Rev. Patrick Vincent
“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” – John the Baptist (John 3:36)
These were some of the last recorded words of the greatest man born of woman: Believe and have everlasting life.
Compare his life to the false prosperity gospel preached today.
What did he wear? What did he eat? How did he live? How did he die?
“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” – 1 Peter 4:1-2
Equip yourself, furnish yourself, arm yourself with the same mind as Christ; Do not live to indulge the flesh, but to serve the will of God.
This is as good of an explanation of the Trinity as I’ve come across:
“No sooner do I conceive of the One than I am illumined by the Splendor of the Three; no sooner do I distinguish Them than I am carried back to the One. When I think of any One of the Three I think of Him as the Whole, and my eyes are filled, and the greater part of what I am thinking of escapes me. I cannot grasp the greatness of That One so as to attribute a greater greatness to the Rest. When I contemplate the Three together, I see but one torch, and cannot divide or measure out the Undivided Light.” – Gregory of Nazianzus, Oration 40, On Holy Baptism (381)
“He (God) raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,” – Eph. 1:20-22
One of my favorite chapters in all the Bible. Look how these verses lay out clearly & simply the absolute & complete authority of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
All things are under His feet.
He is head over all things.
FAR ABOVE all.
What a mighty God we serve.
“Nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” – Jehoshaphat (2 Chr. 20:12)
Jehoshaphat feared so he sought the Lord and this was his prayer: we don’t know what to do, but we trust You, God.
His prayer is our prayer.
“However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, ‘Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.’ ” – Mark 5:19
I think about this man often. This was the demon-possessed man living in the tombs. Jesus heals him and when He goes to leave, the man wants to go too. Who wouldn’t?
But Jesus says: No. Go home.
What?! Devastating.
Sometimes, when Jesus has done a life-changing, jaw-dropping, and pride-crushing thing for you – Your mission is… to stay put.
Go home.
Tell others.
Tell your friends.
Tell them what great things the Lord has done for you.
Tell them how He has had compassion on you.
“In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” -Prov. 10:19
The Bible holds brevity in high commodity. Note Eccl. 5:2 (Let your words be few), James 1:19 (Be slow to speak), and many others.
Say less, mean more.
I like the Holman on this one: “When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise.”
“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” – James 1:21
This fits perfectly with Jesus’s Parable of the Soils; the seed is the word and it has been implanted in your heart. It will germinate and grow.
This is able to save your soul: the Gospel!
Anyone with a garden knows you must keep the weeds out and clear the rocks. Likewise, we must keep filthiness out and clear the wickedness which only threatens to hinder the growth of the garden.
Also note: “herefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,” – 1 Pet 2:1
“Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.” – 2 Tim. 2:8-9
They thought they could shut Paul up by locking him up. Had he not been of God, perhaps that would have worked. However, Paul was of God; throwing him in a dungeon and throwing away the key did nothing to stop the Gospel. In fact, it had the opposite effect.
That’s because the word of God can never be chained.
“I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,” – 1 Tim. 6:13
All Things means all things. Any thing alive or living owes that life to God. The Creator gives life to all things.
