The thing about mirrors is that they force us to be honest. Unless we are looking at one of those mirrors that have been intentionally bent to give a distorted look (remember those in the old amusement parks?), a regular mirror will reveal ourselves to ourselves without holding anything back. Now there are some things about our appearance that we cannot change (at least not without a good plastic surgeon and a ton of money), but we use mirrors to check on ourselves and to fix the things we can change about ourselves.

But here’s the “funny” part. We invent all kinds of ways to avoid the honesty that the mirror forces upon us. We will take a look at ourselves and see something that obviously needs our attention, but then we tell ourselves that the problem staring back at us in the mirror is really not all that bad, or that it is actually acceptable (because suddenly our standards are not as strict as they would normally be). Or we tell ourselves that even though we see a flaw, that we are not like that every day, that we’re just having a “bad hair day” (or whatever) on this particular day. Or we acknowledge the flaw we see, but we say, “Well, it’s just the way I am, and people are going to have to accept it.”

Yet the fact is that if we are not going to be honest about what we see in the mirror, there is no point in looking in the mirror at all. Why even bother with it if you are not going to do something about the problems you see in your reflection?

One of the most challenging passages in all the Bible must be James 1:23-25. “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.”

Most everything that is true of a mirror is true of the word of God. It is meant to be a way for us to consider and judge ourselves. God has provided it as, among other things, a way to get us to look at ourselves and see what is wrong with us. And like a physical mirror, the word of God forces us to be honest with ourselves.

In particular, James is making a point about the difference between a person who only hears the word of God (but does not obey it), and a person who both hears and obeys it. The person who hears God word but does not put it into practice is like a person who has looked in the mirror and has done nothing about the problems he sees in his reflection. But the person who both hears and obeys is like a person who looks in the mirror and, with honesty, says, “There are some things I need to change!” He makes the changes in his life to conform himself to the will of God, and James says such a person is blessed.

Just as we do with physical mirrors, I fear we also play little games with ourselves when it comes to looking into the spiritual mirror of God’s word. The word reveals to us the spiritual and moral changes that we need to make; it shows us what is wrong with us. And like a mirror, the word of God does not deceive us. It tells us the truth. But we do not always like the truth, especially when it means that we have not measured up as we should. We don’t like the guilt that comes from having to be honest with ourselves, so we tell ourselves that even though we are not perfect, no one is, or that at least we are not as bad as others. Or we tell ourselves that we cannot change who we are, and God should understand that.

Friends, if we are not going to be honest with what we see of ourselves and our flaws in the mirror of God’s word, then why pick up a Bible in the first place? Why claim to be obedient children of God if we are not going to correct our flaws when God reveals them to us? We become the people who hear, but do not do the word of God, and the word of God actually does us no good.

The reason for buying a mirror is to use it, and reason for picking up a Bible is to obey it. It requires honesty, and we ignore it only to our peril.

The GPS unit, however, has taken away some of the fun associated with those long drives. Who wouldn’t miss the frantic consultation of the atlas as we zoom past the required exit? “Wait a minute! The map doesn’t show that road.” “Well, there IS a road there and we just passed it – was that the turn we were supposed to take?” Oh, for the good ole days!

Some of the excitement generated in our “atlas days” was due to the fact that we were too cheap to buy an up-to-date atlas. Streets get closed, re-numbered or re-routed and new roads are built. We bought an atlas and then used it until the pages were falling out. When your atlas also lists “wagon trails” in the legend, it could be time to replace it with a “new and updated” version.

Travelers, even frugal ones, must live by the truth that, if the map is wrong, it really doesn’t matter how well one follows it. We can make all the right turns, according to the map, but still not arrive at our intended destination; we trusted a map that steered us wrong!

Bible students must live by the same axiom. Think of your Bible as a roadmap that guides us safely through this life and takes us to our desired destination, heaven itself, to be with God for eternity. It only makes sense that we would devote time and energy in study of the “map” so that we can accurately follow it.

But what if our spiritual roadmap is inaccurate? It really doesn’t matter how well we understand and follow the directions it gives us…if the directions are misleading!

Surely, however, we can trust our Bible to be an accurate roadmap, can’t we? After all, the Scriptures themselves affirm that God is their source. The Old Testament prophets claimed that they spoke “the word of the Lord” as it came to them (e.g., Jeremiah 2:1). Peter wrote that these “holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). Paul claimed that he revealed the wisdom of God in words taught by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:13). He reminded Timothy that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Deciding upon a study Bible can be a daunting task. There are so many versions (with new ones being marketed all the time) with obvious and significant differences between them. Which version should we use for our study — the King James Version, New American Standard, the New Living Translation? The list goes on and on.  One thing is certain: not all of the versions represent an accurate roadmap!

To be certain that we are using “an accurate roadmap” for our journey to heaven, we need to understand the process responsible for getting the word of God to modern man, a process involving several steps. God revealed His word to individuals who committed that message to writing. Divinely inspired individuals, however, were not the only ones writing religious materials. It was necessary for early Christians to distinguish between inspired and uninspired literature.

The revealed word of God was written on perishable materials and thus the original documents are no longer available. Like all such ancient “books,” the text of these documents was preserved by repeated copying. Although the original writers were inspired and produced an inerrant text, those who copied their texts were not.

In addition, most of us are not fluent in the languages in which the original documents and their copies were written. For us to read the Scriptures in our own language, we need a translation of the biblical text.

That’s a simplified description of the process involved in getting the word of God to modern man. It is my intention to write about the various steps of this process in future articles. We will talk about inspiration, canonization and the transmission of the biblical text. The field of study known as texual criticism is concerned with the determination of the original text of the inspired documents, a process involving the comparison of the many extant manuscript copies of the biblical books.

Using an inaccurate map will usually cause us to go astray in our travels. The purpose of these articles will be to show that we can have confidence in the accurate transmission of the Scriptures and provide necessary information for choosing a good study Bible.

Where I grew up, there was no shortage of sermons that made specific application to personal righteousness. Sermons on modest dress, fleeing fornication, using pure speech (including avoiding euphemisms), and the dangers of worldliness were every Sunday fare. We were taught to be good examples at work, at home, and at play. When and where you slipped out of line there seemed to always be someone who loved you enough to say something to you. Their loving rebuke stung a little, but it caused you to think, resolve to change, and do better.

Bible classes drilled kids in the basics of the Bible. We learned the books of the Bible and the distinction between the covenants at an early age. Our teachers expected us to come to Bible study with lessons prepared and ready to recite information about Bible characters, events, and topics. Parents usually made it happen.

This kind of thing is still taking place in a lot churches I know. There are many dedicated preachers whose sermons possess that “ole Jerusalem gospel” ring. I know Bible teachers who work long hours to present Bible stories in the most effective way possible. Only the most naive, however, refuse to recognize that things are changing — and not for the better. Though most folks today possess a greater level of education than many of our predecessors, their Bibles go unread and their knowledge of spiritual things is weak or absent altogether. Feelings and subjective religion have captured the imagination of many because they have little grasp of the need for Bible authority (Colossians 3:17). Some have ridiculed our demand for book, chapter, and verse in all that we do, calling it a patternistic “plague” which is “foul and diseased.” In answer, I respond with Paul’s instruction to Timothy, “Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13). Perhaps it would to good for us to reflect upon this statement for a moment.

“Sound Words”

Someone once said that a word is a “vehicle upon which a thought rides.” Words uttered by the human voice give expression to concepts or ideas. The thoughts of God are expressed to us through words he has chosen (1 Corinthians 2:12-13) and are recorded for us in Scripture. Thus, they are inspired words (2 Timothy 3:16-17). They are:

1. Important. By them our faith can rest, not in the wisdom, philosophies, and feelings of men, but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:1-5).
2. Profitable. Paul said they were “… profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Moses reminded Israel that God’s statutes were “for our good always” and commanded them to be observed (Deuteronomy 6:24-25).
3. Understandable. Admittedly, some concepts in Scripture are hard to understand (2 Peter 3:18). But this is not the case most of the time. Paul said we could understand merely by reading (Ephesians 3:4).
4. Authoritative. The words of Jesus will judge us (John 12:48). Paul wanted us to know that what he wrote was the “Lord’s commandment” (1 Corinthians 14:37), not his suggestions or mere sentimental pleadings. We must do all in the name of the Lord (Colossians 3:17).
5. Unalterable. When we speak, we are to speak as the very mouthpiece of God (1Peter 4:11), without addition or subtraction (Deuteronomy 4:2; Joshua 1:7-9; Revelation 22:18-19). All teachers and preachers need to take this into account (James 3:10).

“Sound Words”

Sound is from the same Greek word from which we get our English word “hygiene” and literally means to be in good physical health. Here it is used in the figurative sense of being free from error or correct.

Sound teaching is teaching that is healthy and nutritious. Most everyone recognizes the need for a healthy diet for our physical body, even if we do neglect it at times. How much more so our spirit! Spiritual survival depends upon good spiritual nourishment. We dare not neglect it. Yet many folks today think they can survive on spiritual “junk” food, and just as little of that as possible. An older preacher once said, “Sermonettes preached by preacherettes will produce Christianettes” — food for thought.

“Retain the Standard of Sound Words”

God’s word is our standard or pattern for living. A standard is a basis of comparison. Every woman who has made the attempt to sew a garment knows the importance of following the pattern. Every man who has made the attempt to build knows the importance of following a blueprint. Even our children learn early of the need to color all the picture, inside the lines, or paint by number. It’s the same principle.

It is impossible to overstate the case. Only by sound teaching can we develop wholesome, healthy spiritual lives – either individually or collectively. Therefore, when some loving brother or sister comes alongside you to encourage you, whether in standard of worship or pattern of life application (modest dress, speech, worldliness, et. al.), don’t think that this is merely some “church of Christ doctrine.” They are encouraging you to “retain the standard of sound words” that you might be pleasing to God and go to heaven when you die.

A.T. Robertson, among other scholars, believed that the word “newborn” likely meant that Peter was writing to those who were new in the faith, “that they were recent converts.” I think Burton Coffman comes closer to the real meaning when he suggests that Peter is addressing “the appetite which all (emphasis mine, GCK) Christians should have in order to grow.” Why, then, did Peter, by inspiration, choose to illustrate the desire of the Christian for God’s word with a “newborn babe” and that babies’ longing for milk?

I must confess that I am, in almost every way, a “junkfood junkie!” I admit with some embarrassment that I am not always careful about my daily diet, and as a result I have struggled with my weight off and on for many years. I have to battle various “food cravings” from time to time, like I’m sure most everyone does. I can’t ever remember, however, fighting a craving for broccoli! Never one time have I, late at night, made my way to the kitchen because I just couldn’t stop thinking about that bowl of Brussels sprouts in the refrigerator left over from supper! What about you? Do you ever find yourself struggling to find ways to help you overcome an intense craving for salad with nonfat dressing? I didn’t think so.

My problem—and I suspect that it is pretty much a universal one—is that my cravings in the food world are almost always directed toward things which aren’t good for me, things which have no real nutritional value at all.

The same problem can exist among those of us who, as Christians, know what is really good for us, but who end up giving in to cravings for “junk food” instead. What I mean by that is that we find ourselves “longing for” the wrong things (i.e., TV, movies, sports, games, etc.) – not necessarily “bad” things, but things that have no real nutritional value in the realm of spiritual things that are really good for us.

Genuine godliness always has been marked by a love for and a delight in God’s Word.

• John 8:47 – “He who is of God hears the words of God.”
• Job 23:12 – “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.”
• Psalm 19:10 – “They [referring to the teachings of God’s Word] are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.”
• Psalm 40:8 – “I delight to do Thy will, O my God; Thy Law is within my heart.”

It has always been characteristic of believers to rejoice in the Word of God. Let me ask you a question. Do the words in these verses reflect the way you feel? Is the law of God more desirable to you than gold? Is it sweeter to you than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb? The word in our text translated “long for” carries with it the idea of desire, to have a yearning for, or longing after.

It is the same word used in the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament in Psalm 42:1, where David describes the deer who “pants for the water brooks.” Paul uses the word seven times in his writings: twice to refer for his longing for an effective ministry (Romans 1:11; Phil. 1:8); four times to refer to the intense longing that believers should have for one another (2 Cor. 9:14; Phil. 2:26; 1 Thess. 3:6; 2 Tim. 1:4); and once to describe his longing for heaven (2 Cor. 9:14).

I become concerned when we, as God’s children, do not elevate God’s Word to its proper place. We must have a “newborn’s” craving for the Word of God, unadulterated and uncontaminated. Have we somehow misplaced that love for God’s Word? If you are hungering for the pure milk of the Word then praise God. But if this is not true of you right now, but rather you have seen a gradual diminishing of your interest in God’s word, then you need to be working diligently on renewing that “newborn” longing.

As Christians, we must remain aware that we are all being tested from without and within. Let us not in the midst of these tests forget the power of God’s Word. It was through the Word of God that the physical world came into existence. And it is through the Word of God that any of us will achieve salvation. If we know its power we will not going to allow ourselves to be distracted by all the “junk food” of this world. May we be resolved to cling to God’s word with a “newborn” passion that will be pleasing to the Lord.

One thing, however, is clear: When we see misery overshadowed by worship in a person of faith, we stand in wonder. We admire those, who while their world is caving in, continue to look upward and whisper, “I will continue to praise my God for His goodness and grace!”

Job certainly comes to mind. Godly man. Conscientious father. Successful businessman. Then in rapid succession he loses his fortune and his family—but not his faith! In the midst of unimaginable darkness, Job continued to worship (1:21). Though slumped to the ground in tears, he simultaneously moved to his knees in worship.

Another Man’s “Why?” Question

But Job is not the only one to wrestle with hard questions and painful circumstances, yet continue to cling to God. Another is seen in a man we call a minor prophet who came to God with a major question. In the small book bearing his name, Habakkuk has looked upon his world in Judah and witnessed wickedness, violence and injustice (1:3-4). His opening question, “How long, O Lord, will I call for help, and You not hear” (1:2) indicates he’s been struggling with God’s apparent inaction for some time. However, as the Lord answers the prophet’s concerns, Habakkuk will not like the response.

Even if God had told him, he wouldn’t have believed it (1:5). The Lord promises to rectify the problem of Judah’s sin by using the Chaldeans as a divine tool of judgment. The Chaldeans? The same nation who butchered their enemies? The same folks who worshiped idols and sacrificed their infants? The people who exhibited no conscience, no remorse, and no reluctance to overrun and destroy any nation that stood in its way? Habakkuk’s question is no longer, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”, but “How can God allow horrible things to be inflicted on sinful people by even more sinful people?” The prophet doubts God’s wisdom—and His justice.

Shock Waves

As he looks to navigate through these serious questions, he seeks to reestablish some safe and comfortable “footing” by stating what he knows (1:12-13). “Are you not from everlasting?” God is not ignorant of what the Chaldeans might do to Judah (“My Holy One”). He is not like other gods, but is seated far above humanity, immune from its whims and ideas. God has “appointed” and “established.” Habakkuk confesses that he serves an all-powerful God that is in control. “Your eyes are too pure to approve evil.” Where men might turn a blind eye to injustice or give an approving nod to sin, God can do neither! It’s what he knows about God that brings him to the question, “Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up those more righteous than they?”

This is no theoretical issue. Habakkuk’s conclusions aren’t based on economic projections or military intelligence. God has spoken! Therefore, the suffering looming in Judah’s future is very real. The Chaldeans will seize dwellings (1:6). They will come for the purpose of violence and collect captives “like sand” (v. 9). They laugh at fortresses (v. 10) and will sweep through “like the wind” (v. 11). It’s these divine declarations that send the prophet reeling in shock!

Waiting is the Hardest Part

It’s a wise man who takes his questions about God to God; it’s an even wiser man who listens for the answers. Most men in this situation prefer talking and doing in an attempt to “fix” ‘things. Habakkuk chooses to watch, wait and listen (2:1). In marked contrast to our impatient and instant generation, Habakkuk knows what we typically ignore—watching and waiting are fundamental steps to seeing things from a divine perspective. He chooses to hand the matter over to God—and patiently awaits His response.

It is here he is reminded that the “righteous will live by his faith” (2:4). He is shown the evil existing among the Chaldeans and in a series of “woes” is assured they would ultimately pay the price (2:6-19). Their iniquity has not escaped heaven’s eye and God remains in His holy temple (2:20). Though the Chaldeans might wreak havoc with Judah, they are not more powerful than God, nor can they remove Him from His throne.

Living by Faith

It’s in the third chapter that Habakkuk reaches the pinnacle of his spiritual experience. God’s message has not just entered his mind, it has invaded his heart. He has heard the word of God and seen a vision of the work of God—and it has changed him. Living by faith is no longer a theoretical concept—it has become a spiritual reality! God’s prophet is moved to worship. Habakkuk 3 reads more like a psalm of confidence than a prophetic declaration. Three times we find the Hebrew word, “Selah” (3:3,9,13). It’s the only time in the Bible where this word is found outside of the Psalms. Though the future seems dark, Habakkuk’s worship takes the shape of three affirmations of faith.

• I will rest in the Lord (3:16). Though this short book began with an agonizing and impatient prophet in Judah, it ends with a calm and expectant servant of God! God has spoken; Habakkuk has listened. Jehovah has promised; Habakkuk has believed. God has declared; Habakkuk has accepted. He comprehends that whatever the future might hold for Judah, it is in keeping with God’s perfect wisdom and justice. He looked around and saw horrible sin among his people. He looked out and envisioned a brutal army poised to destroy. But more significantly, he looked up and trusted that the hand of God was at work in it all.
• I will rejoice in the Lord (3:17-18). If we lived in an agrarian society, we would more fully appreciate the scenario he paints in these verses. What he describes is disaster on a total scale. Blossomless figs, fruitless vines, failing olives, cut off flocks and cattle-less stalls describe not just failures in agriculture, but the ravages of war. There will be nothing to eat, nothing to drink and nothing to wear. And such poverty is not due to “natural” causes, but a ruthless enemy who is in control of the land. Still, the prophet declares: “I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.”
• I will rely on the Lord (3:19). Here is faith’s peak. The reason for his hope in the midst of such a dark situation is not any inherent strength he’s developed on his own. There has been no spiritual technique that’s been mastered. No magic formula applied. He proclaims that God is the one who not only provides stability in his life now, but who also enables him to climb higher in the future—even in the face of immense adversity. He’s not just “holding his ground,” he’s advancing like a sure-footed deer amid some of the most dangerous terrain!

Times may be good or they may be bad. Circumstances may waver and fluctuate. But those things need not affect our adoration of the One who remains constant through it all. In three brief chapters, Habakkuk teaches us much about worship—even when it must occur in the dark.

…the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth,
Against whom you have dealt treacherously,
Though she is your companion and wife by covenant.
—Malachi 2:14

“Oh, what a feeling!” –was for several years the slogan of the Toyota car company. Sadly, many go into marriage thinking that love is defined the same way. It isn’t. Love, from God’s perspective, is about doing, not feeling. Life is about commitment and the choices we make daily to honor that commitment. It’s the opposite of selfishness.

“You don’t know my mate…” True. But that doesn’t change your love commitment and the vows you spoke on your wedding day. No place in Scripture do we find God’s commandments to love our mate conditioned on anything they do or don’t do. Our words on the day we married said that we would cherish and remain committed to this person “for better or for worse” and “until death do we part.” Do you remember saying that?

To my knowledge I’ve never heard the wedding vows read like this: “As long as we both shall feel like it.” On the contrary, you spoke words of verba solemnia (a solemn vow) that entered you into a covenant—not a contract. Your covenant was witnessed and sealed by God.

Read the Malachi passage again (2:14). How seriously do you think God regards the vows of your marriage covenant?

Contrasting Contracts with Covenants

Contracts and their accompanying paperwork are everywhere. By definition, a contract is an agreement between two parties in which both sides agree to certain conditions. Most contracts state that if one side violates the terms of the agreement, the other party has a measured recourse. For example, if you finance a car with a bank, the bank, in turn, can repossess the vehicle if payment is not made. We understand how that works.

A wedding covenant is different. To some, marriages vows are interpreted to mean that I will do my part as long as my spouse does his part. That is not what you promised.

Sometimes a spouse presents a laundry list of violations and failures by his/her mate as if such represents a breech of contract. The truth is, neither signed a contract that gives them an “out” if the other party fails to perform to their specifications.

What they entered into was a covenant. It was a vow before God that said I am sticking with this person for the rest of my life. Regardless. Period. We were specifically asked, “Do you promise to live with _______ for better or worse, in sickness and health, in good times and bad?” etc. And what did you say? Two words: “I do.” You made a covenant before God. “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate” (Matt.19:6).

A covenant is an agreement by choice (no one forced you!) and is in no way dependent upon what the other party may do. It’s not about loving and honoring your mate as long as your mate loves and honors you. Like the parents adopting a child make a commitment to the child’s nurture and care, the adoption is not dependent upon what the baby gives them in return. It’s the same with the marriage covenant sealed before God. That’s why it’s called Holy matrimony. There is something very special, life-changing, and life-lasting happening here.

Committed Love

We’re not into commitment much these days. In the past two years I have bounced from one cell phone company to the next in search for the best coverage, lowest cost, and shortest contract. And while that works with cell phone leases (“No long-term commitment required”), it doesn’t work with marriage. Here’s why: We are not called to commit to the institution of marriage as much as we are called to commit to Him! God says, You commit to me and honor Me by fulfilling your marriage vows!

Sadly, few take this seriously (even among Christians). Nonetheless, it is a proactive decision that says I am going to serve my mate in the way God directs regardless of what I get in return. You may argue that no one does that, but you would be wrong.

When a couple brings a baby home from the hospital, they have a God directed obligation to care for that newborn. And guess what? It won’t always be convenient—especially at 3:00 in the morning when it’s feeding time. And so you feed and rock and rock and feed and…what do you get in return? She spits up all over you! Yet you get up and do it again and again. Why? Because you enjoy losing sleep and smelling like spit-up? Hardly. You do it because you love that child and love is spelled C*O*M*M*I*T*M*E*N*T.

God gives all of us the ability to choose the right thing even when we don’t feel like it. If your spouse says something unkind to you, no one forces you to return evil for evil. If he/she is hurtful or fails to follow through on a promise, God gives you a choice of response—including grace-filled forgiveness. It comes down to a question of choice. And in the end, all excuses aside, people pretty much do what they want to do.

Lucky Marriages

“They are so lucky to have a good marriage!” Really? Hard truth lesson #1: There is nothing lucky about good marriages. That makes as much sense as telling someone that has worked for hours cleaning her house: “You are so lucky to live in a clean house.” Lucky? Are you kidding?

Houses don’t clean themselves and neither do marriages. It takes two people dedicated to God along with the daily grind of hard work and commitment. And a big dose of patience and forgiveness, too!

I don’t know about you, but Mr. Selfish rears his ugly head around our place way too often. Sometimes my old self come creeping back into our marriage. And that’s when I have to remember my covenant with my wife and with God. It’s not about me. It’s about putting her first and doing whatever it takes to honor her. For when I honor her, I honor Him. After all, she is God’s daughter and that makes God my Father-in-law. It’s best I remember that.

Remembering Our First Love

When Christ saw that the Ephesians had left their first love, He urged them to repent and “do the deeds you did at first” (Rev.2:5-6a). That’s great marital advice, too. Are you struggling with love, commitment, and intimacy in marriage? “Do the deeds you did at first.” Be proactive and the feelings will return. God expects no less.

God doesn’t want you to have a mediocre marriage. He wants you to find out the real meaning of words like “love,” “commitment,” “covenant,” and “forgiveness.” He enables you to make good choices and keep your promises. And while you cannot control others, you can control self. Our God can move mountains and save marriages! And…He can make the good ones even better.

—Condensed from the book, Marriage Matters.

• We’re not going to understand everything from the start. The Hebrew writer makes a point regarding the things he is discussing (Melchizedek’s relationship to Christ), that they are difficult for his readers to understand. True, the Hebrew Christians were to blame for their inability to understand, but the same could legitimately be said of someone new in the faith. Everything in the Bible is understandable at some point. However, we shouldn’t assume that we will suddenly know the meaning of all those things or get discouraged when we don’t. That’s what growth is all about.
• We can’t learn if we aren’t listening. Many claim to not get anything out of sermons or Bible classes. Often the people who cry most vocally about the lack of deep teaching are the ones in the deepest sleep on the pew or in the chair. The Hebrew writer said that he was having difficulty explaining things to them because they had become “dull of hearing.” The NIV put it differently when it rendered that phrase, “you no longer try to understand.”
• God has a plan for us to progress from students to teachers. The writer said that his audience “ought to be teachers.” He wasn’t just talking to the preacher or the elders. There is an absolute imperative that every Christian strives to reach the point where they can teach others, even if it isn’t in a public setting. In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul told Timothy that he was to take the things that he had learned and teach them to faithful men who would be able to teach others also. There is a cycle of learning and teaching that has to go on. We don’t wait until we know everything to teach, but we need to start teaching once we know.
• To progress from milk to meat, we have to “accustom” ourselves to the word. Good teaching will consist of a mix of milk and meat. The only way for a Christian to break through the milk and get to the meat is to become familiar with God’s word. This is more than just sitting in the pew two or three times a week and letting God’s word wash over you as it comes out of the preacher’s mouth. This is a matter of getting in God’s word and understanding what it says and trying to come to grips with what it means. This is not a matter of reading your Bible; it’s a matter of studying your Bible to the best of your ability each and every day.
• Maturity comes from use of what has been learned. How do children learn to ride a bicycle? They ride them! A father can explain to his son about the mechanics of pedaling and braking until he’s blue in the face, but that child will never learn how to balance on a bike until he has actually tried to ride it. It’s no different with Christians. For us to truly understand God’s word in a practical way, we have to get out each day and live by God’s word. That means making each decision by asking the question, “What would God want me to do?”

These last two points present the keys to spiritual maturity. Maturity doesn’t come from faithful attendance in Bible classes and at the worship assembly, though those things are important. As mentioned above, it doesn’t come from “daily Bible reading,” though that is a worthwhile endeavor. Maturity comes from regular study of God’s word and regular use of it.

When we seek to understand Scripture, it should of necessity force us to read beyond just the passage at hand. If I want to understand Jesus’ statement, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me,” I need to look back to Psalm 22 and see how David used it in his psalm. If I want to understand Paul’s point in 1 Timothy 2 about the role of women, I need to go back to Genesis 3 to see what happened when Adam and Eve sinned. I need to go to passages like Proverbs 31 to see God’s “worthy woman.” I need to look ahead to chapter 5 where he talks about the treatment of widows and see how that connects with Paul’s statement about “saved through childbearing.”

When we make every decision according to God’s will, we will force ourselves to get in God’s word. After all, how else will we know what His will is? That means that we might just have to crack open our Bibles and see if the decisions we did make were the right ones. We might just need to look at a few pages of Scripture so that we can prepare ourselves for a long-term decision that has to be made.

Whatever the cause of our lack of maturity, one message is clear from this passage: God doesn’t want us to stay immature. Our daily goal should be to become more spiritually mature. If that isn’t our goal, maybe we need to re-evaluate our priorities.

I ask you to consider one other wonderful trait of God. Peter affirmed to the household of Cornelius, “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (Acts 10:34-35, emphasis mine). It was in God’s good will that the gospel of peace be preached to “all creation” (Mark 16:15-16); that the doors of His great spiritual house be open for “all the nations (to) stream to it” (Isa.2:2). In this process we see a demonstration of the impartial nature of God.

1. All men suffer a common problem—sin. “There is none righteous, not even one” (Rom. 3:10), “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (3:23). Even most of our favorite Bible characters yielded to temptation: Abraham (Gen.12:11-13), David (2 Sam.11:3-4), and Peter (Gal.2:11).
2. All are under the same condemnation—death. “For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom. 6:23). “You were dead in your trespasses and sins…” (Eph.2:1). This is a stark reality that every man must face no matter whose blood courses through his veins: God hates sin and the penalty for sin is serious business.
3. All are loved with a common love. John 3:16 remains the most wonderful statement ever penned. I share the sentiments of Charles Wesley (1739) when he wrote, “Amazing love, how can it be that You, my God, would die for me.” The message of the gospel is that you are the object of God’s great love.
4. The same sacrifice was offered for all. The writer of Hebrews teaches that Jesus tasted death for everyone (2:9) and, further, that “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (10:10). John said that “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world” (John 2:2).
5. A common message is to be preached to all. The gospel was to be preached to all creation (Mark 16:16). It is “the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints” (Jude 3). Paul asserted that he taught the same message in every church (1 Cor.4:17) and the curse of God was to rest upon anyone who taught a different or distorted message (Gal.1:8-9). What do you think are the consequences today when people teach different and often conflicting messages? Does God feel any differently today than He did then?
6. The same invitation was offered to all. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden…” (Matt.11:28), is offered by Jesus. “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come… let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost” (Rev.22:17).
7. The same terms of salvation are offered to all. “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mk. 16:16). “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…” (Acts 2:38). Jesus is Lord and salvation is offered upon His terms, not ours. He sets the conditions.
8. All the saved belong to the same church. There was no confusion in the New Testament regarding to which church one needed to belong. There was but one (Eph.1:22-23; 4:4) and the Lord did the adding as people responded to His terms (Acts 2:47; 1 Cor.12:13).
9. All were directed to walk by a common standard of conduct (Phil. 3:16). Jesus is our pattern for holy living (1 Pet.2:21-22). We are to live by His authority (Col.3:17), expressed in His word, in order to become a partaker of His nature (2 Pet.1:3-11).
10. All will face the same judgment. There is an inevitable interview with God which we must all face (Rom.14:12). The standard of judgment will be the words of the Lord (John 12:48) based upon how we have conducted our lives (2 Cor.5:10). Don’t think you will be the exception.
11. All are offered the same incentives to obey. For the obedient and faithful there remains a dwelling with God, eternal in the heavens (John 14:1-3; 2 Cor.5:1). For the disobedient, there awaits “eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord…” (2 Thess.1:9).

God is not partial. He is no respecter of persons. He offers the same salvation to you that He offers to everyone. Salvation is on His terms. What is your response?

I recently came across this “rolling forward” idea in a well-respected commentary: “…The blood of bulls and goats could never take away sin, but only rolled them forward and suspended the condemnation of the law from year to year until Christ came and suffered under the law and to finally take away their sins” (David Lipscomb, A Commentary on the New Testament Epistles, vol.3, p.226). But I must ask, “How does this work, exactly?”

• First, people read that “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Heb.10:4). From this, many have assumed that since animal blood cannot take away sins, therefore no sins were forgiven under that sacrificial system. This is an unjustified leap of reasoning. This is like saying, “It is impossible for my two-year-old child to drive from Seattle to Boston,” and then assume that, because the two-year-old cannot actually do the driving, he never traveled to Boston. This assumes much, but proves little.
• Second, people read that “in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed” until Christ’s death on the cross (Rom.3:25). From this, many have assumed that “passing over” these sins means that God did not deal with them immediately or in a legal manner. This rationale, too, is unjustified.
• Third, since Jesus’ blood is the ultimate and universal cleansing agent for the human soul, many have concluded that until this blood was shed, no soul could be cleansed of its sins. Does the Bible teach this? Are we sure about this? Are you?

It is true that animal blood served as a type, not the substance, of atonement. The blood of a mere animal cannot remove human sin (Acts 13:38-39). Everything in the Law of Moses—including the Law itself—served as a “shadow” or sign of what was to come (Heb.10:1). The fact that the Law (or “law”) could not atone for sins once and for all indicates that it was insufficient for what was actually needed. This does not mean God gave Israel an incomplete or defective law; it was ideal for the purpose it served (Rom.7:7-13). But everything in the Law pointed forward to a perfect, complete, “once for all” sacrifice that would never be duplicated or superseded.

Thus, the “blood of bulls and goats” served as a type of what was to come. Yet because God knew with certainty what was to come, He could forgive people even before this “once for all” sacrifice had been offered. At least ten times in Leviticus (4:20, 26, 31, 35; 5:10, 13, 16, 18; 6:7; and 19:22) it declares that the priest, upon receiving a proper sin offering, was to pronounce the offerer “forgiven.” Did God just pretend to forgive sins at that time? Did He roll their sins forward? Absolutely not. He did exactly what He declared would be done: He forgave the sinner of his sins.

This forgiveness was contingent upon what was to come; this fact is not disputed. Yet since it was God (in Christ) who would perform the deed required, the deed was as good as done. Thus, David was forgiven by God (2 Sam.12:13; Ps.25:18; 32; 51; and others). David wrote by inspiration, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (103:12). Think of the several times that Jesus pronounced, “Your sins are forgiven”—and remember that He (and they) were all under the Law of Moses. In all of these cases, sins are never said to be “rolled forward,” but are indeed forgiven.

If we teach that God did not forgive anyone until Christ’s crucifixion, we inadvertently call into question these Old Testament Scriptures, and doubt (or do not understand) the absolute surety in which God’s promises are made. The fact that God made these promises (of forgiveness) demonstrates that He knew long before it ever happened that His Son would not fail in His mission. Otherwise, we imply that God could not forgive sins until He knew for certain that His Son would succeed in His mission as our Redeemer. Imagine: God waiting to see if His Son would fail!

On the contrary, God’s promises are fulfilled in the historical event of the cross, but the cross is founded upon the infallible work of God Himself. The Father knew His Son would not fail; He knew Christ would be the world’s sin offering (1 John 2:2). Because of this, He also knew that He could pronounce absolute forgiveness to those who called upon His name centuries before this ever happened.

We cannot have it both ways. We cannot say, “God forgave them” and at the same time “God rolled their sins forward.” The one statement contradicts the other. Furthermore, the “rolling forward” concept leads to serious implications: If Israelites died in their sins (since their sins were “rolled forward” and not truly forgiven on the spot), what was the disposition of their souls until the time of Christ? Were they in torment—but after the cross, they were led into glory? Were they in some spiritual limbo until Christ’s blood was shed? Could God bring them into Paradise without having truly forgiven them—and if so, how does this impact our understanding of divine forgiveness and “no partiality”? In any case, we end up hammering a round peg into a square hole: it just does not work.

The “rolled forward” concept makes unwarranted leaps in our teaching on God, His infallibility, and forgiveness. While promoted with good intentions, it actually contradicts what God prophesied long ago: “He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth’” (Isa.49:6). In light of His absolute confidence in His Son, God did not roll men’s sins forward until the cross, but forgave them entirely.

What’s so special about Sunday? Many ask this question today. For this reason, worship is forsaken, Bible Study is ignored, and fellowship is minimized on Sunday. Why? It is because we fail to see the significance of the first day of the week. Take a moment and observe the end of the Savior’s work week and learn from Him so that His passion becomes our passion.

Thursday

Matthew 26:17-25… Jesus knew He was going to die and be raised to life again. Therefore, He made preparations for His weekend on Thursday (vv.17-19). Jesus revealed the truth that everyone who follows Him will not always stay with Him on Thursday (vv.20-25). Jesus proved there is no such thing as praying too much on Thursday (vv.36-44). Jesus was betrayed by friends on Thursday (vv.47-50). Jesus was forsaken and left alone on Thursday (v.56). Jesus was lied about and led away on Thursday (vv.57-65). Jesus was found guilty on Thursday (v.66). Jesus was spit on, buffeted, smitten, and teased on Thursday (vv.67-68). Jesus was denied by a close friend on Thursday (vv.69-75). This was the Thursday our Lord experienced. He could have given up, but He kept moving forward because He knew…Sunday was coming!

Friday

Matthew 27:1-60… After Thursday passed and before He experienced Sunday, He had to go through a Friday. Jesus saw His enemies, nemesis, antagonists, and adversaries call for assistance to destroy Him on Friday (vv.1-2). Jesus saw firsthand how foolishness and ignorance prevailed on Friday (vv.15-21). Jesus witnessed how boldly cowards speak on Friday (vv.22-25). Jesus was scourged, stripped naked, mocked, spit on, humiliated, and crucified on Friday (vv.26-49). Jesus was left for dead on Friday (v.50). Jesus was buried and put away on Friday (vv.57-60). This was the Friday our Lord experienced. He could have given up, but His soul continued to believe in God because He knew…Sunday was coming!

Saturday

Matthew 27:62-66… After Friday passed and before He could get to Sunday, He had to first go through a Saturday. Jesus’ enemies made preparations to keep Him down on Saturday (vv.62-66). Jesus’ body laid in a dark, cold, sealed, and guarded tomb on Saturday. Saturday was the Lord’s darkest day. There was no light at the end of the tomb on Saturday; no sign of a silver lining in the cloud on Saturday; there was complete and utter silence on Saturday; there was no word from God on Saturday; there was no sign of hope on Saturday. This was the Saturday our Lord experienced. He was dead to the world. But Jesus knew He would rise again because he knew…Sunday was coming!

Sunday

Matthew 28:1-8… On Sunday, God shook things up (vv.1-2). On Sunday, God sent divine help to remove every obstacle, stumbling block, and person in Jesus’ way (v.2). On Sunday, the enemies of Christ trembled in fear (v.4). On Sunday, God raised Him up (v.7). On Sunday, joy becomes the theme of the redeemed (v.8).

You may be experiencing a Thursday in which you are prayed out, betrayed, led away, lied on, forsaken, accused falsely, spit on, beat down, slapped around, teased, and denied. Or you may be experiencing a Friday in which you are picked on, ganged on, talked about, scourged, stripped, mocked, spit on, humiliated, crucified, left for dead, and buried. Or you may be experiencing a Saturday in which you are cold, alone, stumbling in the dark, hopeless, sealed up, locked in and can’t escape.

Whatever you are experiencing, don’t give up or give in because…Sunday is coming! God promises to make our wrongs right on Sunday. God will pick us up, turn us around, dust us off, and plant us on solid ground on Sunday. He will raise our spirit on Sunday. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes early on Sunday morning (Ps.30:5). No matter what people may put us through, always remember, “At least they are not putting nails through my hands.”

Sunday’s coming, my friend!