WHAT IS A "CRUCIFISH"?

The picture above is one of Rhonda's "crucifish" treasures, otherwise known as a "crucifix fish". What you see here is the top of a sailcat's skull. Rhonda found this on one of our trips to Florida. (Rhonda found several of these before I found my first one so I told her that it is sad that the pastor's wife could find Jesus so much easier than a pastor!)

The actual legend says, "Of all the fishes in the sea our lord chose the lowly sailcat to remind us of his misery. His body on the cross is outlined, The hilt of the sword which was plunged into his side is clearly defined. Look at the back of the fishes bone where the Roman shield is shown. When you shake the cross you will hear the dice being tossed for our Lords blood stained dress, those who can hear them will be blessed."

Isn't it amazing that hidden inside the head of a sailcat fish is an incredible piece of art symbolizing the death of Jesus Christ on the cross? As we celebrate Easter this week, let this photo be a reminder to you that we are to have Christ's image in us as well. May we be Christ-like in all we do. Amen? 

CAN A TRULY BORN-AGAIN PERSON WALK AWAY FROM HIS SALVATION? Part 2

Same question as the last post, but this time from a different series of verses. Can a person who has been truly saved by God walk away from his salvation? This time, let's search for the answer through a series of questions and Bible verses.

First of all, HOW DOES A PERSON BECOME SAVED IN THE FIRST PLACE?

In the last post, you saw 2 Peter 1:10 (ESV) — 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. and I want you to focus on the words "calling" and "election". Before you can be saved by God, you have to be "elected" by God. Paul says election is not based upon our works, but upon God Himself [Romans 9:11].

Before you can be saved by God, you have to be "called" by God as shown in the following verses:

Romans 1:7 (ESV) — 7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:30 (ESV) — 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

1 Corinthians 1:9 (ESV) — 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Bible is very clear that we must be called by God to be saved. We cannot and will not initiate the effective request to be saved apart from His calling. Romans 3:10–11 (ESV) — 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. God initiates the action. Ephesians 2:1–10 (ESV) — 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, 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 coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

 

QUESTIONS SO FAR:

1. Will all of the "elect" be saved by God and if so, how can a person "unelect" himself?

2. Will all of the "called" be saved by God and if so, how can a person "uncall" himself?

3. If God takes a spiritually-dead person and makes him alive with Christ [v.5], how can a person become unalive? Does that mean that God's saving power is not eternal?

WHAT ABOUT 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17?

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) — 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

MORE QUESTIONS:

4. Can a person who is really in Christ be able to "come out" of Christ?

5. If a person is truly a new creation, can he really become the old creation again?

WHAT ABOUT JOHN 3:3?

John 3:3 (ESV) — 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

ANOTHER QUESTION:

6. Can a person who has truly been "born again" become "unborn"?

WHAT ABOUT MATTHEW 7:21-22?

Matthew 7:21–22 (ESV) — 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’

ANOTHER QUESTION:

7. Does this passage show that you can lose or walk away from your salvation? No because look at Matthew 7:23 (ESV) — 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Why would Jesus send them away? BECAUSE HE NEVER KNEW THEM.

I hope that these questions and Bible verses will help you to process your thoughts and help you know where you stand with the Lord. I leave you today with these words from Paul:

2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV) — 5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

CAN A TRULY BORN-AGAIN PERSON WALK AWAY FROM HIS SALVATION? Part 1

"Can a person who is truly saved by God's grace and mercy as described in God's Word walk away from his salvation?" Some say yes, some say no. What makes the question even more interesting are the discussions containing various Bible verses.

If the question was asked, "Can anything outside ourselves pull us away from Christ?", we would immediately refer to Romans 8:31–39 (ESV) — 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

But can a person take himself out of the equation? I recently had this discussion with some friends of mine and we were challenging each other to think through the scripture. I love our discussions because they cause us to think through the scriptures even more than normal. One of the verses that popped up was 2 Peter 2:22 (ESV) — 22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” In fact, I have even heard all of the following section to be used in asking that question: 2 Peter 2:20–22 (ESV) — 20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 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. 22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

I was going to save this part for last but now I see that I should go ahead and point you towards the pronouns used in 2 Peter chapter 2. Answer these questions:
1. Who is Peter writing to?
2. Who is Peter talking about?

Peter is writing to "those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ" [2 Peter 1:1 (ESV)] and you will notice the second-person pronoun "you" in the following verses:
2 Peter 1:2 (ESV) — 2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you...
2 Peter 1:4 (ESV) — 4 ... so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature...
2 Peter 1:5 (ESV) — 5 ...make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue...
2 Peter 1:8 (ESV) — 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:10 (ESV) — 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

2 Peter 1:11 (ESV) — 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:12–13 (ESV) — 12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder,

[underlining added for you]

So who is Peter talking about in chapter 2 when he changes from second-person pronouns to third-person pronouns such as "they" or "them"? Start at verse 22 and work backwards.

2 Peter 2:22 (ESV) — 22 What the true proverb says has happened to them...

2 Peter 2:21 (ESV) — 21 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.

2 Peter 2:20 (ESV) — 20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

2 Peter 2:19 (ESV) — 19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption...

2 Peter 2:18 (ESV) — 18 ...they entice by sensual passions of the flesh...

2 Peter 2:17 (ESV) — 17 ...For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved.

2 Peter 2:12–15 (ESV) — 12 But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, 13 suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you. 14 They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! 15 Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing,

2 Peter 2:2–3 (ESV) — 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

[underlining added for you]

So who are "they" that Peter is talking about? Who are "they" that are going to be like the dog going back to its vomit or the sow getting back into the mud in 2 Peter 2:22? The answer is in 2 Peter 2:1 (ESV) — 1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. [underlining added for you] Not the born-again Christians described in chapter 1, but the false teachers. If you read chapter 2 with the words "false teachers" replacing the third-person pronouns, it would read like this:

2 Peter 2:1–22 (ESV) — 1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon [the false teachers] swift destruction. 2 And many will follow [the false teachers] sensuality, and because of [the false teachers] the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in [the false teachers] greed [the false teachers] will exploit you with false words. [the false teachers] condemnation from long ago is not idle, and [the false teachers] destruction is not asleep...12 But [the false teachers], like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which [the false teachers] are ignorant, will also be destroyed in [the false teachers] destruction, 13 suffering wrong as the wage for [the false teachers] wrongdoing. [the false teachers] count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. [the false teachers] are blots and blemishes, reveling in [the false teachers] deceptions, while [the false teachers] feast with you. 14 [the false teachers] have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. [the false teachers] entice unsteady souls. [the false teachers] have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! 15 Forsaking the right way, [the false teachers] have gone astray. [the false teachers] have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, 16 but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness. 17 [the false teachers] are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. 18 For, speaking loud boasts of folly, [the false teachers] entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. 19 [the false teachers] promise them freedom, but [the false teachers] themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. 20 For if, after [the false teachers] have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, [the false teachers] are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for [the false teachers] than the first. 21 For it would have been better for [the false teachers] never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to [the false teachers]. 22 What the true proverb says has happened to [the false teachers]: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

There are several other factors to look at here as well. For example, what about the idea of "escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" followed by the phrase "again entangled in them and overcome"? That sounds like how Jesus described the 'thorny soil' in Luke 8:14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

And why would it have better for them "never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered"? Is it not because they believed that they were indeed saved by God when the fact is that they were not? And if they thought they were already saved by God, they would believe that they already live by the gospel when the truth is that they are distorting the gospel as shown in 2 Peter chapter 2?

Are you like the "you" in chapter 1 who is indeed a Christian or like "they" in chapter 2 who are false teachers that will be destroyed [v.12] and suffer for their wrong doings [v.13]?

TODAY'S SNOW REMINDS ME OF THE LOCAL CHURCH

How does this snow remind me of the local church? Think about the beauty you see each time it snows... before anyone has made any tracks in the snow... you see a huge blanket covering everything. Now think for a moment how big a snow flake is. Just one. One snow flake can easily fit on the tip of your finger but when it joins other snowflakes, you can have a large snowfall like today. Some folks are reporting 20 or more inches of snow in their yard.

So what does that have to do with the local church? It is another great example that God has given us about the need for our church family. On our own, we are not able to do as much work. On our own, we are very vulnerable to temptation and destruction. On our own, we are very weak. But when the local church comes together, it is beautiful to see all of the relationships growing stronger, it's members working together to fulfill the Great Commission and the local church can accomplish so much more than any one individual.

Consider this passage of Scripture.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 (ESV) — 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

How is "two" better than "one"? Here are four reasons we need each other.

9 ...because they have a good reward for their toil. 

Imagine a dump truck lost part of its load at the end of your driveway and now you have 1,000 pounds of rock keeping you from being able to go anywhere. Let's say that each rock weighs 50 pounds each and because of their size and shape, you can only carry one at a time. That would mean you would have to pick up 20 rocks before you could drive your car!

But what if your neighbor saw what happened and came over to help? Now you only have to pick up 10 rocks apiece. Just by adding one person. What if three other guys saw what you were doing and came to the rescue? Then you would only have to pick up 4 rocks each! THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 20 TRIPS AND 4 TRIPS.

Being a pastor for the last 20 years, I have seen many people trying to pick up 20 rocks when all they had to do was ask their church family to help. If they had gotten 20 people to do the task, each one would only have to pick up ONE ROCK!

WHAT IF THERE WAS ONLY ONE ROCK IN THE DRIVEWAY AND IT WEIGHED 1,000 POUNDS??? Using this example, one person couldn't do it by themselves but 20 people working together could do it.

10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 

This verse alone speaks volumes why we need our church family! When we isolate ourselves, it is so much harder to get up when we fall into temptation or discouragement. We have no one to see us fall, we have no one to protect us and no one to encourage us. 

But when we have our church family around us, they notice when we are down or hurting. They also notice when we start to drift away or fall back into some dangerous patterns in our lives. We can love and be loved. We can help each other remember that no matter what happens in our lives, we are not alone. We can remind each other of God's faithfulness and power. 

Speaking from experience, I can't tell you how many times somebody from our church family has encouraged me, challenged me to grow, reminded me of the big picture and so much more. Don't miss out on these benefits. 

11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 

Sometimes my wife speaks a few words that I am supposed to recognize as many words. For example, at a cinema, she may say, "I am cold." which is translated in Rhondaese as "I am cold so get closer and let me snuggle up to you and warm up." If I don't get that message, she will repeat herself and say, "Honey, I said I am cold." then a light bulb goes off above my head and I understand what she wanted me to do.

Think about what happens when you are alone (more than you want to be). Time drags on. No interaction with anyone. Your mind begins to run in every possible direction... "What if...", "I hope...", "I don't think I can...", etc. Mary Teresa once said, "Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty."

While I was writing this post, I searched Google for images under the title "loneliness". So many of those photos show sorrow, pain and suffering with no one around to help them. Just look at this pic I found and see what I mean...

Now contrast that photo with these photos...

This is what it is like to be a part of a local church. Enjoying each other. Celebrating each other. Helping each other in times of need. Loving others warms them up.

12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

When training for overseas mission trips, we were told to always pair up with someone in our group and never wander off from your group alone. So many news reports have shown where someone was abducted because they were an easy target. When somebody pulls away from the group, nobody is there to protect them from trouble.

The same is true in local church. We have each other to help protect us from trouble. Every one of us will be attacked by the evil one but thank God for our church family. We can pray for each other and hold each other accountable. We can protect each other from wandering away from the faith. We need each other. You can't make it on your own. God knows that and this is why He gave us this list of "one anothers" in scripture. I hope that you will take the time to look through this list and see why we need each other so much.

1. Be at peace with one another (Mk 9:50)

2. Love one another (Jn 13:34)

3. Be joined to one another (Ro 12:5)

4. Be devoted to one another (Ro 12:10)

5. Honor one another (Ro 12:10)

6. Rejoice with one another (Ro 12:15)

7. Weep with one another (Ro 12:15)

8. Live in harmony with one another (Ro 12:16)

9. Accept one another (Ro 15:7)

10. Counsel one another (Ro 15:14)

11. Greet one another (Ro 16:16)

12. Agree with each other (1 Co 1:10)

13. Wait for one another (1 Co 11:33)

14. Care for one another (1 Co 12:25)

15. Serve one another (Gal 5:13)

16. Carry one another’s burdens (Gal 6:2)

17. Be kind to one another (Eph 4:32)

18. Forgive one another (Eph 4:32)

19. Submit to one another (Eph 5:21)

20. Bear with one another (Col 3:13)

21. Teach, admonish each other (Col 3:16)

22. Encourage one another (1 Th 5:11)

23. Build up one another (1 Th 5:11)

24. Spur one another on (Heb 10:24)

25. Offer hospitality to one another (1 Pe 4:9)

26. Minister gifts to one another (1 Pe 4:10)

27. Be humble toward one another (1 Pe 5:5)

28. Confess your sins to one another (Jas 5:16)

29. Pray for one another (Jas 5:16)

30. Fellowship with one another (1 Jn 1:7)