Author: petebeck3

Pete Beck III ministered as a pastor and Bible teacher in Burlington for over 34 years. He is married to Martha, with whom he has four children, ten beautiful grandchildren, and four amazing great grandchildren. He ministers in his local church as a Bible teacher and counselor. He has published two books - Seeing God's Smile and Promise of the Father - as well as a wide variety of Bible-related articles which he has compiled into books in PDF form.

Whose Money Is It?

The first and most important question that we must ask and answer, if we want to have a right relationship with our money with regard to the Lord, is “Whose money is it?”

  1. Is it all mine?
  2. Is 90% of it mine, after I give the Lord his 10%, or
  3. Does it all belong to the Lord?
  4. And, of course, the final choice – “I don’t know.”

Judging by the giving habits of many church goers, the answer is #1. Among those who have discovered the blessings associated with giving back to God, many accept the Old Covenant tithe (10%) as the normative level for their giving. But what about that other 90%? Is that mine to do with as I please, or is it God’s for me to manage as he pleases? Many have discovered the liberating truth that all our money and everything else we have, including life itself, is on loan to us from God. It all belongs to him, and we are assigned to manage it well.

So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. Luke 14:33 (NLT)

A disciple is someone who lets go of everything for the Lord’s sake. When God puts something in our hands to steward, we are tempted to think of it as our own. Think Gollum in Lord of the Rings – “my precious.” We forget from whom it came and to whom it ultimately belongs. When we die, we take nothing with us. It is wise to hold on to what God has given us with an open hand. Be ready to let it go.

I am reminded of when my children were small, and we would go to McDonald’s to eat. I would pay for their meals and later ask if I could have a french fry – just one. Sometimes the answer was “no.” They did not want to share what had been given to them with the one who gave it. That’s how we are with money quite often because we just don’t understand.

Pure selfishness might be the motivator, but often fear is behind our refusal to release ownership of our money. We doubt that we will have enough for ourselves; so, we hold tightly to what is “ours.” The only problem is that it’s not really ours. It’s God’s to be used as he sees fit. What if we handled all of our money as if it were God’s? Would it make a difference in how we spend, save, or give it away? Most likely. But if we treat our finances as if we are accountable only to ourselves, we might easily miss out on God’s best, or, worse, end up handling it very poorly.

The first step in gaining financial freedom is to recognize that all of our money belongs to God and act accordingly.

We will see what this looks like in coming articles. Until then, why not tell God that now that you realize that of your money, all of it, and everything else you have, belong to him, and he can do with it as he sees fit? Sounds scary? Only because we don’t trust him or realize how loving and generous he is. It’s time for us to let go of our wallets and exchange fear for faith in God’s faithfulness.

To access the entire series on the Disciple and Money, click here.

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The Ten Principles of Tithing

So far in this series I have looked at the disciple’s relationship to money from a number of angles. Now it’s time to consider tithing, which simply means giving a tenth of our income to God and his kingdom work.

Tithing Is an Acknowledgement of God’s Authority over our Lives and Wealth

Tithing is a practice that goes all the way back to Genesis, which is first mentioned when Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils of war to Melchizedek, a priest-king of Jerusalem, who many believe was at least a type of Christ. With God’s help, Abraham had just defeated a coalition of pagan kings to rescue his nephew, Lot, and his family.

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19  and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20  And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. Genesis 14:18-20 (NIV)

Tithing was a common practice in that day and long predated the giving of the Law to Moses, at which time tithing became part of the legal code of Israel. In Abraham’s case, he was tithing to a person, who was greater than he, as a way of acknowledging that he was under his authority and blessing, which brings us to our first tithing principles.

Principle One: Tithing shows that we acknowledge God’s authority over our lives and finances.

Principle Two: Tithing reveals that we believe that God is our Provider. It is from him all blessings flow, and to him we return a tenth.

A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. Leviticus 27:30 (NIV)

If we accept that the tithe belongs to God, then those who withhold giving the tithe are actually robbing God, keeping for themselves what is rightfully God’s.

"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. 9  You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me. Malachi 3:8-9 (NIV)

Those who robbed God in this manner brought upon themselves a curse or judgment. Instead of experiencing God’s supernatural provision, they would experience being robbed themselves by the “devourer.”

A Gateway to Blessing
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11  I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. Malachi 3:10-11 (NIV)

Principle Three: Giving to God what is his already opens the door to God’s returning immense blessings to us. It is an amazing thing that God rewards us for doing our duty.

It is not that we give to get. Rather, we give because we believe that God, our Provider, will supply well beyond our needs as we sacrificially give to him and his kingdom. Tithing often takes money that we feel we need. When we choose to give it to God, he knows what we need and makes provision for his people. There are countless stories of people who began to tithe by faith, only to see God surprise them with unexpected and unforeseen provisions. God delights in honoring the faith of his people in this way.

A Means of Provision for those who Serve on a Full-time Basis
I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting. Numbers 18:21 (NIV)

Under the Law of Moses, the tithe supported God’s appointed representatives, the Levites and priests, who served God in the stead of the entire nation. The tithe enabled them to serve undistractedly, without worry of how they would be able to provide for their own families. If the people of Israel tithed, the priests and Levites were able to perform their assigned duties. If the people failed to tithe, the work of God suffered because the workers had to use other means to stay alive and make ends meet.

I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and singers responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields. Nehemiah 13:10 (NIV)

Principle Four: Today, when people tithe to the local church (the New Covenant version of the Old Covenant “storehouse”), it enables called servants of God to serve without encumbrance in their ministry to the Lord.

Secular jobs take enormous amounts of time, which subtract from what is available for the Lord’s work of study, prayer, counseling, visitation, sharing the Gospel, disciple making, and whatever else might present itself during a day to a pastor or other full-time church leader. It is my conviction that the number one priority for church spending is to support the five-fold ministry – apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, because the work of the kingdom depends on their having the means and ability to serve. Providing for those in need is second. Buildings and such come in a distant third.

A Provision for the Poor and the Marginalized

Every three years a special tithe was collected in Israel, which was specifically used for helping not only the Levites, but also foreigners, widows, and orphans – the poor who cannot provide adequately for themselves.

Principle Five: Local churches are able to help the poor and those facing unexpected hardships by using the tithe in conjunction with other special offerings.

When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. Deuteronomy 26:12 (NIV)
The Tithe in the New Covenant
Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. Luke 11:42 (NIV)

There is not a lot written about the tithe in the New Testament. Jesus told the Pharisees that they were both to tithe and keep the more important aspects of the Law. This would have been the perfect place for him to throw out the tithe, as he did with ceremonial washing and other dietary laws, but he did not.

Principle Six: The tithe is outside the jurisdiction of the Law and is actually built into the framework of humanity, going back to Genesis and creation itself.

The only other place tithing is mentioned in the New Testament is in the the Letter to the Hebrews, where the author makes a case for Jesus’ superiority over the Aaronic priesthood.

See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5  And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. 6  But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7  It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8  In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9  One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10  for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. Hebrews 7:4-10 (ESV)

In this case, the tithe once again shows how the lesser supports the greater. It’s a matter of authority and blessing and recognizing the need to support the five-fold ministry.

Some argue that the tithe is “legalistic” and was done away with in the New Covenant. To these, I point out that Jesus never did away with God’s authority over and ownership of our finances. He clearly stated that a true disciple is one who serves God, not money. In fact, our Lord said that a disciple is one who gives up everything for the sake of the kingdom of God.

So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions. Luke 14:33 (NASB)

The rich young ruler was offered the opportunity to sell all and become part of Jesus’ traveling band of disciples. What an opportunity and honor! Jesus still holds the power to call each and everyone of his followers to the same high standard with regard to money.

Principle Seven: If God required at least a tenth from his Old Covenant saints, is it probable, or even conceivable, that he would ask less of us? The only legitimate way to do away with the tithe is to move up to the New Covenant standard of giving everything.

A Matter of the Heart

Over the years, I have known some who objected to tithing because they were selfish and wanted to hold on to their finances for themselves. Others refuse to be limited by the tithe and give much more. Ultimately tithing and all giving is a matter of the heart. If it is not done willingly, it is not worth a whole lot, at least in terms of heavenly reward.

Principle Eight: Tithing should not be approached legalistically. It is something we do by faith because we believe it is the right thing to do and because we trust that God is our provider. If we give willingly and cheerfully, God will see it and return a blessing.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV)
Conclusion

God asks some disciples to give all their money and resources to him, as he did with the rich young ruler. For the rest of us, as we consider how God would want us to give toward his kingdom, ten percent is a great place to start.

Principle Nine: I believe we should consider the tithe a minimum automatic category in our budget. Giving beyond the tithe is an opportunity to listen to the Spirit of God for his direction in our giving. This kind of giving is sometimes called making “offerings.” It is an act of obedience to the Spirit , a spiritual sacrifice that pleases God, and is a function of our faith in God and the generosity of our hearts. We learn the art of generous giving by starting with the tithe and progressing beyond.

I have tithed for years out of conviction and faith. I cannot imagine doing otherwise. I know many others who have done the same. In fact, I know of no one who has tithed regularly who does not agree that God abundantly supplies all our needs. The work of the kingdom somewhat depends on the generosity of the people of God. Let’s be faithful in giving.

If you have never tithed, give it a try. God promises to faithfully bless you.

“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9  You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 10  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Malachi 3:8-10 (NLT)

Imagine! God wants us to test him in this matter! Have you exercised your faith by giving to God money you think you need to make ends meet, because you acknowledge that he is your supplier and can somehow make up the difference and more? It’s time to get started. You may be cheating yourself out of an amazing blessing!

Principle Ten: Once you find out that tithing opens up blessings, you will be ready to ask God, “How much do you want me to give beyond the tithe?” Then you will be ready for a really exciting ride!

One thing is for sure, if we give little, we will reap a small blessing. If that is what you want, have at it. I rather think we all want more than that. Try tithing. You’ll like it.

Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7  You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8  And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NLT)

To access the entire series on the Disciple and Money, click here.

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Where does faith intersect with my budget?

Anyone who seeks to gain control over his or her spending usually tries to follow a budget of some sort. Budgets have to be realistic, or they will end up being useless. They are designed to help us stay on track with what we decide are our spending priorities. Usually people who are self-disciplined do better with budgeting. Some of us can be very relentless in setting spending boundaries and staying within them. Others of us have a great deal of difficulty with budgeting and get frustrated with the attempt. If we are not careful, we can fall into one of two traps. We can strictly budget and make ourselves captives to our own self-imposed spending constraints, which can actually hinder our operating in faith to be generous. The other trap is to fail to bring our spending under some form of discipline, which can result in wasting money for things that don’t truly matter.

It is important for us to be disciplined with our finances while staying open to God’s call to give generously outside of or beyond our budget. This means we have to learn to live in a dynamic tension between self-control and being Spirit directed.

If we have to choose between one or the other, which should come out the winner? Your answer to this question will reveal whether or not you operate by faith or human reasoning. If we can deny ourselves while being generous to others, we probably have become true disciples in the area of money.

Those who believe that tithing (giving 10% to the church where they are committed) is a priority, build that into the budget. Most who successfully tithe make that their first priority and use the remaining 90% for their personal budget. As we covered in a previous installment of this series, the remaining 90% still belongs to the Lord, even though it is still in our hands. 

We are “stewards” or managers of God’s money and are to use it as he sees fit.

If we are going to learn to give generously, it is important to constantly remind ourselves of this fact. Otherwise, we start seeing our money as our own.

If the tithe belongs to the Lord (Lev. 27:30) and is a non-negotiable, offerings are made out of the generosity of our hearts on a free will basis.

There are no “rules” for being generous.

It is based upon our being free in our hearts to respond generously to the Holy Spirit’s nudges and to genuine needs. This is where love, faith, and good stewardship intersect. Love and faith take us on a journey beyond the confines of what might be considered prudent budgeting into the seemingly risky realm of obedience to the Lord our Provider.

The Macedonians in Acts pleaded for the privilege of taking this journey. Consider what Paul wrote about the churches in Macedonia.

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 (ESV)

It is important to note that their generosity was not prompted by wondering what to do with their excess finances. Quite the opposite, it sprouted in the soil of affliction and extreme poverty. These were people who were not restricted in their giving by their situation. Their faith, coupled with an earnest desire to help others, prompted their generosity, which, according to Paul, proved that they had surrendered everything to Jesus.

I am sure they were not able to give a lot of money, but they gave what they could and beyond. It was truly another example of the “widow’s mite.” (Mark 12:41-44) I wonder how God supplied their need afterward. I cannot imagine that the story ended there. The Lord our Provider probably made some amazing provisions for them in response to their faith!

When we turn over our finances to the Lord, he may ask us to do some things that do not make sense to us if we still tightly control the purse strings.

Yet we still must acknowledge that God wants us to be wise stewards; so, how do we maintain financial prudence while seeking to be led by God’s spirit into generous giving? How do we do both? Depending on your “bent,” one or the other likely will be more of a challenge to you. If you are more of the generous type, you might find it easy to give but difficult to otherwise restrain your spending. If you are naturally self-controlled, you might find it easier to reign in your spending, but very difficult to let go of the money that God wants you to give.

We need God’s help to be faithful in both self-control and generosity.

A good first step is to pray  and be open to God’s showing us the truth about our relationship with money. Are we hoarders, spendthrifts, wise managers, generous givers, or somewhere in the middle? We can ask God what steps we need to take to become a surrendered steward of the finances he has put in our hands. We may want others to take a look at our spending and savings in order to offer advice and insights that we might be missing. Unless our finances are in great disarray, (e.g. bankruptcy, huge credit card debt, upside down investments), it is likely we can sort things out ourselves. If we are in trouble, we probably need outside help. Regardless, the first step is turning to God in prayer and doing what he shows us.

If we have never been a giver, we can ask the Holy Spirit to teach us.

We should listen to his promptings, without making a religion of rules out of it. Our giving must stay within the realm of our faith and be prompted by our love for God and others, or it will be worthless. (1 Corinthians 13:3) Giving should be freely and joyfully done, not a  mere duty.

Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7  You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8  And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NLT)

To access the entire series on the Disciple and Money, click here.

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Stones, pebbles, sand, and water – working toward biblical priorities for spending

When it comes to spending money, some common sense should guide us: income should exceed outflow. Simple, yet profound. Obvious, yet commonly ignored. Not following this simple logic is a recipe for economic disaster. Our nation refuses to live by this sound bit of wisdom and seems to get away with it, since it can print its own money, but a day of reckoning is coming. People cannot long continue to spend more than they make without going bust.

People in America are taught from a very young age to go into debt, something our forefathers would have avoided like the plague. They knew better. Why do we do it? Most of the time we choose to go into debt because we want something immediately and refuse to wait until we can save enough to cover it. At times this kind of reasoning makes  good sense, such as when purchasing something that appreciates in value, such as a home. It can also be a good idea for a business to purchase equipment that can be used immediately to make money and paid for with the  money earned. In our nation, most people legitimately need to borrow money to purchase their cars, which are needed to get to work.

Going into debt for anything that is not a necessity will likely lead to some sort of  financial bondage.

It’s easy and fun to get into debt, but extremely difficult to get out. This is because, not only do we have to pay off what we borrowed, but we also have to cover the accumulated interest, all the while continuing to fund our other everyday expenses.

Sometimes people place themselves in a position to go into debt because they fail to create any sort of margin to protect themselves from unexpected or even expected expenses. We cram our “budget” so full that there is no ability to save for emergencies.

What fills our jars?

We all have a “budget,” whether or not we consciously and intentionally follow it. In other words, we all have a certain amount of spendable income and we make decisions on how to spend it.

Disciples are responsible to God for how we use our money.

We should also want to use as much wisdom as possible for our own sake, since we and those under our care will be immediate beneficiaries of our having a sound monetary policy.

Imagine three different sizes of mason jars, which will represent three sizes of budgets. Obviously, the larger jar (budget) will have a lot more room in it for extras. People with very small jars, many single moms for example, will not even have enough room for some important priorities.  Middle class people will have room for most financial priorities, but will not have a lot of extra. Big jar people can get away with having no budget, which might lead them to fritter away money that could be better used elsewhere. Small jar people might feel that budgeting is a hopeless endeavor, which can lead to foolishly spending what we do have. Medium jar people often feel the greatest need and satisfaction from having a budget.

In this illustration, we will fill our jars with four things – stones, pebbles, sand, and water. The stones will represent necessities and large high priority budget items. Pebbles will represent the next level of expense items. Sand will represent what we might call luxury items, and water, which uses up all the remaining space in our budget, can represent “throw away” cash.

If we take our jar and fill it with stones, it will appear to be full. However, if we then take very small pebbles and add it to the mixture, we will watch it begin to fill in the spaces between the stones. Now the jar is more full, but there is still some room. Then we add sand and observe it squeezing into the spaces between the stones and pebbles. Now, surely, the jar is full. How could we get anything else in there? However, if we then pour water into the jar, we will see it fill in around the sand. Once the water level reaches the top of the jar, it is indeed full. What does this teach us?

The wise person  makes sure there is room in his jar for all the high priority items, even if it means eliminating less important things from the budget.

The smaller the jar, the more cutting has to be made, even to the point of cutting some pretty big things. It’s unavoidable.

Thinking through our priorities

What do we consider to be the necessities of life? The Bible lists food and clothing.

But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7  for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 1 Timothy 6:6-8 (ESV)

Most of us would add shelter, and if a person has a serious medical problem, healthcare is a necessity, too. It is important to mention at this point that serious disciples will also add giving (tithing and other freewill offerings) to the list of necessities, driving up our number of stones to four or possibly five. So all of us should have three to five stones in our jar. Here is where you should start feeling some sympathy for the single moms out there whose jar cannot even hold these stones.

Beyond these absolute necessities, we have what seem to be necessities in today’s world – transportation, cell phone costs, car insurance, life insurance, and emergency savings. Pebbles represent this level of spending. Depending on our level of conviction about giving to God, some would add tithing and charitable giving here rather than at the stone level. We will address this in more detail later. These are the expenses that should be next highest level on our priority list. They generally carry high price tags and take up the most space in our budgets.

Sand represents the third level of expenses – optional items, such as entertainment (cable TV), lawn service, Netflix, and vacations. These are things we can live without, but would rather not. They are luxuries. The water stands for the little niceties that make life more enjoyable, such as a cappuccino at Starbucks or eating out. Obviously there is not a lot of difference philosophically between sand and water.

How will we fill our jars from now on?

Many people unwisely pour a lot of water and sand into their jars before adding stones and pebbles. They spend money for bottom tier items first, which prohibits their being able to afford higher priority items. How we spend our money is a deeply personal choice, which no one can force upon us; that is, until we get ourselves into financial trouble. Then we may find the bank or our creditors controlling how we spend. Anytime we borrow money, we give someone else the ability to rule over our spending to some degree.

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. Proverbs 22:7 (ESV)

If we are continually short on cash and building credit card debt, we should rethink how we are spending our money.

Do we have too many sand and water items that can be removed to give us more space for saving and essentials? Do we need to eliminate eating out so we can afford to save? Do we need to cut the cord on cable TV, so we can make ends meet? Each person has to evaluate what is individually important to him or her, have the courage to admit when something has to go, and take action.

The problem with many of us is that we have never learned to say “no” to our desires. American culture is geared to making us think that happiness depends on consuming, but wisdom teaches us otherwise.

As you likely have already figured out, another option is to enlarge our jars by getting a better job.

I have not yet really covered giving to God and generosity to others yet. That is one of the most important things that should be in everyone’s budget. Where will we get the money for that? How important is giving to God’s kingdom? Is it a stone item or water or somewhere in between? What about faith? Where does that fit into the picture? We will cover those things in coming articles. For now, I encourage you to start evaluating your spending priorities and make some hard choices, if necessary. It may hurt at first, but in the long term you will be glad.

To access the entire series on the Disciple and Money, click here.

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How We Handle Money Says a Lot about Us

Jesus taught his disciples a lot about money. The subject comes up in sixteen of his thirty-eight parables. This is remarkable since Jesus seemed to be unconcerned about his personal finances and wealth. He taught his followers not to worry about money, but to simply trust God to supply our needs. He gave generously to the poor, and encouraged his followers to do the same.

Money tries to make a claim upon our lives, and, if we do not resist its pull, we may end up following its dictates instead of obeying Jesus.

Our Lord also said that the way we handle our finances reflects our inner condition.

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. 11  And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 12  And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? 13  “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Luke 16:10-13 (NLT)

From this micro teaching on money, we can extract the following principles.

  • Money is a “little thing” in God’s eyes. This means we must guard against it becoming a “big thing” to us.
  • Unfaithfulness and dishonesty with regard to money reveals an inner heart condition that will affect every area of our lives.
  • God will entrust us more and more with those things which are truly valuable in his kingdom, when we prove faithful with handling money.
  • Money pulls at us so strongly that God requires us to “hate” it. In other words, we must consciously put God and his will above the pull of wealth and the desire for the comforts, security, and prestige it offers.

The condition of our souls is reflected in the way we handle money. If our finances are in disarray from God’s perspective, something is amiss in our relationship with money.

The key areas we will look at in articles following in this series will be:

  1. What does money represent?
  2. Whose money is it, mine or God’s?
  3. What are my spending priorities and do they line up with what the Bible teaches? In other words, am I being faithful and wise with money?
  4. Am I obeying God when it comes to tithing and being generous?

If we are handling money unwisely, it is sometimes the result of a lack of self-control. We use money to satisfy our greed and lusts, instead of using it wisely. Sometimes we lack wisdom and foresight, failing to understand that we must live within our means and give ourselves some “margin” so that we have something extra set aside for unforeseen or unexpected expenses. Maybe we do not make enough money to meet our legitimate needs. That is another problem. Many times people fail to prioritize what they do with their money, failing to give a proper amount to God and his kingdom work. This leads to all sorts of problems. God wants us to be generous to the poor and those in need, too. Generosity is perhaps one of the greatest secrets to having all that we need.

The crux of the matter is this: how we spend our money reveals what we truly value in life.

What comes first – God, our car, our home, clothes, food, entertainment, vacation? If we place anything in front of God, we are heading for trouble! Are we generous or hoarders? Are we savers or spenders? Are we free or fearful? Are we content or never quite have enough? The answers to these questions reveal a lot about us and our relationship to God. If you suspect that something is out of kilter and you need help with handling your finances, you will want to read the next several articles. Even if you handle money well, the following articles in this series may help you.

To access the entire series on the Disciple and Money, click here.

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The Math of Generosity

How we handle money reveals a lot about us, especially when it comes to giving. Those of us who have difficulty with generously giving to God’s church and kingdom work and to others who are in need quite often have more problems than merely financial ones. God’s call to give generously tests our hearts and our faith. Do we really see that God is our Provider whose assets are limitless, or are we bound by only working with what we already have? Those who pass this test find out that generosity opens a floodgate of blessings.

When we cling to what is “ours,” we may end up losing it.

That’s one of the paradoxical principles of God’s money system. However, when we give in faith and obedience to the Spirit’s promptings, we may see God work in unexpected ways.

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. 25  Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. Proverbs 11:24-25 (ESV)

It takes faith to give away what it seems that we need for ourselves. God promises to supply our needs, if we trust him as our Provider. Our choice to give generously is evidence that we truly believe this promise. When we give away what we need, it shows that we trust God to replace it and give us even more. The key is faith. God wants us to trust him with all our hearts.

The math of generosity is not limited to a “closed” system. In a “zero sum” world, there is a limited supply of resources. If we give away what we have, we will have less. But in God’s kingdom, we are not so limited. In fact, the more generous we are, the more we will be blessed.

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Luke 6:38 (NLT)

Some people have a true gift of giving. They are internally motivated to be generous. Others of us must choose to be generous, especially if we learned to hold on to what is “ours.”

Over a Barrel

One way to estimate how generous we are is to look at how in debt we are. Indebtedness can come from various reasons. Sometimes we are overwhelmed by unforeseen circumstances, such as illness, but mostly we get into debt by purchasing beyond our income. We are all prone to this, but some make a lifestyle of spending beyond their means. This is a form of greed and eliminates our ability to give generously. Sometimes the only way to break free into generous giving is to eliminate debt first.

Generosity from Poor People

Surprisingly, perhaps, being poor does not limit our ability to be generous. It is really a matter of the heart. The Macedonian church was very poor, but became a biblical model of what it means to be generous. Doesn’t that sound like God?

Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3  For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4  they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5  And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. 6  So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7  But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:2-7 (NIV)

The only way we can give “beyond our ability” is by faith. It means we disregard our current circumstances in order to be generous to others, trusting that God will meet our needs. Giving by faith starts with first surrendering ourselves, which includes our finances, to God. Once that is done, God can direct how we use our money as he sees fit. Until that happens, we will self-direct our finances. Paul calls this a “grace of giving.” We should all aspire to excelling in this.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NIV)

The math of generosity is simple: the more we give, the more we receive.

Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. A corollary truth is that only cheerful giving counts for much. No one should try to force someone else to be “generous.” That is a contradiction of terms. Our generosity must be a freewill offering to God, or we are missing the point. Even if we believe that God requires us to give, we should ask his help to be joyfully generous and go beyond what is merely required.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work…  11  You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:8, 11 (NIV)

The math of generosity teaches us that God increases what the generous giver has so that he will have enough to meet all his own needs plus continue to be generous to others.

In other words, he gives us more than we need as we continue to be generous.

Where Do I Begin?

You may ask, where do I begin?  Do I give to the poor first? Do I give to the church? The Bible exhorts us to be generous to the poor, which includes the promise that the Lord will care for those who care for those who have not.

If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD— and he will repay you! Proverbs 19:17 (NLT)

In my next article, I will look at the principle of the tithe. Many believe that this is where we should begin. The important thing is that we ask the Spirit and the Word of God to guide us. The Bible has much to say about giving to God’s kingdom work being carried out by the church. More on that next time.

To access the entire series on the Disciple and Money, click here.

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Knowing Jesus as Baptizer in the Holy Spirit – Lord of the Harvest

The first two articles in this series showed how John the Baptist announced that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and the risen Son of God, who is Lord of all. This article focuses of Jesus’ third ministry or role as the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit. Everyone who is a Christ follower knows about Jesus’ role as the Savior who died for our sins. Fewer, perhaps, fully embrace his lordship; although, acknowledging his rule is the gateway to salvation, according to Romans 10:9-10. Still fewer understand the importance of the baptism in the Spirit, acknowledge, and receive this key ministry of our Lord.

John the Baptist said the following about it.

“I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ John 1:33 (NASB)

As the baptizer in the Holy Spirit, Jesus takes his place as the Lord of the Harvest. The baptism in the Spirit is a gift he gives to his people to equip and empower them to be his witnesses.

Jesus admonished his followers to wait in Jerusalem until this gift was poured out on the first New Covenant Pentecost, saying:

...“Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before.5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”...8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:4-8 (NLT)

The baptism in the Spirit is so important that the first believers were commanded to refrain from announcing the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection and lordship until they first received it. In Acts Chapter 2 we have the account of when this happened, with the result that 3000 people surrendered their lives to Christ after hearing Peter’s Spirit inspired and empowered gospel message!

The power and presence of the Holy Spirit that was released in the disciples when they were baptized in the Spirit launched the church into fulfilling the Great Commission. God intended for this to be the model for all believers going forward.

(If you wish to learn more about this amazing gift, you may wish to purchase my book, Promise of the Father, which is available on Amazon, and read my other articles on the subject.)

As is the case with the lordship of Christ, this aspect of Jesus’ ministry opposes modern-day consumerism. Unless we surrender to Christ’s lordship, embrace the call to obey the Great Commission, and receive the empowering of the Spirit, believing in the Lamb of God may become a self-centered pursuit of blessings.

Rather than allowing us to comfortably settle for being churchgoers, the Lord of the Harvest, the Baptizer in the Spirit calls us to radical discipleship, evangelism, and obedience to the Great Commission – “Go and make disciples.”

It takes great courage to testify to the Lordship of the risen Jesus and to call people to repentance from a self-directed life. That is why we need to be empowered by the Spirit. When we share the gospel, we should include the challenge to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit as part of the complete package. We do not want anyone to settle for less than God intended. That is how the early Church did things.

Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 (NASB)

They were committed to knowing Christ as Baptizer in the Spirit and fulfilling the Great Commission. We should do no less.

Prayer

Jesus, I received you as my Savior and declared allegiance to you as my Lord. Now I see that you want me to know you as Baptizer in the Spirit, too, and receive this marvelous empowering to be your witness. Jesus, I ask you to baptize me in the Spirit right now. I receive it by faith. Holy Spirit, overflow in my life and enable me to be a bold witness. Let your gifts flow through me without restraint. Lead and empowered me each day. Amen.

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Knowing Jesus as Son of Man – The Coming Glorious Judge

This article focuses on Jesus’ fourth ministry or role as the glorious Son of Man who will return to the earth to judge the living and the dead as prophesied the Lord himself and is found in the prophecy of Daniel. The first three roles – Lamb of God, Son of God, and Baptizer in the Holy Spirit – have already been fulfilled and are available to every person to experience, but his last role still waits for its fulfillment.

Here are John’s words.

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath? 8  Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. 9  Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 10  Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. 11  “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12  He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.” Matthew 3:7-12 (NLT)

Even though John did not specifically call Jesus the “Son of Man,” the above passage fully describes his role as the Judge of all the earth.

Although Jesus’ death as God’s Lamb was crucial to our salvation, acknowledging his lordship is the criteria Paul gives for obtaining the benefits of that death and resurrection. (Romans 10:9-10) When we confess that Jesus is Lord, we acknowledge and voluntarily choose to come under his rule, which is the fundamental act of repentance. For the last two thousand years or so, we have been in the Great Commission phase of God’s plan, which the Bible calls the “last days.” As this epoch draws to a close, we anticipate the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophesy that he gave the night of his betrayal at the miscarriage of justice that was his trial before the Sanhedrin.

When Jesus stood before that group, whose determined purpose was to condemn him to death, those men asked him if he were indeed the Messiah King of Israel. In their minds, such a confession would justify their accusing him of blasphemy against God and treachery against Rome, earning him the death penalty. Instead of remaining silent, as any defendant usually does, Jesus gave them everything they wanted and more. Instead of merely affirming that he was the Messiah, he also identified himself as the glorious and divine Son of Man prophesied by Daniel.

But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64  Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Matthew 26:63-64 (NLT)

Daniel’s prophecy described a glorious heavenly being who will judge everyone who ever lived. (Daniel 7:13-14) At this future point in history, which is surely coming, there will no longer be any doubt at all for anyone as to Jesus’ true identity.

When God dissolves the firmament (2 Peter 3:10), revealing God’s glorious presence above us, naysayers will no longer be able to claim that our Lord was merely a prophet or a fine teacher. No longer will anyone be able to say that he was a mythical person. No one will say that his resurrection was a fable concocted by his devious followers. At that point in history, everyone will see him in his terrifying glory.

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”Revelation 1:7-8 (ESV)

Before his return, God gives people the opportunity to hear the gospel’s call to bow the knee to Jesus, the Lord of Lords. What we do in response to this call is on us and will determine our eternal destiny.

On that glorious day when Jesus returns as the Son of Man, it will be too late. On that day, every knee will be forced to bow and every tongue confess who he is. No longer will there be an option.

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT)

Although God the Father continues to mercifully delay the end, and Jesus continues to show mercy to those who ask him for forgiveness, do not think for a moment that he is too weak or kindly to enforce God’s justice and wrath at the proper time. Though he is patient, God the Father does not wink at sin or coddle rebellion against his Son’s rule. There is coming a day of judgment.

Those who do not tap into the river of God’s mercy by declaring allegiance to the risen Messiah King, the Lamb who was slain, will rue their mistake at the Second Coming when God’s judgment comes down like a hammer.

The Book of Revelation teaches us that we who believe will rejoice in God’s judgment of the wicked.

After this, I heard what sounded like a vast crowd in heaven shouting, “Praise the LORD! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. 2  His judgments are true and just. He has punished the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the murder of his servants.” 3  And again their voices rang out: “Praise the LORD! The smoke from that city ascends forever and ever!” 4  Then the twenty-four elders and the four living beings fell down and worshiped God, who was sitting on the throne. They cried out, “Amen! Praise the LORD!” 5  And from the throne came a voice that said, “Praise our God, all his servants, all who fear him, from the least to the greatest.” Revelation 19:1-5 (NLT)

Until Christ returns we preach a gospel of hope to those who are willing to repent and declare allegiance to the risen Lord Jesus, but that gospel contains the warning of impending judgment.

God’s mercy can only be properly understood against the backdrop of looming wrath.

Just as artists use darkness to contrast with light, the gospel uses the beauty of God’s mercy to contrast with the horrors of divine judgment. If God is simply a heavenly smiley face who never judges anyone, our gospel message is farcical. Why on earth would Jesus have to die, in that case? He would be a misguided tragic figure at best. But, in fact, our Lord absorbed the wrath of God on the cross on our behalf so that we will be able to escape God’s wrath at the Last Judgment. (1 Thessalonians 5:9) The gospel holds out to us the promise that all who call upon the Lord will be shown mercy. This is the gospel that Peter preached. (Acts 2:40) It is the gospel Paul preached. (Acts 17:30-31) It is the gospel John the Baptist preached. It is what Jesus preached. How we respond to this good news will make all the difference for eternity.

Prayer

Jesus, I recognize that you are my Savior and Lord. I declare allegiance and submit my life to you. Help me to tell others about who you are and what you did for us so that they, too, may escape your wrath on the day of judgment. Thank you for your continued mercy. Amen.

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Son of God – Knowing Jesus as Lord

Not only did John the Baptist announce that Jesus is God’s Lamb, he also told the world that he is God’s Son, which is another way of saying that he is the Messianic King, the Christ, and the Lord of Lords.

“This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ 31 “I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” 32 John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 “I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.” John 1:30-34 (NASB)

This declaration corresponds to what is perhaps the most important revelation each individual person must receive from God in order to be saved.

Unless we understand by the Spirit that Jesus is Lord, we cannot be born again.

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 10:9–10 (NLT)

In the previous article, I showed how John the Baptist introduced Jesus to Israel and the world as the Lamb of God who takes away our sins. Jesus was able to forgive sins because he is the God-man, the eternal Word of God who became a human. This enabled him to be a perfect offering, without the blemish of sin, fulfilling the Old Covenant sacrificial requirements. Not only was it a shocking announcement that Jesus would be a human sacrifice to provide forgiveness of sins, but that also this blessing would be extended to the whole world! Jesus was not simply a Jewish savior, he was and is the savior of the world! (1 John 4:14) Likewise, when the God-man rose from the grave, he did so as the Lord of all creation, not just the Jews!

The Pharisees quickly recognized that Jesus had to be equal to God in order to forgive sins.

“Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” Mark 2:7 (NASB)

Jesus was put to death for claiming to be God, and thereby Lord, not simply because he forgave. The early disciples were martyred for declaring that Jesus is Lord, not simply that he is Savior.

The world system does not object very much to our believing that Jesus is our “personal savior,” but it will resist any claims that he is lord over all creation.

The Antichrist and those influenced by that spirit of rebellion refuse to bow the knee to Jesus, the King. Our Lord was put to death because the Jewish religious leaders and Roman authorities condemned him for claiming to be the Messiah King of Israel and God’s Son.

The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.” John 19:7 (NASB)

Our witness as followers of Christ is that the crucified Savior is now the risen Lord.

Consider the following verses.

He [Jesus] *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 16:15-17 (NASB)

Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” John 1:49 (NASB)

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 1 John 5:1 (NASB)

Here is where the true gospel radically departs from consumerism. The proclamation that Jesus forgives our sins appeals to our consumer instincts. We get something for nothing. Who can beat that? But what it means to be a Christ follower does not stop here.

The announcement that Jesus is Lord flips consumerism on its head.

Jesus died as God’s Lamb, doing for us what we could never do for ourselves – pay for our sins, but he rose as the Lord of Lords, who deserves and expects our worship and obedience.

and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 1:4 (NLT)

The primary revelation each person must receive in order to be a born-again follower of Christ pertains to our Jesus’ identity as Lord, who he is now. First and foremost, he is the risen Lord, the King of Kings, and the Son of God.

Seeing (believing) who Jesus is by revelation and faith and acknowledging his identity and greatness is what saves us.

...if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10 (NASB)

Jesus asked his disciples to tell him how they understood his identity in order to discern if the Holy Spirit had yet opened their spiritual eyes. Our Lord did not make it easy for people. He did not say, “Repeat after me: you are the Son of God.” He depended on the Spirit to do the inner work in people’s hearts, just as we must. To try to help people “get saved” by some other method, such as asking them to repeat a prayer as their entry point into the new birth, can give people a false sense of security, if the prayer is not accompanied by revelation, repentance, and faith. Praying for Jesus to reveal himself to us as we surrender ourselves to him is perhaps a better way to go about it. God is looking for honesty and reality, not easy-believism. The Holy Spirit is perfectly able and willing to communicate to people what they need to know about Jesus. If we believe this, we will understand that we must never skip over the crucial step of a person’s receiving revelation about Christ from the Spirit. We will encourage our hearers to seek God until they find him.

The essence of the Christian faith is our acknowledgement of and surrender to Jesus the Lord. Anything less is suspect of being false.

Surrendering to Jesus’ lordship leads to repentance and turning away from our deeply ingrained determination to live independently from God.

Repentance, combined with the declaration that Jesus is Lord, is the antidote to the poison of self-centered living.

Prayer

Jesus, I understand now that you require me to abandon my quest to live independently from your lordship. I repent from my sinful determination to do as a please without regard for your will. I ask you to forgive me and set me free to live as your joyful servant. I acknowledge and confess that you are the risen Lord of Lords. Holy Spirit, help me to boldly tell others about Jesus. Amen.

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The Lamb of God – Knowing Jesus as Savior

Introduction

The first announcement John the Baptist made concerning his cousin, Jesus, was that he was the Lamb of God.

The Lord gave John the privilege and responsibility of introducing Jesus the Messiah to Israel and the world.

Although he did not do any known miracles and only a few of his words are recorded in Scripture, Jesus declared that John was the greatest of the prophets. Greatness in God’s eyes is often very different from how we perceive it.

John announced four important aspects of Jesus’ person and work, which we would never have grasped on our own and which are integral to the gospel.

John announced that Jesus is the Lamb of God, the Son of God, the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, and the Son of Man. Each of these titles has tremendous significance and defines an important aspect of our Lord’s person and work. I will describe the importance of each of these titles in this and the following three articles.

The Lamb of God – Knowing Jesus as Savior
The next day he [John the Baptist] *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 (NASB)

I imagine that John shocked his followers by telling them that Jesus was God’s Lamb. Our impression of a lamb is probably a cute, gentle, and cuddly animal. But for the Israelites, this designation brought to mind the blood sacrifice and perhaps the prophet Isaiah’s words.

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. Isaiah 53:7 (NKJV)

How many of them at that moment grasped that this meant that Jesus would be a human sacrifice? Not since Abraham’s day had such a thing been heard. Would God the Father actually sacrifice his Son? Looking back from our present day, the answer, of course, is yes, but try to put yourself in that time before the crucifixion and resurrection. How would they have conceived that God would carry through on the act he foreshadowed when he asked Abraham to slay his son Isaac, the son of promise, his only son by Sarah? Whereas God the Father relented and spared Isaac, Abba allowed his own Son to die an excruciating death to expiate the sins of his enemies.

For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Romans 5:10–11 (NKJV)

Amazing grace! Only by the shedding Jesus’ blood on the cross could God the Father forgive our sins.

The perfect Lamb made the perfect sacrifice that inaugurated the perfect covenant.

Even though John prophesied these words, I doubt that even he fully understood them. Jesus, however, grasped their import and what being God’s Lamb would cost him. At the Last Supper, he made this announcement to his bewildered disciples. Taking the cup of wine, he told them:

“...This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. Luke 22:20 (ESV)

Probably most people who call themselves Christians know Jesus primarily as the Lamb of God, the One who died for our sins. Another way of describing this role is to call him Savior.

Those of us who become followers of Christ must first know Jesus as Savior before we can go forward on our discipleship journey.

We must first of all be forgiven, declared “not guilty,” and reconciled to Abba Father. Otherwise, we are imprisoned in the realm of darkness, sin, and Satan. Putting our faith and allegiance in God’s Lamb opens the door wide for us to become one of God’s born-again children, part of his eternal family.

If there is a “down side” to this, many of those who acknowledge Jesus as Savior may go little further in their understanding of who Jesus is.

Jesus is Savior, but he is so much more, and the Spirit of God wants us to know him in each way John prophesied.

In our consumer culture, it is only natural that Jesus would be presented and received in terms of what he can do for us, but the full gospel is not consumer oriented.

Whenever the complete gospel is presented, the benefit of experiencing forgiveness through the sacrifice of the Lamb is always in the context of radical surrender to his Lordship.

Presenting forgiveness without the call to surrender our total being to God is a distortion that can influence people away from following the Lord in joyful obedience as a way of life. Jesus said that his disciples must enter through a narrow gate and walk a narrow path in order to follow him. Preaching only forgiveness without Lordship, is much too wide a gate and path and can hinder a person’s development as a disciple. The Lordship of Christ will be the subject of the next article.

With that being said, it is absolutely proper and necessary to proclaim the forgiveness of sins. Jesus told us to do so.

Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Luke 24:45-47 (NASB)

 

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for dying for my sins as the perfect Lamb of God. I receive from you, my Savior, the forgiveness that I could never earn. Thank you, Father God, that you have declared me to be “not guilty” in your sight because of what your Son did on the cross by taking my sins upon himself. Thank you for raising him from the dead to be my Lord, too. Thank you for making me part of your forever family. Come, Holy Spirit, fill me to overflowing. Reveal more and more about what the Bible says about Jesus to me. Help me to live for Jesus from now on. Amen.

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