Accountable to God

The Apostle Paul wrote to believers, saying “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:12). Unbelievers as well must give account of themselves to God. Our Lord Jesus explained the extent of their accountability in Matthew 12:36: “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” In a day when no one seems to be accountable to anyone, it is vital that we understand we must all give account of our lives to God.

Now accountability implies responsibility. Where no accountability exists, there is little or no responsibility. As children are mistakenly led to believe they are not really accountable to their parents, they become irresponsible in all they do. Employees not directly accountable to their employers have no reason to fulfill their responsibilities. With little or no accountability to the church and its leaders, church members cease to be responsible in discharging their duties and become unfaithful (1 Tim. 6:20; Heb. 13:17).

When men stand before God to give account of their lives, no one will get a free pass. Truth and absolute justice will characterize this judgment (Rev. 20:12). No excuse will avail, for excuses are nothing more than lies which men use to veil their irresponsibility. Therefore, we would be wise to abandon all excuses and focus on fulfilling all of our responsibilities that, when we give account of ourselves to God, we may do so with confidence. Nothing hinders adequate preparation like the absence of accountability.

A Decision or a New Birth

Many professing Christians seem to think that one is born-again simply by making a decision to believe in Christ and to invite Him into their hearts. But what do the Scriptures say? From John 1:12, 13 we learn: “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.”

To believe in Christ is to receive Him, but believing in Christ is not a mere decision one makes as he makes scores of other decisions in life. Those who receive Jesus Christ as their Savior by believing on His name do so because of a prior new birth. Such as believe were born—note the past tense and passive voice—not of blood [physical generation], nor of the will of the flesh [a decision made by one who is by nature flesh (John 3:6)], nor of the will of man [some kind of decision made by other men], but of God. As no one made a decision to be born naturally, no one can make a decision to be born again spiritually. The new birth is by God's will, not the sinner's.

With the statements in John 1:12, 13 agree the words of Paul in Romans 9:16 who concluded: “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” Salvation is of the Lord from start to finish. His will, not ours, is the determining cause of our salvation. We would not have chosen Him if He had not chosen us (1 Thess. 2:13). We would not have come to Him if He had not drawn us (John 6:44). We would not have believed in Jesus if we had not first been born of God (1 Jno. 5:1).

A New Heart

Through the Prophet Ezekiel, the Lord said, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh” (Eze. 36:26). All men need a new heart because there is something wrong with their old heart. Being deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9), it is the source of all evil (Mark 7:21, 22). To compound the problem, the heart is darkened (Rom. 1:21) and blind to its own condition (Eph. 4:18).

The remedy is not a make-over of the old heart but the receiving of a new heart in the new birth (John 3:1-7). The old, natural man is under the curse of sin and must die (Rom. 6:23). There is no hope for him. Nothing can change him. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh. . . (John 3:6). When one has a new heart, he is a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17). From that new heart arise new and pure desires, thoughts, and actions (Gal. 5:22, 23).

A new heart is given to sinners only by God Himself. No man, group of men, or decision by the sinner himself can create a new heart (John 1:13). Imparting a new heart is a sovereign work of the Holy Spirit (John 3:8). One gives evidence he has a new heart when he repents of his sins and trusts the Lord Jesus Christ. That evidence is further confirmed by the good works he does out of the new heart (Matt. 12:35). Good fruit can only come from a good tree. When one has a new heart, he has a good start on a new year. Otherwise, the new year for him will be but a repeat of the old. We pray you will be given a new heart that you may have a happy new year.

The Blessedness of Trusting the Lord

Jeremiah 17:7 declares, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD and whose hope the LORD is.” This truth is supported by many similar statements in other passages of Scripture (Ps. 2:12; 40:4; 84:12). The blessedness of the man who has confidence in the Lord is illustrated numerous ways in God's Word. He is blessed in having his physical needs supplied. While God has made the earth productive to provide food for all his creatures (Ps. 104:27, 28), those who trust Him and pray each day for their daily bread (Matt. 6:11) are indeed blessed.

One who trusts the Lord is also blessed because he has One greater than he upon whom he can cast all of his burdens and cares. Life is very difficult at times and so many people carry heavy burdens by themselves, not knowing the Lord and how to take their cares to Him. One who trusts Him heeds the admonition to “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to me moved” (Psalm 55:22). It is a blessing to be able to cast all your cares upon the Lord, knowing that He cares for you (1 Pet. 5:7).

The greatest blessedness trusting the LORD brings is the assurance that one has eternal life. “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. . .” (1 John 5:1). Believing, as used here, is not just accepting a fact; it is trusting. Having been born of God spiritually, the child of God believes Jesus is the Christ and trusts Him and Him alone for salvation. The believer has passed from death unto life (John 5:24). He is blessed in knowing his sins are forgiven and no sin is imputed to or charged against him (Rom. 4:7, 8). He knows that, should his life end today, he will go to be with the Lord (Phil 1:23). Do you have this assurance? Anyone who trusts the Lord will experience this blessed assurance.

The Church and the Kingdom Contrasted

Both the church and the kingdom are prominent themes in the Word of God. Each has a very important role in God's eternal purpose. However, they are not one and the same. The church is not the kingdom, and the kingdom is not the church. In this short article, our purpose is to detail some of the differences between the church and the kingdom.

The Church Defined

To perceive the differences between the church and the kingdom, it will be helpful to define them both. First, what is the church? The English word church is derived from the middle English churche or cherche that in turn came from the Greek kuriakon which means “belonging to the Lord” (Liddel & Scott). However, the Greek word from which the word church is translated in the New Testament is ekklesia. To determine the definition of the word church, we must seek the meaning of ekklesia.

Ekklesia appears 115 times in the Greek New Testament. In the Authorized Version [hereafter, A.V], it is translated church 112 times and assembly 3 times. Ekklesia is composed of two words in the Greek: the prefixed preposition ek, meaning out, and kaleo which means to call. Thus, ekklesia means those called out or an assembly. Perhaps the fullest and most exact definition is a called out assembly. When ekklesia is not referring to a New Testament church, it is translated assembly in the AV. In Acts 19:32, 39, 41, ekklesia refers to “an assembly of the citizens regularly summoned” (Liddel & Scott).

In its application ekklesia refers either to a particular church—e.g. “the church of the Thessalonians” (1 Thess. 1:1), “the church of Ephesus” (Rev. 2:1)--or to the church as an institution ( Eph. 1:22; 3:21; Col. 1:18), or the nation of Israel which was a called-out assembly or congregation in the wilderness (Acts 7:38). The concept of a universal, invisible church is not found in the word ekklesia or the teachings of the New Testament.

THE KINGDOM DEFINED

Defining the kingdom is more difficult than defining the church because there seems to be several different aspects to the kingdom. Also, there are several Hebrew words translated kingdom in the Old Testament as well as the Greek word translated kingdom in the New Testament. By looking at each of these words, we will be able to get a better grasp on the meaning of the word kingdom which in English refers to the domain of the king.

The first of the five Hebrew words—one of these words is actually Chaldee which is very much like Hebrew—is melucah. This word is found 24 times (if I have counted correctly) and translated kingdom 18 times in the A.V.. It is translated royal four times and king's twice. In every instance where this word is found, reference seems to be restricted to the kingdom of Israel or Judah. This word is used in Psalm 22:28 which reads, “For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations. While the “kingdom” in this passage may refer to the entire world, it for sure speaks of Israel.

The second of these Hebrew words is malecuth which appears over 80 times in the O.T. It is translated kingdom (49), reign (19), royal (13), realm (2), and empire (1) in the A.V. This word is used of visible kingdoms such as that of Israel, of certain Persian kings, of Nebuchadnezzar, and of other kings. In Psalm 45:6, it refers to the kingdom of Christ, Cf. Heb. 1:8. This word is used in Psalm 103:19 which states: “The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.” This same word is also found in Psalm 145:11-13. In these passages it is evident that the kingdom is the entire domain over which Jehovah reigns.

Mamelacah is the third and most used of the Hebrew words for kingdom. Found some 109 times in the O.T., it is translated kingdom (103), royal (4), and reign (2) in the A.V.. Again, this word usually refers to visible kingdoms, either of Israel or of other nations. As used in Micah 4:8, it seems to refer to a future kingdom for Jerusalem.

The fourth Hebrew word is mamelacuth which is found 9 times in the O.T., and it is translated kingdom in the A.V. in every passage except one in which it is rendered reign. This word refers only to the particular earthly kingdoms which are named in these passages. See Joshua 13:12, 21, 27, 30, 31; I Samuel 15:28; 2 Samuel 16:3; Jeremiah 26:1; Hosea 1:4.

The fifth word is the Chaldee malecu which is found some 55 times in the books of Ezra and Daniel, both of which were written in the Chaldean language. This word is translated kingdom (47), reign (4), realm (3), and kingly (1). By means of this word, reference is made to the reign of Darius, the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar, the kingdom of Cyrus, and the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God seems to refer to both His present reign (Dan. 4:3, 17, 35) and to the millennial reign of Christ which is yet future (Dan. 2:44; 7:13, 14, 18, 27). Thus, both a present invisible kingdom and a future visible kingdom are involved in the meaning of this word.

In the New Testament, the single Greek word translated kingdom is basileia. This word appears 162 times in the Greek New Testament. The phrase kingdom of God is found 71 times while the words kingdom of heaven occur 32 times. Basileia seems to denote a spiritual or invisible kingdom in such passages as Matthew 3:2; 4:17' 5:3; 7:21. In other passages, the kingdom is obviously a visible or organized kingdom (Matt. 8:11; Luke 4;5; Acts 1:6; Rev. 17:17. We must ever keep in mind that all words have an actual meaning known by all men. Figurative or spiritual meanings derived from actual meanings are often used in the sacred Scriptures. It is our task as students of the Word of God to discern which meaning is used in particular texts.

VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE KINGDOM

The first and broadest aspect of the kingdom of God is His reign over all the earth. Of this aspect of the kingdom, Nebuchadnezzar spoke when he said, “How great are his [God's] signs! and how mighty are his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation” (Dan. 4:3). Because He rules over all, God appoints the human rulers over the kingdom of men as He wills (Dan. 4:25, 32). Men do not acknowledge the fact of God's rule over all the kingdoms of men, but He reigns over them in every generation (Dan. 7:27).

The second and more narrow aspect of the kingdom of God is His reign over a specific people who acknowledge His rule. This aspect of the kingdom is in view in Psalm 145:10, 11 which states: “All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power. Since this Psalm was written by David, the reference is very obviously to Israel which was the visible kingdom of God in Old Testament times. Is there a spiritual kingdom which is without national boundaries, yet consists of people who acknowledge God's rule over their lives? The answer is yes. The kingdom of heaven proclaimed by both John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus Himself is a spiritual kingdom without national boundaries or organization (Matt. 3:2; 4:17). That His kingdom was a worldly kingdom like other national kingdoms was very clearly disavowed by our Lord to Pilate. In response to whether He was King of the Jews, “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence” (John 18:36).

Is there a third and yet future aspect of the kingdom of God in which our Lord will reign visibly over all the nations and peoples of the earth who will acknowledge Him as King? I believe there is. Many passages of Scripture seem to point to His being King over a universal kingdom. “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth; in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one” (Zech. 14:9). Since the spiritual kingdom of God already existed when Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, the kingdom which He bade us pray to come must be this future, visible aspect of the kingdom (Matt. 6:10). It was to this aspect of the kingdom of God the Apostles referred when they asked, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). Surely they understood that Christ already had a spiritual kingdom at this time, but their question concerned a visible kingdom in which Israel was restored to its place as head of the nations (Deut. 15:6; 28:1). If they were incorrect in their expectation of a visible kingdom being restored to Israel in the future, would not this have been the right time for our Lord to set them straight? Instead of suggesting they were wrong in their general eschatology, He simply stated, “. . .It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power” (Acts 1:7). That all the visible kingdoms of this world will one day become the visible kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ is clear from the prophecy of Revelation 11:14 which declares, “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” Evidently, the future visible kingdom of God is that which those described as sheep at Christ's right hand are invited by Him to enter. “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 25:34).

THE CHURCH AND THE KINGDOM CONTRASTED

Now that both the church and the kingdom have been defined, we are now ready to note how they are contrasted in Scripture. From John 3:5 we learn that men enter the kingdom of God by means of being born again: “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” The Apostle Paul wrote that the Father “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Col. 1:13). By way of contrast, one is not born into the church but received by the vote or consent of the church (Acts 2:41; 9:26-28).

As we have seen, the church is always local—except in the cases where its usage is generic, but even then the generic usage, while not pointing to a particular church, denotes any local church—but the kingdom is much more extensive. The spiritual kingdom of God consists of all those born of God (Matt. 7:21; Luke 18:16; 1 Cor. 6:9-11), but the church is composed only of baptized believers who have entered into covenant with one another in a particular locality, e.g. the churches of Galatia which were obviously composed of baptized believers (Gal. 1:2; 3:26, 27). 

The kingdom of God is not confined to a particular church or group of churches, but each church is in the kingdom of God, since it is composed of those who have been born into the kingdom. In fact, all of the Lord's churches compose a visible kingdom over which the Lord Jesus Christ reigns. He is shown walking in the midst of the seven churches of Asia, denoting His reign among them (Rev. 2:1). It seems that it was to the visible kingdom of His churches that our Lord referred when He said to the chief priests and elders, “. . .The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Matt. 21:43). The Greek word for nation, ethnos, refers to the Gentiles, especially when used in the plural form. It was not to a particular Gentile nation our Lord referred, but to an institution, which has primarily been composed of Gentiles, called the churches of our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 16:16). Granting this aspect of the kingdom, we would never teach or even imply that the church and the kingdom of God are one in the same in every aspect.

That the church and the kingdom of heaven or God are not the very same thing is evident from our Lord's words in Matthew 16:18, 19: “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. . .” Note the differences here: the church is being built upon Christ the Rock, not Peter. Christ is the Rock (1 Cor. 10:4) and the only Foundation upon which anything lasting can be built (1 Cor. 3:11). But to Peter as the representative of the church the keys of the kingdom of heaven were given. Consequently, Peter, together with all the Apostles, used those keys on the day of Pentecost in preaching Christ to Jews from every nation, effectively opening the kingdom to all who believed in Him (Acts 2:14, 32-42). With brethren from the church in Joppa, Peter used the same keys in opening the kingdom to Gentile believers in Christ (Acts 10:34-48). In both cases, those who were received into the church had first entered the kingdom of God by means of the new birth.

These are but a few of the contrasts that can be drawn between the church and the kingdom of God. The church and the kingdom are really allies, not antagonists. If we rightly divide the word of truth, however, we cannot but denote the distinction between them.

Systems of Belief

Religion is defined as being any specific system of belief. Too often religion is limited to Christianity, Judiasm, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, et.al. These are certainly not the only religions in the world.. Atheisim is a religion, having as its main tenant the belief there is no God. The atheist is just as passionate in his belief as the theists is in his. Because God, as revealed in the Scriptures, cannot be seen, heard, or touched, the atheist does not believe that He exists.

Socialism is just as much a religion as any of the aforementioned, for its system of belief is that the ownership and of operation of the means of production and distribution belongs to the society or community rather than to private individuals. Liberalism is another religion whose belief-system is that government has the right to take what some earn and redistribute it to others through taxation. Going Green is a new religion whose belief is that by limiting carbon emissions, mankind can save planet earth and all life subsisting on it.

This new religion arises out of another religion called evolution which believes that the earth and all therein happened by chance rather than being created by an all-powerful Creator. Thus, only man can save the earth because if there is a God, He is too removed from planet earth to be involved in its preservation. Those who believe in Green deny theirs is a religion, claiming it is based on science, a premise many reputable scientists deny. These Greenists believe there are too many people for the earth to sustain them. Therefore, abortion and euthanasia are legitimate means to the end of lowering the earth's population. It is interesting that the propenants of this religion expect other lives to be terminated to reach their goals but are not willing to make the same sacrifice themselves.

Guilty Accusers

The Word of God discloses an interesting and revealing insight in Romans 2:1: “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest another doest the same things.” News reports exemplify this very principle every day. One without cause judges another to be a liar. If a reason be sought, it is that the accuser is a liar himself. Not only is the false charge a lie, but the person making it is accustomed to lying (Prov. 14:25). Otherwise, he would not pass judgment without proof. The standard of proof for condemning another is two or three corroborating witnesses (Deut. 17:6; Matt. 18:16; 2 Cor. 13:1).

Another accusation hurled by certain ones in the news media and politics against other public figures is that they are mean-spirited. Once again the accuser is guilty of the very mean spiritedness he has accused his rival of having. People who already have their minds set and have taken sides never see this truth, but one who is a keen observer of life—as we all should be—spots the hypocrisy at once. Our Lord Jesus taught, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). O, that people would heed this advice!

Certain ones in our society are always condemning others as racists (an imprecise term as are many of the terms used today to slander one's opponent). Again, if one observes closely, he will note that the accuser is actually guilty of the same racism he condemns in another. Still others accuse their adversaries, who do not condone their abominable life-styles, of hatred. Yet, the very ones judging others for hatred have been guilty of surrounding church buildings during worship services and spewing all kinds of filthy epithets at those inside, boasting that they were coming after their children. Are not such acts as these the real hatred?

False Religions

The Lord Jesus warned His disciples of false prophets (Matt. 7:15). Where these and their teachings are, there are also false religions. Any religion that is opposed to God's Word is false and originates with men, not with the Lord. False religions are Satan's tool to decieve men and lead them to eternal damnation (Prov. 14:12; 2 Thess. 2:9-12). False religions center in man and his fleshly lusts, enabling him to worship according to the desires of his fallen nature rather than the Lord's commandments (John 4:24). Herein lies the broad appeal of all false religions.

False religion, like anything which comes from Satan, enslaves men spiritually; it does not free them, as do the law of God (Ps. 119:45) and true Christianity (John 8:36). Where the truth is (Ps. 119:142; John 17:17), spiritual freedom is experienced (John 8:32). Being free spiritually, men aspire to freedom in all areas —religious, political, economic, and social—of their lives. Where truth is not known, these liberties do not exist, and false religion keeps all of the people who are oppressed under it in religious, political, economic, and social bondage.

All false religions are intolerant of any beliefs which differ from theirs. If any dare to believe something different—especially the truth—false religions will persecute him and all others who share his beliefs. Hinduism and Islam are notable examples of this fact, but secular himanism does the same thing. In the USA no denomination of Christians persecutes other Christians today, but there is a growing intolerance of all Christians on the part of those who advocate a one world government, the acceptance of sodomy, the worship of the earth, abortion, etc. Those who oppose these evils on Biblical grounds are intimidated, isolated, demonized, threatened, discriminated against, and persecuted for their beliefs.

Man's Choice or God's Purpose

Because of man's sin, there is an ongoing conflict between his choices and God's purpose. Where his choices are limited by God's sovereignty, man insists on the right to negate that sovereignty by making the choices he pleases. For example, Jesus said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. . .” (John 15:16). But man responds, “You cannot choose me; I have the right to choose you.” Paul counters that argument by saying, “. . .God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation. . .” (2 Thess. 2:13). God's people are not saved on account of their choice of Christ—although they gladly choose Him by faith—but because God Himself chose them in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4, 5).

Man also insists that his choice regarding the lives of the unborn takes precedence over God's sovereignty. Thus, he legalizes abortions. No person has the right to terminate the life of a child before it is born. To do is to commit murder. However, in cases where God has authorized man to take the lives of others—capitol punishment, self-defense, and lawful war—man claims no one has the right to end life. The guilty are allowed to live while innocent babies die.

But man seeks to limit certain choices God has given each person the right to make. A case in point is the education of children. Many parents prefer to home-school their children, but the public education lobby opposes home-schooling. In some countries, and even some states in the US, home-schooling has either been outlawed or limited by state intervention. The public sector fears home-schooling will produce a separate society within our nation. Let us hope so. We have plenty of uneducated, brain-washed, secularly indoctrinated citizens as it is. What we need are educated citizens who know how to think for themselves!

Whom do you Trust?

One cannot live his life with joy and success without trust in others. On the other hand, many who have trusted other people have experienced grievous disappointment. The problem is not with the trusting but with the object of the trust. “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord” (Jer. 17:5). The more people's hearts depart from the LORD, the more they trust in man. Having departed from the LORD, this generation now trusts in government, political leaders, the news media, education, modern medicine, scientific theories, financial institutions, etc, none of which is worthy of absolute trust.

In contrast, Jehovah says, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is” (Jer. 17:7). One who trusts the Lord is blessed or happy because his faith is not misplaced. The LORD keeps all of His promises, but men make vows they cannot or will not keep. Trusting the LORD is actually taking Him at His Word. Since He has magnified His Word above all His name (Ps. 138:2), the LORD can be trusted absolutely. To take the LORD at His Word, one must know His written Word, for only therein are His promises found.

Notwithstanding the fact that the man who trusts the LORD is blessed while the one who trusts man is cursed, people are constantly admonished to trust in men, their agencies and institutions. To trust in men is considered intelligent and wise; to trust in the LORD is thought to be credulous and naïve. Never, however, have societies' problems been greater than they are today! The solutions proposed by men do not solve the difficulties; they make them worse. Would it not be wise, then, for all people to trust Almighty God and His Word rather than finite man?

Christ is Risen

The message from the angels to the women who went to the tomb of Jesus early on the first day of the week was, “He is not here: for he is risen. . .” (Matt. 28:6). Jesus had taught His disciples that He must be killed, but would rise again (Mark 8:31). Because men were complicit in His death by crucifixion, He is said to have been killed, yet in actuality, He laid down His life that He might take it up again in the resurrection (John 10:17, 18). Jesus' disciples could not grasp the meaning of these words. Peter even rebuked Him for this teaching (Matt. 16:22).

That the Messiah or Christ would be resurrected was not a novel doctrine first taught by Jesus. The Old Testament Prophets had taught the same in plain words and by type. The typical teaching was the deliverance of Jonah from the belly of the whale (Matt. 12:39, 40). The prophecy of Psalm 16:10 clearly teaches that the Christ would be raised from the dead. “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” On Pentecost Peter taught that this Psalm referred to the resurrection of Christ (Acts 2:31, 32).

The resurrection declared Jesus to be the Son of God (Rom. 1:4). Others have been resurrected, but they were not declared thereby to be the Son of God. He who had power to raise others from the dead is at once said to have raised Himself (John 2:19-22) and to have been raised by God (Acts 13:29, 30). Since Jesus is God (John 1:1, 14), both statements are true. Thus, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, together with His substitutionary death, were the focal points of the Apostles' preaching. Paul wrote of Him, “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Rom. 4:25). These facts constitute the gospel message. Without either truth, there is no good news for sinners.

Independent or Dependent

No one can be absolutely independent. Each of us is dependent upon God for our life, breath and being (Acts 17:28). In the society of men, every member is relatively dependent upon every other member for the common welfare. For this reason, all people are naturally united in families, communities, and nations. “God setteth the solitary in families. . .” (Ps. 68:6). To this extent, it is good that people are dependent upon one another. No man lives to himself (Rom. 14:7).

However, problems develop when people began to depend upon other people more than they do upon God. Any man or group of men is always limited in power, resources, and the perfect knowledge needed to help another with his needs. God knows no such limitations. “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.” (Ps. 147:5). Past generations, especially those who opened the frontier and settled this country, depended on the Lord more than they did on man. In many cases, there were few people, if any, who could offer any help. To live and survive, they had to depend upon God and themselves for everything they needed. With God’s help, these pioneers founded this great nation with all its freedoms. They would never have succeeded if they had relied on men. Independence cannot exist where people depend absolutely on men.

Today, many of the citizens of this nation thus created no longer have faith in God; neither do they rely upon themselves. They now look to the government and its agencies to supply their needs. The more people depend upon men and their governments, the more freedoms they lose. Among men, the power to secure is always the power to control. Sadly, governments assume control over people without really making them secure. It is not so with God; He gives full freedom and absolute security to those who trust in Him (John 8:36; Rom. 8:35-39).

God's Redemptive Workmanship

God's creative workmanship in man was marred when Adam sinned in partaking of the forbidden fruit. The LORD had said to Adam prior to his fall, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:17). Death, which is the wages of sin (Rom. 6:23), is not just physical; it is also spiritual and eternal. Dead in trespasses and sin (Eph. 2:1), man is incapable of restoring spiritual life to himself and reconciling himself to God by good works or acts of obedience.

If man is to be delivered from the penalty of his sins and restored to fellowship with God, then God must do the necessary redemptive work Himself. No man can justly claim that he deserves to be saved from the consequences of sin because he sinned willfully. Having no merit in himself or any of his deeds, man is dependent upon the grace of God for salvation (Eph. 2:8, 9). God's grace is extended freely. To Moses, the LORD said, “. . .[I] will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy” (Ex. 34:19).

Having chosen a people for His own in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world and given them grace (Eph. 1:4; 2 Tim. 1:9), God in due time sent His Son into the world to redeem them from sin by dying in their stead. The price He paid for their redemption was His own blood. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7). God's greatest workmanship is that of redeeming fallen man. Those who were once dead in sin are now alive unto God. At one time the enemies of God, they are now reconciled to Him (Rom. 5:10). Deserving of death and hell, they are now worthy of the kingdom of God. They cannot boast, however, of anything they have done because their salvation is all of God's marvelous grace!

God's Holy Name

God’s name, whether His personal name Jehovah or Jesus or the name God which designates His being, is holy. Psalm 111:9 states, “. . .holy and reverend is thy name.” Reverend means “worthy of reverence; entitled to respect mingled with fear and affection.” Since God’s name stands for Himself, then it certainly is worthy of reverence even as He Himself is entitled to that respect due to His being our Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. If any name is pronounced with fear and affection, it should be His name because it is holy. “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name” (Ps. 103:1).

The third commandment declares, “Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (Ex. 20:7). Notwithstanding this commandment, people of all ages today use the name of the Lord in a profane way. It is common to hear the exclamation, “O my God” in reference to some trifling matter. Such usage degrades and makes common God’s holy name. Worse yet, one who uses His name in vain reveals a contempt and disdain for God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Certain words and names have been made unspeakable in our society lest particular people in it be offended. Furthermore, one had better not use the name of a specific prophet of a certain religion in a vain way today. But few seem to be concerned that using any form of the Lord’s name in vain offends Him.

One shall not be called to give account before God for using a name men have banned in their society, but he is accountable to God for using His holy name in vain (Matt. 12:36). Perhaps we Christians have been silent too long on this issue. If we were to protest loudly that using His name is offensive to us, it might be that society would decree that His name must not be used in vain any longer, but don’t count on it.

Freedom or Bondage

In the history of mankind, real freedom has been a rare experience. Many believe they are free today, but they are in fact in bondage. Although subject to Rome, the Jews in the days of Jesus claimed, “. . .We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man. . .Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” (John 8:33, 34). Not only were they not politically free, they were not morally free. Instead of having liberty, as is supposed, anyone who openly practices sin is in bondage to that sin. 

Until one is financially free, he is not really free. Solomon, the wisest of men, said by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender” (Prov. 22:7). For this reason, the Apostle Paul exhorted the Roman Christians to “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another. . .” (Rom. 13:8). In earlier times, those who could not pay their debts become bond-servants to those whom they owed until their debts were paid.

Most people think we are free because we live in America. But are we really free? No people who are enslaved to their own lusts have liberty. Sin rules over them. Until the Lord Jesus makes them free from the penalty and power of sin, they are not free (John 8:36). Likewise, those in debt are not free. Having borrowed more than they can repay, individuals and families are now discovering they are indebted to lenders and thus, not free. Our entire nation has incurred such a large debt that no one can even visualize the size of it, yet our leaders continue to borrow and spend without restraint. They have made the citizens and their children slaves by this indebtedness, and few even realize it. Thus, the prophecy of Revelation 18:13 concerning slaves and the souls of men is being fulfilled.

Secular Religion

What is secular is considered to be the opposite of religion. Secularism is the belief and practice of living one’s life as if the material order were supreme and God does not exist. Any system of beliefs, practices and ethical values is a religion. The United States Supreme Court has identified Secular Humanism as a religion in two separate rulings. By means of the so-called Separation of Church and State, secularists are seeking to remove from our national life every vestige of Christianity, which for over two hundred years has been the foundation and strength of our society. At the same time, Secular Humanism has become the established religion of American public schools where its false tenets are taught.

All false religions seek to impose their beliefs by law upon every person within their domain. Read Daniel 3:1-30; Revelation 13:16, 17. Secular religion is no different. It seeks to overturn laws based on the Word of God and replace them with new laws which everyone must obey. In the place of first amendment rights, political correctness is promoted. To say anything against the evils being legalized by new laws is to be guilty of hate speech. No matter how cold it is, we must all adapt to laws consistent with its belief in man-made global warming.

Unlike false religions, true Christianity does not force everyone to become a Christian by laws. Instead, it proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ to men that they might know He is the only Savior of sinners. Those who hear the gospel, repent of their sins, and trust Jesus Christ become Christians. Instead of being forced to live under strict law, they desire to do His will. Their affections being changed, they live godly, separated lives because they love Him who first loved them (1 John 4:19). Knowing Christ and the truth, they have become free indeed (John 8:32, 36). Freedom exists only where the truth is gladly received.

How to Have a New Year

Most people would dearly love to have a new year, but they soon realize the same old problems they faced in the previous year have followed them into the new one. How can anyone have a new year when he is still the same old person he was the year before? The only way one can have a new year is to become a new person. This statement made by the Lord Jesus: “ . . . Behold, I make all things new . . .” (Rev. 21:5) applies to people as well as things. In fact, Scripture further declares, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). 

How does one become a new person? To become new, one must be born again (John 3:3-7). Our old man and its sin nature, which we inherited from Adam, are corrupt (Eph. 4:22). The new birth is necessary to produce in us a new man “which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Eph. 4:24). Only one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (1 John 5:1). Obviously then, one cannot be born of God—which is the same as being born again or from above—without believing or trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ.

If you would truly have a new year, you will need to be made new yourself. With a new birth come a new nature, new attitudes, and new interests. When these essential spiritual qualities characterize one’s life, there is a strong basis for the expectation that he will indeed have a new year. Those without the new birth face the certain prospect that nothing for them will really change with the turning of the calendar. Therefore, to experience a new year, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:30, 31) and begin the year with Him as your Lord and Savior.

The Rich and the Poor

Proverbs 22:2 states, “The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.” Both the rich and the poor are necessary in any society. If all were rich, then people would likely starve to death because rich people do not ordinarily plant, cultivate, harvest, and cook their food. They depend upon the poor to do such things. If all were poor, then people would live with the most meager of necessities because poor people do not create jobs and hire others to work for them. They must look to the rich for jobs to provide their needs. 

The U.S. Government has spent trillions of dollars in its War on Poverty since 1965, yet poverty still exists in this country. New programs will be proposed to eliminate poverty, and after trillions more are spent on these programs, greater poverty than before will still exist. Men will never to able to abolish poverty; the best they can do is to diminish wealth. Jesus Himself said, “For the poor always ye have with you. . .” (John 12:8). When government seeks to redistribute the wealth of its citizens, it can only impoverish the rich, not enrich the poor. If all the wealth of the rich were placed in the hands of the poor early in the morning, most of it would be back in the hands of the rich by evening. The reason is, “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. ” (Prov. 13:11). What one has not earned has little value to him.

Government has specific duties assigned to it by God Himself and by the compacts men make with the governments they form. When any government goes beyond the limited authority it rightly has, it sins not only against God but its citizens as well. No government has the right to take from the rich and give to the poor. Such action is nothing less than thievery under the guise of law.

The Fear of the Wicked

Proverbs 10:24 declares, “The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him. . .” This fear, which differs from the fear of the Lord—the fear which is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 9:10) and by which men depart from evil (Prov. 16:6)--is a terror or horror. The root word for fear in Proverbs 10:24 is elsewhere translated terror (Jer. 20:4; Lam. 2:22). Thus, the fear of the wicked is not a reverential fear of the Lord which motivates him to depart from his evil ways but a terror or horror of God's judgment he expects to come upon him.

This fact gives perspective to the beliefs and practices of the wicked. As the wicked become more bold in practicing their evil deeds openly, they become more fearful of impending doom, believing that modern man's technology rather than their sin, will be the cause of their ruin. Here is where they are deceived. When men lived without technological amenities, civilizations were destroyed either by God directly—as the world by the flood and Sodom and Gomorrah by fire and brimstone—or indirectly by nations which overthrew other nations. In either case, the destruction was the result of the wickedness of those destroyed.

Those who fear ecological ruin more than anyone are the wicked. Thus, they seek to impose costly and unnecessary restrictions upon society under the guise of laws to protect the environment on account of their fears. If they would repent of their sins and turn from their wicked ways, those fears would go away. Because they refuse to turn from their evil, the Lord will bring upon the earth the very doom they have feared when He sends plagues upon the earth and all of nature. Revelation 8 and 16 describe these ecological judgments. Despite such devastation, the wicked will still refuse to repent of their sins (Rev. 9:20, 21).

The Need for True Wisdom

Wisdom or sanctified common sense is obviously and sorely missing in every segment of society these days. In its place, absolute nonsense and folly, which are promoted and encouraged in all areas of the media, the institutions of learning, and even by religious organizations, prevail. That wisdom is seriously lacking is evident from the low moral standards being practiced with approval in the world today, for immoral practices are the very opposite of wisdom, as a mere perusal of Proverbs reveals. Immorality is folly to the extreme.

Proverbs 9:10 states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Proverbs 8:13 adds, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.” What the Word of God calls evil, society is now calling good (Isa. 5:20). How can anything God calls evil be considered good? To suggest even remotely that what God calls evil or sin can be practiced--and is actually good--is the very height of ignorance and unbelief. While these suggestions are equated with wisdom today, they reflect the world’s wisdom that God has made foolish (1 Cor. 1:30).

Any person who fears or reveres the Lord by obeying His Word demonstrates true wisdom. One who treats the Lord, His name, and His Word with contempt reveals an obvious lack of wisdom. The truth of these statements is evident from the fruit or consequences issuing forth from wisdom or from the lack thereof. The Book of Proverbs is required reading for anyone serious about acquiring wisdom (Prov. 1:1-6). Wisdom is also obtained in answer to prayer (Jas. 1:5), but wisdom in it fullest essence comes in knowing Jesus Christ who of God, among other things, has been made unto us wisdom (1 Cor. 1:30). It is those who know Jesus Christ that have the true wisdom to depart from all evil.