Focal Passage for 2010:
“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV)
Weekly Passage:
“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:3
In the previous two devotions, we began our journey into 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. This week, we will continue to dive deep into this passage and seek to discern Biblical love. Our focus this year has been, and continues to be, learning to love others as Christ loves us. As I have shared before, my definition of love differs from God’s definition of love. God is teaching me that HE is the authority on all things. In light of that truth, if my definition is different than His, my definition is wrong!! “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29).
Reread our focal passage once more. “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.” This verse begins with an ultimate sacrifice – sacrificing everything that one has, even his/her very life, for the benefit of others. WOW!! Now, self-sacrifice must equal love!! Right?!!? WRONG!! God says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). My Friend, we must understand that God does not operate according to man’s wisdom and/or rationale. Just because we may define love a certain way does not mean we truly “love others as Christ loves us.” Certainly, Christ Jesus gave His very life for us but His sacrifice was a result of His pure, intimate relationship with the Lord God and His complete obedience to God’s will for Him and for all mankind. Christ Jesus did not just “come up with a good idea” and run with it!! NO!! Christ Jesus submitted to the very will of the Father and did only as HE commanded. Christ died on that cross TO GLORIFY HIS FATHER!!! The salvation of sinners came as a result of the Father’s will and Christ Jesus’ obedience (Luke 2:49; John 9:4; John 4:34; Psalm 40:7-8; John 6:38; John 5:19).
As I studied this portion of Scripture, I was struck by how this truth contradicts the belief that our salvation is obtained through our good works. God’s Word is the absolute authority so we must live our lives in accordance to God’s established design. God’s Word is His very breath given to us to teach us, guide us, and save us!! (“All Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the a man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV). If our “works” do not save us, then what does?? Let’s jump into Scripture to find the answer to that question.
God’s Word tells us that “…we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6). “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:7-8). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Our focal passage tells us that when we try to “love” outside of God’s established design “it profits us nothing.” What does this mean for us today? My Friend, God’s Word clearly identifies what Biblical love is. We will continue studying that next week as we journey through 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. God is so gracious to teach us exactly what we need to know to glorify Him. When we love others the way HE has designed, then HE is revealed to that person(s) and they begin to see glimpses of Christ through our service. If we step outside of God’s established design, then our works of service glorify us and all our deeds are in vain. Nothing we do will matter in eternity if they were done for any other reason than to glorify the Lord God. Those acts, as self-sacrificing or loving as they may appear, will not be counted as righteousness. When we love others as Christ loves us, then we will mirror the very obedience that Christ modeled for us. Christ gave His life for sinners because that was the will of God and that alone brought glory to God. Who do you glorify when you love others?
10 comments:
James 2:24-26
See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by a different route?
For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
The only time the Bible mentions "faith alone" is in this passage where it says we are not justified by faith alone. The idea of "faith alone" is only 500 years old and no early christian writings support the theory.
http://www.scripturecatholic.com/justification.html
Thank you, Paul, for your comment. Faith is the product of the Holy Spirit's work within the sinner's soul. The Holy Spirit opens the eyes of our hearts and we are drawn to Him. Faith in Christ is the foundation of our relationship with the Lord God. Absolutely, faith without works is dead, meaning that the evidence of a changed heart is the expression of Christ in our acts of service for Him. But works alone do not cover our sin nor do they pay our sin debt. Christ's blood is the only payment that God will receive and through His blood, we are made righteous, holy, blameless, and acceptable to the Lord God.
Rahab expressed her faith in the Lord God by glorifying Him through her acts. What a precious picture of a life that was once bound in sin now changed into a life a freedom, joy, hope, and peace!! God is so good!!!
Thanks Michelle,
I agree with you in the fact that you can't earn your way into heaven by just being
good or being kind to others, and that grace is a free gift from God, but we can't think
that Paul contradicts Jesus.
When Jesus says in Mark 16:16 "Whoever believes and is
baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned."
Or again in John 3:3-5 "Jesus answered and said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you, no
one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above."
Nicodemus said to him, "How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot
reenter his mother's womb and be born again, can he?"
Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without
being born of water and Spirit."
We see this also in the early Church, In Acts 2:38 Peter (said) to them, "Repent and be baptized,
every 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.
And it continues in the Church up to the present day:
"Moreover, the things proceeding from the waters were blessed by God, that this also might
be a sign of men's being destined to receive repentance and remission of sins, through the
water and laver of regeneration,--as many as come to the truth, and are born again, and
receive blessing from God." Theopilus of Antioch, To Autolycus, 2:16 (A.D. 181)
"When, however, the prescript is laid down that 'without baptism, salvation is attainable by none"
(chiefly on the ground of that declaration of the Lord, who says, "Unless one be born of water,
he hath not life.'" Tertullian, On Baptism, 12:1 (A.D. 203).
"But you will perhaps say, What does the, baptism of water contribute towards the worship of God?
In the first place, because that which hath pleased God is fulfilled. In the second place,
because, when yon are regenerated and born again of water and of God, the frailty of your
former birth, which you have through men, is cut off, and so at length you shall be able to
attain salvation; hut otherwise it is impossible. For thus hath the true prophet testified
to its with an oath: 'Verily I say to you, That unless a man is born again of water, he shall
not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Therefore make haste; for there is in these waters a
certain power of mercy which was borne upon them at the beginning, and acknowledges those
who are baptized under the name of the threefold sacrament, and rescues them from future
punishments, presenting as a gift to God the souls that are consecrated by baptism. Betake
yourselves therefore to these waters, for they alone can quench the violence of the future
fire; and he who delays to approach to them, it is evident that the idol of unbelief remains
in him, and by it be is prevented from hastening to the waters which confer salvation. For
whether you be righteous or unrighteous, baptism is necessary for you in every respect: for
the righteous, that perfection may be accomplished in him, and he may be born again to God;
for the unrighteous, that pardon may he vouchsafed him of the sins which he has committed
in ignorance. Therefore all should hasten to he born again to God without delay, because
the end of every one's life is uncertain." Recognitions of Clement, 6:9 (A.D. 221).
continued:
From the begging of Christianity baptism has been an essential sacrament, even Martin Luther wrote
about the nessecity of baptism:
Martin Luther believed wholeheartedly in the necessity of baptism as a requisite for salvation.
In his Large Catechism, Luther wrote:
[I] affirm that Baptism is no human trifle, but that it was established by God Himself. Moreover,
He earnestly and solemnly commanded that we must be baptized or we shall not be saved. No one is
to think that it is an optional matter like putting on a red coat. It is of greatest importance
that we hold Baptism in high esteem as something splendid and glorious. The reason why we are
striving and battling so strenuously for this view of Baptism is that the world nowadays is full
of sects that loudly proclaim that Baptism is merely an external form and that external forms are
useless.... Although Baptism is indeed performed by human hands, yet it is truly God’s own action
(1978, pp. 98-99).
As you can see, we must not misunderstand Pauls writings and think that "no" action is required for Salvation.
Peter warned us about reading Pauls letters almost 2000 years ago.
2 Peter 3:13-18
But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth 11 in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.
And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, as our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him,
also wrote to you,
speaking of these things 12 as he does in all his letters. In them there are some things hard to understand that the
ignorant and unstable distort to their own destruction, just as they do the other scriptures.
Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled and
to fall from your own stability.
But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and to the day of eternity. (Amen.)
Paul, I want to begin by apologizing if you have felt that I have attacked your beliefs in the devotion. My purpose and motive is merely to present Biblical truths to those who desire to read the blog. You and I have different views on some issues and I do not desire a lengthy debate.
According to Scripture, baptism is a public demonstration of Biblical obedience to the Lord God and a demonstration of our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ (dying to the old sin nature and rising to live as a servant of the Most High) but God's Word is clear that the only way we can come to salvation is through the blood of Jesus.
Salvation is solely dependant upon the finsihed work of Christ on the cross and nothing else. We see this beginning in Gen. 3:15 when God promises a Messiah to undo what man had done, we see this continued through the OT in the establishment of the sacrifices and laws. God used these to show us our need for a Savior because nothing we could do would make us righteous before Him. We hear this echoed through the prophets who continually proclaimed the coming Messiah, and we see it clearly laid out through the NT.
Everything in Scripture from Gen. to Rev. is about the Lord Jesus Christ and His accomplished work on the cross. Man is unable to come before the Lord God as cleansed, redeemed, santified, justified, or reconciled unless we come through the blood of Christ.
Christ alone is the foundation of our salvation and no work we could ever do will save us, make us more holy, more saved, or complete. Baptism is not required for salvation; however, it is commanded as a step of obedience once we have surrendered our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ.
We must read Scripture in context and allow it to govern our beliefs. I stand solely on the Bible as the authority on all things. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Thanks for your reply Michelle. I really respect what you are trying to do with your blog but this:
Baptism is not required for salvation.
Is simply not true.
#1. Jesus said that baptism is required in Mark 16:16.
#2. The first christians believed baptism was required. I posted a few quotes above and especially in the Nicene Creed we see the line:
We believe (I believe) in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, and born of the Father before all ages. (God of God) light of light, true God of true God. Begotten not made, consubstantial to the Father, by whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven. And was incarnate of the Holy Ghost and of the Virgin Mary and was made man; was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried; and the third day rose again according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of the Father, and shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, of whose Kingdom there shall be no end. And (I believe) in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father (and the Son), who together with the Father and the Son is to be adored and glorified, who spoke by the Prophets. And one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We confess (I confess) one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for (I look for) the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen."
The Nincene Creed was adopted in 381 A.D. The purpose of it is to act as a yardstick of correct belief.
When you say that Baptism is not required for salvation there is 2000 years of Christian history disagreeing with you. Martin Luther, would disagree with you.
Sometime between 1500's and now, a fallible human decided that baptism wasn't necessary and that's what you are teaching now. If what you are teaching contradicts the Bible and what the first Christians believed, then you are not teaching the truth.
You say that the Bible is your authority on all things but the Bible says the Church is the "foundation of truth".
1 Timothy 3:15 "But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth."
The same men who wrote the Nincene Creed also decided what books would be included in the New Testament, it seems silly to accept their authority on the books of the Bible and then toss out their teaching on baptism.
Here is a timeline of how the new testament came together.
http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/timeline_of_how_the_bible_where.htm
Paul…I apologize for taking a while to respond to your last comment. I wanted to make sure that I gave an accurate account of God’s Word when I responded “…Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15b) so I have consulted one of our pastors.
Pastor JD stated, “The main thing I noticed when looking at that passage is this: the second half of verse 16 says that it is the person who does not believe, not the person who is not baptized, that is condemned. Abraham was not baptized, nor were any OT saints. The thief on the cross believed and Jesus said "today you will be with me in paradise" and he died before he could be baptized. If you must be baptized to be saved then all babies who are aborted, miscarried, or die before they are baptized go to hell as well.
Also, not to get too complicated, but many scholars dispute whether or not verse 9 through the end of the chapter were actually part of Mark's original letter. There are several reasons for this, and it in no way threatens the innerrency of scripture, it just observes that many of the greek manuscript copies we have today do not include it, and those that do show signs that it was added later by a commentator or scribe. I can talk to you more about this sometime if you are interested.
There are NUMEROUS passages that teach salvation and explain the gospel that say nothing of baptism. For a good listing of those passages, and for a very good explanation of this issue, you can visit the link below. Its John Macarthur's answer to this question (and I think he is right on).”
http://www.gty.org/Resources/Questions/QA79_Is-Baptism-Necessary-for-Salvation?q=mark+16+baptism
Thanks for your reply Michelle,
I appreciate you taking the time to talk to one of your pastors but his reply is very troubling.
The Old Covenant was entered into by circumcision, not baptism. All male Jews had to be circumcised to enter into the Old Covenant with God. This is the Old Testament.
The New Covenant (New Testament) that Jesus established did away with circumcision. Baptism became the new circumcision. To be baptized is how you became a Christian, there was no “believers prayer”.
In Colossians 2:11–13, he tells us, "In [Christ] you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision [of] Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ" (NIV).
For your pastor not to know the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant is very disturbing.
As far as what happens to babies and aborted babies who die before they get baptized, they are left to the grace of God, I don’t pretend to know what happens to them.
I was waiting for you to bring up the thief on the cross. The thief on the cross was still under the old covenant and Jesus had not yet gave the apostles the great commission. After Jesus is risen from the dead he says this:
Matthew 28:16-20
16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Now for your next point about the last part of Mark not showing up in some texts, lets think about that for a moment. You’re saying that it’s easier for you to remove a section of the Bible than to admit that just maybe you are wrong. If you can’t trust 100% of the Bible, cover to cover then you have no Word of God, you just have a book that we are free to pick and choose what we like out of.
In regards to your link to John Macarthur’s answer, He has done some nice anti-abortion work, but he can be just as wrong as you and your pastor. It’s just his opinion, nothing more nothing less.
Paul, it looks like we will just have to agree to disagree at this point.
Michelle, This is not about agreeing or disagreeing. I just want people to know that it is Jesus Christ that they are protesting and not Believing.
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