The Heaton File

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.” (Matthew 23:1-3)

Hard Preaching

The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most famous sermons in history. It is a hallmark of the teaching of Jesus as a collection of teachings foundational to the ministry of Jesus. Great multitudes came to hear the man from Nazareth, and when His disciples came to Him, Jesus opened His mouth and delivered the preamble of the Christian constitution that would define the kingdom of God. There would be many times in the short span of His ministry, Jesus would gather disciples around Him and expound on the mysteries of the coming kingdom. His popularity brought criticism, envy, and a concerted effort by the Jewish leadership to discredit and destroy Him. The religious sect of the Pharisees and the scribes were the harshest critics of Jesus, often trying to trap Jesus in His teaching. When Jesus finished the sermon on the mountain, the people were astonished at the authority of Jesus, for He taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. The popularity of Jesus was high at the beginning of His ministry, but that would change in just a few years.

In one of His last public discourses before His crucifixion, Jesus spoke to the multitudes and His disciples of the influence of the scribes and Pharisees. This sermon would be the antithesis of the sermon delivered on the mountain, at least in character. While the sermon mountain was challenging and thoughtful, the message in the temple courts would be a harsh, stinging rebuke of Jewish hypocrisy. Jesus knew His hour had come to glorify the Father. He knew He would be killed from the envy of the Jewish leaders who wanted Him dead. The scribes and Pharisees would be glad to be rid of the man from Nazareth, but Jesus had one last message to the people about the Jewish leadership. The sermon of Jesus is one of the harshest, brutal, severest criticism of their hypocrisy. It is a message that resonates with the wrath of God.

Jesus warns the people to reject the example of the Pharisees and scribes. He recognized the harsh treatment the leadership burdened the people with and revealed their motives as self-serving. Pride exalted the hearts of the scribes to seek the honors of men and glory of power. They were not interested in the welfare of the people but in their own pockets filled with money. Jesus would call them hypocrites, blind guides, fools, serpents, brood of vipers, and murderers. His language was plain and unyielding. He charged them with loving the best places and greetings of human glory and to be called by titles. The Pharisees and scribes bound heavy burdens on the people to fill their coffers. They traveled land and sea to make a proselyte and made him twice as much a child of hell as themselves. He calls the leaders whitewashed tombs which appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. They seemed to be righteous to men but inwardly were hypocrites and lawless—hard preaching.

There is a false image of Jesus Christ that He was never critical or harsh toward others. This is contrary to the doctrine of God, who is full of goodness but also filled with wrath against those who refused to obey Him. Jesus preached powerful lessons and sermons on love, grace, mercy, and truth. The Son of God also addressed the sins of the world and especially those found among His own people. There is a time for hard preaching when the subject matter is hardened hearts. The scriptures will bring joy and hope to the pure in heart, and the same word will bring judgment and condemnation to those who will not submit to Christ. Harsh preaching is not done in spite but in the holiness of the character of God who demands righteousness without hypocrisy. There will be a judgment, and all men will find the goodness and severity of God. To those who abide in the word of God, there will be a blessing. For those who reject the Lord, severity. That is the message of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil. (Proverbs 4:20-27)

Give Attention To The Whole Body

Serving the Lord takes the whole body. The wisdom literature weaves a beautiful picture of the man of God consumed by the word of God. He shows the importance of keeping wisdom at the forefront of life to guide the heart, protect the eyes, fill the ears, correct the tongue and examine the path of the feet. All of the body working together to harmonize the soul to the will of the Father is where the perfection of character is found. It begins by paying attention to what the Lord says. God has spoken to man from the beginning of time, and the problems arise when men stop listening to His word. Satan began his attack on Eve by challenging what God said. Listening carefully to the words of the Lord will bring health and joy to the soul. The ear must tune to the right things. Wisdom must always be before the eyes. The heart keeps the word of God in the midst of the soul penetrating deep with the grace of the Lord. This is where true life comes from. It glorifies the Father as the whole body bends to the will of the Lord. Health is found in the nourishment of the Divine.

The character of a man comes from what is found in the heart. Jesus would later tell His disciples that everything that comes out of the mouth is first found in the heart. Good water comes from good springs, and good words come from good hearts. Evil comes from an evil heart. Adultery, murder, envy, and hatred do not grow from soil fertile in the love of God. The heart is the soul’s barometer, and if it is not guarded carefully, life will end in heartache. Wisdom is found in keeping the heart with all diligence. It requires daily care to manage the heart and the courage to daily measure the heart with the word of God. The issues of life come from the heart and goodness, or evil will come from a good or evil heart. Giving attention to the heart determines the course of life.

Keep the heart with all diligence by training the mouth, perfecting the eyes, and watching the feet. The mouth must refrain from perverse talking and corrupt speech. Deceitful tongues are filled with poison that gossip, murmur, and defraud. Anger can bring sin. Lying is a grievous abomination before the Lord. A heart guided by the word of God will learn to control the tongue and become a measure of blessing to hearers. The focus of life is found when the eyes are looking straight ahead, fixed on the Father’s will. God created the body with the perfection of form for the eyes to look ahead so the feet would not stumble. Pondering the path is done when life is marked out by the word of God, seeking how the Lord wants a man to live. Staying on the safe path of righteousness brings happiness. There can be no deviation to the right or the left. God’s word is sure, trustworthy, steadfast, and will bring a man to the throne of God. Changing direction or seeking another path will not bring a man to the throne of God.

It takes the whole body to work together to bring harmony. In the spiritual world, the ears must listen to the word of God, the eyes looking to Jesus, the heart attuned to the Father, the mouth guarded with grace, lips seasoned with salt, eyes looking straight ahead, and the feet on the narrow way of truth and righteousness without variance. When the whole body, working together under the guidance of the Father’s will, conforms to the desires of God, joy, and happiness are found in this life and the life to come. Good health is essential, but good spiritual health is eternal.

Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. (Isaiah 45:22)

I Am God

There is no God like the Holy God of the Bible. Many gods appeal to human wisdom like Zeus, Ganesh, Kali, Buddha, Indra, and Odin. In the days of Israel, as they struggled against the tide of idolatry, Ashtoreth, Baal, Chemosh, and Dagon were the gods of choice. The Lord warned His people when they came into the land of Canaan to destroy the people of the land lest they pollute them with their idolatry. History was fulfilled in the people’s disobedience to follow after the gods of the nations around them to destroy the nation. Assyria brought their gods of Ashur, Ishtar, and Shamash and defeated the northern tribes. The Assyrians did not understand that the God they fought against allowed them to conquer His people to serve His purpose. Nebuchadnezzar came with the Babylonian gods of Marduk and Nergal and defeated the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The king burned the Temple of God and destroyed the city of Jerusalem. He believed it was his power that brought Israel to its knees, knowing nothing about the plan of God to use him to punish His people. Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, permitted the Assyrians and the Babylonians to inflict great harm to His people to serve His design and purpose.

Isaiah prophesied during the turbulent days of the Assyrian onslaught against the northern tribes. The social evils abounded under the rule of Ahaz, king of Judah, with some respite with Hezekiah becoming king. Isaiah announced the destruction of Jerusalem that would be accomplished in 586 B.C. Like the other prophets, Isaiah preached a message of repentance to a godless and unrepentant nation. The appeal of Jehovah was for the people to turn away from the gods of men and seek His grace and mercy. Throughout the book of Isaiah, the prophet declares the character of God as being like none other. The idols worshiped by the people could not save them. They were blind and dumb and powerless. Idol worship was folly because no idol could speak or hear and save the one who worshiped it. The Lord God was a God who created the light and darkness, made peace and brought calamity, created the heavens, and could tell the future. No other god could do what the true God could do. There was none like Him.

The appeal of Jehovah God has always been for men to seek Him and be saved. There is no other way a man can save himself. The gods of men have never saved. Seeking after the wisdom of men, the economies of humanity, and the pleasures of the flesh will not bring happiness. Only by the power of the One who formed man from the dust of the ground will a man find the reason for his existence and purpose in life. The Lord begs men to see Him to be saved because He alone is God, and there is none beside Him. All the gods of men have failed. They are mere totems of the whims of human wisdom made of sand. The Lord brings nations into power and removes them by the measure of His hand. Despots rise and fall at the word of the Lord. Woe to him who argues with his Creator. Isaiah says it’s like a clay pot arguing with its maker. There is no God like the God of the Bible that made the heavens and earth, worked His will among the affairs of men, and sent His only begotten Son to die for all men. Who can compare? There is none like Him.

Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.'” And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Mark 10:17-22)

Just One Thing

When all men stand before the Lord, there will be things that are found hindering salvation. For some men, the list is legion. Others may have only a few things that prohibit grace from being extended for eternal glory. Imagine the dismay of the young man who came to Jesus seeking eternal life and, because of one thing, turned away from the only hope he would find in this life. It is clear the young man’s motivation was to find what all men long for, and that is eternal life. His question was right, and he was asking the right person. For all reasons, it can be accepted the young man was a devout Jew who kept the law. He had not been guilty of adultery, murder, stealing, bearing false witness, and defrauding any man. His parents were blessed with such a noble and righteous son. In every part of his life, he had perfected the role of the Hebrew to be a model of integrity and a holy character.

The disciples will give a glimpse into how men like the rich young man were viewed. They were surprised he could not be saved as Jesus exhorted. They were astonished at the teaching of Jesus. Incredulously they asked if this young Hebrew could not be saved, then who could find true salvation. The problem lay deeper than what was seen in the external evidence. Jesus had looked into the heart of the young man and found a troubling spirit that was filled with covetousness. In every part of the law, the young man had been diligent as any devout Jew could be, but there was one thing and one thing alone that hindered him genuinely serving the Lord in purity and holiness. He loved his wealth more than God. His wealth came through the blessings of the Father, but the young man had fallen in love with his possession more than loving God. On the outside, he looked like the epitome of what a child of God would look be.

Lacking one thing would have been a sign of how well the young man had given his life to serving God, but the one thing he lacked became the albatross of his eternal demise. Because of one thing, he turned away sorrowful, refusing to obey Jesus. One thing. He had only to remove one thing in his life, and it would have been complete and whole before God. Eternal life hinged upon one thing, and he could not let go of the one thing. For many, having one thing to accomplish to gain eternal life would have been a dream. He only had one thing to do. It was a powerful force in his life. His riches were the one thing that kept him from eternal life. Riches were not sinful, but the desire to be rich is what condemned him. Jesus told him to sell all he had and give to the poor. He could not sell half or part – it required all before he could follow Jesus. This one thing he could not do. It was only one thing. One.

The greatest tragedy came when the young man died and faced Jesus again. When that time came, Jesus did not tell him he lacked one thing. It was too late for any change. The decision to keep the one thing had now brought him before Jesus the second time. He wanted to know what he must do to gain eternal life, but in death, no questions were seeking the truth. The young man knew all the truth that had to be known. Because of one thing, he knew he was lost. All the riches he held so tightly slipped from his fingers as death overcame him. Nothing he treasured in this life came with him into eternity. The one thing he gave his life to retain was ripped from his dead fingers. Now, what of the one thing? Sadness filled his heart as he realized too late that one thing had kept him from eternal life—one thing. Despair turned to terror. He had lived an exemplary life as a devout Jew hanging on to his riches. The one thing he loved more than God condemned him.

You may have one thing that keeps you from serving the Lord. It may be a refusal to obey His word because of your parents, grandparents, friends, or family. Like the rich young ruler, your heart may be so immersed in the world you cannot let go, and the one thing you enjoy now will be taken away in death. Consider this somber reminder of the rich young ruler. He kept the one thing in his life, and in his death, he regretted holding on to the one thing. It condemned him to eternal fire and torment. How sad to see him crying out in torment – for one thing. What is your one thing?

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. (Proverbs 15:3)

The Eyes Of The Lord

It takes a beam of sunlight 490 seconds at the Sun’s closest distance to reach earth and seventeen seconds longer at its farthest distance. The earth is dwarfed by the size of the Sun, but at its greatest peak, the Sun can only shine upon half the earth. While one part is full of sunshine, the opposite side is cloaked in darkness. Much of the land bathed in sunlight is hidden in the darkness of mountains, deep valleys, and caves. The brilliance of the Sun only penetrates less than 50% of the earth’s surface. There are limitations to the ability of man to see around the world. The sphere of the earth’s surface only allows man to see about two to three miles with the human eye. Eagles and other birds of prey can see four to five times farther than the average human can. Technology can help men see further, but limitations remain because of the nature of the earth’s globe.

It is impossible to fully appreciate or understand the knowledge that God can see in every place. Part of the problem rests in the inability of the human mind to grasp the concept of a Being that can see a child in China eating rice and at the same time watch a woman in Glasgow, Montana deliver mail. Two opposite geographic points are six thousand miles apart, and God sees everything simultaneously with no deviation or blurring. He is God. His omniscience is testimony to His character and power. In the thousands of years of human existence, there has never been a time when man could match the all-seeing eye of the Creator. The Lord saw Cain kill his brother Abel. Abraham lied about Sarah being his wife, and God heard him. David tried to cover up the murder of Uriah following his adultery with Bathsheba, but the Lord knew everything. Jesus told Nathanael He saw him sitting under the fig tree. The Lord God is in every place at all times.

There is bad news for those who seek to hide their actions from the Lord. The eyes of the Lord are watching everywhere and seeing what the wicked do and what they say. No man will escape the judgment of God because He knows everything an evil man has done, what he has said, how he has cheated others, and what he has tried to hide. Everything done in darkness is done in the light of God’s eyes. Judgment is complete for all men because it sees everything all men do. If a person is condemned to perdition, it is because of the full knowledge of God seeing what they have done (or not done). The righteousness of God is determined by His ability to see everything and in every place. Whatever sin goes unpunished in this life will not be forgotten by the eyes of the Lord in eternity.

The good news for the righteous is the eyes of the Lord are in every place, seeing the glory His people give Him. There is a sense of trepidation to know God sees everything, but it is an invitation of inquiry, investigation, and examination for the man of holy character. There is nothing to be hidden. The pang of failure will always be present in sinful man, but through the grace of God, He sees the good in the heart and a willingness to be faithful. No child of God (without exception) is forgotten by the Father. Whatever trials a Christian may endure in Vietnam is known to the same God that sees the troubles of His faithful people in Nicaragua. The ever-present eyes of the Lord are a blessing to know He sees, He cares, He desires, and He longs to help His children. It can seem like a cold and dark world where no one cares. This will not be the case for the people of God who look up into the heavens and declare the omniscience of a loving God who knows everything about them. What a glorious thought. How inspiring to believe in God’s love.

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good, and that is good, and that is bad. There is glory for those who open their hearts to the eyes of the Lord. Suffering and horror will come to those who try to hide from a God that cannot be hidden and will not be hidden from. No mountain top or valley deep will hide man from the eyes of the Lord. The deepest oceans are drops of water compared to the vision of what God sees. Darkness is as bright as the Sun to the eyes of God. He sees everything. What does He see in your life? One day it will matter when eternity begins what the eyes of the Creator have seen. Let Him see your heart in obedience to His word and your life in faithful service to His Son, Jesus Christ. Open your eyes and see God.

Then He will also say to those on the left hand, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25:41)

The Doctrine Of Hell

Eternal damnation is not a popular subject. Statisticians try to quantitate the beliefs of humanity about Hell, but the reality since the beginning of time is that accepting a consequence to sin has never been popular. The early world of Noah proves that all but eight people accepted the teaching of divine judgment. Critics point out that the Old Testament seldom refers to Hell, yet men like Abraham, Moses, David, and Daniel were moved to live righteous lives. If there were no consequences to sinful lives, why live holy lives? The Hebrew writer pointed out that faith believes God is, and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. What if a man does not seek God – is there a punishment? Hell is a Bible doctrine from beginning to end.

What is remarkable about the doctrine of Hell is the preacher of righteousness that said more about Hell than any other character in the Bible is Jesus Christ. Noah would have been a good choice considering the world he lived in. The prophet Amos is a frontrunner for fire and brimstone, and John the Baptist was man with a clear purpose in address the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders. Paul wrote most of what is preserved in the New Testament, but his writings do not carry as much information about Hell as the words of Jesus. The doctrine of Hell is real because Jesus is real. If 48% of the population believes in Hell, that means only 48% of the people believe in Jesus. Whatever the number is, to deny the doctrine of Hell is to deny the word of Jesus Christ. Most polls show many people believing in Heaven, yet on the same study, most deny Hell. The contradiction is enormous.

Whether a person believes and accepts the doctrine of Hell is immaterial to its reality. It is imperative to embrace the idea of eternal torment because, according to Jesus, most people will be cast into outer darkness where there is the weeping and gnashing of teeth. That is a hard lesson to consider and not readily accepted. Why are most people going to Hell? Most people deny the word of God. Rejecting the Bible as the word of God will judge a man to perdition. Refusing to believe Jesus is the Son of God condemns a person to eternal damnation. Not doing the will of the Father will send most honest people to the lake of fire. Hell will be filled with fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, drunkards, extortioners, liars, murderers, and all those who deny the authority of Jesus Christ as King and Lord. Jesus told the eleven to preach the gospel to every creature under heaven, and those who refused to be baptized would be judged with eternal damnation or condemned.

If Hell is not real, why did Jesus die such a miserable death? What did He come to save man from if there is not a judgment of condemnation waiting for the unbelieving, unrepentant, and unloving? The doctrine of Hell is as real as the hope of Heaven. There is a type of fear that convicts men of sin, and Hell would be one of those fears. Salvation is not gained through fear of Hell. The hope of Heaven is found in the grace of God to remove His wrath from the predicament of man. Jesus preached a lot on Hell to show how much His Father loves humanity. The cost of eternal life comes through the price of obedience. Hell is real. Jesus said so more than any other man. Believe in His words and obey His word. Heaven waits.

Now while Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God, a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept very bitterly. And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra, “We have trespassed against our God, and have taken pagan wives from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this. Now therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and those who have been born to them, according to the advice of my master and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also are with you. Be of good courage, and do it.” (Ezra 10:1-4)

Convicted By The Word

The captivity of God’s people had come to an end. After seventy years of bondage, the word of God came to Cyrus, king of Persian, to return the Hebrews to Jerusalem. The returning exiles under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua began the rebuilding of the House of God. Faced with resistance, it would take nearly two decades for the temple to be completed. The scribe and priest Ezra came to Jerusalem to instill in the people a religious reformation to restore the holiness of God’s character over the land. He faced a formidable task. The leaders came to Ezra and confessed the people of God had mixed with the peoples of the lands in marriage. They had taken some of the daughters as wives for themselves and their sons. Worse yet, the leaders and officials led the way in this trespass.

Ezra was distraught beyond measure. He tore his garment and his robe, plucked out some of the hair of his head and beard, and sat down astonished. The people came before Ezra and waited for him to speak. They trembled with fear. Ezra remained unmoved until the evening sacrifice. Afterward, the man of God lifted his voice to God in prayer, seeking the grace and mercies of the Lord to save the people. Throughout the crowd, hearts were heavy, for the people wept bitterly. They knew what they had done was an abomination to God. Marrying pagan wives was forbidden under the law. Ezra prayed fervently for the people. The word of God was clear, and the word convicted the people of the Lord. Their weeping and broken hearts were not enough. They knew they had to do more.

Shechaniah spoke up and confessed on behalf of the people how they had transgressed the word of the Lord. They had taken pagan wives in contradiction to the Law. Their marriages were special to them, but the people’s hearts were more convicted by the word of the Lord. They made a covenant that day to do something incredible. Shecahaniah declared they would put away their wives for the glory of God and His word. There was no financial gain to put away their wives. It would not be for political reasons to divorce their wives. The notion of ending an unlawful marriage had no merit in the eyes of the pagan world and seemed foolish. What changed in the hearts of the people was the willingness to obey the word of the Lord. Nothing else mattered. When the final list was given, it was noted that some of them had wives by whom they had children. It did not matter. Obeying the word of God did matter.

The word of God will only convict the honest heart. Is it possible to be so convicted by the word of the Lord to become a eunuch for the kingdom of God’s sake? There is a false notion that people have that God wants them to be happy. The Lord never promised happiness, but He does demand holiness. Jesus acknowledged that many would not heed the word of the Lord and, like the rich young ruler who came seeking eternal life, will go away desiring the pleasures of this world than the eternal glory. What is enjoyed here is but for a short time and what is experienced in eternity is without end. Shechaniah, speaking for the people, made a bold and courageous statement to allow the word of God to rule, not the pleasures of life. The people gave their promise that they would put away their wives. Showing their repentance and being guilty, they presented a ram of the flock as their trespass offering. Repentance produced sacrifice, first in giving up their pagan wives; secondly, in worship to the Lord. A ram died that day for their sins because they were willing to obey God. Jesus died so that we can obey His word – whatever the cost. What are you willing to give up? How will the word convict you?

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:46-47)

The Value Of Addition

There is value in numbers as an indicator of progress and success. A number can represent a positive indicator or a negative. It is not an emphasis in the early church, but God does take note of numbers. The Holy Spirit says three thousand devout Jews obeyed the gospel on the Day of Pentecost. Later, the number of men who heard the word and believed came to be about five thousand. The word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. When the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified, they were multiplied. Luke also records the word of God grew and multiplied.

The value of a number indicates a sense of belonging. Three thousand people obeyed the gospel, and Luke says there were many more when the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Addition was important to God because He was adding souls to the kingdom of Christ. Soon after Pentecost, believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. To add someone to the Lord or the church denotes an increase in size. The kingdom of God is about addition because it is about saving souls. It is not significant to recounting of a number but the fact that addition has taken place. Only God knows the number of saved on the earth at one time or those resting in the bosom of Abraham. He knows the uncountable number of stars and the hairs on the head of every person, and He loves to add to His church souls redeemed by the blood of Christ.

Addition suggests some are not added. To be added to something means there is a place before the addition. When Luke said the Lord added to the church, he indicated those added were at one time out of harmony with the love of God. Addition changes the station of a man’s life from the darkness of sin to the light of Jesus Christ. A conversion has taken place. Adding a soul to the church subtracts a life from the clutches of the evil one. The joy of spiritual addition is one less servant of the devil, making mathematics with eternal consequences. If the Lord did not add a person to the church, they would be lost. Adding a soul to the kingdom of Christ expresses the grace and mercy of God.

Mathematics is the purest of sciences. One plus one equals two in any language at any time with any people. It will never change. The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Being added to the church came about through the obedience of those who heard the word of God, were convicted in their hearts they killed the Son of God and followed the pattern of addition outlined by Peter and the apostles. Those pricked in their hearts asked Peter and the others what to do. Peter told them to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. It is at this time the essential character of addition comes into the eternal view. Three thousand souls repented of their sins and were baptized for the remission of sins, and the Lord added them – included them in the number – counted them a part of – the church. Addition is the mercy and grace of God, allowing a man to escape the wrath of God. Many more people heard the preaching of the apostles, but they refused to believe Jesus was the Christ and were not baptized. Did the Lord add them to the church? No. They were not added. If they refused to obey the gospel and the Lord never added them to the church, they were lost to perdition. It matters whether a person is added or not. Have you been added?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Spirit Fruit: Gentleness

There are two words attached to the meaning of gentleness as a fruit of the Spirit. A spirit of meekness and humility express an attitude of mildness and indulgence toward others with patient longsuffering. The character of gentleness is the opposite of anger, wrath, or an uncontrolled spirit. Some men are born with a kinder disposition than others, but this kind of gentleness is learned from the school of the Holy Spirit. As a fruit, gentleness comes from knowing the will of the Lord to be like Jesus Christ. The Lord invited men to come to Him because He was gentle in heart desiring His disciples to have that same disposition. Throughout the life of Jesus, He exemplified a humble and meek spirit in His Father’s strength in dealing with the harsh criticism of the Jewish leaders. Facing death, the Son of God impressed on the hearts of men His firm resolve not to render anger or to revile against those killing Him; He prayed for the Father to forgive them. This came from fruit born of the Holy Spirit.

Gentleness is a much-needed trait in a world filled with hatred, prejudice, and anger. Sin does not bring peace. It always brings animosity and bitterness. Without gentleness, a spirit of revenge and pride rules the heart. The self-centered, self-aggrandizing heart seeking its own glory will never know the power of meekness and humility. Satan paints meekness as a weakness, but it is far from the character of being weak. It takes great strength to learn to have a gentle spirit. Silence is a greater instrument of strength than the loud-mouthed, unruly tongue filled with the poison of uncontrolled anger. Through the Holy Spirit, the heart learns patience and to speak in a voice of wisdom. These traits show the Christian apart from the world as God’s elect with an example of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, and longsuffering.

The character of gentleness is found in the leaders of the church. Paul would instruct Timothy to appoint men to shepherd the flock of God who are gentle and meek. Those who would preach the word of God must possess the spirit of gentleness without being quarrelsome. This kind of wisdom does not come from the works of the flesh. Only from that which is above (Holy Spirit) will a man find the wisdom of God that is pure, peaceable, willing to yield, and full of mercy and good fruits. The gentle and quiet spirit is the most desired trait of a person of God. There will always be conflict in the life of a Christian. As a fruit of the Holy Spirit, humility will focus the heart on being gentle with all men so that Christ can be magnified and the Father glorified. The church must be filled with souls that seek the fruit of the Spirit and, in particular, to learn gentleness.

Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom. (Matthew 16:28)

Two-Thousand-Year-Old Disciples

According to the Guinness World Records, the greatest fully authenticated age to which any human has ever lived is 122 years 164 days by Jeanne Louise Calment (France). Born on 21 February 1875 to Nicolas (1837 – 1931) and Marguerite (neé Gilles 1838 – 1924), Jeanne died at a nursing home in Arles, southern France on 4 August 1997. Many centenarians have lived upwards of 119 years of age. In 2012, it was estimated there were 316,600 living centenarians worldwide. The lifespan of a person living 100 years is realized more fully, considering all the changes over a century witnessed by one life.

Methuselah is the oldest recorded person to live, reaching the age of 969 years. Adam lived to be 930 years which could be a few more years considering he was created as an adult (age unknown). Abraham had a son at the age of 100 and lived for seventy-five more years. His son would live to be 180 years. It was unusual for scripture to give the age of women, but Sarah is recorded to have lived 127 years. Moses was 120 years old when he died, and his eyes were not dim, nor his natural vigor diminished. These are impressive numbers to consider a human being living far beyond the one-hundred-year mark but none so remarkable as the age of those that many say is still living today – after two thousand years.

Jesus asked His disciples who men said that He was. There were many conflicting reports about Jesus, but Peter answered correctly when he recognized Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus would show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things from the Jewish leaders, be killed, and rise from the dead on the third day. This was the message of the kingdom of Christ. The Lord preached the kingdom was at hand. Everything about the kingdom of God was based on Jesus being the promised Messiah, the Christ, the Chosen One, and the Anointed. Through the vision given to the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, God revealed through Daniel a kingdom would be established during the days of the Roman Empire that would destroy all kingdoms. The prophecy was a clear testimony to the coming of a kingdom in the fulness of times realized in the time of Christ.

When Peter heard Jesus talking about suffering and dying at the hands of the elders and chief priests, the impetuous apostle took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him. Jesus, in turn, rebuked Peter for his unbelief and, turning to the disciples, declared that following Jesus would be cross bearing and suffering. Jesus would feel the pains of crucifixion in a literal sense, but those who were to be the disciples of Christ would bear a spiritual cross. The kingdom of Christ would be made up of those who denied themselves and followed Jesus carrying a cross. Jesus puts a time-marker on the coming of the kingdom when He tells the disciples that among them (the disciples), there would be those who would live to see the coming of the kingdom. In other words, the kingdom of God would come in the lifetime of some of those standing there with Jesus that day.

Throughout the religious world, the doctrine of the kingdom of Christ is taught of a future time. Many accept the idea that He could not set up His kingdom when He came the first time, and now humanity awaits the rapture, revelation, and recreation of the plan of God to establish a kingdom on earth. According to the words of Jesus, if the kingdom was not established in the first century, there must be people who are at least two thousand years old living today. Jesus said men were standing before Him on that day that would live to see the coming of the kingdom. If the kingdom did not come, then either Jesus is a liar, or some incredibly old men walk around Jerusalem today. Neither is acceptable. Jesus did not lie, the kingdom did come, and no one is two-thousand years old. The kingdom has existed for two millennia, and Christ has reigned at the right hand of God as King of King and Lord of Lords.