Devotionals

January 14, 2019 by stovebolts

A story on Baptism

I’d like to tell a biblical story of repentance, restoration and of salvation. Our story begins in the book Matthew and continues in th book of Acts.

If we fast forward in Matthew just past the Lord’s Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane and the Sanhedrin Courts, we find Jesus in front of Pilate with a large crowd of Jews who are being led in an uproar by the Chief Priests.

Matthew 27:22-26 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Imagine that event where the people had sway over Pilate and even though Pilate could find no wrong in Jesus, the people were convienced that Jesus needed to be crucified. They believed in their hearts so earnestly that Jesus was guilty that they said, “His blood be on us, and on our children.” In its simplicity, the Jews are basically saying that if Jesus is innocent, then not only they, but their children will be guilty in front of God for putting an innocent man to death. Little did they know what would occur a short 50 days later on Pentacost.

We pick this story back up in Acts 2.
Acts 2:22-36 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Imagine for a moment what has just taken place. These same men and women who shouted, “Crucify Him” and “His blood be on us, and on our children” are confronted with a truth that is undeniable. From their own mouths they have condemned not only themselves, but their children for murdering Jesus, the Son of God. In desperation they reply, Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Their hearts were pricked, imagine the depth of the reality which must have come over them as a tsunami overtakes the shores. How do you remove the curse both to yourself and your children? Imagine wrestling with the reality that you were responsible for murdering not only an innocent man, but actually murdering God’s own son, the Messiah. “What shall we do?”

Peter had gone through his own trials as a diciple of Jesus and Peter understood what it was to knowingly deny the Son of God. I imagine the sound of the rooster crowing was fresh in his mind. Jesus did not leave nor forsake Peter even when Peter denied Him three times and I have to believe that Peter understood grace, but not only grace, but God’s grace. And it is from here that Peter replies to the crowds’s plea.

Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Imagine their relief. But how can this be so?

Acts 2:41-42 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

And with this event, the Church, that is to say “The Body of Christ” is revealed and through each baptism, the visible Church is made known.

Peter was obedient to the Lord and as commissioned, did the will of Jesus for the Apostles were told, Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

And this is exactly what we see in Acts 2.

Many churches and many doctrines minimize baptism as being a part of salvation today. They center on salvation as a free gift while obsessing over grace to the point where any time anyone asks, “What must we do to be saved” the response is, “Nothing”. You see, baptism is more than some would grant it, and less than others would qualify it. Peter puts it this way,

1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Is it possible Peter saw for himself how the hearts were pricked when the Jews realized they had crucified the Son of God and when he wrote the above words, the event in Acts 2 as well as many other events not recorded where fresh in his mind, and he writes from a place of obedience to the Commands of Jesus to baptize and then teach as he sees the fruits of that command lived out.

Be blessed.

Matthew 27:22-26 (LEB)

Pilate said to them, “What then should I do with Jesus, the one who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!”23And he said, “Why? What wrong has he done?” But they began to shoutImperfect tense as ingressive (“began to shout”) even louder, saying, “Let him be crucified!”24So Pilate, when heHere “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but instead an uproar was developing, took water andHere “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“took”) has been translated as a finite verb washed his“the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this man. You see to it!”*supplied from English context25And all the people answered andHere “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb said, “His blood be on us and on our children!”26Then he released Barabbas for them, but afterHere “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“flogged”) which is understood as temporal he had Jesus flogged, he handed himsupplied from English context over so that he could be crucified.

Matthew 28:19 (LEB)

Therefore, goAs a participle of attendant circumstance this participle carries imperatival force picked up from the main verb (“make disciples”) andHere “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“go”) has been translated as a finite verb make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Acts 2:22-36 (LEB)

“Israelite men, listen to these words! Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, just as you yourselves know —23this man, delivered up by the determined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed byHere “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“nailing to”) which is understood as means nailing to a crossThe words “a cross” are not in the Greek text but are implied by the nature of the verb through the hand of lawless men.24God raised him“whom”; it is necessary to specify “him” in the translation to avoid confusion with the “lawless men” in the previous verse up, having brought to an end the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.25For David says with reference to him, ‘I saw the Lord before me continually,“through everything” for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken.26For this reason my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced greatly, furthermore also my flesh will live in hope,27because you will not abandon my soul in Hades, nor will you permit your Holy One to experience decay.28You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with gladness with your presence.’from Ps 16:8–1129“Men and brothers, it is possible to speak with confidence to you about the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us until this day.30Therefore, because heHere “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was”) which is understood as causal was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants“from the fruit of his loins” on his throne,31byHere “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“having foreseen”) which is understood as means having foreseen this,*supplied from English context he spoke about the resurrection of the Christ,Or “Messiah” that neither was he abandoned in Hades nor did his flesh experience decay.32This Jesus God raised up, of whichOr “of whom,” referring to Jesus we all are witnesses.33Therefore, having been exalted to the right hand of God and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out this that you see and hear.Some manuscripts have “both see and hear”34For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,35until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’from Ps 110:136Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt, that God has made him both Lord and Christ — this Jesus whom you crucified!”

Acts 2:38-39 (LEB)

And Peter saidSome manuscripts explicitly add “said” to them, “Repent and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.39For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all those who are far away, as many as the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Acts 2:41-42 (LEB)

So those who accepted his message were baptized, and on that day about three thousand souls were added.42The Fellowship of the First BelieversAnd they were devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers.

Acts 2:37 (LEB)

The Response to Peter’s SermonNow when theyHere “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal heard this,*supplied from English context they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “What should we do, men and brothers?”

Acts 2 (LEB)

Pentecost and the Coming of the Holy SpiritAnd when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in the same place.

1 Peter 3:21 (LEB)

And“which” also, corresponding to this, baptism now saves you, not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

November 24, 2018 by Greg Gordon

The Problem of Judgmentalism And The Solution To Freedom

Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. – James 2:13

We all have been shown great mercy in our lives. God has shown great compassion and forgiveness towards us in not counting our sins against us. We were in a place were God was ready to punish us and cause us great harm in sending us to hell for eternity for our great sins. Yet he showed great mercy and love towards us, forgiving our sins in his Son. When we therefore show no mercy to others, especially believers, we sin greatly. Warren Weirsbe says, “The most miserable prison in the world is the prison we make for ourselves when we refuse to show mercy.” Such a prison many believers are in not being able to show mercy to others but being a great benefiter of mercy from God. God came down from above as the compassionate one to forgive your sins, yet we cannot show compassion to the sins of another believer. Judgmentalism is one of the great sins in the Church, as we are always faulty in the way we see others, never knowing someones motives and heart (Jeremiah 17:9). When we learn to be full of mercy for others, we start to share the heart of Jesus Christ who did not judge but showed compassion to failing humanity. Look into the eyes of Jesus Christ now and see his wounds where he was pierced for you, can you say to him that you cannot forgive another? Have mercy to another?

The Testimony Of The Desert Fathers

The Desert Fathers were those who sought the Lord in a life of prayer in solitude, they sought God for God Himself. These were some of the godliest followers of the Lord in that era of Church history. A story of a Desert Father on not judging says, “A brother in Scetis committed a fault. A council was called to which abba Moses was invited, but he refused to go to it. Then the priest sent someone to him, saying, ‘Come, for everyone is waiting for you’. So he got up and went. He took a leaking jug and filled it with water and carried it with him. The others came out to meet him and said, ‘what is this, father?’ The old man said to them, ‘My sins run out behind me, and I do not see them, and today I am coming to judge the errors of another.’ When they heard that, they said no more to the brother but forgave him.” If we see our sins as this old godly brother did, we will not judge but show mercy to a fellow believer on this journey with the Lord. If we judged our own selves we would see our failings as great and have great mercy to others. We should find ourselves as the publican calling out to God for mercy constantly (Luke 18:13). Just like the pharisee in the temple praying we can judge our fellow brothers, looking down on the errors of others, but not seeing our own. Lord have mercy on me and help me to be merciful to others.

The Example of Jonah, A Prophet Without Mercy

We all know the story of the prophet who was swallowed by the fish. Children are amused and enough the thought of it! Yet as adults when we take time to read through the details we realize a much more serious and importance message is being given to us. Jonah was a holy prophet and admired by the people of Israel. He heard the voice of God many times and obeyed in sharing the truth with the people of God. But when the voice of the Lord told him to go to a very wicked people who worshipped the fish god, Jonah said no. He went the opposite direction in a boat but the Lord had a way of getting his attention and encouraging him to obey and speak repentance to those people. Jonah had seen time and time again God show mercy to Israel when they did not deserve it and it turned his stomach to think he would show mercy to the very wicked people of Nineveh. Even after preaching and seeing the peoples repentance Jonah still felt that God should judge them in some way (Jonah 4:1).

We Can All Be Like Jonah

We all can be like Jonah at times, especially if we are the people who have been hurt by others. The people of Nineveh enslaved and caused great harm to Israel before so the thought of forgiving them and even God showing mercy to have them become believers was too much for Israel or their prophet Jonah to accept. Have we been hurt by others in the world who we have not forgiven? Maybe we have forgiven them but do we want them to be saved? St. Benedict of Nursia says, “To hate no one. Not to be jealous or envious. To hate strife. To evidence no arrogance. Never despair of God’s mercy.” God’s heart is full of grace, meaning he wants to extend his love and mercy to those who do not deserve it especially. God is compassionate and very slow to anger against those that we feel deserve it. We are never called to hate anyone, desire evil for anyone, if we shared the true Spirit of Christ we will seek the mercy of the love for all of humanity. This also extends to the body of Christ that we would seek the good of all those who call upon the Name of the Lord.

Steps To Be Free Of Judgementalism

The journey to freedom is one footstep after another. To get out of a pit one has to start the climb out. After years of habitual judging of others we can find ourselves in a deep chasm of rooted sinful behaviour. Here are some small steps you can take daily to help:

1). Meditate on the Passion of Jesus Christ – Spend time in silence thinking upon the wounds of Christ. Think of the Crown of Thorns, the Pierced Side, the wounds afflicted to Christ when the soldiers were mocking Him. See your sins there causing such hurt to the Saviour. See your judgemental words heaped on Him. Also see the hope that Christ died to free us all from our passions and sins.

2). Show Acts of Mercy – No matter if you think a person deserves it or not, show mercy and kindness. Make deliberate acts to see the good in others and applaud them for these God given gifts. See where people do things better than yourself. Glory in God for anyway people serve God in a way you are not doing. Show deeds of mercy to others in gifts and kindness. Let no thought of judging to come into your mind.

3). Remind Yourself of Your Faults – When you are tempted to judge someone, consider your own faults and sins. When did you fail greatly in the same area or similar area. Look to yourself, consider how much mercy God gave you and then show that mercy to others.

4). Learn to Hate Judging – Learn to not hate others as St. Benedict counsels us but rather to hate the sins of jealousy, envying, strife, arrogance. Hate the sin of habitat judging as it’s a cancer of the soul. Put your focus on God, in worship and adoration, do not spend your time considering the faults of others even obvious false teachers or those departing from the faith. Look to your own soul find your lacks and where you are departing and pray for God’s mercy to finish well.

May God give you complete victory as you daily put this sin under the blood of Christ and the victory of His holy Cross. The God who knows all thoughts of our mind and heart will cleanse and give you victory in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Jeremiah 17:9 (LEB)

The heart is deceitful more than anything else, and it is disastrous. Who can understand it?

Jonah 4:1 (LEB)

Jonah Is Angry at Adonai’s CompassionAnd thisHebrew “it” was greatly displeasing“was displeasing with great displeasure” to Jonah, and he became furious.“it was hot for him”

Luke 18:13 (LEB)

But the tax collector, standing far away, did not want even to raise his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

James 2:13 (LEB)

For judgment is merciless to the one who has not practiced mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.