November 19th 2017
Everything God Created Is Good, And Nothing Is To Be Rejected If It Is Received With Thanksgiving! (1Timothy 4:4)
1John 5:13 (NIV)
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
The term “Son of God” is used 39 times in the NIV translation of the New Testament. Following the selected verse for this VOW commentary is shown in context in (1John 5:9-13). We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1John 5:9-13)
He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. To me, this may be the most difficult teachings Jesus left us with, because in this day of Political Correctness, such a statement causes people to react strongly, even violently, as they take it to demonize them, because of their belief, or their lack of belief! Many people are willing to profess a belief in God or a god or gods, but they are NOT willing to accept the fact that the God of the Bible has a Son. James wrote about such people. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. (James 2:19). As James states, believing in God does not put you into such great company, as your profession aligns you with demons. To make it worse, such people do not profess a healthy fear of God, or as James puts it, “Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” I have told people about Jesus, and they have replied, “Yes, I believe in god!” The writer of Psalm 34 tells us those who fear the LORD will lack nothing. Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. (Psalm 34:9). Are you in awe (fear) of the LORD?
Many churches that make the claim to be Christian do not believe that Jesus is God’s Son, i.e., Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc. PC tells us to accept all people the same no matter what they may believe, and accept them as they are, do not try to change them. Jesus tells us the same, except Jesus does not tell us to let them go to hell when they die. Remember, the tough teaching of Jesus Christ, He is the only way to heaven. Therefore, is you love other people would you be willing to stand by and let them go to hell when they die? That does not sound very loving to me! Jesus told us to “love your neighbor, as yourself!”
People of other beliefs sometimes will insult us about our belief, and based on their religious training, they may even become violent and persecute you. Jesus addressed such situations, and told us His disciples that we would be rewarded for our ability to love them as God’s creation even though they may appear to hate us, and even to hurt us. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12). In our Bible study class last week, we talked about obtaining rewards for doing good deeds and/or for being mistreated because of our beliefs. In these verses Jesus assures us that we may be rewarded later for doing the right thing in such difficult times occurring now, when He said, “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.”
Remember, we are awarded heaven when we die, because of what Jesus did in our stead on that cross, NOT because of anything we may do in our lifetime! John wrote about this in terms of condemnation. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:18). Note the clarity here from Jesus through John’s writing that anyone who does not believe in Him to be God’s Son is condemned, “whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” Jesus makes it clear here too about believers and that we will not be condemned when He says, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned.”
In this land of plenty in which most reading this share, we need to be on our guard about being thankful about our wealth or possessions we have worked for and earned in this world. During this coming week we will celebrate Thanksgiving Day, and hopefully/prayerfully we will be able to spend time with our families to celebrate our accomplishments in this worldly pursuit of happiness! Have your accomplishments in worldly pursuits robbed Jesus by limiting your time spent in heavenly pursuits of happiness? For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1Timothy 6:10). Have worldly gains caused you to limit your conscience efforts to gain heavenly rewards? Will your prayer at Thanksgiving Day meals be pointed to God or to self-acclaim? PC tells us to develop self-esteem, Jesus tells us to praise God for everything we have!
From a heavenly perspective, Jesus tells us we must remain attached to Him to thrive in this world. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5). Are you firmly attached to Jesus? If you do not spend time in the Scriptures, attend a church of your choice on a regular basis, and pray continually, as Paul tells us, then we are NOT firmly attached to Jesus! The writer of Hebrews wrote about where Jesus went when He arose, as the believer’s high priest. When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. (Hebrews 9:11). Note here he wrote that “Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here.” Thus, all good things on this earth are represented by Jesus as our high priest.
Counting your blessings this coming Thanksgiving Day could include some form of you being persecuted for trying to do good deeds. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12). Have you been persecuted “because of righteousness?” It seems most of us reading this commentary would not claim to be righteous for most of our actions in this world. It seems likely that Jesus may reward us for trying to do righteous acts, and if we do, we can “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven!”
Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving Day!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
1John 5:13 (NIV)
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
The term “Son of God” is used 39 times in the NIV translation of the New Testament. Following the selected verse for this VOW commentary is shown in context in (1John 5:9-13). We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1John 5:9-13)
He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. To me, this may be the most difficult teachings Jesus left us with, because in this day of Political Correctness, such a statement causes people to react strongly, even violently, as they take it to demonize them, because of their belief, or their lack of belief! Many people are willing to profess a belief in God or a god or gods, but they are NOT willing to accept the fact that the God of the Bible has a Son. James wrote about such people. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. (James 2:19). As James states, believing in God does not put you into such great company, as your profession aligns you with demons. To make it worse, such people do not profess a healthy fear of God, or as James puts it, “Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” I have told people about Jesus, and they have replied, “Yes, I believe in god!” The writer of Psalm 34 tells us those who fear the LORD will lack nothing. Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. (Psalm 34:9). Are you in awe (fear) of the LORD?
Many churches that make the claim to be Christian do not believe that Jesus is God’s Son, i.e., Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc. PC tells us to accept all people the same no matter what they may believe, and accept them as they are, do not try to change them. Jesus tells us the same, except Jesus does not tell us to let them go to hell when they die. Remember, the tough teaching of Jesus Christ, He is the only way to heaven. Therefore, is you love other people would you be willing to stand by and let them go to hell when they die? That does not sound very loving to me! Jesus told us to “love your neighbor, as yourself!”
People of other beliefs sometimes will insult us about our belief, and based on their religious training, they may even become violent and persecute you. Jesus addressed such situations, and told us His disciples that we would be rewarded for our ability to love them as God’s creation even though they may appear to hate us, and even to hurt us. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12). In our Bible study class last week, we talked about obtaining rewards for doing good deeds and/or for being mistreated because of our beliefs. In these verses Jesus assures us that we may be rewarded later for doing the right thing in such difficult times occurring now, when He said, “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.”
Remember, we are awarded heaven when we die, because of what Jesus did in our stead on that cross, NOT because of anything we may do in our lifetime! John wrote about this in terms of condemnation. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:18). Note the clarity here from Jesus through John’s writing that anyone who does not believe in Him to be God’s Son is condemned, “whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” Jesus makes it clear here too about believers and that we will not be condemned when He says, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned.”
In this land of plenty in which most reading this share, we need to be on our guard about being thankful about our wealth or possessions we have worked for and earned in this world. During this coming week we will celebrate Thanksgiving Day, and hopefully/prayerfully we will be able to spend time with our families to celebrate our accomplishments in this worldly pursuit of happiness! Have your accomplishments in worldly pursuits robbed Jesus by limiting your time spent in heavenly pursuits of happiness? For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1Timothy 6:10). Have worldly gains caused you to limit your conscience efforts to gain heavenly rewards? Will your prayer at Thanksgiving Day meals be pointed to God or to self-acclaim? PC tells us to develop self-esteem, Jesus tells us to praise God for everything we have!
From a heavenly perspective, Jesus tells us we must remain attached to Him to thrive in this world. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5). Are you firmly attached to Jesus? If you do not spend time in the Scriptures, attend a church of your choice on a regular basis, and pray continually, as Paul tells us, then we are NOT firmly attached to Jesus! The writer of Hebrews wrote about where Jesus went when He arose, as the believer’s high priest. When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. (Hebrews 9:11). Note here he wrote that “Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here.” Thus, all good things on this earth are represented by Jesus as our high priest.
Counting your blessings this coming Thanksgiving Day could include some form of you being persecuted for trying to do good deeds. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12). Have you been persecuted “because of righteousness?” It seems most of us reading this commentary would not claim to be righteous for most of our actions in this world. It seems likely that Jesus may reward us for trying to do righteous acts, and if we do, we can “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven!”
Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving Day!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak