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 He
Has Become The Judge!
By Kevin Cauley
From all appearances it seemed to be a fine morning. Hena had awoken
and begun his morning routine. Last night was a blast. He and his
friends had literally ravished the city; it was their common
diversion. As he made his way to the local market to buy some bread,
he remembered what his friends told him that crazy religious guy had
said last night, that what they were doing was “wickedness.” “What a
self righteous judger” he thought. His friends had thought the same.
He stopped; what’s that funny smell, he wondered? He turned around
and looked behind him; buildings were burning in every direction. It
was sulfur. Fireballs were raining down upon the city from every
direction. There was no escape.
You may recognize the setting of the above fictional story: Sodom.
However, what was not fictional about the story was what Lot said
about the men of Sodom’s activities; he called it “wickedness”
(Genesis 19:7). What was also true in this story is the reaction
that the men of Sodom had to Lot’s characterization of their
activities. The Bible records them as saying, “This fellow came to
sojourn, and he has become the judge!” (Genesis 19:9 ESV). Such
response is stereotypical of those who are involved in sinful
activities. They condemn the messenger, instead of heeding the
message. Why do men accuse those who speak the truth of judging
them?
First, because they don’t know the true standard of judgment. Hosea
4:6 states, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge….” When
individuals fail to know the standard of judgment, they are quick to
condemn those who abide by that standard. They mistakenly assume
that the individual is making himself the standard when in fact he
is only reflecting the standard God has given. When God reveals what
is right and wrong, the standard comes from God, not from man. When
such is the case, it is God who is doing the judging, not men. Jesus
said in John 12:48 “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my
words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the
same shall judge him in the last day.”
Second, because men don’t like for their sins to be pointed out. The
last thing that each of us desires is for someone else to tell us
that we are wrong. Proverbs 15:10 states, “Correction is grievous
unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall
die.” The simple truth of the matter is that if we are wrong, we
need someone to tell us. Paul wrote, “Am I therefore become your
enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16). We ought
never to be offended at someone telling the truth especially if it
is offensive. Why? Because that usually means that we need to change
and that’s usually the real reason we are offended.
Third, because it is easier than admitting that one is wrong. The
fact of the matter is that personal pride often gets in the way of
admitting that one has done wrong. It is a lot easier to blame the
problem on another person instead of confess one’s own faults, at
least, in the mind of a proud person. Proverbs 16:18 states, “Pride
goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
Humility means more than simply being a kind person; it means
accepting correction when one is wrong.
We have a choice to either accept God’s judgments regardless of who
tells them to us or not. The choice is ours, but we will be judged
for it (2 Corinthians 5:10). ~
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A Very Simple Explanation On
How To Be Saved
By Richard Fleeman
The Church that Jesus Christ founded began on the day of Pentecost
as discussed in Acts 2 of the Bible. On that day according to the
scriptures the Holy Spirit came upon the 12 Apostles just as Jesus
told them it would. After withstanding accusations of being drunk
Peter began to speak to thousands of Jews about this man Jesus.
Let's keep in mind that these were the very Jews that had demanded
the Roman soldiers kill Jesus. The reason being he said "He was the
Son of God" which in their language meant "He was God" or "had the
characteristics of God.” They considered His statement blasphemy.
Peter must have had a convincing sermon, because these Jews who so
emphatically hated and killed Jesus were sorry they had done so and
asked "What they should do?" This was because Peter presented
undeniable evidence to them. The 12 men standing before them had
watched Jesus and were His witnesses. Even these people had seen
Jesus and the miracles He did. Also, Jesus' tomb was empty. And
although the guards were being paid to say the Apostles came at
night and took the body, the people knew that wasn't true. If it
were the soldiers would have killed them. Else the soldiers
themselves would have been killed for letting it happen if my
understanding is correct.
The important thing is when they asked "What they should do?" Peter
told them. He said in Acts 2:38 "Repent, and let every one of you be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and
you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
3,000 people obeyed and were added to the church that day. Shortly
there after, Peter and John were going to the temple to pray in Acts
3. You'll recall they met the man who had been lame from birth. He
asked for money and instead they healed him. He then went to
Solomon's porch (part of the temple) and the people saw him. They
could not deny a miracle had been done since they all knew he had
been lame from birth.
Peter takes this opportunity to ask why they are marveling. He let's
them know once again that it is by the power of Jesus that this
happened. Note that the crowd once again consisted of the Jews who
saw to it that Jesus was killed. This time Peter said Acts 3:19
"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted
out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the
Lord."
Once again many were baptized and added to the church. Note that
Peter used different phrases in Acts 2 and 3. First he said repent
and be baptized for the remission of sins. The next time he said
repent and be converted that your sins may be blotted out. Did Peter
say something different to the people or was it the same thing? I
pose to you it was the same thing. He said be baptized or in other
words become a convert of Jesus' Church.
As time went on we seen in Acts 8 that Philip met the Eunuch. The
Eunuch was reading from the prophet Isaiah and could not understand
it. Philip explained to him that the prophecies were about Jesus.
The Bible simply says Acts 8:35 "Then Philip opened his mouth, and
beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him." Yet simply
after "preaching Jesus to him" the Eunuch asked "What hindered him"
from being baptized. He believed in Jesus and was baptized. Would it
be safe to say then that if we truly preach Jesus to someone, we
also preach baptism to them as Peter and Philip did?
In Acts 9 we find an interesting man. He was Saul of Tarsus, better
known to many later as the Apostle Paul. He had been killing
Christians because he like many despised and did not believe the
doctrine they taught. However he "met the Lord" on the road to
Damascus. He like the Jews in Acts 2 asked what he needed to do. He
was told to go into the city and there it would be told him what he
needed to do.
Paul spent 3 days fasting, etc. Finally Ananias said Acts 22:16 'And
now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your
sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' Saul did just that. He was
baptized. His sins were washed away. Would it not then be safe to
say that when his sins were washed away he was saved? Isn't that a
definition of saved? Having no sins between you and God? Make a note
then that although many claim Saul was "saved on the road to
Damascus", he actually wasn't saved until he was baptized and had
his sins washed away.
Since Jesus was aware many false doctrines would be taught and false
teachers and apostates would arise, it seems he spent extra effort
to make it clear how to become a member of the Church He
established. Although these examples make it clear how to become a
Christian, we also have individual verses such as the following.
Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. He
that believeth not shall be condemned." Why do you suppose Jesus
said this? Could it be because baptism is what forgives, blots out,
washes away, or remits sin?
1 Pet 3:21 "There is also an antitype which now saves us; baptism
(not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,"
It doesn't get any clearer than this. Baptism is one of several
things mentioned in the Bible as being involved in "saving" you.
Others include belief, repentance, grace, and works of God. To
clarify characteristics of baptism Peter mentioned that baptism
didn't just wash filth from the body. Why do you suppose he said
that? Do you think it was because people would think when they were
baptized with the Holy Spirit filth would be washed from their body,
or because when they were immersed with water in the baptism Jesus'
disciples baptized with (such as Peter and Philip) that they would
think the water was washing filth from the body? I said that to
clarify that Peter is speaking of water baptism here. Not "Holy
Spirit baptism" as some claim.
As you probably know, the Church Jesus built is considered to be
like a body and Jesus is the head (Eph. 5:23). Many members compose
it. To name a few at the time the book of Corinthians was written,
Paul mentioned apostles, prophets and teachers just to name a few.
He then clarified how you become a member of the body of Christ. 1
Cor. 12:13 "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body;
whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free; and have all been
made to drink into one Spirit."
Now some will try to pervert this verse in 1 Cor. 12:13. Although
the many examples we've already looked at show the baptism being
spoken of is water baptism for the remission of sins, some will say
"No, it's Holy Spirit baptism.” These would teach that when you
truly believe that Jesus is the Son of God, you will be "baptized by
the Holy Spirit" simply because of your belief. They say that the
Spirit will come upon you as it did the Apostles in Acts 2.
If this were true, King Agrippa would be a Christian, but even
Agrippa knew better than that. Acts 26:27-28 "King Agrippa, do you
believe the prophets? I know that you do believe." Then Agrippa said
to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." Even
Agrippa knew, just believing didn't make him a Christian.
As a matter of fact, if this doctrine were true even the demons
would be Christians. James 2:19 "You believe that there is one God.
You do well. Even the demons believe; and tremble!" Is anyone
willing to argue that the demons who caused people to roam naked,
commit other sins and that Jesus and the apostles cast out are
brothers and sisters with saints in Christ?
Like a lot of advertising in the world, there is some false
advertising in religions as well. Why don't you turn to the word of
God, submit to your Lord in baptism and arise a new creature in
Christ? Rom 6:4 "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism
into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the
glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of
life."
Do you suppose the being buried in baptism of Rom 6:4 is being
buried in the Holy Spirit or in a watery grave of baptism? Also,
when you arise to walk in newness of life, what do you think it's
talking about? Could it be that your sins were washed away, you
arose a member of the body of the Church Christ built and are now a
Christian? ~
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