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When Deception Rages like a Storm, What Is Our Anchor?

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bible warns that Satan has been permitted to release his lies in an overt effort to deceive the entire human population.

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8  but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9  And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Revelation 12:7-9 (ESV)

His lies began in the Garden of Eden and continue today in an unprecedented way, as his minions use all the tools of media and computer generated images to weave a shroud of deception over the world. There are alternative sources of information from the mainstream media, but even they often are guilty of deception. This is because sin has made us all deceivers, going back to Adam and Eve, who bought the lie that God did not have their best interests in mind. Since then the truth has always been questioned and lies are easily believed. That is the human condition.

It is only by God’s mercy and grace that anyone is able to escape this “matrix” of deception. The Holy Spirit is called the “Spirit of truth,” and he works inside those whom God has called to himself to open their eyes and ears and hearts to perceive and believe the truth.

Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘“You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” 15  For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ 16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.  Matthew 13:14-16 (ESV)

Now those who have a God-given love of truth find themselves in a quandary. Where do we turn? What is our anchor in the storm?

As would be expected, God has given to us a benchmark of truth to which we can and must turn – the Bible. Jesus, who is God’s truth in human form, told us that the Scriptures are absolutely true and can be believed and followed.

I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world 15  I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but that you keep them safe from the evil one. 16  They do not belong to the world just as I do not belong to the world. 17  Set them apart in the truth; your word is truth. 18  Just as you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. 19  And I set myself apart on their behalf, so that they too may be truly set apart. John 17:14-19 (NET1)

Love for God’s truth is what sets us apart from those in the world who are not part of God’s people. (2 Thessalonians 2:10)

Satan always works to undermine our faith in God’s Word. He did this in the Garden when he asked Eve, “Did God really say?” (Genesis 3:1) He does it now. Satan “owns” the public school system, the media, higher education, and much of the government. He uses these platforms to disseminate his lies and undermine truth and devotion to God at every level.

The only hope for us, the only anchor we have in the storm, is to rely on God’s truth that is found in the Bible and upon the Holy Spirit, the one who guides us into that truth.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:13 (ESV)

The Bible and the Spirit testify to the One who is called the Truth, our Lord Jesus Christ. All truth points to him. Ultimately, our faith must be anchored in him, a person, the full expression of God’s truth to the world. (John 14:6) Faith in him anchors us in every storm and protects us against the devil’s lies. (Hebrews 6:19)

Prayer

Jesus, I feel confused and lost in a raging sea of deception. I turn to you. The Bible says you are the Truth and the only Way to the Father. I receive you and all you did for me when you died on the cross. Thank you for forgiving my many sins, for putting me in right standing with your heavenly Father, for setting me free, and for giving me your Spirit of eternal life and freedom. I give myself to you and acknowledge that you are my Lord and Savior. Help me to live the rest of my life for you. Teach me your truth and help me to be a disciple and fisher of men. Amen.

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Today’s Most Pressing Question: Who Is Lucy and Who Is Charlie Brown?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only simpletons believe everything they’re told! The prudent carefully consider their steps. 16  The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence. Proverbs 14:15-16 (NLT)

Anyone familiar with the Peanuts cartoon strip knows about how Lucy routinely tricks Charlie Brown by removing the football just as he tries to kick it. She never changes, and he never ceases to trust her. Today we see much the same thing being played out in our nation. The mainstream media continues to lie, and the general public still believes their propaganda. There is now so much conflicting “information” that it is getting more and more difficult to distinguish between who is telling the truth and who is lying. Another way to put this is that we are no longer always sure of who is Lucy and who is Charlie Brown.

The MSM loudly and constantly declared that Trump colluded with the Russians for four or five years in an effort to prevent his reelection. Though proven wrong, the MSM never apologized or backed off, and, despite their proven lack of truthfulness, much of the public continues to believe their message. Now we are being told by the same proven liars that the last election was not stolen, that COVID lock downs and mask mandates are necessary and effective, and that the experimental “vaccine” is safe. Lucy is assuring us that this time she is not going to pull the ball away. Trust her, Charlie Brown.

Intelligent people whom I respect have been unwilling to heed the warnings of numerous doctors (e.g. https://youtu.be/8iaKAWWGyWI) and other health experts against taking this “vaccine,” declaring that such warnings are rubbish, junk science, and conspiracy theories. Many have taken the vaccine, despite its not having passed the normal kinds of safety testing, ostensibly because they are desperately afraid of a virus with a 99.7% survival rate that is curable by using hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin. If those who are doing the warning are correct, those who take the vaccine are gambling their future health that Lucy is telling the truth this time.

The most pressing question of our day is who is Lucy, and who is Charlie Brown? Who is telling the truth, and who is a conspiracy theorist or liar?

We are living in a time of unprecedented deception largely because we have become so clever at manipulating information. Germany under Hitler suffered from what is taking place in the US and around the world. It took a World War to deliver them. Perhaps God will be more gracious and merciful to us. Eventually the truth, at least in part, will be known. Until then, pray for the wisdom and courage to pursue truth, even when it is disparaged, persecuted, unpopular, and very inconvenient.

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Basic Doctrines of Christ: The Resurrection from the Dead in Everyday Life

 

 

 

 

 

One of the dangers with any doctrine is postponing it until the indefinite future. This is what Martha did regarding the resurrection just before Jesus restored life to her brother Lazarus. Jesus told her that he is the resurrection and was able to raise Lazarus immediately, but her thinking restricted the matter until the end of time.

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24  Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26  and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27  She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” John 11:23-27 (ESV)

When Jesus returns in glory, he will indeed raise us from the dead, but even now we can experience resurrection life on a daily basis. There is only one problem associated with this process, however: to experience resurrection there must first be a death.

Imagine the horror Jesus felt as he hung on the cross as he experienced separation from his Father as the sins of the world fell upon him! You and I were born into this world separated from God because of Adam’s sin, but this was the first time for Jesus who had experienced glorious unity with his heavenly Father for all eternity.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) 

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46 (ESV)

Abraham also experienced a version of this in what the Bible calls a “terror of great darkness” (Genesis 15:12), at which time God confirmed to him an everlasting covenant. God’s eternal unconditional promise to Abraham was based on what Christ accomplished millennia later. God is not bound by time as we are. The benefits of Christ’s death and resurrection reverberate through time backward and forward for all eternity. Jesus experienced completely the horror of darkness that Abraham felt in part. Nevertheless, God required Abraham to go through it.

Later in Abraham’s story, the death-resurrection principle played out again. God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, the son of promise for whom he had patiently waited for 25 years! Amazingly Abraham immediately obeyed without questioning God and was ready to complete the act when an angel stopped him. This, of course, foreshadowed Father God’s actual sacrifice of his Son upon the cross. In writing about this act of obedience by Abraham, the author of Hebrews states that our faith forefather trusted in God’s ability to raise the dead.

It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18  even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” 19  Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead. Hebrews 11:17-19 (NLT)

What Abraham did revealed his faith that God will fulfill his promises, even if he requires us temporarily to let go of them. Some call this “death of a vision.”  When we are willing to let something apparently die that is a precious promise to us, in the hope that God will yet restore it in his way and his time, we participate in the resurrection principle.

Paul wrote about this to the church in Corinth.

For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; 9  indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; 10  who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, 11  you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many. 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 (NASB)

The resurrection principle requires that we cease to try to keep ourselves and our promises alive through our own strength, but instead abandon ourselves to the faithfulness of God.

This is what Jesus did on the cross. As he descended into the abyss of death and experienced complete weakness and relinquished all attempts to save himself, he abandoned himself to his Father, the great Promise Keeper.

And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT." Having said this, He breathed His last. Luke 23:46 (NASB)

This was the culmination of Jesus’ faith walk, but he professed his faith in God’s resurrection power often prior to his crucifixion. He repeatedly told his disciples that he would die on a cross and be raised three days later. For us to properly experience God’s resurrection power, we must have faith in his ability to pull it off.

To experience resurrection, it is important that we understand and embrace the process. Jesus knew he had to die first in order to be raised. The same is true for us.

What has God promised to you that seems hopeless at this point? Have you released it into God’s hands? Are you able to trust him to give it back to you, if you give it to him? That is how we experience the resurrection in everyday life.

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Basic Doctrines of Christ: The Resurrection from the Dead – Beyond Imagination

 

 

 

 

 

That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)

Imagination can be used in a good way to go beyond our previous experience. Many great advances have been made by those whose imagination fueled innovation.

When it comes to the resurrection and what lies ahead for those who trust in Christ after our earthly lives comes to an end, even our imagination is insufficient. What God has in store for us is far more wonderful than anything we can conceive. Imagine that!

A common conception of heaven pictures angels floating on clouds playing harps. How boring does that sound? The glimpses of heaven provided in Scripture are anything but boring. Those who claim to have died and seen heaven tell of sights, sounds, and experiences that are beyond description. The apostle Paul was among that group.

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3  And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4  and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 (ESV)

When our Lord rose from the dead, he was sometimes not immediately recognized. Something had happened to him that made him different from before. At other times, he was clearly recognized by those to whom he appeared. He was able to appear and disappear. Walls were not a barrier to him. He had a real body that could be touched. He was able to eat food. What kind of body did he have in his resurrected state?

Paul said that we really cannot imagine what the resurrected “spiritual” body will be like.

But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36  You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37  And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38  But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 39  For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40  There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. 41  There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. 42  So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43  It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45  Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46  But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47  The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48  As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49  Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 (ESV)

When we plant a seed, we get something very different when it sprouts. We see a complete plant that is able to produce more seeds! The seed we plant must “die” before it can “resurrect” as a plant. The seed goes into the ground where moisture causes it to “decompose” in order to be re-composed as a brand new plant. This is a picture from nature that gives us some idea of the resurrection process.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25  Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:24-25 (ESV)

One thing we learn from what the Bible says about the resurrection is that our bodies are important to God, important enough for him to eternally save them, too.

He created our bodies to house our spirits, making us unique creatures who are able to interface with both the physical and spiritual worlds. How extraordinary!

God will eventually re-create heaven and earth (2 Peter 3:13), making a suitable place for resurrected people to inhabit. Imagine that, if you can.

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Basic Doctrines of Christ: The Resurrection from the Dead – Two Resurrections

 

 

 

 

 

As with most things God created, the resurrection is more “complicated” than it first appears. Creation has  fantastic complexity, depth, precision, and variety. After centuries of scientific inquiry, we have yet to fully comprehend the “fearfully and wonderfully made” bodies God created for his people. In an effort to deflect honor and glory from God, man created the lie of evolution to try to explain away God, but it is a futile exercise in foolishness. Any right thinking person knows instinctively that precision and complexity does not randomly appear out of chaos. In a similar fashion, the resurrection from the dead is not as simple as God making our bodies alive again. God is much more creative than that.

Just as God’s great salvation applies uniquely to each part of us, spirit, soul, and body, the resurrection does, as well. In fact, there is a resurrection “principle” at work in every aspect of God’s salvation.

The First Resurrection

When Jesus died on the cross and three days later rose again, the Bible says those who believe in him were spiritually included in that death and rising.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5  even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6  and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7  so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7 (NASB)

God saves us on the inside before we see the results on the outside.

Spiritually those who believe in Jesus have already received and are learning to experience his complete victory. We died and rose with him and now are seated with him in heavenly places at God’s right hand. Nevertheless, since we still have an earthly existence in the body, we also live here on planet earth in a fallen world inhabiting a body still under sin’s curse and death. The incongruity is staggering. This is why we find ourselves often frustrated. We are divided in our experience. The spirit is “in sync” with God, or as Jesus said, willing, but the “flesh” is not. Every believer knows what this feels like. Paul wrote about it.

I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22  For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23  but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24  Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:21-25 (NASB)

During our remaining days on earth, trapped in a pre-resurrected body, we must learn to live in the spiritual reality of Christ’s resurrection. This is called “walking in the Spirit.”

We already live in the Spirit, spiritually, but we must learn to “walk it out” on a day to day basis.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 (NASB)

This corresponds to what I previously wrote concerning transformation or sanctification, which is the daily outworking of grace in our lives to make us more like Jesus. We might call this a daily experience of the first resurrection, which is spiritual. This is the resurrection principle at work.

The Second Resurrection

The second resurrection will be that of the body.

When Jesus returns, he will raise all the dead, including the wicked.

"Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29  and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. John 5:28-29 (NASB)

In our resurrected state, we will all stand before God at the judgment seat. This is the point at which the Bible says that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. (Romans 14:11) Those who pass the test at that great judgment will experience God’s glory in their new bodies in the context of a new heaven and earth. I will write more about this in the future.

Only those who have experienced the first resurrection, or new birth, will be able to enjoy the glories of the second resurrection.

The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6  Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. Revelation 20:5-6 (ESV)

Now we are getting into what theologians call eschatology or the doctrine of the end times. There are various ways to interpret Revelation, but let me share my take on the above passage. Rather than believe in a future “millennium” or literal 1000 year reign of Christ on the earth, I believe Revelation is speaking of the current church age in which those who believe in Christ have been spiritually raised from the dead and are seated with him in heavenly places sharing his authority even now.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV)

To me this makes sense of the passage in Revelation, but, even if you do not accept my interpretation, you must deal with the concept of two resurrections, the spiritual one and the bodily one.

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22  But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23  Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24  Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26  and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27  She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” John 11:21-27 (ESV)

Martha knew Jesus personally, believed in him, and had a pretty good doctrine of the end times, but she did not understand at that time the spiritual side of things. She thought the resurrection only applied to the very end of time, but Jesus, who is the Resurrection, was and is able to raise anyone from the dead at any moment. In addition, he promised Martha that those who put their faith in him “will never die.” This can only mean that the “second death” has no power over them. (Revelation 20:6)

In other words, faith in Christ makes us one with the risen Christ. We are part of Christ’s first resurrection and we never need fear the second death. We now belong to God.

Prayer

Jesus, I want to escape the second death. I believe that when you rose from the dead, you provided life for all who believe and receive you. I receive you into my heart and declare my allegiance to you. Thank you for eternal life now and the resurrection of the body later. Now, come Holy Spirit. Help me to live for Jesus. Amen.

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Basic Doctrines of Christ: The Resurrection from the Dead – Glorification

 

 

 

 

 

As I wrote in another series of articles, we are composed of spirit, soul, and body. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)  You can click on the links to read about each one in detail, if you wish.) Followers of Christ are instructed to properly “divide” or “cut straight” God’s Word (1 Timothy 2:15). This means we are to properly interpret and handle God’s message to us.

It is necessary to distinguish between how God’s great salvation applies uniquely to each part of us, or we will become confused.

For example, the Bible tells us that we can know that we have eternal life (1 John 5:13), but also reminds us that we are saved “in hope” (Romans 8:24-25). So which is it? Are we already saved, or are we waiting to be saved? The answer is both: we are already justified in the spirit, but we are waiting (hoping) for the last installment of our great salvation, the resurrection from the dead.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19  For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21  that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22  For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23  And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24  For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25  But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:18-25 (ESV)

We were created as living souls, which come to being when God breathes spirit into a lifeless body. (Genesis 2:7 KJV) In quick summary, at the new birth, our inner spirits are instantly transformed into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and integrally joined with the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17). We are “born again” and become one with Christ. This is a “once for all” completed work accomplished on our behalf in the past when Christ died and rose again, which I and many others call justification, even though it contains within it all five pillars of what Christ accomplished on our behalf in the New Covenant – propitiation, redemption, justification, reconciliation, and sonship. This is why the Bible tells us that those who believe already have eternal life. (John 5:24)

The salvation of the soul is an ongoing, daily process whereby we are being gradually transformed in our personalities and behavior to think, act, and speak as Christ. In this sense, our salvation is very much “in process.” I call this transformation, even though some prefer the term sanctification. It is a working out in our daily lives what God has already done in our spirits. (Philippians 2:12-13) How we obey God and allow his Spirit to inwardly conform us to Christ will have a great impact upon our heavenly reward. We need a fresh impartation of God’s grace everyday for strength to participate with the Spirit of God in this process.

Finally, we are waiting for the glorious day when our bodies, which are still under Adam’s curse of death, will be gloriously resurrected and renewed so that we finally are completely free from every vestige of the destructive power of sin and death. Our bodies will experience glorification.

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21  who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. Philippians 3:20-21 (NASB) 

Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51  Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53  For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 (NASB)

This is our hope and expectation in Christ, who promised to raise from the dead each of us who believe.

"For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." John 6:40 (NASB)
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Basic Doctrines of Christ: The Resurrection from the Dead – Jesus Is Lord

 

 

 

 

 

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2  which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3  concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4  and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, Romans 1:1-4 (ESV)

Christ’s resurrection was the most important event in human history. He died for our sins on the cross as the sacrificial Lamb of God, but he rose from the dead in glory and power as the indisputable Lord of Lords, the promised Messianic King of Israel to whom every knee will bow and who one day will judge the entire earth.

The proper response to discovering that Jesus died as God’s Lamb is to humbly and gratefully receive the provision of God’s mercy and grace it provides.

The necessary and fitting response to hearing that Jesus is the risen Lord is to make a declaration of faith and allegiance to him, which is the central meaning of water baptism.

...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 (ESV)

In the West we have reduced Christ’s ministry in many cases to that of the Lamb of God, instructing those who hear our message to receive him into their hearts.

The gospel of the apostles declared the lordship of the risen Christ and called hearers to acknowledge and submit to him.

The gospel is not simply a “get out of jail free” card that allows us to live free from any commitment to God. Rather it is an offer of forgiveness, justification, redemption, reconciliation, and sonship with the express purpose of making us fit subjects and obedient servants of the King.

Prayer

Jesus, I never realized my need to acknowledge you as my Lord and King. I do that now and pledge my allegiance to you. I depend on your grace and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to enable me to be faithful to you all my days. Thank you for dying for me. Help me now to live for you. Amen.

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Basic Doctrines of Christ: The Resurrection from the Dead – Jesus Is the Resurrection

 

 

 

 

 

The apostle Paul wrote that the resurrection from the dead is the cornerstone of the Christian faith.

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14  and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15  Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16  For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17  and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18  Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19  If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. 20  But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:13-20 (NASB)

Jesus offered himself as an offering for our sin by dying on the cross. Without the resurrection from the dead, he would be just another tragic and delusional historical figure who thought he was something special, when he was only a man, just like everyone else.

However, Jesus’ glorious resurrection was proof positive that his sacrifice had been accepted by his Father in heaven, who vindicated him in the eyes of his disciples.

His Second Coming at the culmination of time will glorify and vindicate him in the eyes of everyone else.

Jesus foretold his own resurrection on multiple times. He told his disciples that he would be put to death on a cross and rise again.

And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. Mark 8:31 (ESV)

He told them that he would be raised from the dead as a sign prefigured in the book of Jonah.

But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40  For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12:39-40 (ESV)

He told his enemies that if they destroyed the temple of his body, God would raise him up again.

The Jews then said to Him, "What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?" 19  Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20  The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" 21  But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22  So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. John 2:18-22 (NASB)

Jesus told Martha that he would raise Lazarus from the dead because he was and is the embodiment of the resurrection.

Martha then said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22  "Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." 23  Jesus *said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24  Martha *said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." 25  Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26  and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:21-26 (NASB)

He promised his disciples that one day he would raise each of us from the dead.

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40  For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:39-40 (ESV)

Not only did Jesus rise from the tomb after dying for our sins, he is the Resurrection. Those who put their faith and allegiance in him will participate in his resurrection both now, in a spiritual sense, and physically at the Second Coming. Jesus is the resurrection and the life!

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Basic Doctrines of Christ: The Laying on of Hands – Impartation

 

 

 

 

 

When hands were laid on the Old Covenant animal sacrifices a transfer or impartation took place symbolically. The sins of the offerer were imparted to the animal, causing the animal to carry or bear those sins and suffer the penalty of death for them. That is what actually  happened at Calvary. The Lamb of God became sin on our behalf. Our sins and the penalty for those transgressions were transferred to the innocent One who had never committed or even known sin before that moment.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB)

The transfer and carrying of our sins is mentioned in Isaiah 53.

All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. Isaiah 53:6 (NASB) 

As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:11 (NASB)

The physical laying on of hands in the Old Covenant was spiritually fulfilled in the New.

The laying on of hands also imparts blessings. Even in the Old Covenant blessings were imparted in this way.

But Joseph was upset when he saw that his father placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head. So Joseph lifted it to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18  “No, my father,” he said. “This one is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.” 19  But his father refused. “I know, my son; I know,” he replied. “Manasseh will also become a great people, but his younger brother will become even greater. And his descendants will become a multitude of nations.” 20  So Jacob blessed the boys that day with this blessing: “The people of Israel will use your names when they give a blessing. They will say, ‘May God make you as prosperous as Ephraim and Manasseh.’” In this way, Jacob put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. Genesis 48:17-20 (NLT)

In the New, Jesus laid his hands on children to bless them.

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. 14  When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 15  I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” 16  Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them. Mark 10:13-16 (NLT)

He laid hands on the sick to heal them and set them free from demons.

Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. 41  And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. Luke 4:40-41 (ESV)

We are instructed to do the same.

And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18  they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:17-18 (ESV) 

It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him healed him. Acts 28:8 (ESV)

The baptism in the Spirit and spiritual gifts are also imparted in this way.

Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:17 (ESV) 

Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. 1 Timothy 4:14 (NASB)

God often uses physical touch to communicate spiritual blessings.

We are human beings made up of a spirit, soul, and a body. Each part is important. Obviously God can impart spiritually without the laying on of hands, as when he healed from a distance by simply speaking a word. (Matthew 8:5-13) Nevertheless, God in his wisdom uses the laying on of hands to impart blessings. This why it is a good thing to lay hands on people when we pray for them. Sometimes people feel a tangible “touch” of the Spirit when we do that. Why not give it a try?

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Basic Doctrines of Christ: The Laying on of Hands – Identification

 

 

 

 

 

The laying on of hands is a foundational doctrine of Christ that is not often taught. Since it is listed in Hebrews 6:1-2, we can assume that it is very important. Why then do we have a disconnect between what is important and what is taught? The answer lies in the fact that today many do not understand its meaning or importance. This doctrine can be broken down into three aspects: identification, impartation, and ordination. The three are part of the whole, and each category easily crosses over into the others. I break this doctrine into three sections more for teaching purposes than for any real separation. In that respect, it is similar to the gifts of the Spirit.

Under the Old Covenant, when sacrifices were offered to the Lord, hands were laid on the sacrifice to make an identification between the offerer and the sacrifice. The animal “became” the offerer in a sense. It is probably obvious that impartation is also at work, but I will save that for the next article.

'He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, that it may be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf. Leviticus 1:4 (NASB) 

"Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins; and he shall lay them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who stands in readiness. 22  "The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a solitary land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness. Leviticus 16:21-22 (NASB)

The Old Covenant pointed to what Christ would accomplish in the New Covenant. All the old sacrifices pointed to the one Christ would make on our behalf on the cross as God’s Lamb. When Jesus went to the cross, he was identified with our sins and us completely.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB)

Identification is one of the most important and consequential truths found in the Bible. It is the basis of our salvation.

For those who put their faith and allegiance in Christ the following truths are real and should become our experience. We would do well to meditate on them.

  • When Jesus died, we died. His death to sin defeated the power of sin to rule over us. (Romans 6:14) He paid the price for our sin, and, since we were in him and died with him, we have already paid the ultimate price of death for our sins. There is no double jeopardy. A bill only has to be paid once. That is why the Bible says that  Jesus died “once for all.” (Hebrews 7:27)
  • When Jesus rose from the dead, we rose with him. In John 5:24, Jesus said that those who believe in him have already passed from death to life. This is not mere poetry. It is the truth. Just as we died with him and in him, we also rose with him and in him. (Romans 6:10-11, John 11:25) Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. If we are in him, we are resurrected beings already. We are now alive to God through the new birth, which is another allusion to the newness of life that comes through spiritual resurrection. Obviously, at present, this resurrection is only spiritual. One day it will include our bodies, but for now it is a real resurrection in the spirit. (Colossians 3:1-3)
  • We are united with Christ in the Spirit, and He lives through us. This is the “secret” of the Christian life of which many are unaware. God never expects people to live in their own strength. Those who believe and are born again have Christ’s Spirit living inside. The glorious unity between our spirits and God’s gives us the life, power, and inclination or desire to love and serve God effectively.
But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 (NASB) 

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20 (NASB)

We were identified with Adam in his sin. Now we are identified with Christ in his victory over sin, death, sickness, and Satan. Hallelujah!

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