“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:66-69). 

It is a sad day when people leave Jesus to follow another alternative.  Jesus did not force anyone to follow him, even his own twelve apostles.  His own question to them “Will ye also go away?” (John 6:67) has a sober tone.  Peter’s reply, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” (John 6:68) reveals a profound understanding that the world needs to ponder.  Consider three things about Jesus that give direction.

1.  Jesus’ Sayings.  Jesus closed one of his great sermons with the words, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock” (Matt. 7:24-25).  The statements made by the sinless Son of God are the very things needed in every person in every situation in every generation.  John wrote, “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me” (John 14:23-24).  It is as Peter stated, “Thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

2.  Jesus’ Steps.  Jesus spoke of two paths in life (cf. Matt. 7:13-14).  The path to heaven is the obvious path that Jesus chose (cf. Heb. 12:2).  Peter wrote to Christians, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).  Jesus not only talked the talk but he also walked the walk.  Luke told Theophilus at the beginning of the book of Acts, “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach” (Acts 1:1).  It is no wonder that Paul would make his exhortation to the Corinthians with the words, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1).  It is the man who is a doer, not just a hearer, that is blessed (cf. James 1:25).

3.  Jesus’ Sacrifice.  While one may firmly listen to the sayings of Jesus and walk diligently in the steps of Jesus to the best of his ability, one does fall short of God’s glory through sin (cf. Rom. 3:23).  Jesus made provision for that as well.  He stated, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).  John wrote in another place, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2).  The death, burial and resurrection of Christ are the heart of the message of the gospel (cf. 1 Cor. 15:1-4).  One obeys that form of doctrine (cf. Rom. 6:17) by crucifying one’s old man (cf. Rom. 6:6), being buried with Christ by baptism (cf. Rom. 6:4) and being raised with Christ to walk a new life (cf. Rom. 6:4-5; Col. 3:1-4).  By continuing to walk in the light as a child of God, one has continued access to the blood of Jesus to cleanse from sin (cf. 1 John 1:7).  This is where one goes from here.        

Jimmy Clark

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (2 Peter 2:3-4). 

Peter writes in the book of Second Peter a great deal about promises, both good ones and bad ones.  A study concerning God’s promises aids in both the building of one’s faith and sustaining of one’s hope.  Consider three thoughts concerning promises, especially the exceeding great and precious promises of God.

1.  The Offeror.  One must always consider the source from which the promise is made.  Peter addressed God giving “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).  Peter writes in the next chapter concerning false teachers, “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage” (2 Peter 2:19).  Persuasive speech that is ill founded often uses words of promise without any proof.  Words like “You just cannot live without this” or “This is guaranteed to transform your life” should cause one to be prudent and vigilant to such claims.  Only God has the power and authority to make such claims.  Peter’s inspired words pointed the source of the great promises to come only from God and His authority.  One must not be naïve about promise makers.

2.  The Objective.  Peter writes of God’s promises “that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4).  Divine blessings are the offering and the objective to be sought.  False teachers appeal to the lusts of the flesh (cf. 2 Peter 2:18).  The child of God is taught to not love the things of this world but that which is of God (cf. 1 John 2:15-16).  While God does provide blessings of promise in this life, it is the life to come that is the objective (cf. 1 Tim. 4:8).  It is the things not seen that are the focus of the attention of God’s people, not the focus of the physical, temporal world (2 Cor. 4:18).

3.  The Outcome.  What happens when promises are offered but their outcome is not realized?  Solomon wrote, “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life” (Prov. 13:12).  One does not develop confidence in liars and offers of false hope.  One only has to study the promises of God of the past to be drawn to trust and hope in God in the present and future.  A life like Abraham was built upon a strong faith in the promise of God (cf. Rom. 4:18-21).  The promise made to David of a future heir to sit upon the throne is realized in Christ (cf. Acts 2:30-36).  Paul wrote to Titus concerning God and promises, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour” (Titus 1:2-3).  The outgrowth of confidence in the great promises of God are seen in the third chapter of Second Peter (cf. 2 Peter 3:9-14).  A repentant, holy, godly and diligent life tied to righteousness will not be unrewarded in the end.

Jimmy Clark

“But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet” (Acts 5:1-2). 

This reference is tied to the material in the previous chapter in Acts (cf. Acts 4:32-37).  The brethren were selling their possessions and giving the price of them to the apostles so that needs could be met.  However, Ananias and Sapphira kept part of the sale of their possession and made it appear that they were giving like all the others.  Their shortcut in giving ultimately led to their demise.

There are several “shortcuts” attempted by people to gain valuable things only to find that such does not produce.  Consider three.

1.  Bible Knowledge.  There are people who talk about wanting a great knowledge of the Bible, but they do not want to put in the work that it takes to attain it.  Solomon wrote, “If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God” (Prov. 2:4-5).  Solomon wrote in another book concerning study, “And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh” (Eccl. 12:12).  Paul wrote to Timothy, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15).  Therefore, one can see that gaining Bible knowledge takes work.  No one can do another’s studying for them.  Personal time with the Bible through an intelligent look at the text brings the benefits.

2.  Becoming a Christian.  When looking at the religious world’s view of how to become a Christian, there are several “shortcuts” presented.  For example, there is the doctrine of “Just accept Christ into your life and pray this prayer.”  There is the pressing of the account of the thief on the cross as the clear way to make it to paradise as though baptism has nothing to do with being saved.  Nothing can take away from the explicit declaration that Jesus gave to the apostles in the “Great Commission” (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47) and the preaching and practice of the apostles as seen in the book of Acts (cf. Acts 2:37-38).  To add to or take from the word of God is to face dire consequences (cf. Rev. 22:18-19).

3.  Building Spiritual Character.  Paul wrote, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope” (Rom. 5:3-4).  Peter described the growth of personal faith in the Christian as adding various virtues with a diligence spirit (cf. 2 Peter 1:5-7).  There are various lessons that cannot be learned the easy way.  One does not gain patience or endurance without the trial of one’s faith (cf. James 1:3-4).  One does not learn obedience without suffering (cf. Heb. 5:8).  One does not understand one’s own strengths or weaknesses without testing (cf. Prov. 24:10; Jer. 12:5).  One does not learn contentment the easy way (cf. Phil. 4:11-13).  There are no “shortcuts” when it comes to having a solid Christian life.  Spiritual strength comes through certain weakness (cf. 2 Cor. 12:9-10).             

Jimmy Clark

“For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:8).

The word translated “abound” (2 Peter 1:8) is from the Greek word meaning “to superabound, to exist in abundance, to increase, be augmented” (Thayer, p. 516).  Therefore, the thought is that one not just possess the qualities of 2 Peter 1:5-7, but that those qualities develop to their fullest potential in life.  Such would reveal the full knowledge of the Lord from a practical standpoint.  Therefore, abounding is a Biblical concept that needs exploring.  Consider three areas where abounding is found in other places in the Bible.

1.  In Love.  Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you” (1 Thess. 3:12).  Again, “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth” (2 Thess. 1:3).  Paul wrote to the Philippian brethren, “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment” (Phil. 1:9).  Agape love is the trademark of God (cf. 1 John 4:7-8, 16) and God’s people (cf. John 13:35).  This love is the bond of completeness in all that the Christian wears in his spiritual attire (cf. Col. 3:14).  Has the world ever seen a grandmother abound in her love for her grandchildren?  Has the world ever seen the closest of friends sacrifice for their friend out of genuine love?  Peter exhorted those Christians who had obeyed the truth, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Peter 1:22).  A heart and life that abounds in love is a beautiful sight to behold.

2.  In Labor.  Paul wrote in view of the assurance of the resurrection, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).  Paul wrote further to the Corinthians, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8).  Truly, just as love is to abound then the expression of that love is to abound.  It is faith that works by love that avails (cf. Gal. 5:6).  How many Christians look at the work of the Lord in this way?  To abound in the work of the Lord is not just to see how little one can get by with in serving.  To abound would involve looking for more and more opportunities to do good.

3.  In Liberality.  “How that in great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. . . . Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also” (2 Cor. 8:2, 7).  Paul used the Macedonian brethren as an example of abounding in giving to stir the Corinthian congregation.  One would not see covetousness in such a quality.  An abounding congregation in this regard is far from a “worldly church.”  A giving God should be modeled in a giving church.                                                                        

Jimmy Clark

“Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” (Phil. 2:14-15). 

Most people know how distasteful it is to be around those who are complainers and critical.  Such projects an attitude that life is pretty sour and pessimistic.  The faithful child of God has every reason to be upbeat and happy seeing that the inner man is right with God and the future holds great things.  Paul, like Jesus (cf. Matt. 5:14-16), emphasizes the need to be “lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15).  Light is a valuable element for clarity and safety.  Consider three positive matters concerning one’s influence that projects the greatness of God and how great it is to be a Christian.

1.  Soul-Winning.  Christians, like Christ, want people to be saved and ultimately be in heaven.  Influencing people to follow the spiritual path to heaven demands a positive influence.  Paul wrote to Timothy, “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (2 Tim. 2:24-26).  Paul wrote to the Colossians, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time” (Col. 4:5).  Peter wrote concerning Christian wives married to non-Christian husbands, “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear” (1 Peter 3:1-2).

2.  Speech.  The words of a person say much about a person’s perspective and attitude about all sorts of matters.  The exhortations to Christians abound in positive commands and clear warnings.  Paul wrote, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Col. 4:6).  Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Eph. 4:29).  James stressed strongly being careful with the use of the tongue.  After illustrating the need for controlling horses and great ships, he writes, “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell” (James 3:5-6).  It is as Solomon wrote, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (Prov. 18:21).

3.  Service.  As Jesus was a doer of good things (cf. Acts 10:38) so are Christians to do the same (cf. Gal. 6:10).  Service is a way of life to the Christian as the church is to be people oriented.  As a matter of fact, those who will be in heaven are so service oriented that they do not occupy their minds with whom or how much service they give (cf. Matt. 25:34-40).  “How can I help” and “What more can I do” are the can-do attitudes of God’s faithful people.                 

Jimmy Clark

“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation” (Acts 2:40). 

Exhorting is an important concept of setting forth the gospel message.  John the Baptist did it (cf. Luke 3:18).  The preachers of the gospel did it (cf. 1 Thess. 2:3-4).  Paul charged Timothy to do it (cf. 2 Tim. 4:2).  The book of Hebrews itself is a “word of exhortation” (Heb. 13:22).  Consider some thoughts about this great expression of divine purpose and proclamation.

1.  Calling Alongside.  Luke recorded of Paul’s words to certain Jews from Rome, “For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain” (Acts 28:20).  While the word “exhort” is not used in this passage, the Greek word often translated “exhort” is found in the phrase “I called for” (Acts 28:20).  The Ethiopian eunuch is a great example here.  Luke wrote, “And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him” (Acts 8:31).  Here is the basic, literal meaning of the word.  Such a concept involves a close relationship sought to be developed between the speaker and the hearer.  It is an attempt to draw two sides together.  It is no wonder that so many of the proclaimers of the gospel followed this pattern.

2.  Challenging.  Sometimes the term is translated to beseech so as to expect an appropriate response.  Paul wrote to Philemon, “I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds” (Philemon 10).  Such would surely be a challenge under the past circumstances.  Such a challenge is found in the words of the brother who owed his fellow brother, “And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all” (Matt. 18:29).  Lydia used exhortation when she besought Paul and his companions (cf. Acts 16:15).  Paul challenged Titus and those Paul sent with him to have the collection ready before he arrived in Corinth (cf. 2 Cor. 9:5).  These examples show that exhorting involves a challenging persuasion expecting an appropriate response.

3.  Comforting.  There are many times in which the word translated “exhort” in certain contexts denotes a comforting or consoling effect due to the words of exhortation.  Such is the case in the passage “Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:18).  Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Cor. 1:3-4).  It was so much a characteristic of one of the early disciples that the apostles gave the man a surname called Barnabas “which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation” (Acts 4:36).  When Paul and Barnabas were in Antioch in Pisidia in the synagogue one sabbath, Luke wrote, “And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on” (Acts 13:15).  What was said was a calling alongside, challenging and, if applied to life, a very comforting message.  No doubt such exhorting is very much needed today.                                                                                                  

Jimmy Clark

“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;” (1 Cor. 1:23). 

Negative critics who will not be persuaded by the evidence will always seek to justify their views with inflammatory terms.  Such assertions do not change the facts.  It has always been a tactic of unbelief to defame truth to make self and self-righteousness look good.  In spite of attacks Christians must “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ” (1 Peter 3:15-16).  Consider three false assertions concerning the gospel found among unbelievers recorded in the book of Acts.

1.  Speech of Drunkards.  When those on the day of Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ heard the inspired word being spoken by the apostles, certain ones mocking said, “These men are full of new wine” (Acts 2:13).  If Peter and the apostles had let such a charge go unchallenged it would leave the door open to the words about to be spoken as the babbling of drunken men never to be taken seriously.  Some words are to be left unchallenged; for example, “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him” (Prov. 26:4).  However, some are to be challenged; for example, “Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit” (Prov. 26:5).  There is an old adage that basically says that silence can often be interpreted as consent or admission of defeat.  Paul told Festus, “I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness” (Acts 26:25).  All scripture is inspired of God (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16), not the words of intoxicated men.

2.  Seditious Heresy.  Paul’s critics charged him with being “a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes” (Acts 24:5).  Paul will later say in his defense, “But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets” (Acts 24:14).  Whenever religious unbelief is challenged by the truth of the gospel, attacking the truth and those who uphold it soon follows.  Followers of truth are called divisive, dogmatic, etc.  Certain Jews from Rome said to Paul when they first met him, “But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against” (Acts 28:22).  Negative public opinions should never determine truth as seen here.

3.  Superstition.  Festus told Agrippa of accusations toward Paul, “But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive” (Acts 25:19).  Attackers of all religious teaching, including the gospel, hold that religion is merely the cults of masses who find it their way to cope.  In other words, it is the opiate of the people.  The gospel is the truth (cf. Acts 26:25) and should never be made parallel to any false devotion.  The message and implications of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ are established upon facts revealed by the Holy Spirit (cf. 2 Peter 1:19-21).  The truth in Christ is nowhere to be compared with any superstition (cf. Acts 17:18-31). 

Jimmy Clark

“Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection” (Acts 17:18-19). 

Here is an example in the book of Acts where the truth was set forth among people who had an entirely different world view.  They are interested in hearing his words yet are still holding on to their own.  Paul did not back away from controversial matters.  Consider three things that he set forth of the proper world view from a Biblical perspective.

1.  One God.  Athens, Greece of the first century was filled with images to many gods (cf. Acts 17:16).  Paul’s initial beginning point of the discourse is the God whom they “ignorantly worship” (Acts 17:23).  He starts with God the Creator and Sustainer (cf. Acts 17:24-28).  He ultimately moves to God the Caller to repentance and ultimate Judge of the world (cf. Acts 17:29-31).  Not one time does the Holy Spirit through Paul refer to God as being like their world view.  When Paul wrote to the Ephesians where the temple of Diana stood, he wrote, “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph. 4:6).  How would the advocates of the philosophies of atheism and agnosticism hear Paul’s words?  How would the religious world of Buddhism, Hinduism, and the like hear Paul’s words?  Faith that pleases God “must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6).

2.  One Gospel.  Luke recorded that Paul “preached unto them Jesus” (Acts 17:18).  Philip preached the same to the eunuch (cf. Acts 8:35) and led him to obey the gospel of Christ (cf. Acts 8:36-39).  Paul wrote of the gospel to the Galatians, saying, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8-9).  Paul would not preach in Athens anything different from what he preached anywhere else.  He wrote to the Roman brethren, “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:15-16).  Paul stressed to Philippi that they should “with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel (Phil. 1:27).

3.  One Goal.  When Paul preached “Jesus, and the resurrection” (Acts 17:18), he closed his discourse with the words “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31).  The resurrection of Jesus points to another day in which mankind will be judged.  This points to life and accountability after death.  Paul stated of his goal in life, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead” (Phil. 3:10-11).  Eternal life is the world view of the Bible.   

Jimmy Clark

“And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines” (1 Sam. 7:3). 

Samuel is exhorting the defeated nation who “lamented after the Lord” (1 Kings 7:2) to do several things if they would be right with God.  Preparation is a vital quality of success as the Bible teaches.  Men sometimes pray before the preaching that God would give him a “ready recollection of the things he has prepared to say.”  What if the song leader is not prepared in the leading of the singing?  What if no one made preparation for the taking of the Lord’s Supper?  Expectations are high when it comes to those who lead, but what about the preparing of the hearts of the worshippers to worship and live out their devotion to the Lord every day?  Consider some thoughts about this great exhortation of Samuel and other passages that stress preparing the heart.

1.  Focus in Preparing.  Samuel made two great points about returning to the Lord “with all your hearts” (1 Sam. 7:3).  First, there is the essentiality of putting away any and all forms of religion that are the opposite of the will of God.  The very first commandment of the commandments written on tables of stone was “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Ex. 20:2-3).  The Lord God explicitly forbade bowing down and serving any image or form of a god, saying, “for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;” (Ex. 20:5).  Thus, one does not love God who would turn his heart to something outside of God.  Second, the nation was to prepare their hearts unto the Lord and “serve him only” (1 Sam. 7:3).  God is exclusively to be worshipped and served.  Jesus said this as much to Satan (cf. Matt. 4:10) when citing the statement in Deuteronomy 6:13.  Hence, a single-minded heart is required to approach God.

2.  Failure of Not Preparing.  There are examples of dire consequences when people did not prepare their hearts.  It is said of Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, “And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord” (2 Chron. 12:14).  It is said of the people in Jehoshaphat’s day, “Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers” (2 Chron. 20:33).  Whenever leadership and followers do not focus on the Lord, problems arise.

3.  Fruits of Preparing.  There are several examples of great leaders who helped their people by being spiritually-minded.  It is stated of Jehoshaphat, “Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God” (2 Chron. 19:3).  It is stated of Jotham, “So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God” (2 Chron. 27:6).  The nation of Judah was greatly blessed by the influence of Ezra.  It is stated of him, “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments” (Ezra 7:10).  Just as bad things happen when preparation is lacking, good things come in preparation.   

Jimmy Clark

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18). 

Another translation states of this passage, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth” (Rom. 1:18, ESV).  The original Greek word translated “hold” or “suppress” means “to restrain, hinder (the course or progress of)” (Thayer, p. 339).  Here is an explicit statement to the effect that it is possible to hinder truth from making progress in the lives of people because of unrighteous attitudes and activities.  Consider three such things that hold back or hinder progress.

1.  Presuppositions.  There are several passages that show the danger of supposing something to be the case when it is not.  Luke wrote, “Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day” (Acts 2:13-15).  Again, “And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled” (Acts 16:27).  “Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)” (Acts 21:28-29).  Thinking something to be true without investigating the facts is a hindering and misleading thing.

2.  Prejudice.  Men can and do hold certain things to be true in their minds regardless of what the evidence shows.  This problem of prejudice or prejudging is similar to the suppositions of the first point yet more dangerous.  Prejudice blinds the mind into believing that the facts are already established and that one’s viewpoint is reality.  Jesus faced such with the scribes and Pharisees, where he stated, “If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth” (John 9:41).  Nathanael said, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see” (John 1:46).  When Nathanael came to investigate, Jesus said of him, “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” (John 1:47).  There was no prejudice with Nathanael in investigating though Nazareth likely had a bad reputation.  Solomon wrote, “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him” (Prov. 18:13).

3.  Pride.  The attitude that hinders the most is self-confident, self-centered pride.  Isaiah wrote, “Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!” (Isa. 28:1).  Before the fall of Sodom there was pride (cf. Eze. 16:49).  Pride brought painful results to the Edomites (cf. Obadiah 3).  Pride often is the root to prejudice and presuppositions.  Some will not obey the gospel because of it.  Some will not be restored due to it.  Some will not forgive because of it.  Pride truly destroys (Prov. 16:18).

Jimmy Clark