Jesus. The Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Here’s an overview and outline of Song of Solomon on truthsaves.org.
I’ve just posted another outline . . . finally. Sorry I’ve been avoiding the blog scene for a while. Things have been ultra busy at work, and I simply haven’t been on the computer much. But today, I made it home a bit earlier than normal, so I decided to post an outline that’s been sitting on my computer for a while. It’s an outline for the Old Testament book of Song of Solomon.
Who is God? It’s a question many have asked, and a question many have tried to answer. If you ask 100 people, you’ll get 100 different answers.
Who is God? It’s a question many have asked, and a question many have tried to answer. If you ask 100 people, you’ll get 100 different answers. The best person to tell you about God is God Himself, just like the best person to tell me about you is – you guessed it – you. Does God tell us about Himself? You bet. In His Word.
Tim paints a beautiful word picture of who God is, according to the Scriptures.
I am convinced God wants all believers to be baptized. But that does not negate the point of the article; belief in the Jesus of the Bible opens heaven’s doors for us; baptism doesn’t.
Many years ago I wrote an article about baptism.
I’ve received countless emails inquiring why I’d write such an article. Am I trying to mislead people? Am I trying to avoid being baptized myself? Am I making excuses for family members or friends who haven’t been baptized? Why write such a divisive article?
Hopefully this simple answer will suffice. Some time ago, someone tried convincing me that achieving salvation meant following strict procedures and rules. First I had to read these verses, then pray this, then do that, then this, then that, and so on. If I rejected the prescription, then I lacked genuine faith. If I didn’t accept the routine, then God didn’t accept me.
One of the steps in the recipe involved baptism by immersion. Without it, I’d never make it to heaven. The emphasis always lay in the procedures, not on the relationship.
My problem with the above is that I don’t find it in the Bible. I find strong evidence to the contrary. Jesus broke the rules. He established relationships. He baptized none. Paul baptized few. The thief on the cross went to be in Paradise with Jesus without baptism. Jesus told the rich young ruler in Luke 18 to “follow Me.” He wanted the man to forsake all and to be with Him. He told Martha in John 11 that “everyone who believes in Me will never die.” He asked her if she believed that. Do you believe it? I do. Nowhere does the Bible say, “Be baptized and you will be saved.” The closest you’ll find to that is Mark 16:16.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (ESV)
What does this verse say? It says that anyone who does not believe will be condemned. And that’s what I affirm.
Does this mean baptism should be avoided? Not at all. Jesus began His ministry by being baptized (Matthew 3); He ended His ministry by commanding his disciples to go into all the world and baptize (Matthew 28:19). Peter tells us in Acts to be baptized. In the New Testament, when people came to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, baptism followed. This pattern should be a model for us. I’d worry if someone opposed baptism.
Please read this article knowing that I have been baptized. I am convinced God wants all believers to be baptized. But that does not negate the point of the article; belief in the Jesus of the Bible opens heaven’s doors for us; baptism doesn’t.
A short devotion on Psalm 15. As Christians, we need to walk blamelessly – but I know myself. I am not perfect. I will never be perfect. I’m human. I’m fallible. I have flaws.
Walk blamelessly, or perfectly, or with uprightness. Now, I can walk with uprightness, but I’ll tell you right now that I can’t walk blamelessly. I guarantee by the end of the day (53 minutes from right now) there will be something you’ll be able to blame me for.
Is God saying that only those who are perfect will able to go to heaven? Read what Psalm 115, verses 1 and 2 say:
1 A Psalm of David. O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart . . .
When I read that, I shook my head. I looked up the original word for “blameless,” and found out that typically, when used in the Psalms, it’s translated “perfect.” Elsewhere in the Bible, the most common translation is “without blemish.” Give me a break. Like I can do that.
When I come across verses like this, it’s easy for me to try to find a way out. The word “perfect” can’t really mean “perfect.” It must mean “mostly perfect” or “able to avoid really serious sins” like adultery or murder. We can avoid those things, right?
But I think we do the Word of God a disservice when we discount what it says. It says that those who are blameless, or perfect, will dwell with God.
I can always go back to the verse in the New Testament . . . you know, the one that says it’s harder for a rich man to enter heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. Right after that it says that things that are impossible with man are possible with God. So, with the help of the Spirit, perhaps I can be perfect! Hmmmm. I doubt it.
It’s not that I lack faith, but I know myself. I am not perfect. I will never be perfect. I’m human. I’m fallible. I have flaws. I get angry. I have pride. I’m over-competitive.
So what now? Have I just concluded that I’m headed for hell? I don’t think so. As I read this Psalm I don’t read that anyone who’s not perfect is condemned to hell. It’s not in the text. What I do read is that a person who achieves perfection will be able to dwell with God.
I suspect God wrote this to remind us to strive to be perfect. God expects us to read His Word, to listen to Him, and to become more like Him. We need to love our neighbors and hate evil.
The problem with all this is that none of us are perfect, or ever will be. We all sin. But God doesn’t say we can’t live with Him if we aren’t perfect. Yes, He wants us to be blameless. He wanted Israel to be blameless. Were they? Far from it. Yet He relented from destroying them. And He will continue to forgive us if we continue to return to Him.
So, I have hope.
And I also have Jesus, so I have life.
12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
An outline and overview of Ecclesiastes. The book of Ecclesiastes has been the point of much controversy. I see Ecclesiastes as a book that looks at life apart from God.
OK . . . just posted the Ecclesiastes outline.
Ecclesiastes is one of those books that has been maligned to the max. But Tim does a good job of putting things into perspective.
Check out the outline of Ecclesiastes.
Should Christians meet on Saturday or Sunday? Does it matter? Should we keep the Sabbath?
Recently Tim sent me an article he wrote a few years back. He’s updated it a little, and now it’s ready for publication! The topic? The Sabbath. Do we, as Christians, need to keep it? Should we be meeting on Saturday instead of Sunday?
A collection of Easter poems reminding us of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.
As Christians, Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection remain fixed in our minds. But as Good Friday and Easter approach, it’s good to remember the price Jesus paid for us. Mark has written some thought-provoking poems reminding us of Jesus’ sacrifice.
The Servants Way
Prelude to the Cross
A Lamb Among Wolves
Thanks you Jesus! And thank you, Mark, for the reminders.
An overview and outline of the Old Testament book of Proverbs.
I’ve just posted a new outline on truthsaves. It’s more than an outline, as most of them are (if you’ve been checking them out). It’s also a brief overview, along with a little historical information. This one covers the book of Proverbs. Don’t forget, we also have outlines of all the books of the New Testament, as well as outlines of all the books of the Old Testament up to Proverbs, as well as Daniel.
Sin should appall us and produce godly grief leading to repentance.
As I read II Corinthians 7 the other night, the term “godly grief,” really caught me off guard. I find myself grieving, often, over things like my working conditions, failures I’ve experienced, the disappearance of my cat, my own state of mind . . . but my grief can hardly be categorized at “godly.” See what Paul says.
8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it – though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while.
9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
II Corinthians 7:8-10 (ESV)
I sat still and thought about it for a while. Do I feel grief when I’ve said or done something that might mislead another? Do I grieve when I sin? Do I feel sorrow when I let Jesus down, when I displease Him?
Sin should appall us and produce godly grief leading to repentance. Worldly grief results from loss of earthly possessions or disappointments unrelated to God or His Son. We need to learn to throw off worldly sorrows; we are not of this world. The things that the world finds important we should regard as unnecessary, trivial, futile. If events unrelated to God produce grief in us, we should be wary, as Paul warns us that worldly grief produces death.
What grieves you?
Does God seem distant? These basics of Christianity will help guide you through the difficult times.
We just posted a new article on truthsaves. I had a hard time naming it . . . but I called it, “Life is Falling Apart.” It’s the mini-story of a lady who wrote us asking for advice on how to connect with God. She has been suffering through a lot of pain. I think we all go through times in life where God seems distant. Our faith feels emotionless. How do we get through these times? Tim shares some good insights, some basics of Christianity that we (I, anyway) often forget.