Curing Leprosy    2 Kings 5

This post explores at which point the curing of Naaman’s leprosy happened.

‘Curing Leprosy’ discusses when the curing of Naaman occurred. During the declining years of the kingdom of Israel, Elisha became God’s prophet in Judah and Israel.

Their antagonist, Syria, had a strong and celebrated  army commander, Naaman,  a leper. During their raids of Israel, they captured a little girl. She suggested that the prophet in Samaria, Elisha, could cure his leprosy. Naaman immediately set out to find the prophet and get his leprosy cured.

When he arrived at Elisha’s door. Elisha did not even come out, 2 Kings 5:10. “And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall…restored, and you shall… clean.”

This enraged Naaman, 2 Kings 5:11. “But Naaman…went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, …Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and …clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.” Subsequently, his servants convinced him to try it. Then God healed him.

Ask when the healing occurred?

When Naaman appeared at Elisha’s door nothing happened. Even when he came to his senses and decided to go wash in the muddy Jordan river, no cleansing occurred. When he first waded into the Jordan and began to bathe nothing happened. After the first six bathes he remained a leper. But finally the curing occurred when he obeyed exactly what God had said through Elisha—on the seventh dip.

We can also experience the blessings of God and eternal salvation when we completely obey God’s commands. For example, Peter told believers what to do, Acts 2:38. “Repent and…baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,”

Have you believed, repented, and gone down into the waters of baptism?

So, what did we learn?

1.God can heal leprosy when His word is followed exactly.

2.Likewise, we will receive God’s blessings by following His word exactly.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#GodDirectsElishaCureLeprosy #HealedSavedByObedience

Perseverance of the Saints    2 Peter 2:20-21 and Hebrews 6:1-6

This post concerns the Calvinistic doctrine of perseverance of the Saints.

Perseverance of the Saints discusses what the Bible says about whether a Christian can start serving God and then fall away.

As his fifth point, Calvin taught that once saved a Christian cannot fall away. Those believing this teaching say, “Once Saved always Saved.” However, the scriptures do not contain this doctrine.

Note, Peter clearly speaks about this situation, 2 Peter 2:20-21.

“after …escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

…they…again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first…

…For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.”

So, Peter speaks of Christians that have “Escaped the defilements of the world.” But they entangle themselves again in the sin of the world.

Then, the now entangled former faithful Christians live in a worse state than if they had never started the life of a Christian.

Also, the writer of the Hebrews letter recognized the difficulty of starting as a Christian and then turning back to the world, Hebrews 6:1-6.

“Therefore, let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity…

…And this we will do…For… impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, …and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance,

crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm…”

Thus, the writer repudiates the doctrine of ‘Once saved always saved.’

So, what did we learn?

1.The scriptures teach that a Christian can drift back to the world and eternal destruction.

2.A new worse state exists for former faithful Christians entangled again in the world.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#onceSavedAlwaysSavedNotBiblical #ChristiansDriftBackWorld

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The Lost    Luke 15

This post concerns four kinds of lost people.

The Lost as a post discusses Jesus’ answer to the grumbling Pharisees and scribes when they saw sinners coming to hear Jesus. He began a parable by considering a lost sheep, Luke 15:3-4. “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one… lost, until he finds it?”

 Obviously, lost sheep or people cannot find their way back and need someone to come find them. At the end of this example, Jesus says that God rejoices to see one person return.

Then, Jesus tells about something, a coin, or someone ignorant of their lost state, Luke 15:8. “…what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?”  Thus, a godly person helps these people and finds them. Again, God rejoices at the return of a lost person.

Similarly, the third parable depicts two lost boys, Luke 15:11-12. “… a man …had two sons… the younger of them said… ‘Father, give me the share of property… coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.” Unfortunately, the younger son wasted his inheritance in sinful behavior and became destitute. While working in a pigpen, he came to himself and resolved to return home and seek forgiveness. The father, thrilled to see him, restored him to the status of a son, and provided him a welcome home party.

The older brother asked about the celebration, Luke 15:25-26. “his older son… heard music and dancing. And he asked what these things meant…” When he heard, he pouted and wouldn’t go in.

Thereupon, the father explained to him, Luke 15:32. “It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and…found.”

The lesson of these three parables focuses on the attitude of the scribes and Pharisees—happiness should accompany the restoration of sinners.

So, what did we learn?

1.God is happy when sinners return.

2.Our happiness should also accompany their return.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#lostSheep #lostCoin #twoLostBoys

Irresistible Grace   2 Corinthians 6:1

This post concerns the fourth point put forth by Calvin on salvation—irresistible grace.

Irresistible Grace as a post shows what the Bible teaches about rejecting the grace of God. Calvin taught five points about grace. The fourth point—irresistible grace—means that God overwhelms some people and saves them.

So, Definition of irresistible grace:  At some point in life, application of the grace of God overcomes any resistance and saves them. Denial of salvation cannot occur.

Some people believe that if they pray fervently, God’s irresistible grace will fall on them. Then, they cannot refuse to accept the grace of God and salvation. This is often called ‘the mourner’s bench’ where people pray that God will send this irresistible grace.

But the Bible shows the possibility of resistance to God’s grace, 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2.

“…we are ambassadors for Christ…. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him…sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God…

Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now … the day of salvation.”

 This passage shows that we can resist the grace of God. The Apostle Paul appeals to the Corinthian church not to receive the grace of God in vain. This clearly shows that individual people can resist the grace of God.

Mark 16:15, a second passage that points to the ability to accept or reject the grace of God, instructs the apostles to preach to everyone. “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”

  If God’s grace falls only on certain predestined people and makes them accept salvation regardless of their personal feelings or conduct, it makes no sense to preach to everyone. But Jesus said to do it.

So, what did we learn?

1.We can resist God and not accept His grace for salvation.

2.Preaching to everyone makes no sense if God sends irresistible grace on some people.

For more on the Bible,  click https://tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#irresistibleGraceNotBiblical #preachGospelToAll

Limited Atonement   Ephesians 1:4-5

This post deals with Calvin’s doctrine of limited atonement.

Limited Atonement as a post discusses what the Bible says about atonement. Calvin put forth five elements for salvation. The third concept, limited atonement for individual people, cannot be found in the scriptures.

So, Limited Atonement definition: Christ’ death on the cross effectively redeems only those individuals selected for salvation before the creation of the world.

This concept comes from Ephesians 1:4-5 and needs clarification.

“… even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ,”

In this passage, God adopts someone as son or sons through Jesus Christ. Either He adopts individual people as claimed by Calvin, or He adopts a group or class of people through Jesus Christ.

First, establish that the Apostle Paul writes to saints, Ephesians 1:1. “To the saints… in Ephesus, … faithful in Christ Jesus:” Note, this means the Apostle writes to the church in Ephesus. In verses 4-5, God chose them, not as individuals, but as a group, the church.

Note, this fits the analogy of the spouses given in Ephesians 5:23. “For the husband…the head of the wife even as Christ …the head of the church, his body, and… himself its Savior.”

So, adoption…as sons through Jesus Christ in verses 4-5 involves believing in Jesus to the point of obeying His commands to get into the body of Christ, the church. Then, the limited atonement of salvation concerns the blood of Christ as a cleansing agent, 1 John 1:7. “…blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” Thus, Jesus and His blood shed on the cross applies to His body, the church, the predestined group.

Clearly, that’s why Jesus told His disciples to preach to everyone, Mark 16:15. “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”  It makes no sense to preach to everyone if God elected to save only a few.

So, what did we learn?

1.God selected a group of people, members of Christ’s body, for salvation.

2.Jesus, the savior and head of the church, gave His blood for its salvation.

For more on the Bible  click https://tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#atonementChurch #JesusHeadSaviorChurch

Cost of Discipleship     Luke 14:25-35

This post concerns decisions to follow Jesus and the cost of discipleship.

Cost of Discipleship discusses what Jesus taught about following Him. Earlier, Jesus stressed the importance of accepting discipleship in God’s kingdom. Here, Jesus stresses what discipleship cost.

Jesus used two strong words to talk about discipleship.

1) A disciple must hate both his own relatives and even his own life. Jesus’ concept of hate means love less, as we are taught elsewhere to love our families—see Eph. 5:28 and other passages. Thus, Jesus taught that He must come first before everyone, even self.

2) Jesus uses the verb, cannot, three times to stress loving Him above everything else. The question concerns loving Jesus, but not equal to loving self or having a great love for Him. He demands that He occupy first in our lives, or we cannot become His disciple.

Then, Jesus uses two word pictures to stress evaluating the cost of discipleship. The first example concerns one who sets out to build a tower and cannot complete it, because he did not assess the costs before beginning. Thus, a follower of Jesus should count the costs before beginning to build the life of a disciple.

The second example shows a king who realizes that he cannot win a war using his inferior army and must sue for peace. Likewise, the would-be disciple should first realize what it will cost to complete his life as a disciple of Jesus before he begins.

Note Jesus’ strong admonition: If you are unwilling to give up everything, you cannot be my disciple.

Next, Jesus discusses life after beginning as a disciple. The comparison to salt acknowledges the role of the disciple as an influence for good. However, if salt looses its taste, it becomes useless. In order for salt to lose its taste, it must be changed to something different. Jesus describes how a person can lose their saving ability by changing to be worldly instead of continuing as a saving influence.

Jesus summarized: the person with ears attuned to learning will understand.

So, what did we learn?

1.Jesus must be first in our lives.

2.Disciples must continue to be a saving influence in the world.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#LoveJesusFirst #countTheCost #remainADisciple

Unconditional Election    Romans 2:11

This post concerns unconditional election and whether God decided to save individuals before creating the world.

‘Unconditional Election’ discusses what the Bible teaches about salvation and how God deals with people. The Bible does not authorize unconditional election—the second of the five points of Calvinism.

So, Definition of Unconditional Election: God decided before the foundations of the world to save certain individuals regardless of their conduct.

The scriptures show that God decided before creating the world to save either select individuals as taught by Calvin or to save a group of people. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church, Ephesians 1:4-5. “… even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ,”

Note, this scripture says that God predestined this group, the Saints, as sons by way of Jesus Christ. Thus, God already meant to send Jesus to save the church before He created the world. “Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.”

This scripture does not say that God chose individuals to save. God intended that the saved group He predestined, the church, would obtain salvation through obedience to Jesus.

In addition, other scriptures show that God choosing selected individuals for salvation could not happen, Romans 2:11. “For God shows no partiality.” Thus, for salvation, God treats all people equally. See also what Peter told Cornelius, Acts 10:34-35. “So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does…right is acceptable to him.” Thus, God could not choose some individuals and not others for salvation.

So, the criterion for salvation involves doing right. On Pentecost, Peter explained salvation to believing Jews, Acts 2:38. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” This opened salvation for everyone.

So, what did we learn?

1.God predestined salvation for a group of obedient people.

2.God does not respect one individual over any other.

3.For believers, repentance and baptism provide salvation.

For more on the Bible  click https://tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#UnconditionElectionUntrue #GodNoRespectorPerson #obedientBringsSalvation

Total Depravity   Genesis 4:4-5

This post questions total depravity as a characteristic of humans.

‘Total Depravity’ as a post uses a Bible example to illustrate total depravity as not a possibility as a part of human existence.

Calvinism as taught by John Calvin consists of five principles of salvation: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible grace, and Preservation of the Elect. This blog covers total depravity. Later, other posts will cover the other four.

Sin resulted from Adam’s sin, Romans 5:12. “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man…” Thus, Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden. Then, many people ascribed total depravity to Adam and Eve and their offspring.

So, definition of total depravity: Corrupt in entire being and wholly incapable of doing anything good.

After the garden, Eve gave birth to Cain and Abel. If total depravity came from Adam’s sin, then total depravity characterized both children.

However, consider their actions in worshipping God. Both attempted to worship God, Genesis 4:3-4. “… Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions.”

We know that God gave instructions on worship. Abel offered by faith, Hebrews 11:4. “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain…”

Thus, Abel offered an acceptable sacrifice. Cain did not, Genesis 4:4-5. “And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard.”

These two individuals lived after Adam sinned. If they were in a state of total depravity, how could they conceive of a totally good thing, worshipping God? Instead, both boys chose their own actions. Obviously, from birth their lives did not exhibit total depravity.

The list of people who chose to do good—Enoch, Noah, Abraham, David, and the prophets—goes throughout the Old Testament. Again, their lives did not show total depravity. They chose to do good.

Obviously, we, too, can choose to do good or evil. Total depravity does not appear in our lives at birth.

So, what did we learn?

1.Bible people illustrate the absence of total depravity at birth.

2.We choose whether we do good or evil.

For more on the Bible  click https://tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#cainWorship #abelWorship #notTotalDepravity

A Banquet Invitation     Luke 14:15-24

This post covers invitations in a parable by Jesus.

‘A Banquet Invitation’ discusses occupants of the kingdom of the Lord.

Jesus cured a sick man while dining with a Pharisee. After Jesus warned the host to not give a banquet in order to gain favors, Luke 14:12, someone said, ‘Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God. Perhaps, they expected to trap Jesus in some way. (Many Pharisees expected the kingdom of God to begin in some large way. They had not understood or believed the earlier parable about the kingdom beginning small—see Luke chapter 13.) To answer this outburst, Jesus then told a parable about a man giving a great banquet and inviting guests. Jesus’ parable corrects the Pharisaical attitude that only they would occupy the true kingdom of God.

In this parable, a man gave a great feast, invited guests, and announced that everything was ready. But some of the guests refused the invitation because they were more concerned with their own pursuits in life.

The Pharisees to whom Jesus told this parable had the same attitude of self-concern and rejected the words and teachings of Jesus about the true approaching kingdom.

In the parable, the man who was giving the feast was angry about the rejections of his invitation and sent invitations to the people with low income, the physically disabled, and the blind. Then, those from outside the city, no doubt Gentiles, were invited. This teaches that all, including the Gentiles, will be in the kingdom of God.

Jesus made the lesson clear: The Pharisees by making light of the invitation showed more concern with their own lives and desires than the kingdom of God.

So, what did we learn?

1.The kingdom of the Lord will include all kinds of people.

2.Listen to Jesus and obey to be part of the kingdom of God.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#parableGreatBanquet #GentilesInKingdom #phariseesNotInKingdom

I AM HE   John 8:24,25 and 18:4-5

This post covers different times that Jesus said, “I am He.”

‘I am He’ discusses the meaning of Jesus’ statements.

Seven times in the gospel of John, Jesus is recorded as saying, ‘I am XXX’ where XXX denotes a characteristic such as the bread of life or the true vine. However, He uses this phrase several times (John 8:24,25; 58; and 18:4-5) to stress His Deity.

Note, on these occasions, Jesus only says, “I am.” Translators added the word ‘He’ because the context clearly implies that Jesus meant His presence. Thus, after Jesus deals with the woman caught in adultery, John 8:3-11, He says He is the light of the world, verse 12. Then, He engages in a long conversation with the Jews to teach His Deity. Some believed, John 8:30. Many did not. So, Jesus then talked about God as His Father to the unbelievers. Finally, He said that He saw and heard Abraham speak his gladness over seeing Jesus’ day. Then, when they doubted, He used the phrase, v. 58. They knew thereby that He was claiming Deity. So, they tried to stone Him, but He escaped.

The second time Jesus uses the phrase ‘I am He’ occurred on the night before He was crucified. Judas came to the garden with a mob to arrest Him. He asked them whom they sought. Then, He answered, “I am He.” They and Judas seemed to recognize His claim to Deity, drew back, and fell to the ground. So, Jesus used the moment to protect the other eleven apostles, John 18:4-5. “So, he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.”

This time they bound Him and led Him away.

Thus, each time Jesus claims Deity. However, the masses would not accept Him or believe.

So, what did we learn?

1.Jesus uses a phrase that signifies His Deity to try to teach the Pharisees.

2.Jesus uses this phrase to protect His disciples when the mob arrested Him.

For more on the Bible  click https://tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#JesusDeity #JesusArrestingMob #JesusGodFather