Shalom Aleichem...
Reflections is a weekly Christian Teaching Ministry. Each week we will talk about the Bible and lessons we can put to use in our daily life. We will try to, on a weekly basis, provide to you stories, thoughts, and just easy ways to live your life on a straight path.
THIS WEEK'S TEACHING....February 5, 2018
God works in so many different ways...example...I was heavy in thought, trying to decide what subject would be the best to work on for the next few weeks, leading up to our Understanding Denominations Bible Study in March and I got this question, actually one of many to start the new year, in my email:
Dear Pastor Patrick,
I am struggling with the fact I do not really know if I am saved or not. How do I know for sure if I am saved? Is there something in the Bible that really confirms whether people are saved or not, for sure? I really do lay awake at night wondering and this so bothers me. I am afraid I am listening to and reading false teachings. And what is worse, I think I am believing them. Can you tell me the answers i am looking for? Thank you Pastor Patrick.
This is enormously important because what I have found over the years is that right up there with fear and lust and anger Christians everywhere at some time, all of us, deal with the problem of assurance, the assurance of salvation. Am I really a Christian? Every Christian deals with this at some point and some Christians all the time. And so I really would like to help here if I can. So this person is thinking about Romans 8:14–16. So read the verses, because the verses themselves provide the clue to what is being meant here. This is verse 14 of Romans eight. "All who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God." So led by the Spirit of God are the sons of the God. The clue that you are the son of God is that you are being led by the Spirit.
Verse 15. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption as sons by whom we cry: Abba, Father... a very intimate, warm, personal, affectionate cry to God as our Father. The Spirit is witnessing.
Now verse 16. The Spirit himself bears witness, is witnessing in that cry, Abba, Father, with our spirit that we are the children of God. So here is the first thing I would say. The witness of the Holy Spirit that you are a child of God is not a word whispered in your ear: "You are a child of God." That is not the way he does it.
That is external and the devil could do that to an unbeliever. And I do not doubt that the devil does whisper that in people’s ears, because it says that at the end of the day there are going to be people who think they have called Jesus Lord and they really have not. What it means is two things and these are in the text. It is the work of the Spirit—so the witness of the Spirit is the work of the Spirit giving evidences in our lives that we are the sons of God. I get that from verse 14.
All who are led by the Spirit are the sons of God. So the work of the Spirit leading us is the Spirit witnessing in our lives that we are God’s. His work provides evidences. And that is what witnesses do. They give evidences of reality. So we look for what it means to be led by the Spirit. And if you go to Galatians 5, being led by the Spirit, walking by the Spirit, living by the Spirit is the same as bearing the fruit of the Spirit.
So we look for love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness. In other words, as we look at our lives, are there evidences that the Spirit is producing things that are contrary to a fallen, unbelieving, selfish human nature.
And I want to be very clear here. Never does the Bible say that the evidence is perfection. It is always a direction of life where we say: This, this and this was contrary to my selfish spirit and God worked that in me. I thank you, God, for giving me some measured evidence that I belong to God. That is number one. So verse 14 points to the fact that the witness of the Spirit is his giving evidences in our life that we are his.
And here is the second one. It means a heart felt cry rises up in us to God as our Father and Christ as our Lord. So verse 15 and 16: "You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons by whom you cry: Abba, Father, the Spirit himself bearing witness with your spirit."
So when there rises in the believer’s heart a humble, authentic, dependent, thankful, happy: Father, Father, that is the Holy Spirit. Because a person who is without Christ cannot call out to God in a dependent, loving, thankful, humble way. They are too selfish. They are too self-reliant. They do not treat God that way. And the reason I said it is also a heart cry to Jesus as Lord is because he says almost the same thing in 1 Corinthians 12:3: "Therefore I want you to understand no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says: Jesus is cursed. And no one can say: Jesus is Lord, except in the Holy Spirit."
If your heart rises up not only to say: Father, Father, I need you. But also rises up to say: Jesus, my master, my lord, my God, my everything. If your heart rises up to say that, that is the Holy Spirit in you. That is the evidence of God in your life. That is part of his assuring work.
Here is one last thought for you. The source of assurance finally is not found by focusing on our hearts and ourselves. It is found by focusing on that Lord and that Father, because Jesus said: When the Spirit of truth comes—this is John 16:13-14--when the Spirit of truth comes he will glorify me, which means if you want the Holy Spirit to be at work in you, awakening that authentic cry to Jesus: My Lord. And to God: My Father. You look to them. You look to them, because that is whom the Holy Spirit glorifies. If you look within and take your life. I mean your eyes off of Jesus, what is the Holy Spirit going to glorify? You know, there is nothing for him to magnify if you are not looking at Jesus and the Father.
So bottom line. The Holy Spirit’s witness is one, his work in us to create evidences that we are his child by producing the fruits of the Spirit and, number two, it is his awakening in us of a heart felt cry: Father, I need you. And Jesus you are my Lord. You are my guide. You are my treasure. When our hearts are crying out with authentic dependence like that and our lives are giving some evidence of his presence then that is the work of the Holy Spirit witnessing.
I pray this helps you in your question of assurance of salvation:)
DID YOU EVER WONDER???
Their infant son Louie has a life-threatening illness. But this story isn’t about him. His fate lies with the healing touch of a God who loves him deeply.
Nor is it about the medical professionals who take care of these little angels. They are heroes, of course.
But it’s the parents who are the superheroes. They use every weapon to fight because their children need them to. They keep going because if they don’t, who will?
I’ve never actually met little Louie, but when I read the Facebook updates about him, it’s easy to feel the enormous, self-sacrificing love that surrounds him. I envision bright, encouraging smiles on their faces as they sit by their son’s bed, praying for miracles.
Parents with hearts like stained-glass windows. Those windows are made of broken glass which when forged back together, are even stronger and more beautiful for having been broken.
Parents who care of seriously ill children don’t have the same luxuries the rest of us have. Every parent carries similar nagging fears: What if something happens to my child? Will I be able to give them all the things they need to live a happy, healthy life? How can I help them realize their full potential? It comes back to one question: Am I enough?
But parents with healthy children can to put those fears on the back burner. We don’t often have to look that terrifying monster in the eye and face reality. But, for Louie’s parents, that’s a luxury they can’t afford. They hold onto frail little hands and face the monster head on. Their pain is deep, but their joy runs deeper. Such selfless courage and boundless faith humbles me.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Louie clings to life - as his own gift to the parents he loves, savoring every moment with his family for their sake, as well as for his own.
For the rest of us who look at these parents and think, “I don’t know how they do it,” know this: It’s not their abilities that are superhuman. It’s their extraordinary love, the intensity of which pushes them out of bed every morning and forces them to keep going, no matter the odds.
I suspect if I spoke with them face to face, they’d say something like: “Please don't feel sorry for us. Love us, support us, talk to us and pray for us. Louie is perfect! He’s never hurt anyone; he only seeks loves and creates it. We mourn for a world that sees only flaws. Suffering helps us all experience joy. Whatever brings you closer to God is a blessing.”
BOOKS OF THE BIBLE...A TEACHING
We are in the homestretch of our study of the Gospel of Matthew...
Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple
24 Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
Signs of the End of the Age
3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
The Abomination of Desolation
15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
The Coming of the Son of Man
29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
No One Knows That Day and Hour
36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus predicts the future
(24:1–25:46)
Jesus tells his disciples of the terrible judgment which is to befall Jerusalem. He also describes the events which will bring in the end of the age and the final return of the Son of man.
THE SIGNS OF THE END
The temple, started by Herod the Great, is a most impressive building. But Jesus warns that within a generation it will be totally destroyed (24:1–14). This will happen in AD 70 when the Roman armies of Titus capture Jerusalem. Jesus’ prediction will be quoted against him at his trial.
The disciples ask Jesus privately about the timing of these events. When will the temple be destroyed? What will be the signal that he is about to return?
Jesus says there will be many false alarms. People will claim to be the Messiah. There will be international conflicts, and natural disasters such as famines and earthquakes. But these are not signs of the end. They are just the beginning. They are the first of the contractions which will bring the new age to birth.
The disciples themselves will be persecuted, executed and universally hated. The church will go through hard times, with desertions, betrayals and deceits. But, despite all this, the gospel will be preached to the whole world.
THE LOOMING CRISIS
The sign that the temple is about to be destroyed will be ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ (24:15–28). In time past, this was a huge idol of the Greek god Zeus which Antiochus Epiphanes set up in the temple in 167 BC. The prophet Daniel had foreseen it in his visions (Daniel 11:31).
Now something like ‘the abomination’ is to appear again. Emperor Gaius will try (and fail) to install a statue of himself in the temple in AD 40. The Roman legions will parade their standards in the temple before destroying it completely along with the city in AD 70. For the Jews, this will be the ultimate desecration of their holy place.
Jesus says that when ‘the abomination’ appears, the people are to run for their lives. There won’t be time to collect any belongings from their homes. It will be particularly hard for pregnant women. They must pray that the crisis doesn’t come in winter, when the weather is cold and the roads muddy; or on the sabbath day, when it is forbidden to make any long journey.
THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN
All this is only the judgment and destruction of Jerusalem. The cosmos will be plunged into darkness, the heavens will be rolled up like a scroll and the stars will shrivel like figs. This was how the prophet Isaiah described the fall of Babylon and the judgment of the nations, and Jesus repeats his awesome words (Isaiah 13:10; 34:4).
Many will claim to be the Messiah in these turbulent times, but they are frauds and impostors. One day Jesus will return, and there will be no mistaking his arrival (24:29–35). It will be as unmistakable as sheet lightning, which flashes across the entire sky. It will be as obvious as vultures gathering to devour the carcass of a dead animal.
The return of Jesus Christ, the Son of man, will bring in the end of the age and the end of the world. The nations will be plunged into grief. They will see the Son of man coming in power and great glory. He will harvest his people from every corner of the earth and from every part of heaven.
Knowles, A. (2001). The Bible guide (1st Augsburg books ed., pp. 433–435). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg.
Knowles, A. (2001). The Bible guide (1st Augsburg books ed., p. 433). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mt 24:36–51). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mt 24:29–35). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mt 24:15–28). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mt 24:1–14). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
HAVE A SAFE AND BLESSED WEEK:)
Ho'omaikaʻi ka Pua iā kākou