of goodness to which He referred belonged only to God. The only way man can objectively call someone “good” is if there is an ultimate standard for goodness—the supreme, unblemished, good God.
Jesus never said what skeptics, Muslims, and others allege He said—that He was not good, or that He was not God. Instead, Jesus attempted to get the rich young ruler to see the implications of calling Him “good teacher.” Do good (merely) humanteachers claim to be the Messiah? Do good men accept worship and honor due only to God (John 5:23)? Do good men claim to have the power to forgive sins? Absolutely not! But Jesus had the power to forgive sins. He actually claimed to be the Messiah and accepted worship. So what was Jesus implying when He asked the young ruler, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God”? As Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe observed:
Jesus was saying to him, “Do you realize what you are saying when you call Me Good? Are you saying I am God?”… Jesus was forcing him to a very uncomfortable dilemma. Either Jesus was good and God, or else He was bad and man. A good God or a bad man, but not merely a good man. Those are the real alternatives with regard to Christ. For no good man would claim to be God when he was not. The liberal Christ, who was only a good moral teacher but not God, is a figment of human imagination (1992, p. 350).
To contend that Mark 10:18 proves that Jesus thought Himself to be neither morally perfect nor God is (1) to disregard the overall context of the Bible, (2) to twist the Scriptures like untaught and unstable people do—“to their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16), and (3) to take a superficial reading of the text. Far from denying the deity of Christ, Mark 10:17-22 actually affirms it. The young ruler “called Christ a ‘good teacher,’ with no indication that he understood Jesus to be the Messiah. Jesus seized on the word ‘good,’ pointed out that if the man thought He was good, then He must be God” (Roper, 2:203), because only God is innately and supremely good.

REFERENCES

“The Bible Denies the Divinity of Jesus” (2014), A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam, http://www.islam-guide.com/ch3-10-1.htm.
Carlson, Paul (1995), “New Testament Contradictions,” The Secular Web,http://infidels.org/library/modern/paul_carlson/nt_contradictions.html.
Geisler, Norman L. and Thomas A. Howe (1992), When Critics Ask (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books).
Lyons, Eric (2003), “Did Jesus Condone Law-Breaking?” Apologetics Press,http://www.apologeticspress.org/AllegedDiscrepancies.aspx?article=1276.
McKinsey, Dennis (2000), Biblical Errancy (Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books).
Miller, Dave (2004), “Situation Ethics,” Apologetics Press, https://www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=1064.
Roper, David (2003), The Life of Christ (Searcy, AR: Resource Publications).