The Heaton File

He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16)

God’s Word On Who Is Saved And Lost

Passing judgment on others is a delicate exercise in speaking where the word of God speaks and refraining from conclusions when the word of God does not speak. The matter of judging is a controversial discussion when one man suggests an eternal question about another man. Jesus forbade unrighteous judgment on others based on human wisdom but the Lord did not forbid the righteous judgment of others from the word of God. Before ascending to the Father, the Lord commissioned the eleven to go into all the world and share the gospel of salvation. That message was very simple, very plain, and very direct. When a person believes in the gospel of Jesus Christ and is baptized for the remission of their sins, they will be saved. However, there will be many who do not believe in the gospel of God refusing to have their sins washed away in the waters of baptism. These individuals will be lost. There is no hope in eternity and their souls are condemned to the lake of fire and brimstone.

It is difficult for the human brain to wrap around the idea that a righteous God can and will punish those who refuse to obey His word. There may some sense of justice of eternal damnation for evil men but not for good people who never obey the gospel. In fact, the place of torment is reserved for the wicked and vile men of earth along with many good and kind people who never obey the gospel. There is no distinction because neither man – wicked and good – have done what the Lord requires for salvation. Is it possible to make a judgment of a person who has not been baptized into Christ for the remission of their sins? According to what Jesus says there are two kinds of people: those who are baptized and those who are not. For those who are baptized into Christ salvation awaits. The man who refuses to follow the word of God will be lost regardless of how good a person he is, religious, devout, and kind to others he may be. If a man dies outside of Christ there is no hope.

The word of God has always been clear. In Eden, the instructions to Adam and Eve said that eating the forbidden fruit would bring judgment. They denied the word of God and the wrath of the Lord came upon them. Throughout the history of humanity, the will of the Lord has remained unchanged. There is a path to righteousness that leads to eternal life and when a man refuses to follow that path they will be condemned. Adultery may be acceptable in society but God has always condemned it. Homosexuality has become a societal norm but this has never changed the will of the Father. Lying is a way of life for many people but all liars will have their part in the lake of fire. Good, kind, and religious people are wonderful people who live quality lives of service to others but if they do not follow the word of God, they will hear the Lord say to them, “Depart from Me, you workers of iniquity.” Why? Because they have not done the will of God.

God’s word is the basis of determining righteousness and unrighteousness. There are many people caught up in churches that are created through the wisdom of men. The world is filled with good people who never serve the Lord God. Religions fill the earth that does not accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God. The list can go on but the reality is that if a man devotes himself to a man-made church that does not model itself after the New Testament, they will be lost. Being a good person cannot and will not save a soul. Eternal life is not based on goodness but godliness. Accepting all the religions of the world does not bring salvation. Jesus is the only way to the Father and without accepting that He is the Son of God, there is no hope. God’s word is the judge and when men speak the word of God they only declare the righteous judgment of the Lord.

Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times. Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” (John 13:38-14:4)

Where I AM You May Be Also

The Bible was first divided into chapters by Stephen Langton around the year 1228. Verse division would come much later. While the chapter and verse divisions are a helpful tool in studying scripture, at times there is an unhappy break in thought or conversation that can lose the impact of the text. Jesus observed the Passover feast with the twelve and supper being ended, the Lord washed the feet of His disciples. Judas will be identified as a betrayer of the Lord and leave to carry out his treason. Unknown to the remaining eleven, Jesus will be arrested that night and the next day die on the cross. The Lord speaks of His glorification and His departing but where He is going the eleven cannot come.

Puzzled by what the Lord was saying, Peter, asks Jesus where He is going. Jesus tells the impetuous fisherman that where the Lord is going, he will not be permitted to go at this time but at a later date, Peter will understand. Still confused, Peter asserts that wherever Jesus goes, he will go and no matter what happens, Peter declares he will die for the Lord. It is then Jesus tells Peter that his faith will be tested shortly and that before the dawning of a new day, the courageous Peter will deny Jesus three times. This would startle Peter and it seems the other ten are concerned with what has been said. Jesus reassures Peter and the other apostles not to be troubled but to believe in God; believe in Jesus and everything will be okay.

The apostles did not know Jesus would be dead in less than 24 hours. Jesus had repeatedly told them He must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things, and be killed but He would rise on the third day. The purpose of the glorification of Jesus was to die for all men so that through the resurrection of the Son of God from the dead all men would have an avenue of grace to approach the throne of God. Jesus was not going to build a mansion for each person in Heaven. It has been assumed through popular songs that every child of God has a mansion their own. This is not what Jesus is teaching Peter and the apostles. Jesus is going away so that He could prepare a way of salvation for all men to join Him to worship around the throne of the Father. The proper understanding of the text is in the dwelling place of God ample space is provided for all who will be saved to abide, dwell, and inhabit eternal life.

Jesus was going to prepare a place so that all men could come and be with Him. He tells Peter that he will not be able to go where the Lord is going at this time but through the sacrifice of Jesus, Peter and all humanity would be able to come and dwell with Jesus and the divine of eternity. The Lord wants to dwell in fellowship with His people. Through the death of Jesus Heaven is opened for the blood of Christ to cleanse all men from their sins ushering them into the presence of the Father. The ‘I AM’ of Jesus is to let all men know what is provided by His death. Jesus says, “WHERE I AM” pointing the way, the truth, and the life to all who would come. There is no other way because Jesus is the only one who died for all men. Jesus is the only truth because His death fulfilled the work of the Father. No other life will give man eternal glory but the life found in the I AM of the Son of God.

Jesus died so that you could dwell with Him. He suffered immense pain beyond the scope of human understanding allowing you to approach the throne of God. There is only one place that eternal life is found and it is where Jesus is. He left heaven so that we could enter heaven. Jesus gave His life so that we could live in Christ. The Son of God went to prepare a place for us so that we could be where He is. He stands at the door and knocks. Will you let Him in?

Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of sandals. They pant after the dust of the earth which is on the head of the poor and pervert the way of the humble. A man and his father go in to the same girl, to defile My holy name. They lie down by every altar on clothes taken in pledge and drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god. (Amos 2:6-8)

The Answer

The Garden of Eden was a paradise where everyone on earth lived together in perfect harmony, love, and devotion to God. There was no crime, no social injustices committed, and the family was united in love. It was a perfect world – literally. The population of the world was two. God walked among the trees of the garden in fellowship with His creation. Everything was as God designed. And then the serpent whispered in the ear of the woman who took of the forbidden fruit and paradise was lost. Sin became the problem of humanity and crested in the days of Noah with the total annihilation of all life except for Noah and his family. God restored the world but the flood did not take away sin. Soon after, humanity returned to its course of carnal pleasures, hatred, prejudice, and injustice to the downtrodden. God would raise up a special nation to be His holy people but sin began to eat away at the heart of their love for Him as the sought after the gods of the world. The united kingdom of Israel would only last 120 years before the civil war divided the country north and south. God sent His prophets among His people to decry the sin that so fully invaded their lives.

Amos was a prophet with little patience for the flagrant lifestyle of the rich and famous. The obscurity of a shepherd to one of the fiery messengers of the Lord shows the dire condition of Israel as they had plunged deep into social chaos and spiritual ruin. The threat of Assyrian domination filled the minds of the world. Yet in the face of such tragedy Israel had filled its coffers with those who lived in the luxury of summer-houses, homes of ivory and hewn-stone, silken cushions, and voluptuous women to whom Amos called the “fat cows of Bashan.” The political world of Israel was corrupted by oppression violence and robbery. In the religious circles, the emphasis of calf worship and Baal worship lead the people deeper into disparity.

As a result of the political, religious, and carnal depravity of the Jewish leaders in Israel, the moral degradation of social injustice was heaped upon the poor and disenfranchised of the land. The innocent were being sold under the heavy burden of corrupt leaders who abused the poor which were protected under the Law of Moses. If a Hebrew came to a state of poverty, he was allowed under the Law could sell himself to a fellow Israelite but would not be considered a slave. The Law clearly stated he would be treated as a hired servant. Judges were being bribed and officials corrupted to oppress the poor. It was so bad that Amos suggests sarcastically the greed of the rich was to take even the dust from the heads of the poor. Another part of the law that was being abused concerned garments taken in pledge. According to the Law of Moses, these were to be returned before night so the poor man could use them for a blanket. Instead, the poor were beset with the greed and immorality of the rich. Social injustice was reigning in the kingdom of God. The message of Amos was to bring the wrath of God upon a wicked nation. Social injustice in Israel was clearly defined and known by the Lord as His prophets warned the people against such things.

Amos reminded the people their actions would not go unpunished. The message of the prophet was not only to condemn but to show how to resolve the problem. Like in the Garden of Eden, when men walk away from God, there is injustice. Humanity cannot and will not be able to answer how to deal with their fellow man until they come to terms with the word of God. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. He did not come to take away sin but to give man an answer for their relationship with God and with one another. In the parabolic picture of the vertical relationship of man-to-God with the horizontal relationship of man-to-man, humanity cannot serve the needs of one another until they first resolve their relationship with God. The answer to social injustice (and every other part of sin) is Jesus Christ. Every generation that takes God out of the picture will find the darkness of injustice enclosing them. When men try to find answers to the problems of the world apart from God, they seek for something they will never find. God created man for His glory. Man must glorify God by obeying His word. These two ideals are necessary for harmony, peace, and love. Adam and Eve had a perfect relationship and they threw it all away. The only answer now is Jesus Christ.

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. (Romans 13:1-2)

Rebelling Against Civil Authority

The Roman Empire was described by the Lord as a nation of iron in the vision of Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. It was fitting to portray the fourth kingdom of the image as one of the most destructive war machines ever to rule. For more than five hundred years, the brutal force of the Roman Empire wielded control over much of the world. Its leaders were despots who ruled with ferocious zeal to suppress and oppress all who stood in their way. To this world, Jesus was born and the church was established. The letters of the early disciples shed light on the view of the first Christians concerning the Roman government. Paul’s letter to Rome came near the end of his third missionary journey as he was returning to Jerusalem with the offering from the Gentile churches. There was no hesitation of the apostle to admonish the saints living in Rome to submit to the civil authorities and policies of the Roman government.

Examining the state of affairs of the Roman authority would shock and dismay the modern American patriots who live in a world of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and many other accepted freedoms. The Holy Spirit directs Paul to remind the Christians they are obligated to keep the law of the land and respect civil authority as a sign of faithfulness to God. Everyone had the divine command to submit to all governing authorities because that rule came from God. To disobey the law of the land was to disobey the law of God. If a citizen refused to submit to the Roman government they would be punished by the wrath of God.

It is hard to imagine living under the harsh hand of the Roman government and be submissive but the Lord did not make distinctions of whether the country was a democracy, monarchy, republic, or dictatorship. If a man is a child of God he has no choice. All of this is tempered by the understanding that as long as the government does not require a man anything that would transgress the law of God, he must obey. The twelve apostles boldly declared to their persecutors they had to obey God rather than men but this did not give them a license to choose which civil law to disobey. When the church in Rome received the letter from Paul, they clearly understood their roles in submitting to civil authority.

America is a land far removed from the tyrannical rule of the Roman Empire. The song of freedom has long been the mantra of Americans seeking life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. While the empires have changed in the last two thousand years, the word of God has not. What Paul wrote to the church in Rome has as much power today as it did then; however, in a much less despotic nation. Christians living in the United States of America are bound by the laws of the land whether they agree with them or not. Unless (and only until) the law of the land countermands the word of God, the Christian has no right to rebel against civil authority. The Lord does not follow the red, white, and blue doctrine of freedom for everything. There are things the child of God should not engage in as people of character, citizens of the kingdom of Christ, and priests in the spiritual nation of Israel. Saints of God are set aside for a holy calling, not civil unrest. If anything, those professing allegiance to Jesus Christ should be models of restraint, reserve, and resolution to be examples of godliness, righteousness, and honesty. Let Christ shine in your civic duties. Allow those in the world to see the power of the church of Christ to be leaders in the civil communities of this great land. Obey the laws of the land and those in authority.

I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. (Revelation 2:23)

I Am He

Nothing is known about the church in Thyatira, Asia Minor except John’s reference in the Revelation. Among the seven letters written by the Lord to the churches, the letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira is one of the most exacting condemnations of the sin that filled the church. The Son of God begins by describing Himself with eyes like flames of fire and feet like polished bronze. Homer Hailey writes, “The Son of God’s eyes flash with indignation as they penetrate with piercing insight into the corruptness of the prophetess’ false teaching; His feet are ready to trample and burn to ashes all who yield to her seductions.” There is a great judgment coming against the church and the Lord reminds the saints that nothing is hidden from the mind of God and all things will be laid bare in judgment. All the churches will know that He is the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. There is nothing that can be hidden from the eyes of the Creator. As a result, the Lord will give to each person whatever they deserve. 

The word “minds” is also the word “reins” and literally means the kidneys. This would seem to be an odd use of the word for Jesus to use this in describing the omniscience of the Divine. Albert Barnes explains, “In the Scriptures, it is used to denote the inmost mind, the secrets of the soul; probably because the parts referred to by the word are as hidden as any other part of the frame, and would seem to be the repository of the more secret affections of the mind.” All the emotions of man, his affections, the will of man along with everything he thinks and believes are open for investigation under the microscope of God’s will. Men are limited in the knowledge of others but the Lord has full knowledge of everything. The Lord searches the mind and the heart and from this view will render judgment.

Jesus is the I AM of knowledge. As the discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart, the Lord has a clear view of every aspect of life. His message to Thyatira is to know whatever is done is known by God. Adam and Eve tried to hide from God but to no avail. God knew the hearts of men were evil in the day of Noah and destroyed the wicked. The Lord reminded Samuel the prophet and judge of Israel that when it comes to choosing a king, the Lord looks at the heart of the man; not the outward. During His ministry, Jesus knew the heart of men. As the Son of God, Jesus is the I AM to know all that transpires in the life of every human being that has ever lived, living now, and will live before He comes.

The paradox of the Day of Judgment will be that all men will be gathered together before the Lord but all men will be judged alone. Every person will stand before God and accept personal responsibility for every work including every secret thing, whether good or evil. The great I AM of knowledge will open the book of life and examine the character of each person and judge accordingly. There will no longer be a need to search the reins and hearts of men as all things will be completed, the story ended. Judgment – good or bad – will come from the knowledge of what is known from the ‘kidneys’ of man.

But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day — with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods — so they are doing to you also. Now, therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.” (1 Samuel 8:6-9)

They Have Rejected Me

The Garden of Eden provided everything Adam and Eve needed or required. Food was abundant, the animals were in a common peace with man, there was nothing to be ashamed of and God walked in the garden in the cool of the day to commune with His creation. Moses noted at the end of the description of Eden that Adam and Eve were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. There was nothing to mar the paradise of God’s presence. The Lord created man and woman to dwell with Him and as their Maker would give them everything they would want or need. But Adam and Eve were not satisfied. Hearkening to the voice of the tempter, they threw away the protection and communion of God for a taste of the fruit.

It would seem unworthy that everything given by the abundant hand of God would be traded to taste the forbidden fruit. What did Adam and Eve gain? They felt a rush of independence for a brief moment and that was replaced with fear. The taste of the fruit was an incredible delight in that split second of time but then it bore its bitter aftermath. Now, hearing the sound of God walking in the garden, they did something they had never done before: they hid from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. They were naked and afraid before the glory of God. Their decision to reject the word of God brought consequences. Cast from the garden, Adam and Eve would find how much they needed the presence of the Lord.

When Israel came to Samuel demanding a king, it was the same cycle of what happened in the Garden of Eden. As a nation of God’s people, they were given land by the will of the Lord. The Promised Land was a land promised and delivered through the power of God. Jericho was defeated by the hand of the Lord. Canaan was conquered through the leadership of Joshua and the providential influence of God. It was a land flowing with milk and honey because God prepared the land for His people. Like in Eden, everything Israel needed was provided by the hand of the Lord. They were protected by His might, blessed with crops, flocks, and an abundance of children through the promises of God established in the Law of Moses. Israel lacked nothing. But they turned their back on their Provider and sought for a man to lead them.

Samuel was heartbroken over the desire of the people to want a king to lead them. God understood the pattern that was taking place once again as the heart of the people longed for the tempting fruit of freedom. He granted them their request and they gained their freedom but for a short time. The first king Saul quickly became a despot and was rejected by God. David and Solomon brought the nation to great glory but soon after the death of Solomon the nation fell into civil war, apostasy and idolatry. Three hundred and fifty years after the death of Solomon, the Babylonian army destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple. What price did Israel pay for rejecting God for a king to walk among them? It destroyed them.

Every nation that turns away from God turns its path to destruction. It is an age-old proverb that man will never learn from history. When men seek a bite of the fruit for a moment’s reckless folly, they never find what they want. Turning away from God is the greatest mistake any man will make. The only source of protection, care, blessing, and happiness is found in the fellowship with the Lord God. Any other attempt will fail. Israel thought they would be happy with Saul as their king. History bears out how wrong they were. God has given His only begotten Son to bring every spiritual blessing to the world. The decision of which king you choose will determine your happiness here and more importantly, your happiness in eternity. NO God in this world is NO God in the next world. Living WITH God in this world will allow you to live WITH God in the next world. You decide. Who is your king?

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” (John 14:5-7)

Jesus Is The Way, The Truth, And The Life

Thomas was one of the most focused disciples in the company of the twelve. His discernment of the teaching of Jesus was clearly evident as he listened to the Lord talk about being glorified and going way somewhere. Judas had left the Passover feast to make plans for the arrest of Jesus. The Lord tells the eleven that He will be them but for a short time and where He is going, they are not able to come. Peter was indignant at this at challenged Jesus to go away claiming that he would die for the Lord. It is then Jesus tells Peter of his own betrayal that would take place in just a few short hours. The disciples may have been troubled by this and the Lord assures them that He must go away to prepare a place, an abiding place, so they could come to be with Him. It is then Thomas inquires to the place Jesus is going.

For nearly three years Jesus had taught the disciples showing His divinity by His miracles. When He gathered the twelve around Him, the Lord spoke often of His life and work mirroring the will of the Father. If the disciples would look closely at the life of Jesus they would see the Father. When He was about to leave them, the Lord outlined His mission for the salvation of all men as the means to reach the Father. No one could come to God except through Jesus. The eleven did not realize that in a few hours their Lord would be arrested and the following day crucified. They would understand in time the significance of the death of Jesus as the only way to come to the Father, the only truth that will save mankind and the only hope of life either in this world or the world to come. Three basic needs of humanity are embodied in the life of Jesus Christ. His death and His resurrection would open the doors of salvation through these three ideals. Eternal life would come to only those who accept Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Jesus is the way because there is no other way. Men have tried from time beginning to establish their legacy with human wisdom and have always failed. No matter the arrogance of men, they have never found a way in life that gives them happiness, hope, and fulfillment. If anything, the carnal nature of man has followed the wrong way with disastrous results. Jesus tells the eleven the only way to the Father is the divine way of the Son of God. The belief system that comes from the teaching of Christ is the Christian doctrine of the Bible. There is no other system of faith whereby man can save himself. God created the world and gave man everything he needed. When sin-darkened the world with its power, the Son of God came and opened the way back to the Father.

Truth is older than error and sin is the antithesis of truth. In creation, truth is found in the laws established by the Creator. The law of gravity is truth because whether a man believes it or not, the results are the same and truth remains unchanged. Jesus taught the will of the Father as truth and many rejected His teachings but it did not change the will of God. Miracles proved Jesus was the Son of God and yet men denied the power. They never denied the miracle but they would not accept the miracle. The miracle still happened. Jesus is the personification of truth because there is only one way of truth. No man can come to the Father unless they follow the only truth given to humanity. Again, the wisdom of mankind has failed repeatedly because, without the foundation of divine truth, there can be hope. Many religions fill the earth with their brand of truth but none are based upon a lasting truth. Jesus is the only way with the only truth as He teaches the word of God as truth. The Bible is the only book available for men today to understand the truth. Without the Bible, there is no hope.

Finally, Jesus is the only life man will know about this life and the life to come. Human wisdom brings little happiness and fulfillment of life. Following the carnal desires of the flesh, amassing the riches of the world, and seeking for all the fame of historical significance will never bring the soul lasting joy. It becomes an empty life. God so loved the world that He sent His Son to give life to all men. This life is joy now as the word of God guides the soul to live godly and to seek life after death. When men refuse to accept Jesus, they deny there is such a thing as life after death but in death, everyone discovers what they denied. Lives are spent wasting away on things that never amount to any happiness. A life fully lived is not measured by what is gained in this world but what is promised in the world to come. Life is in Jesus. There is only one life. Following the way and the truth will bring greater life.

Jesus is the way. Jesus is the truth. Jesus is the life. When a man desires to come to the Father seeking blessings of eternal life, the Father will examine whether the soul has followed the only way, listened to the only truth, and sought the only life. Without Jesus, there is no hope. With Jesus, there is a way, the truth, and life.

The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” (John 4:25-26)

I Am He

The identity of the Christ was always a great topic of dispute in the days of Jesus. In part because the Jews had been looking for the promised Messiah for more than 400 years and no definitive evidence of His coming had been established. Many were supposed to be the Messiah but were found to be false. To claim that one was the Christ suggested divinity. John the Baptist sent messengers to Jesus asking if He was truly the Coming One. The problem with Jesus was the people knew his (supposed) father was Joseph and His mother was Mary. Jesus was from Nazareth in Galilee. He had brothers and sisters and was a common man as much as any other man. For thirty years, Jesus had not appeared on the radar of interest to the Jews and certainly not the Romans. Everyone knew that when the Christ came He would come from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was from. Jesus seemed to not fit that mold.

On a certain day, Jesus was traveling with His disciples near the city of Sychar where Jacob’s well had been for more than a thousand years. As the disciples went into the city to buy food, a woman came to the well where Jesus rested. He asked her for a drink of water. She was startled that a man would openly speak to a woman; much less than a Jew spoke to a Samaritan. Always the teacher, Jesus knew the woman’s heart and began to implore her with a story of everlasting water. This intrigued the woman and she inquired how she might obtain such. Examining the life of the Samaritan woman, Jesus revealed her past by asking her to bring her husband. In fact, she was not married at the time but lived with a man. The woman had been married five times previously. Astonished, the woman perceived Jesus was not an ordinary man but a prophet.

The Samaritan woman defends herself by asking Jesus why the Samaritans worship in one place and the Jews in another. The Lord shows her that God seeks those who worship in spirit and truth. This impacts the woman as she acknowledges the Samaritans also look for the coming Messiah (who is called Christ). She tells Jesus that when the Christ comes, He will explain everything to them. It is then Jesus tells the woman that He is the Messiah, the Christ. To claim one is the Christ is very serious and while Jesus has performed no miracle, His knowledge of her past life strikes a responsive chord in her heart as she leaves her water pot and returns to the city. The Samaritan woman implores the men to come and see a man who told her all things she had ever done. She openly asks if Jesus could be the promised Messiah. At her pleading, the men come to the well to see Jesus. Many of the Samaritans who came to see Jesus believed in Him through the word of the woman who proclaimed that Jesus knew all about her life.

Miracles were often used to testify to the divinity of Jesus as Christ. This was not the case with the Samaritan woman. The divine nature of Jesus was impressed upon the heart of the woman through the word. Jesus knew of her past which she freely acknowledged was true. Viewed by society as an outcast, the woman’s heart was open to the word of the true Christ. Jesus came to bring the disenfranchised, despised, and dejected souls to the Father. The coming of the Messiah would be more than to fulfill prophecy. Christ came to change the world. Through His gospel prejudice would be removed, darkness took away, and hope restored to a lost world. He was the Messiah to bring joy to the heart of humanity again. Only through His sacrifice as the Lamb of God would the true nature of the Messiah, the Christ be realized in Jesus. The Samaritan woman came to know the Messiah because she had a heart ripe for the good news of Jesus the Christ. It was then she experienced the fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. Messiah water. Pure. Holy. Divine. The water of Christ.

But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing. (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12)

The Doctrine Of An Orderly Life In Christ

There were some great churches in the New Testament times and the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ was one of them. Paul had first visited the city of Thessalonica on his second missionary journey. Luke notes in his history of the church the people of Berea were more noble than those of Thessalonica as an uproar had caused Paul and Silas to leave the city. A change had taken place in the work of Thessalonica as a faithful body of saints formed in the Macedonian city which is evident in the two letters preserved in scripture. The church had experienced a work of faith and labor of love with commendations from Paul. They had suffered much in devoting themselves to the gospel of Christ. These kinds of things would draw people close to one another. It would seem clear the troubles they shared drew them closer together. Paul acknowledges their brotherly love but exhorts them to increase more and more. There is always room for more brotherly love.

Doctrine is not always the examination of law and emphasis on the legal aspects of the commandments of God. The relationship of one to another is a vital part of the doctrine of the church with respect to one another and concerning those in the world. This is found in Paul’s letter to Thessalonica where he exhorts the brethren to find ways to increase in their love for one another. The relationship of brethren to brethren is a key ingredient to the peaceful and productive church. It is easy to assume the love one has for another. There is a need to always look for more opportunities to increase that love. Spending time with one another more, talking with others in the congregation that may not be as well known, helping those in need, and doing things to encourage every member are ways to grow in love and to abound more and more.

The example of the Christian to those in the world is another important part of doctrine. The principles that guide the life of a child of God will have a great impact on those who are outside the faith of Christ. In many ways, the example of faith will become a greater testimony than the emphasis upon the doctrinal matters of the law. If a person does not show Christ in their lives it will be difficult for those in the world to accept the teachings of the gospel. Three things show the doctrine of an orderly life in Christ. First, the Christian must learn to live a quiet life without the distractions of the world. The ambition of the child of God is not to be an example of worldly desire. Living under the calm virtues of the grace of God will show the character of Jesus Christ. The second part of the orderly life in Christ is to be concerned with one’s own affairs and not be a busybody in other people’s lives. Minding the business of self is a full-time job. It is easy to be caught up in the gossip and slander of an evil world. Children of God refrain from showing themselves as haughty and prideful.

A final exhortation from Paul is for the saints to work with their own hands showing the integrity of honest labor. Christians should shine brighter in the workforce because of their faith in Jesus Christ. One of the most important fields of evangelism is where most people spend the majority of their lives – on the job. When a Christian works hard giving honest labor with kindness, grace, and love for others, the gospel of Christ will be seen by the world. The world must see a true character of virtue. These principles must come from the example of children of God. Walking properly will allow the world to see the gospel in action. The people who are not believers will respect the manner of life of godly men and women. This is the doctrine of Christ living in the lives of His people. The light shines brightest in a dark world.

As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. (2 Samuel 22:31)

Perfect, Proven And Protective

The Bible is an incredible compilation of sixty-six books spanning 1500 years that has been preserved for the past two thousand years as a message that is perfect, proven, and protective. David did not have the fully contained word of God as revealed today but he had a clear understanding of the limited amount of scripture available in his day. He was not lacking to know the will of the Lord. Much of the present Bible may not have been written in the time of David but the king understood everything he had to know about eternal life. Whether in the patriarchal days of Abraham to the days of the written Law of Moses to the early writings of the New Testament, the word of the Lord has been perfect, His promises true and for all who looked to God for protection, they found it in His word.

David’s song of deliverance is a beautiful poem of eternal gratitude for the infinite blessings of God seen in David’s life. He experienced firsthand the sure promises of God as a young boy fighting for his sheep or standing in the Valley of Elah to defeat the giant Goliath. For many years, King Saul chased David like a flea in the wilderness and the Lord delivered both Saul and David. After the death of Saul, David took the mantle of leadership over the people and sought the divine will of God to be his guide. Through his own life, David could see the perfect will of God working in the divine plan. Providence is best seen from hindsight and for David, he could look back and see the way of the Lord was right. The word of God was present in the heart of the king. Through the knowledge of God’s divine will, David’s life was measured with strength and courage.

History proves whether a word is true or not. David could see in his own life how the will of the Lord had been proven time and again. When the son of Jesse trusted in God and followed His word, blessings would come. David’s life was a testimony to the promise of God. He had confidence in the word of God that when he called upon the Lord, He would answer. When David was in peril, God lifted him up and put him on a broad place for protection. The Lord was the rock of David and his fortress and deliverer. Having confidence in the word of God gives surety to the soul to know whatever the Lord says, it will come to pass. The Lord rewarded David according to his righteousness and clean hands. He kept the way of the Lord by keeping the word of God.

The word of God serves as a shield to all who trust in Him. Looking to the Father for protection is a vital part of the child’s life. Spending time in the word of God is finding the source of strength to bear up under the trials of life, the constant temptations that allure the soul, and the despair often found in the perverse world. David spent much time devoted to an understanding of the word of God and he has so much less than what is found today. How can we do less than David with so much more given by the grace of God? This never limited the faith of David. He thrived on the word of God and trusted its message as his strength, shield, defender, and protector. David loved the word of God. Paul would later remind the early Christians that David as a man after God’s own heart. This character came from spending time in the Book. Get to know the word of God. It is perfect, it is proven and it will be a shield.