The Way God Came to this World

Based on John 1:14-18 (New King James Version)

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, ‘This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’’ And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”

One of the greatest miracles that has occurred in history is the way in which God chose to have contact with us, through His only begotten Son Jesus. It’s a miracle because it is very hard to imagine how Someone so great could have been made as lowly as us, because in all reality, we are not worth very much (sorry for having to hurt some folk’s pride, but it’s the truth).

What is man? We are born in one moment. We live a few years (in comparison to God’s eternity and the angels), doing some things during that time which do not last long, nor do they affect the universe. And after that, we die; weak, fragile, and undone. And we cannot take anything with us. And with our last breath, everything ends (that which is human). And this has and will happen to every single person; to the rich and to the poor, to the powerful and to the weak, to the famous and to the unknown; to everyone. And here is where we start understanding the miracle.

To start, Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, has always existed. God created everything through Him. But going even further, Jesus (or Jehovah, as He was known in the Old Testament), has been the only one from the divine Godhead that has had contact with man. For example, we read about the great I AM, as it is written: “Then Moses said to God, ‘Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?’ And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:13-14. The I AM was the Lord. We see a glimpse of this when they came to arrest Him, when John tells us this: “Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, ‘Whom are you seeking?’ They answered Him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ Jesus said to them, ‘I am He.’ And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them, ‘I am He,’ they drew back and fell to the ground.” John 18:4-6. Just by mentioning His name, those that came looking for Him fell to the ground. We also see the celestial part of the Lord in this passage: “Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.” Matthew 17:1-3. So then, Jesus is Jehovah, and the I AM.

The Lord took a very humble form to show His love and His grace to mankind. Being God, the Creator of heaven and earth, the Omnipotent and Almighty, took on our likeness, descending to our level, to finally be the Lamb for the sacrifice that would clean every man from their sin. The problem is that many did not respect Him because He took such a humble form. They despised Him, and of course, they tortured and killed Him. It was not (nor is it) enough for many to see God’s love through the person of Jesus. Unfortunately, there is no way to please many folks. If He was the Lord of Hosts, they didn’t like that because He was supposedly to harsh, inaccessible, or difficult to understand. If He presented Himself as the Lamb of God, meek, humble, and full of God’s grace, it was not pleasing either because He did not demonstrate human power or riches. So, what is the problem?

The problem is man, the sin that is within them, and that they prefer to submit more to their sin than to what truly produces life. And this is what causes disobedience. Finally, if man is lost, they are not lost because God wants for them to be lost, but rather, because of their disobedience to God. No matter what God does, if a person does not want to obey God, there is nothing that will make them understand, neither God’s omnipotence nor His love. We see the following account in the Word: “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’” Luke 16:27-31. Remember that the Lord did not come to do away with the law, but rather, to fulfill it. And also, He was raised from the dead, and many still do not want to believe.

And as part of the law, and now, of grace, this continues to be in effect: “Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said to him, ‘‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:35-40. Learning how to love God through being born again in Christ is the only thing that produces eternal life, and also, this teaches us to love our neighbor as ourselves. There is no other way.

So then, do you understand that the Lord came as He did not only to fulfill the will of God, but also, to demonstrate His love for us? And, if you understand that, are you learning how to appreciate what God has done for you, by following Him and loving Him as He deserves? Lord bless! John

Mankind's Injustice Towards God

Based on John 1:10-13 (New King James Version)

“He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

The greatest injustice that could ever exist in the world, which keeps happening at every moment, is contempt for God. And contempt for God occurs in different ways. There are many that don’t care about knowing God. There are others that treat Him as an equal. There are those that don’t like looking for God because they feel that God goes against their desires; they envy God because they want to be like God.

The first group consists of people that simply are not interested in knowing about God because they think that there are more important things than Him. There are many things that they feel that have more priority, and that’s why they don’t pay attention to Him. There is money, power, fame, family, friends, entertainment, etc. Everything is more important than God. So then, since they consider everything else more important than God, then there is no interest. They think they did things on their own. They believe that everything they have is due to their effort and merit. It’s something as simple as not needing God. God is unnecessary. And the problem with that is that things can’t be ok after that. It’s not possible because of how things are structured, and because you cannot treat God that way.

The other group consists of those that see God as an equal. God is just like another person; no more, no less. These folks do believe that God exists, but that He is just like them. They may not say it verbally, but they show it with their actions. For example, if God says something, they say inside of themselves: “I get what He wants, but I’m going to do things this other way.” They think they are smarter and more capable than God, and that what God offers is only a different opinion or idea, but that’s it.

The third group (although there may be many more) simply believe that there is a God, but they rebel against Him. You can say that they know that there is a God, but they don’t fear Him, and even more over, they detest Him. They hate God, and they are trying to make God disappear from everything. At least here in the US, this is the group that has fought to take God out of our schools, putting fear in people so they won’t talk about Him, and try to impose their atheism on every human being. They declare themselves to be atheists, but in reality, by showing their hatred for Him, they are confessing that He exists. Basically, they hate God because they want to be like God.

All of these people unfortunately do not understand the reality that their poor opinions and lack of acknowledging God will not make God disappear. Just because a person closes their eyes does not mean that reality will change. God will continue being God despite their actions, how they take Him, etc. And if they don’t repent, all of this will have consequences. Even God’s grace and mercy has limits. For it is written: “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:21-32.

What makes this unfair is that God created everything. God is the One that allows for every person to exist. He gives life and makes it rain upon every person, despite their evil and rebellion. And what makes things even more unfair is that God gave His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, so that He could lay His life down for every person, so they could have eternal life. So then, instead of acknowledgement, there is rejection. Instead of praise, there is indifference. Instead of service and obedience, there is rebellion and transgression. And instead of love, there is hatred towards Him. Isn’t this unfair?

But, notwithstanding, to those that do receive the Lord, and treat Him as such, God gave them the right to be made children of God, and heirs of the things of God. To those that submit themselves to Him, and look for Him, and remain in His love, God will give them eternal life and reward. God breaks their destiny, from going to an eternal hell, to being with Him for all eternity.

Now then, to what group do you belong to? To those that honor and follow God, or to those that dishonor and hate Him? Lord bless! John

John the Baptist and His Mission

Based on John 1:6-9 (New King James Version)

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.”

John the Baptist was possibly one of the most important people in the history of mankind, especially when considering the prophecies and his mission. What makes him so special? Many things! To start, the Lord Himself showed him as being more than a prophet, as it is written: “When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.’ For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist.’” Luke 7:24-28a. He genuinely was chosen before being born, having a great likeness with the Lord Himself. He is the only person, aside from the Lord, that his coming was foretold much before it happened, for it is written: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’” Isaiah 40:3-5. This was said of him more than 700 years before Christ. The fulfillment of this prophecy signals the coming of the Lord to the earth. Without John the Baptist, the Messiah would have not manifested Himself.

And finally, the ministry of John the Baptist, by fulfilling the prophecy, prepared the way for the Lord. The ministry of John the Baptist was the personification of what the Holy Spirit does today: announcing Jesus as Lord, and helping people come to the acknowledgement and repentance of all their sins, those things that prepare each life for God’s eternal salvation. Without both functions, the ministry of the Lord would not have been complimented nor fulfilled. The Scriptures tells us the following: “Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, John answered, saying to all, ‘I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.’ And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.” Luke 3:15-18. “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the Prophets: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.’ ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.’’ John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.” Mark 1:1-5.

These things are key and they need to be taken into consideration; recognizing the work of the Holy Spirit by: accepting His announcing that Jesus is Lord, and that we need to acknowledge, repent, and convert from all of our sins. Without these things, it is impossible to be saved. These are fundamental parts of the sound doctrine. John’s ministry was key even up to that, by leaving framed that which must happen in every person that looks to obtain eternal life, both back then, and now.

John the Baptist was a unique man that finally died for His God and His justice. But, despite the fact that he was an incredible person, and if we truly value him as such, we cannot focus on him, but rather, we must focus on what he came to do. He was the personification of the Holy Spirit during that length of time, and as such, we need to be obedient to what he left established. God Himself left this established from the very heavens: “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’” Matthew 3:16-17. God did not say that John was His beloved son. He said that about Jesus. Jesus is that true light of which John spoke of. Jesus is the Word. Jesus is the I AM. Jesus was the one that died on the cross. Jesus was the one that paid for our sins. Jesus was the one that was raised from the dead. Jesus is the one that is sitting at this moment at the right hand of God’s throne. Jesus is the one that will come for His church during the end times, which is soon. And Jesus is and will always reign for ever and ever. As the Apostle Peter said: “This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12.

So then, have you believed and obeyed what God established through John the Baptist, and now, through His Holy Spirit? Lord bless! John

Who Exactly is Jesus?

Based on John 1:1-5 (New King James Version)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

As an introduction, the Apostle John wrote the Gospel of John, and he wrote it much after the Lord died, between the years 90-100 AD. It is believed that it was the last of the four gospels written with the purpose to reestablish who Jesus was, to be able to affirm the faith of many. During this time, the falling away had already entered the church, those teachings that plant doubt on who Christ was, and whether He was a man or something else. One of the things that makes this gospel so valuable, apart from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is the person of John and his experiences. But of course, not to take away any value from the other gospels, because in the end, the four gospels illustrate the life of the Lord cumulatively. The Apostle John was the most intimate with the Lord, who was also the most faithful in all aspects. He was one of the first called. He lived with the Lord during His entire ministry here on earth. He saw everything the Lord did, every instant. He was part of the internal nucleus, together with Peter and James, by even seeing the transfiguration of the Lord, and the appearing of Elijah and Moses. Furthermore, he followed the Lord when he was arrested, while others fled. He was the only one of the chosen disciples that stood at the feet of the cross while others saw from far away. He saw in person the empty tomb. He saw the apparitions of the Lord after He was resurrected, even His ascension to heaven, to the Righthand of God. John saw it all. And after he wrote this gospel, John saw and wrote about the end, the book of Revelation, dictated and revealed by the Lord Himself. John’s experiences were unique and irrefutable.

Now then, to the most important issue: Who exactly is Jesus? As we read in today’s passage, Jesus was 100% Man, but also, 100% God. The Lord Jesus is God (Luke 1:46, 47, Romans 9:5, Hebrews 13:8). He is the Word or the action of God. He is the Son of the Most High (Luke 1:32). He is the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16-17). He is the Lord, King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:11-16, Romans 10:9). He is the Savior (Luke 2:11, Matthew 1:21). He is the Lamb of God (John 1:29, Revelation 22:1-4). He is the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed who was prophesied of and announced (Isaiah 7:14) and fulfilled (Luke 1:26-35, John 1:41). His Throne is at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 8:1, 12:2, Acts 7:55). The list is never-ending with the different names and manifestations as God, Lord, and Savior. The Son is the only one that has had contact with man since the creation. His work is to glorify and exalt the Father in His Holy, Pure, and Perfect Love in obedience and fulfillment (John 8:28, 29, Hebrews 5:7-10). He, His person, is what makes existence possible for everything: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Colossians 1:16-17. In summary, as God, He is everything.

Even though the cross is the universal symbol for the Christian faith, we need to stop envisioning the Lord on that cross. He did die for all humanity, extremely humbling Himself as God, but He is no longer that humble man from Galilee that was killed for our sins. He is sitting at His real position right this moment (which is fearful, far beyond what we can imagine). It is truly incomprehensible what He is and where He is.

Now, the most important thing out of all of this personally is: What is He to you? Whatever you believe or don’t believe does not affect His existence in the least. He is and shall continue being what He is, independent of what you think or believe of Him. The universe may be affected; the stars, the planets, and even this very small world we live in, but He is immovable, and His throne is forever and ever. But, each one of us are finite, insignificant, and of little value. And depending on how you see Him is what determines your value in the grand scheme of things. If you become not only someone that believes in Him, but more importantly, His disciple, following Him faithfully, that is what will determine your eternity and your value. But at the same time, if you neither believe or follow Him, no memory of your existence will remain, and it will be like you never existed. And even worse, you will be lost eternally and forever, where your existence (if it can be called that) will be the second death, the eternal weeping and gnashing of teeth.

So then, through the decision you take; believing and following Him, or not believing and not following Him, will determine what will become of you. So, who is Jesus to you? Lord bless! John

God Works When You Let Him

Based on Romans 16:25-27 (New King James Version)

“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.”

As the close of one year comes, and another year starts, we should keep something in our minds and in our hearts: God is in all things, in good things, in so-so things, and in things that are unpleasant. He does not produce evil by His own hand, but rather, allows for the agents of evil to do the evil they want to do, even Satan himself. Nothing moves without God’s permission. God is the Sovereign of all the universe, and there is none higher than Him. And well, things being what they are, I can imagine some of you asking this question: “How can God that is supposed to be good allow evil?”

Evil exists with only one purpose: to make something so complex as choice or free will possible. For free will to exist, there must be a difference in things. There must be good and evil. There must be a positive and a negative. And for a genuine choice to be possible, the evil that exists must be almost as powerful as good. It must be something attractive, desirable, and tempting, at least, at first glance. We see this since the beginning of humanity, when Eve saw the tree that God had said that they should not eat of its fruit. She saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise. Eve found the tree to be just as special or even more special than all the other trees in paradise. And well, we all know the results from that choice, that both Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, and that’s why we are where we are today. And for those that think they would not have fallen like Adam and Eve did, they unfortunately have a problem with reality, that we are all made of the same material that they were made of. Because of our nature, we would have all fallen just the same because we have all sinned. And the result of our sin is that we follow the way of our consequences until we end up in hell, just as God designed it (because God created everything, and He is behind everything); unless something different happens with our power to choose; unless the destructive cycle of sin is broken somehow.

And, here is where the difference comes in: that the same way God established a way of perdition as the consequence of sin, He also established a way of eternal salvation through the Lord Jesus. Even though God designed a way of perdition, His desire is not for us to be lost. He did not create man for loss, but rather, so that he could have the opportunity to choose for Him despite our sinful and evil condition. For it is written: “Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4. God wants us to choose for Him, fighting against our own evil desires and lust. God created salvation through His only begotten son, for it is also written: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Juan 3:16.

We need to understand something very basic. We are not doing God a favor by acknowledging Jesus as Lord, but rather, we are merely acknowledging an irrefutable reality. Now, if it is done in time, before the great judgement, by using our own free will to choose for God, we are doing ourselves the favor by gaining salvation. Because in the end, absolutely every being in the universe will have to acknowledge and humble themselves before the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, even Satan himself and his legions of demons: “For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’” Romans 14:11.

Now, how does all of this tie together with today’s passage? By using our free will to choose for God, God can then work in our lives for good, using good and even evil for our own benefit. If we choose to love Him, despite the circumstances and the pain that sin produces in this life, God can even use evil for our own good, for it is written: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. And so, God can establish us according to the gospel we have received and the preaching of Jesus Christ. He can reveal to us personally the mystery kept secret since the world began. He can manifest the Scriptures and help us follow the obedience of faith. God is the one that makes everything possible in our lives, despite our fallen nature, through the Holy Spirit, by transforming us after we have repented and converted.

And finally, God gives us this counsel: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:6-11.

So then, I ask you this question (that I also ask of myself): Shall we let God work in our lives, regardless of how difficult things get, so that we can become that which glorifies Him? Lord bless! John

Our Family in the Faith

Based on Romans 16:21-24 (New King James Version)

“Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you. I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

One of the greatest issues that I have seen in many congregations through the years is the problem of how we treat one another. For example, I have visited many churches in different places, and in most cases, I have gone by completely unnoticed (not that I am looking for attention). But that happens to many people. The only care that could be observed is between family and a circle of friends, but there is no room for anyone else. In other cases, and it is also a common problem, is that when a certain relationship with brethren is formed, that they treat each other like superficial friends, like a social club, instead of treating each other as they should. And the other problem related to that is that there is a cold, superficial, and passing relationship, which only exists for having a good time, as opposed to worrying for each other’s needs or problems. In the end, and any way you look at it, people don’t live what the Lord teaches us through His Word.

First, the church should not be a cold place, especially for those that are visiting. We are supposed to show God’s love to those that are looking for Him. And of course, we should not pay attention to a person because of what they have or don’t have. Because the people that show that do have some wealth do receive some attention, but the person of humble or normal appearance hardly gets any attention. Could you imagine if Christ would have been concerned only with His carnal family and circle of friends from His youth? What would have happened if the Lord would have only shared the truth and died only for a small group of people? Blessed be the God of the universe that He sent His only begotten Son to die for the whole world, and not just for a few people, leaving the door wide open so that all could come to Him! And more over, when we come to Him, He draws close to us and embraces us, looking to have an intimate relationship with every person. We should do the same as well, without exceptions.

The Lord left very clear who His real family was as it was written in the following passage: “And it was told Him by some, who said, ‘Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.’ But He answered and said to them, ‘My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.’” Luke 8:20-21. So then, our carnal family should not necessarily be our closest relationship or priority, especially if they are not interested in the things of God. Even while being here on earth, the Lord had to deal with the unbelief of His carnal family, for it is written: “After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. His brothers therefore said to Him, ‘Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.’ For even His brothers did not believe in Him.” John 7:1-5. You don’t have to forget your family, but if they don’t want to listen, you should pray for them, but also, you should unite more with those people that do look for God, the family in the faith.

The other issue is that as Christians we are not a club of friends to just have a good time, or to keep ourselves entertained. The problem with that is that folks are just looking for a good time, just like the world does. Second, relationships like that are cut short when there is a problem or when someone doesn’t get what they want, thereby making the basis of the relationship only an interest rather than the Spirit of God and the faith we have in common. We should have much more than that, and in many places in the Scriptures, we see examples of the type of relationships that existed before within the body of Christ. For example: “Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.’” Acts 14:19-22. This passage teaches us that there was more than just a superficial friendship, that even more so, there was a being present (physically) in the moment of need, and there was also such dedication and prayer for Paul that God acted and raised him from a dying state, so he could continue his mission.

We also see the precious example of the faithful that were present at the feet of the cross of the Lord, not leaving Him alone in His death. And we see that there was such a bond of love between the Lord and John, that He even entrusted His carnal mother to him, something He was not able to do with his carnal brethren, for it is written: “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.” John 19:25-27. We saw John’s faithfulness, that He kept his promise to the Lord until Mary died, or at least, until he was imprisoned. 

In summary, when Christ lives in the heart of people, we are more than friends, more than carnal family, we are made family through the Holy Spirit where no differences should exist, neither because of money or social status, or because of race, or anything else. Because we were also taught this: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.” 1 John 4:7-12. Love consists of having a close and intimate relationship, worrying for each other’s needs, keeping each other company, interceding in prayer for each other, and even laying down our lives if it were necessary, just as the Lord did for us all.

So then, are you part of God’s family? And if you are, how are you treating your true family? Lord bless! John

The Need for Biblical Knowledge

Based on Romans 16:17-20 (New King James Version)

“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.  For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”

Some folks might say that this passage is a little contradictory in the sense that it says that we should be careful with those that cause division, and that we need to take some distance from them; but in another part of the Scriptures, the Lord Himself prayed in this manner: “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:20-21. So then, when should there be unity and when should there be separation?

The first thing, and what is essential is that we need to understand that Biblical knowledge, from Genesis to Revelation, is vital. Presently, one of the greatest problems that the universal church of Christ has is the lack of knowledge of the Word. Many are not studying the Scriptures as they should. They are satisfied with just knowing a little bit, listening to bits and pieces in church on Sunday (if they even go to church regularly), etc. And unfortunately, when the knowledge of God is taken so lightly or not seriously, many mistakes are made, and people expose themselves to Satan’s deceptions, demonic doctrines that have infiltrated churches, and ravenous wolves that go into the ministry only to sheer sheep. By not knowing what is necessary, they become easy prey to those that the Word is warning us about. And well, how can you not fall into the trap since they use soft words, flattery, using an apparent care or adulation so they can take advantage of people? They seem like people that are kind, with nice and convincing smiles. And the greatest weapon they have is that they will tell you what you want to hear, appealing to your desires and selfishness. What they teach sounds and seems like the truth, using certain Bible passages to support what they want to say. They are subtle and difficult to detect. Therefore, if you don’t know the Word as you should, the only thing that will happen is that the ignorant will walk tranquilly towards eternal perdition, while they fill with money the pockets of evil people.

Coming back to our passage, the Bible explicitly teaches that we should be united, but only when we agree with the Holy things of God. It is possible that we may not agree on every little thing, but we must agree on what is essential. In relation to divisions, the Lord taught the following: “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:32-39. The Apostle Paul showed an even more stricter path, with reference to our relationship with supposed brethren in the faith that are walking in disorder: “I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.” 1 Corinthians 5:9-11. So then, the Lord is very clear with the type of company we should avoid. We must be very careful with the company we keep, and who we follow with respect to spiritual leaders and guides. As the saying goes: “Tell me who you go with, and I’ll tell you who you are.”

So, how can we know when there are bad intentions in a supposed servant of God that is only looking to fill their belly? In the first instance, you need to use common sense. If a person is more well off than the people that support them, there is at least a problem here. Even more so, the Apostle Paul taught that servants should work, as he gave his own example. The only times he was not able to keep a regular job was when he was in jail, or because of health problems, or due to extenuating circumstances. Otherwise, Paul always worked with his hands to support himself. At the very least, if a person is supported by a congregation, they should live humbly, no matter how rich the congregation might be.

The second way you can tell that you are being prey to some wolf in disguise is when they tell you what you want to hear, especially when it has to do with feeding your ego, excusing your sin, and looking for your own well-being; as examples. How do I know this? Because based on the Scriptures, everything is for the glory of the Lord (and not our glory); the Lord is always calling us to repentance, to change, and to sanctification; and the Lord teaches us that we may even have to lay our life down for Him at some point. With this same reasoning we can understand that psychology (as an example) in the ministry has no relationship with what the Bible teaches, because if you look at things in a psychological manner, the sins you commit will always be someone else’s fault, and not your own. Everyone is responsible for their own sins. Neither a person’s background matters, nor what your parents did or didn’t do, etc. If a person sins, they sin because they wanted to, and they have to repent from their sin so they can receive God’s forgiveness. And there is always a choice, even if the choice means death. Just as the heroes of the faith did when Caesar commanded them to blaspheme, by acknowledging him as lord, and renouncing to Jesus as Lord. Their choice was either blaspheme and live, or not blaspheme and die. They chose to die. They had a choice.

Finally, we need to be wise in what is good. We need to look for God’s knowledge, if we want to avoid being prey to someone with evil intentions. So then, do you understand the need for more Biblical knowledge, for your own good? Lord bless! John

Good Testimony

Based on Romans 16:1-16 (New King James Version)

“I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ. Greet Mary, who labored much for us. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.”

What do all these names that the Apostle Paul wrote mean? Why leave written the names of people on letters that should just contain Biblical teaching and doctrine? What is the value in a person’s name? Well, it is critical that the names of these people be written because they mean a lot. We will see exactly what they mean.

In our first observation, we can understand that they were brothers and sisters with good testimony. In other words, their dedication to the things of God, and to the care of the family in the faith was outstanding. But, on what is good testimony and care based on? On feelings, on nice words, on flattery, on superficial acts? Of course not! Even though it is not bad to receive some sort of physical demonstration of affection, or for someone to say something nice every now and then, or to receive some sort of attention; these things do not define that which has true value. And good testimony does not consist of pretty words, or raising of hands, or shouting out holy words, or praising out loud, or doing religious things. It goes beyond those things. In the end, everything must go deeper; in action, in effort, in sacrifice, and even unto death, if necessary, and that is not made possible by superficiality. Unfortunately, many people allow themselves to be convinced by these things as proof or expressions of love, and they are being carried away by superficial and hollow things. They don’t realize that those that use such tricks are just out to get something out of them. Many put themselves in positions where they are vulnerable to the wolf’s attack because they are led by superficial and vain thoughts.

What makes a person different, especially before the eyes of God? Even though we are saved by grace alone, works have much value after a person has received the grace of God. We are saved with a purpose; for good works. And as part of those good works, it is a matter of learning what is the will of God, practicing it, and fulfilling it. For it is written: “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:19-20. The Lord Himself also taught us this: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23.

The second observation is that these names mean that people like you and me were able to do things that pleased God, and that also helped their brethren in Christ. These names demonstrate that it is possible to do things of recognition, things that go beyond talk and superficiality. And this makes a great difference in the life of a believer. Because again, it is about action. And by doing what God says makes all the difference in the world in our lives and in others. For it is written: ‘Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. ‘But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.’” Matthew 7:24-27.

And finally, the third observation. The name of a person means a lot, in terms of what they have been able to accomplish through the Lord. Even though the world and those that do not know how to recognize what has true value do not remember those that did the will the God, their names will last eternally and forever. Their names will be known in the kingdom of God forever, and all the works they did. The Most High and Almighty God will write their actions in remembrance of them. That is what eternal life is about; that a person and their identity will exist forever, and that they will form part of the immovable things of God. For it is written: “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” Revelation 3:5-6. Even though the world may remember as precious certain people, if those people do not have their names written in the Book of Life, their names will be forgotten because they will burn together with the things of the world. Everything we see will one day disappear, and their names and identities also. The things that were will not be remembered, especially those that will find themselves in hell. It will be as if they never existed.

So then, do you look to have good testimony before the Almighty or before men? Lord bless! John

Divine Responsibilities

Based on Romans 15:22-33 (New King James Version)

“For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you.  For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.”

What should a disciple of Christ be doing? Should we only worry about spiritual needs, and nothing else? Should we only be concerned with the physical needs of a person? What is our duty with those that do not know the Gospel, and moreover, with those people that oppose what God teaches? What should the real function be for each individual follower and group of Christ followers? We will try to explain concisely.

The first point is that we need to understand that God is not looking for mere believers, because being a believer does not really do much. Even more so, the Bible teaches us that the demons believe and fear God, who ironically show much more acknowledgement to the Most High than many human beings, and so called “believers”. God is looking for disciples, people that allow for themselves to be taught by God, subjected to Him and to His principles. So then, we should not just believe, but rather, we should learn and practice what He teaches us. And in this case, the disciple does not put limits on what he is asked to do. If you give God limits, telling him that a certain thing is not your calling, or that you do not want to do what He is asking, or that those things were meant more for the apostles like Paul and others, I regret to tell you, but you should think about what your faith is really about. But at minimum, there is a serious spiritual problem. If there is no subjection to God, then there is no discipleship. And if there is no discipleship, then the person is not forming part of what could be useful to God. And if they cannot be useful to God, then, what good are they for? Everything in God has a purpose. God does not need decorations, and He is not looking for them either.

The second point, if one is truly a disciple of Christ, is that they should always be on the move. If a person just came to Christ, then they need to eat and grow, by looking for the Word of God, because that is the only way that person can grow. And while they grow, they need to move. The physical world teaches this concept quite clearly. If you don’t eat, you die. If you eat and don’t move, sooner or later, you will get sick and die also. A person needs to eat and move regularly in order to be healthy. It’s exactly the same way in the spiritual sense.

So then, how should we be moving? In many things. If we see the passage and provide answers to the questions at the beginning, the answer is that we should be doing everything. As disciples of the Lord, and as a group of disciples (the local church), we need to be concerned with spiritual and physical needs, without exceptions. We should as individuals, and as a group, help in everything possible, including sharing the Gospel with those people that don’t know the Lord yet. And as Paul did, if we find no place to preach where we are at, then we need to go somewhere else, but we need to look. Today, you can reach practically anyone in the world through the television, through radio, through the internet, through the telephone, through email (like we are doing here), by text, etc. There are no limits! If Paul would have had the capabilities we have today, the world would be a very different place. We have to pray for one another, helping each other in our needs. And of course, we should love our enemies. It’s not part of God’s teachings to protest to defend His things. What God teaches is that we win the world and our enemies through prayer, on our knees, with a true testimony, practicing the Word of God; and not using the weapons of this world. Christ never protested, nor did He inspire others to do it. There was never a march or soliciting politicians. The war should be won through good, and nothing else.

In the end, is it easy to follow the Lord and be His disciple? Of course not. No one said it would be easy. The Lord never preached a gospel of world peace, of prosperity, and that everything would be perfect here. It’s difficult to follow Christ. The hope is not on things here. Paul said this: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” 1 Corinthians 15:19. He said this because following Christ does have a price also. Everything in this life costs something. But we have to bear in mind the following: “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:7-14.

What God has for us in the future, for those that follow Him faithfully, is of much more value than what this world can ever offer us. So then, are you fulfilling your divine responsibilities, for your own good, and for the good of those around you? Lord bless! John

The Door Christ Opened

Based on Romans 15:7-21 (New King James Version)

“Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: ‘For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name.’ And again he says: ‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!’ And again: ‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!’ And again, Isaiah says: ‘There shall be a root of Jesse; and He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope.’ Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient—in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation, but as it is written: ‘To whom He was not announced, they shall see; and those who have not heard shall understand.’”

God’s Grace has an incalculable value for us as humans. Maybe there are some of you that only see it as something good, but may not truly understand what it really is and what it means, and this is the root of many problems that we see today, especially in God’s people. The value of things are not really understood, especially the things of God. So then, to be able to understand the value of something, it is necessary to understand what it is and what it does. Or else, it will not be valued, and it will be treated as something common. Furthermore, more priority is given to things that truly are of lesser value.

Let’s understand the concept of value first. What gives something its value? Many people think that money is everything, and they even love it and put all their trust in it. What is money? If we see it for what it is, and especially as we know it today, it is really an item or verifiable record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services, and for repayment of debt in a particular nation or in a socio-economic context. In other words, it’s an article that a group of people have attributed some value to, depending on demand and economic conditions, of course. But, in reality, it’s some sort of material with some special ink that can be worth something one day, and not be worth much at a different time. If you want to see the true value of money, see how you do with a million dollars or euros in the middle of a desert without any human contact. They are no good for eating or drinking. You are probably going to die even faster if you try to actually eat the money because of the germs. So then, the real value of something is determined by the circumstances.

For example, Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, is the person with the highest personal value in the world. According to Forbes, his personal value is estimated at US$89.4 billion between stocks, property, liquid assets, etc. He can run the infrastructure of many countries all by himself for a year. Nevertheless, if Bill Gates does not obtain salvation through Jesus Christ, his billions of dollars, stocks, etc. will not help him at all when he is standing before the throne of God, because all those things (even though they are not evil within themselves), have no value in the kingdom of God; least of all, for the salvation of a soul. The only thing that has value before God’s throne for salvation is being redeemed by the blood of Christ. There is no other way. There is only one way to get to God and eternal life: Jesus.

Now then, what does this have to do with today’s passage? This message applies more to us as gentiles (as far as I know, the majority that see these messages are gentiles). Before Christ died on the cross for our sins, we the gentiles (those that are not from Israel), did not have a clear way to the Father. In addition, the Jew (the religious) could not get to God either before Christ died, even though they were legitimate sons of Abraham. The Jew could only aspire to Abraham’s bosom, if they truly kept the law. There was nothing that mankind could do to save themselves, least of all, the gentiles. The Bible teaches us this: “Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:11-13. If it were not for the Lord, neither the Jews would be saved, but least of all, we the gentiles. We were completely excluded from salvation, except for a few that God chose personally, because everyone was severely pagan with a reproved mind. It may be difficult to accept, but that was reality. That’s why God would command the extermination of the different nations before Christ came, because they were irredeemable. Was God hard or severe? No. He knows all things, even the most intimate things within each human being.

But, here is where we see God’s mercy, and the value of the dispensation of God’s Grace through the Lord Jesus. For it is written: “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:10. Although we were God’s enemies, especially as gentiles, He gave His Only Begotten Son to change our destiny (because our destiny was hell). The Lord also said: “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” John 10:9.

So then, do you understand the door that Christ has opened for you? And if you understand, do you value it? Lord bless! John

Building a Unified Body in Christ

Based on Romans 15:1-6 (New King James Version)

“We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, ‘The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.’ For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

One of the things that makes following Christ difficult is making God and others the priority, putting them before our own desires and wants. Why is it difficult? Because we live in a world that pushes us to make ourselves happy. In today’s society exists now more than ever the teaching of satisfying yourself. There are more and more altars of egocentrism and self-glorification being raised. A very clear message that is broadcast, for example, is: “Only you can make yourself happy.” There are many motivational speakers and modern-day philosophers that compel you to fulfill your desires, to follow your goals, and to get to what you want no matter what you have to sacrifice. And even more so, many false gospels have appeared that teach that faith is what helps you get what you want. And according to those gospels, God is not the Lord. Instead, God is your servant and your faith makes Him work for your happiness. And of course, in that enters prosperity and other things. In a nutshell, that which is pagan, worldly, and even so-called “evangelical”; all broadcast self-satisfaction.

Is it wrong to search for some sort of personal happiness? Not really. But, not at the expense of dethroning God from first place, and also turning other human beings that surround you into your peons or subjects. In my humble observations, I have been able to notice that what makes the world we live in so evil is the level of egocentrism that exists. The majority of people only want to take something from others. That’s why marriages and families break apart, because there are two people competing to fulfill their own desires. Everyone wants to pursue their own successes, and the cost does not matter (of course, what the cost is to the other person). There are not that many people that want something good for the other person. And many try to take advantage of the good will that few people have, those who are not selfish. For instance, the person that steals does not care about the other person because their desire to have what the other person has is greater than the harm they cause. The person that cheats on their spouse cheats because their desire to experience an adventure or satisfy their own needs is greater than thinking about the pain they will cause the other person. And well, their selfishness makes them destroy their family as well. When evil is done, people are only thinking about themselves, as opposed on those that are being affected. And of course, the person that thinks more in themselves does not think about others, and least of all God. They also lack the capacity to think about other people that may be suffering around them as well. Most people are impenetrable when it comes to paying attention to other people’s needs.

What we see in today’s passage goes completely against what is happening in today’s society. God calls us to help each other, to build each other up, to be able to help those people that truly have needs and are suffering. God is the priority, and by virtue that God is the priority, our neighbor should turn into our priority. Here is where we can see someone’s true spirituality; not in how nice or spiritual they sound, but rather, in their actions. The Bible teaches us this also: “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:19. So then, those that are great do what God says, not just talk or preach about it.

One of the things the Lord Himself prayed for us was so that we can have a genuine unity; among those that follow Him. In addition, the only way that the world will know that God sent His Son to this world is through our unity. For it is written: “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:20-21. We might have different ideas or ways of being, but, if we believe just as the Bible teaches, we need to be united, watching out for the needs of those that surround us, and vice-versa.

The only thing that can separate us as the body of Christ is sin. In other words, when a person that calls themselves a follower is living a lifestyle of sin. For it is written: “I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.” 1 Corinthians 5:9-11. Sin destroys everything, even the unity and love that God calls us to have with each other. But also, and based on looking for each other’s wellbeing, we are called to help each other leave behind those things that only bring destruction. We have to be clear in the wrong that someone is doing, but not for judgment. Instead, we need to admonish in love, counseling people by considering your own weaknesses. Because we are taught this also: “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20.

In summary, those that are in Christ are there to help other believers, and also help those people that need God’s salvation. But, you always need to keep this thought in mind, being careful in everything that you do: “Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘If you return, then I will bring you back; you shall stand before Me; if you take out the precious from the vile, you shall be as My mouth. Let them return to you, but you must not return to them.” Jeremiah 15:19.

So then, are you helping your neighbor find their way to Christ, and building up your family in the faith? Lord bless! John

We Are Responsible for Our Actions

Based on Romans 14 (New King James Version)

“Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.”

The issue that the Lord through the Apostle Paul is dealing with through this passage is sometimes misunderstood, and when something is not understood correctly, errors are made. And well, what the Lord mostly desires for us is to learn what is necessary, so the mistakes stop; not only for our own good, but also, for the benefit of others. Because the most important point that is dealt with in different parts of the Scriptures is that our walk with the Lord is measured not only through what is personal and intimate, but also, and in conjunction, by what we do with those people that surround us. Everything we do on this earth will always have two directions: verticals, between God and us; and horizontals, between our neighbors and us; identical to what the cross symbolizes.

The first observation we will see is regarding those that are weak in the faith. The weak in the faith are people that recently came to Christ, basically someone recently born in the Spirit. And like every newborn creature, they cannot walk or eat on their own, and obviously, they cannot defend themselves much either. The weak in the faith is dependent on those that have grown more in the Lord, and they need that help to be able to develop and strengthen, to be able to eat and walk on their own, as well as defend themselves. This implies a discipleship, but obviously, it depends on the weak; if they are hungry, looking for the things of God. Nothing can be forced on or imposed, so the desire to be discipled must come from the person, if they have truly been born again and are being led by the Holy Spirit in their lives. The apostles went through that process, and the Lord Himself discipled them through their weak stage. The Apostle Paul was also weak in his beginnings and he had to depend for some time on the brethren that had a longer walk with the Lord. And with this comes admonishing (very different to judging), which implies sharing those things with a person that help them grow, learn, and stop doing those things that are not convenient. In other words, how can a newborn in the Lord know if they are doing wrong or right? There has to be some instruction, and many times, help with correcting what is wrong (because the Bible defines what is good and evil, righteousness and sin, for our own good). We are supposed to help and inspire each other to follow what pleases the Lord. But, the time must come when weakness is left behind, and the person is strengthened in the Lord so they can be on their way and like that, help other newer and weaker persons than themselves. A person should stop drinking milk at some point, and start eating some meat and solid food, walking on their own. If a person does not develop, there is a problem, just as nature teaches us. And that is a much longer study.

The other observation is concerning food. The problem that existed with food at that time was that it was very common that it be offered as a sacrifice or offering to idols and pagan gods. Almost everything that was sold in the market, especially in places outside of Israel, was sacrificed to idols. So then, the issue was that it caused stumbling on newer converts or the weak when seeing more mature believers, per se, eat those same things that they knew that was sacrificed to idols. It created confusion. The issue with drinking wine came into play also, and there was a difference between grape juice and fermented wine (another long study). There were weaker and younger brethren that had to come the Lord as alcoholics (just like it happens today) that had left alcohol behind, and it caused confusion for them to see more mature Christians drink alcohol. And well, they were right. There is nothing worse than drinking alcohol in front of a recovering alcoholic. If you want to make an alcoholic fall again, just start drinking in front of him.

Trying to summarize at a large scale this passage, the Lord teaches us here that we should be aware of what we do because we can affect negatively those that surround us, and, that everyone (yes, even those of us that have come to a new life in the Lord), shall give an account for our actions here, and also, after; depending on what it is. We are here to develop our relationship with the Lord so that we can carry out His purposes, which also involves every person that surrounds us. The Lord also counsels us with this: “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.” Colossians 3:23-25. So then, do you understand that you will give an account for everything you do now, whether it be good or evil? Lord bless! John

This Life is Temporary

Based on Romans 13:11-14 (New King James Version)

“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

During the week, we saw the tragic incident that happened in New York where a person decided to take the lives of others by driving a truck down a bicycle path. According to multiple news sources, eight people died and another group were injured, including two children that were riding on a school bus which finally helped avoid even more tragedies. Among the dead were: Darren Drake, 32 años, from New Milford, New Jersey; Nicholas Cleves, 23 años, from New York, New York; Ann-Laure Decadt, 31 años, from Belgium; y finally Hernan Diego Mendoza-Espino, 47 años, Alejandro Damian Pagrucco, 47 años, Herman Ferruchi, 47 años, Diego Enrique Angelini, 47 años, and Ariel Erlis, 48 años, all from Argentina. I don’t want to focus on the person that carried out the attack, but rather, on the victims. Who were they?

Darren was a very healthy young man, according to his father. He was a young man that while his coworkers would take cigarette and coffee breaks, he would typically take a 15-20-minute ride on his bicycle. On this occasion, he went out for a ride in between meetings. Ann-Laure Decadt was a mother of two children, one was 3 years old and the other 3 months old, along with being a wife as well. She was on a trip with her mother and two sisters during the time of the attack, as it was related by her inconsolably hurting husband. Not much is known about Nicholas Cleves. It can only be deduced that he was very young, and more than likely, in good health. And among the victims were five men from Argentina that were celebrating their 30th anniversary class reunion. They had all been good friends for all those years, if not, for even longer. They had promised themselves a trip like this to celebrate. One of the five, Ariel Erlis, was a businessman that paid for the trip for some of his friends, so they could be together during their long-awaited celebration. My question is: “What was going through their minds during that morning when getting up? Could they, their families and loved ones have imagined that something like this was going to happen to them later that day?  

What did these people have in common? Well, they were all young still. They seemed healthy. And they were doing something that did not seem very dangerous. Even more so, they were doing something that was rather benign. The other thing they had in common is that I don’t think any of them imagined what was going to happen that day, because if they would have had even the smallest concern, they probably would not have gone out for a ride, right? What they mostly have in common because of this tragedy is that their families will never be the same ever again. Each one of them leaves a void that cannot be filled. One was a mother, a wife, a daughter, and a sister. The others may have had similar relationships. A very painful hole is left, because their deaths were sudden and senseless.

This tragedy, like many others that happen daily, illustrates to us once again what the Lord through the Apostle Paul is teaching us in this passage: this life is temporary and very uncertain. And knowing that reality, we need to know how to live this life in a good way, thinking that we are only just passing by, with our eyes set on what is to come. If we focus too much on the here and now, we will lose sight of what really matters, and we will not be ready for when the unexpected occurs. No one know when it will be their turn, but we must maintain something very clear: it is only a question of when and how. For some people, it may be at an early age. For others, maybe as they reach some halfway point. And of course, it may happen to some of us when we have lived some more years. And when something is going to happen, there is no discrimination. It will happen to the rich and to the poor, to a man and to a woman, to people of different races, etc. The Bible teach us this: “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” James 4:13-17. No one should take tomorrow for granted, not even later on the same day, because you never know, and you should live as such; at least if you don’t want to be unpleasantly surprised.

If we know that the here is passing and uncertain, what the Lord counsels us to do is to think about how we spend our time here, knowing that there is something greater later on. Everything that we see today will disappear tomorrow, including ourselves, and our loved ones. The other thing we need to keep in mind is that if these people had something bad happen to them while they were doing something that was not wrong, and quite the contrary, something benign and healthy, how much more careful should we be with things that do not glorify God? Maybe without knowing it, how many times did you expose yourself to a harmful event by being in doubtful places, with a bad element, with people that do not have good intentions, or you got involved in something that is not convenient? If so, do you think nothing happened to you because you were smart or intelligent, or because you deserve to live more than these eight people? No matter how smart we may think we are, we never have an idea of what circles around us. We live in a world with much evil and disorder, and if something does not happen to us, it’s only because of God’s mercy, and nothing else. What does the Scripture say about this? “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” So then, if something bad can happen to someone that is not doing something wrong, how much more do you think can go wrong when you don’t do things that glorify God, by exposing yourself to an evil, perverse, and destructive world?

And finally, we need to look for the things of the Lord, by doing those things that are good for us and for those that are around us while here, but more importantly, good for us after. Everything we do here counts. So then, are you living in a way that you are consciously aware that we are just passing by this temporary world? Lord bless! John

How We Should Treat People (Continued)

Based on Romans 13:8-10 (New King James Version)

“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

One of the key things that we need to learn in our walk with the Lord is how to treat our neighbor. I have heard sometimes the interpretation that our neighbor is the person that does good to us without any kind of obligation. Going by this explanation, our most important neighbor would be God the Father since He and His Son created us, and He also gave His Son, the Lord Jesus, to die for our sins; and of course, He did it without any kind of obligation. He did everything because of love. So then, He would be our most excellent neighbor. But, we have to be very careful with just focusing on that, trying to be very spiritual, per se. Because it is very necessary to understand that our neighbor is also our fellow man; each person that surrounds us, whether they are there for an extended period of time, or for a moment.

There are many people that supposedly focus so much in that our duty is only to the Lord that they forget what the Lord Himself taught us to do. For example, there are many folks that say: “I already asked the Lord for forgiveness for the wrong I committed, so I don’t need to do anything else to be forgiven.” And that is not entirely correct; but rather, it’s only part of the equation. It is just as vital to repent and convert before the Lord as it is also to show fruits worthy of repentance with each person we affect with our wrongful action. According to the Word of God, we need to help or relieve the ones we have oppressed (Isaiah 1:17).

If we understand well the Word, starting with something as basic as the ten commandments, we can see the order that God indicates to man; that we should love Him first (the first four commandments), and our neighbor second (the next six commandments). Please remember also that the Lord said that He did not come to do away with the law, but rather, fulfill it, and of course, fulfill it in us through the work of His Holy Spirit while He transforms us and changes us to be like God desires for us to be. So then, if there are folks that think that we don’t have to pay attention any more to the Old Testament, then they are denying the complete mission of the Lord in our lives. A Christian “must” press on towards the goal, just as the Apostle Paul taught. Therefore, if the water stagnates, it will decompose.

The very thing that God wants to carry out in our lives is that we need to learn how to treat each other as human beings, in the same manner as He treated us. A clear explanation of this is the so called golden rule: “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12. Would you like for your children to dishonor you as parents? Would you like for folks to try to kill you? Would you like for someone to cheat on you? Would you like for people to steal from you? Would you like for someone to speak falsely of you? Would you like to be envied, to the point of people fantasizing how to take what is yours? If you don’t like for these things to be done to you, then don’t do it to other people! That’s the point. The Bible also says this: “You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” Leviticus 19:36. We must practice justice with each person.

The big problem that exists is spiritual falsehood. How can I say this? Easy! If all the people that profess to believe in God practiced what God says to do, the world would be a much better and different place. More specifically, and according to the Pew Research Center, in 2010, it was estimated that there were more than 2.2 billion Christians worldwide. Could you imagine what the world would be like if 2.2 billion people at least tried to do what God teaches; how many problems would be resolved? However, the Lord Himself admonishes His people in the following manner: “Cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet; tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching God. ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’ ‘In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exploit all your laborers. Indeed you fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, to make your voice heard on high. Is it a fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? ‘Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?” Isaiah 58:1-7. You can try to do all kinds of things that seem religious and good, but it’s of no value if you are not doing what is right with your neighbor.

And finally, we need to practice love with our neighbor, trying to do what God teaches us, because it is urgent and necessary. For it is written: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:7-11.

So then, are you loving your neighbor, showing the evidence that God is truly working in your life? Lord bless! John

How We Should Treat Authorities

Based on Romans 13:1-7 (New King James Version)

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.”

In today’s passage, we learn that God teaches something very contrary to what many believe in our society, regarding the respect for authorities. We see through the Bible, and even through the life of the Lord here on earth, that it is not God’s will to oppose the authorities, even if they are not peaceful or just. Both the Lord Jesus and Paul lived during the reign of the Roman Empire, one of the most ruthless empires the world has ever seen. The Roman Empire was pagan, cruel, and extremely dominant; especially when trying to subdue the nations they wanted to conquer or dominate. They practiced the method of killing by crucifixion, not only to give their opponents an agonizing death, but also to showcase what would happen if you didn’t follow their rules or commands. It is believed that many roads were lined with people that were crucified, and that it sometimes consisted of hundreds of people at a time, one behind the other, in sequence, with the idea to intimidate and punish. During the Christian persecution, an endless number of torture tactics and ways to kill people were practiced, many times done as spectacles in the famous Roman Coliseum to entertain the masses.

However, the Lord never preached against the Roman Empire, even though many of His followers believed that He would be the leader or the king that would lead them to go against the dominion of those they hated. In addition, the Lord explained when asked if they should pay tribute to Caesar, He said: Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s… And even the example was given when both He and Peter paid their taxes when He told Peter to go fish, and that he would find a coin in the fish’s mouth that would help pay what they needed to, so the authorities would not be offended. There is no teaching given by the Lord that shows us that we should rebel or hate our authorities.

Paul reinforces that sentiment through this passage. As believers, we should respect every authority, even the ones we don’t like. As much as we may not like a president or a leader, we should pray for them; not to wish any harm on them, but rather, so that God can work in their lives, if they don’t know the Truth of God. And I can assure you that no matter how bad you might think an authority is today, I don’t think they are as evil or ruthless as the Caesars were back then. So then, the Lord Himself, while being God, and Paul, taught to respect them, how much more should we respect the ones we have now?

I know this is not easy or pleasing to many people, but if we want to finally serve Christ, and follow the principles God establishes, we should consider what the supreme authority of the universe teaches us. So then, as long as our authorities don’t make us do things that go against God Himself and against what He teaches, we should submit to the authorities, respect them, obey them, follow their laws, pay taxes, be honest, etc. And not only do these things, but also, help them when we are able to, for it is written: Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. Titus 3:1-2.

Finally, if we desire to change things, for good, there are ways we can proceed. The Bible teaches us the following: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21. Things are not supposed to be changed by protests, or by being defiant, or through disrespect, or through force and violence, or through politics, etc. This is what the Scriptures say also: “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4. The way we can and should affect in a positive manner everything that surrounds is through prayer and by practicing what the Bible teaches, through our testimony, just as our prime example (Jesus Christ) did. It is God’s will for us to be good citizens.

So then, are you treating your authorities as God commands you to? Lord bless! John

How We Should Treat People

Based on Romans 12:14-21 (New King James Version)

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore, ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

God not only cares about how we treat Him, but also, how each believer treats his fellow man. Many people think that if they try to maintain a good relationship with God directly then they think that they don’t have to do anything else; but that is far from the truth. Furthermore, the way that God sees if our relationship is well with Him is by the way we treat one another, and a lot of what He teaches goes against our very nature regarding that and as we will see through today’s sharing. So, we should leave aside our opinion. Only God’s counsel should reign in our lives.

In today’s passage, the first thing we see is a principle that goes clearly against our instincts and sentiments. The most natural thing in a person is to try to return the wrong that was done to them, where many cling on to the “eye for an eye, and tooth for tooth” idea. The Lord Jesus changed that concept, especially when introducing the dispensation of the grace of God through His own sacrifice on the cross, by washing away all the sins of those that accept Him as the Lord of their lives. Even more so, He taught us this: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48. I know it is difficult to return good for evil, but, God desires for us to act with others the way He acted with us, especially when considering that we used to be His enemy when we were lost in our sins. And with that is also included the “not repaying evil for evil” and vengeance.

In connection with this concept, unmerited forgiveness was introduced at the same time. The Lord also taught the following: “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Mark 11:25-26. This of course goes against our nature and instincts, but that is why it is necessary to be born again in Him to be able to do things like this, which is the only means that makes the impossible possible in our lives. It is only with the help of the Holy Spirit that the process of transformation occurs (which is what God wants to have happen in each of us). Man cannot triumph over their sinful nature on their own. That’s why the believer cannot stagnate, but rather, should always continue moving forward, towards the goal that the Scriptures outline for us.

We are also taught through this passage that we should have a singular unity with others, by understanding their joys and their sadness. It is usually easier to be with people when everything is ok. But when there is sadness, people usually find themselves alone and abandoned. In this is also included keeping each other company and helping one another in our moments of pain, of sickness, of confusion, and any other difficult time that a person can find themselves in. You should not be around during the good times only, but during the tough times as well.

And finally, we should see this point: overcoming evil with good. The easiest thing to do in this life is to give up. There are many times that we might say: “why continue fighting against the current, because I can’t do this anymore.” Or also, “what have I gained by trying to do things right if all I get back is evil.” It’s very possible that doing what is right may cause you problems, or that you may grow weary because you don’t see any reward here. But, you need to keep something clear, especially before giving up: God is watching. And, if we understand that God is watching, then we know that whether things work out well or not, that God will reward us in the end and eternally. And that is a reality worth fighting for. I would rather have God’s reward which is infinite than man’s gratitude or things here that only last so long, because they will vanish soon. As an ending to this thought, the Lord says this in His Word: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:7-10.

So then, what is God seeing when you interact with others? Lord bless! John

Godly Counsel (Continued)

Based on Romans 12:11-13 (New King James Version)

“not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.”

In today’s passage, God continues to give us more of His sound counsel through the Apostle Paul. Some of it is understandable (speaking in human terms), but some of it (if we are honest), is difficult to accept. As I have commented in the past, many of the concepts that God teaches requires people to unlearn what they have inside. In the majority of cases, especially when a person has come to God as an adult, they have to allow for the Holy Spirit to reprogram them somehow. In other words, the old man has to be left behind so that the new one can start working, day-by-day. If this doesn’t happen, a person will never be able to experience the abundant life God wants to give through His Son Jesus. The only way that a new beginning can start in a person’s life is by leaving behind the old, and by starting to apply God’s counsel, putting into practice what God teaches. So, let’s start seeing piece by piece what is understandable, and what is difficult to accept.

Diligence, or, leaving behind laziness (using a clearer term), is necessary for daily things, and of course, even more, for eternal and profound things. If a person does not dedicate themselves to spend time with the Lord, reading and studying His Word, praying, being busy with the things He teaches, how will they grow and develop spiritually? One of the biggest problems with God’s people today is the lack of Bible study. People are not looking for divine knowledge. And that within itself brings big problems. For it is written: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” Hosea 4:6. During the time of the Apostles, the only copies of the Scriptures (the Old Testament was all they had) could be found in synagogues. Everything was either heard or memorized. It was a great privilege to have access to a copy of the Scriptures. Today, the Bible (the Old and New Testament combined) is still the most printed book in all of the world, with millions of copies circulating in dozens of different languages. You can gain access to the Bible on-line, through apps on smartphones (I personally have two versions in English and one in Spanish). You can listen to the Bible through these wonderful gadgets. Today, I heard the first ten chapters of the book of Exodus while I was working outside. And if there are so many resources where a person can read, listen, and study the Bible, why are they not taken advantage of? What’s the problem? Why are people not fervent? We are fervent for so many other things.

I think “rejoicing in hope” is understood, that despite any problem we may encounter while here in this world, we can always have the joy of our salvation, the hope of eternity (for those that have given their life to Christ), where there will be no more death, no more suffering, no more tears, or pain, etc. But, why do we become so easily troubled with situations in this life? There are times that very insignificant things can ruin our day, or at least, when we compare whatever the issue may be to the eternity God has for those that love Him. We should always have present how immense our salvation is, and that we are not alone, but rather, God is living in our hearts.

Now, referring to: patient in tribulation, I know that this is hard for us to understand. The Bible teaches that: “…We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22b. Tribulation goes far beyond our daily problems. It’s not about: my car broke down, I got a bad cold, or my son or daughter sprained an ankle playing sports, etc. Tribulation consists of things that are completely out of our control and out of the norm, and it affects many people; some things caused by earthly authorities, and others by natural disasters, or deadly diseases; and that it happens to everyone without any discrimination, to both believers and/or nonbelievers. The global persecution of Christians is an example of tribulation, where dozens of people are killed or tortured daily for their faith in Christ. Cancer is part of tribulation, where it occurs in millions of people with or without cause (or at least, the cause is unknown). World hunger, where millions of people are just waiting to die because they have no food or water, and there is nothing they can do to better their situation. Tribulation is necessary because it cleans us, it makes us stronger (at least, those that decide to continue forward, because many deny their faith due to tribulation). Tribulation purifies the universal body of the Church of God.

Together with tribulation, and daily problems, prayer is essential. We need to spend time praying, not just for help, but also, speaking to the Lord. In prayer, it is also included having a conversation with the Most High, praise, worship; everything that can be communicated verbally. Prayer is part of our communication with the Lord. If the Christian does not pray, then they are not communicating with God.

And finally: “…distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.” The Gospel of God is not just about words, but more importantly, it’s about action. In conjunction with sharing the Truth of God with everyone, we need to help everyone as well; and prayer is not enough. If we only pray, and we don’t supply the needs of our brethren, especially if it is within our means, we are then wasting our time. According to the Word of God, faith without works is dead; it’s no good. And we all can and should help the believer, as well as the nonbeliever in their moment of need, just like Christ did, and like the Father does every day, because He makes it rain over the just and the unjust.

Look for God’s counsel daily because it is for your own good. Lord bless! John

Godly Counsel

Based on Romans 12:1-10 (New King James Version)

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.”

Today’s passage has some godly counsel that applies to our daily life. If we are able to understand and practice what God shares with us today, we will be able to understand and resolve many things in our lives. Our lives may not necessarily become easier (and I know that by saying something like that some of you may lose heart; because we want everything to be easy), but we would be able to get clear direction with logical and applicable principles for each aspect of our life. Be brave! If you move forward, you will achieve great things.

The first point is about being able to use our reasoning for the things of God, so that in a very practical way we are able to learn what is necessary, and let go of that which is unnecessary and harmful. This is what our “reasonable service” is about, that rational thinking or reasoning should be used for the things of God. What God teaches has great logic, especially in the great and eternal scheme. If we have learned the things of the world to conduct our lives (and the things of the world are foreign to the things of God), we have to let go or unlearn those things, and learn what God teaches. We have to let the Holy Spirit teach us through the Scriptures those things that are convenient to understand, to learn, and to practice; and like that, renew our mind. God does not hate the mind. On the contrary, the heart and the soul need the mind so that we can use our strength to do (put into action) those things that God teaches. Remember that faith without works is dead, that there is no life without action. And many times, a lot of strength is necessary for the things of God, especially when facing obstacles.

In addition to that, it’s very necessary to involve the mind with the things of God. The renewed mind is what helps us understand the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. Otherwise, it becomes our worst enemy. The greatest fight a human being can encounter is with themselves. It sounds absurd, but it’s true. The heart may be willing. The soul may long for God, but the influence of the world over the mind of a person always is the greatest obstacle for many people. The Holy Spirit tells you to do something, but your human mind says, “That doesn’t make sense, so, I’m not doing it.” So, you need to wash your mind with the Word of God, so that it can be renewed and cleaned from everything that goes against God.

The second point is that we should be humble. There is no one that knows everything, and that can do everything on their own. We all need others, and moreover, believers need one another. The person that thinks they can do everything on their own has a great problem with reality and with their ego (I say this in the love of the Lord). This is a spiritual war, and to be able to fight a war, you need soldiers; many soldiers; and each soldier has their function and responsibility. If you don’t learn how to work in a group, the war cannot be won. The only way for the world to believe that God sent His only begotten Son to the world is through our unity; not by our preaching or words. For it is written: “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:21. So then, we need to learn how to get along, if we are being guided by the same Holy Spirit.

And finally, the primary motivator for everything in the Lord needs to be love. The Bible teaches us this: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. The only thing that will remain forever is love, because God is love. And just in case, we are not talking about the love the world talks about. True love that comes from God will never justify sin, because sin produces death, but the love of God will always produce and perpetuate life, because Christ is life.

The Bible also teaches us this principle: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:7-11.

God’s counsel is always for our own good, and for the good of others, even though others may not understand right now. So, are you looking for the counsel of God for your life? Lord bless! John

Understanding Our Opportunity as Gentiles

Based on Romans 11:25-36 (New King James Version)

“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.’ Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?’ ‘Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?’ For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”

There is something very important that needs to be understood from this passage (although many things can be seen), and that is, that we need to understand exactly what has been granted to the gentiles, to those that are not Jewish (the Jew referred to here is the one that has been perfect in their generations, trying to keep the law of Moses and not mixing themselves with foreigner or pagans). The truth is that we were far away from the things of God, especially before Christ. Our ancestors were the world’s lost. They were part of the darkness, totally dedicated to pagan worship, serving everything related to Satan, and even Satan himself. It’s sad (this affects me personally as well), but it’s the truth.

The Lord Himself clarified even more that the promises and calling to salvation was first for the Jewish nation. The Lord did not come because of the gentiles (to start), but came first to speak to Israel. This can be clearly seen in the following passage: “And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.’ But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she cries out after us.’ But He answered and said, ‘I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me!’ But He answered and said, ‘It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.’” Matthew 15:22-26. The Lord finally heals the Canaanite woman’s daughter, but He clearly establishes that Israel is the priority.  

Why is it necessary to be clear on this point, like the importance of the Jewish nation? Because of two important reasons. The first reason is because we need to be clear that the salvation that we have is only possible through the failure of the beloved nation. If Israel would have acknowledged Christ as what He is, the gentiles would have no salvation, not even through the cross of Christ. But, because of Israel’s disobedience is that the Gospel came to the gentiles. So then, we need to understand that we the gentiles owe much to Israel. Therefore, not only should we pray for them, but also, we should look for as many ways as possible to help and support them. So then, it is impossible for anyone that calls themselves a follower of Christ to hate the Jewish nation, because they would then be hating their own salvation and the commandments and intentions of God. Because God’s promise to Abraham and his generations is still in force: “…and I will curse him who curse you…”  This should produce an even greater form of humbleness in us. There is no place for any kind of pride in us.

The second crucial reason is that we need to value our salvation. Our salvation and the grace that God has poured on us through Christ cannot be abused. If we understand well the Scriptures, in no place can it be inferred that we can take lightly the salvation that God has granted us. This is what can help us understand the difference between a sound doctrine that is guided by the Word of God, and other doctrines orchestrated and created by false prophets and demons, proclaiming lies that will lead many to an eternal downfall, by taking for granted things that are holy and pure. For it is written: “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? Hebrews 2:1-4. The Word also teaches this: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:26-31.

So then, knowing these truths, it is impossible to justify doctrines or gospels (per se) that do not teach about repentance and conversion from sins, nor of the transformation and sanctification process that the Holy Spirit needs to carry out in every believer, nor of the obedience to the things of God. We are not perfect, but a true follower of Christ cannot lead a liberal life, justifying sin, if they want to receive the promises and blessings God does want to give. Otherwise, they will either never come to the great salvation that God offers, or lose the opportunity granted by the divine grace of God that was only made possible through the failure of the beloved people, those who God will call again to Himself, when the gentiles stop listening and obeying the gospel of God. Because the time will come when the gentiles will cease to listen (which is presently happening). So then, do you truly understand and appreciate what God has given you, or wants to give you through the Lord Jesus? Lord bless! John

Israel and Our Salvation

Based on Romans 11:1-24 (New King James Version)

“I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, ‘Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life’? But what does the divine response say to him? ‘I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.’ Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Just as it is written: ‘God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, to this very day.’ And David says: ‘Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a recompense to them. Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, and bow down their back always.’ I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.’ Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?”

In today’s passage, we can observe two points in plain view: what happened with Israel and our salvation. In the first point, we need to understand what actually happened with the people of Israel or the Jews (the religious people), not only for the sake of learning something intellectually (because there will be people that don’t care to know this), but also because of what should form part of every Christian as part of their daily life. If we only pay attention to the first few verses of the chapter, it can be misunderstood that God simply just hardened the heart of Israel; and it’s not like that. If we read the entire passage, we will see that transgression was first committed by the Jews. They didn’t want to listen. And as a result, God hardened their heart; which illustrates a very important issue: that God can be rejected up to a certain point. Even though God is merciful, his mercy does have a limit. When God’s extreme goodness is abused, and proper attention is not given to Him in time, God can change His disposition, from being a God of goodness and love to a worthy, holy, and righteous God.

Coming back to the Jewish people, we have to keep in mind that there are still promises that are in effect when dealing with them. For God told Abram this: “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you…” Genesis 12:3a. So then, there must be a special treatment towards the Jewish people. That’s why at least here in the United States, when we are led by believing authorities (like the one we have now), we, in general, support Israel almost unconditionally. It’s not done just because it’s a strategic point in the middle east, but also, because there are still some that are faithful to God in our government that believe in the principle of “blessing” Israel. The Lord Himself also left this established as part of His ministry here on earth: “These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: ‘Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Matthew 10:5-7. So then, whether the gentiles (which is probably many us) like it or not, Israel still has a special place for God. And something obvious justifies this point also: the Lord Himself came from the Jews, because the Messiah was going to be Son of David. As we keep this in mind, our continual prayer should be for the salvation and blessing of the Jewish people, and our daily practice should be to help them and support them.

And the second point is related somehow, explaining a very critical reality. We as Christian gentiles cannot take our salvation lightly (as it is erroneously taught in many churches). If the chosen Jewish nation had big problems because of not clinging on to and submitting to Christ, as they should have, how much worse could it be for us who were merely adopted through Christ? For it is written: “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” Hebrews 2:1-4. We must take care of our salvation. We cannot take the things of God so lightly. Fearing and obeying God should be the priority in the life of every believer; and not to let themselves be influenced by a society or customs that have nothing to do with God. And this is not about legalism, but rather, it’s about responsibility and gratefulness. The Apostle Paul taught this also: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12. Salvation cannot be achieved through works, but when it is received, it must produce something of significance in our lives which should in turn produce works, and works that glorify God, not works that shame Him.

So then, we should bless and help Israel, as well as we should understand our reality because we will all give an account one day, and we will not have any excuses. Lord bless! John