The Heaton File

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. (Colossians 3:16-21)

The Context For The Family

It has been said that a text without a context is a pretext. One of the important tools to study scripture is to remember to embrace a passage with the frame of the discussion that surrounds it so that a deeper sense of meaning is given. Taking a single verse without understanding the previous thought by the writer may not bring to mind all that God wants to be considered. There are valuable lessons for the family to learn. The relationship of the husband and wife is very important to follow the design as intended by the Lord. Parenting is an incredible journey fraught with uncertainty and questions. Learning the best way to impress upon hearts of children the love of God is vital to the happiness of the home. How the children react can largely be dependent upon the leadership of the home. Contextually the admonitions for the family should only be understood in the light of what Paul wrote earlier.

Wives must learn how to subject themselves to their own husbands and the husband must learn how to love his wife without being bitter towards them. Children are commanded to obey their parents in all things because that is the will of God. The leadership of the home is placed upon the shoulders of the father who must guide the home. For those who are raised with Christ and seek the things that are above are changed people. They are the elect of God, holy and beloved who have put on the character of tenderness, kindness, humility and many other godly virtues. Love rules the home. All of this is accomplished because the home is built upon the word of Christ dwelling in the hearts of each individual. This must be the beginning place for the woman to learn how to submit herself to her husband. As the leader of the home in the role of a husband who loves his wife and guides the hearts of the children, the man seeks the word of God to guide him in teaching and admonishing his family. The word of God dwells in the heart of children and they obey their parents because they serve the Lord. Songs fill the home in praise to God as the family is a worshipping body of people who love the Lord in word and deed. Everything about the character of wife and husband is done in the name of the Lord Jesus. Mothers and fathers teach their children to follow after the will of God in all decisions of life. The home built upon the word of God is a family filled with the thanksgiving of God the Father. They realize all blessings come from Him.

The context for the family is established in all of the attributes of the relationship of the disciple of Christ. Women may find it hard to submit themselves to their husbands but when they engage their hearts in the word of God they will learn the beauty of His arrangement. It is more the nature of men to be bitter towards their wives. Being men of faith and loving the Lord with all the heart will show the path of righteousness to love their wives. As the elect of God, the man and woman show the glory of the Lord in their marriage because they let the word of Christ dwell in their hearts richly in all wisdom. Children obey their parents when they see the love of God first in the hearts of the father and mother. Their obedience is because they love the Lord like their parents. Everything in the home comes from doing all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father. The family will find the peace of God ruling in their hearts when they follow the pattern for a godly home.

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. (2 Corinthians 5:9)

What Is Your Aim In Life?

As a child of God there should be no greater purpose in life than to please the Father in heaven. Nothing compares to the noble character that seeks every day to do and say those things that bring a pleasing smile to the Lord. We always hit what we aim at. An errant shot may miss the target but that is because our aim was misguided. Paul’s admonition reminds us the only thing that should be important is the knowledge that every part of my life is pleasing to the Heavenly Father. That is a tall order. Trying to please our parents was challenging enough but they did not have full knowledge of what we did or did not do on a daily basis. God sees us without fail every minute of every day and we still must strive to please Him. If nothing else this should put our lives in perspective. If our aim is misguided we will not please the Father. Sin will have that impact and has been defined as ‘missing the target.’ The reason we fail to hit the target is because we chose not to. Sin is not an accident. It is a purposeful action drawn from our lusts. Making our aim to please the Father is putting forth the effort to bring our desires under control showing the Lord our faithfulness to Him.

Obedience to the will of God is not because of a spirit of commandment keeping drudgery. My willingness to keep the commandments of the Lord is because I want Him to be pleased with my life. His glory will be seen in my life when I follow the truth of His word. By example others will see the Father living in me and this pleases Him. My aim in life is to speak in a manner that honors God. When the Lord looks down on a population of six billion souls He will know that I am doing the best I can to bring joy to His heart because of my example. Every day is an expression of thanksgiving that God allows me to be His child and I honor that blessing by living in such a manner that pleases Him. He loves to see me open His word and learn more about Him. His love for me is found in His Son and the more I love His Son the more I please Him. The many times I lift up my soul in prayer is like sweet incense to the Father who is pleased His children want to speak to Him. Sharing my life with others in brotherly love is something that brings joy to the heart of God when He sees His children filled with love for one another. Helping others see the truth of salvation pleases the Father because He knows I care for the salvation of another human being.

There are many good things to aspire for in life but none compare to the change that takes place when my aim is to please Him. It brings peace, happiness, joy, contentment and the knowledge of an everlasting hope. Seeking the Lord removes the sorrows of the world with its bitterness. A calm demeanor overshadows the mind in knowing that what I do is something that makes God happy. What greater aspiration can a person have than to live in such a manner that when life is over the Father welcomes him home to live with Him? Pleasing God is preparing for an eternal home. In death the Father says, “Welcome home.” Then we get to see Him face to face and while He is pleased that we dwell with Him – our joy is without end. Make it your aim that whatever you do: be pleasing to God.

To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ephesians 3:8-11)

The Church Was In The Mind Of God

Moses declared that in the beginning God created the heavens and earth. He opened the book of beginnings by showing how everything in this world was created by the word of God. The world was formed by the design of the Creator and established through His creative power to show His glory to all men. Long before the void of earth was made beautiful by the Lord, there was something else that would not come to fruition until the death of God’s Son. In the eternal ages prior to Eden, God had His purpose that would be accomplished in the sacrifice of His only begotten Son and be called the church of Christ. The body of Christ or the church was in the mind of God before time began. It was a mystery hidden through the ages from the hearts of men. Promises were made in obscurity of the Garden of Eden when a Seed was promised. Abram was told that all nations would be blessed through his seed. Throughout the generations of men both Jew and Gentile future promises were made looking forward to a new day and a new time. Jesus referred to the coming kingdom in His ministry. Not until the death and resurrection of the Christ did the Father reveal the eternal plan for the church. Begun on Pentecost and spreading throughout the world, the church fulfilled the eternal plan of the Lord as the saved were added to the church daily.

The church is not some afterthought because the Jews rejected Jesus killing Him on the cross. Prophets like Isaiah, Daniel and Joel spoke of the coming kingdom hundreds of years before the coming of Christ. Paul declares the glory of the church is found in the manifold wisdom of God revealing to all men the eternal purpose He proposed for the church. The value and importance of the church is eternal. It is the highest expression of God’s love found in the gift of His Son which purchased the church with His blood. Jesus died for the church. He is the head of the church and savior. There is nothing slight about the church as many consider. For many today the church is an expression of something good but unessential. They see no value in being a part of the church or to be faithful to the work of the church. The world considers the church as an opportunity that one can choose any church they like. One so-called church is just as good as another so-called church. Sadly many of God’s people look at the church as a convenience once in a while and never commit to the work of the church.

When the church was established two thousand years ago, it represented the eternal plan of God fulfilled. The saved are in the church because the church is the body of Christ. Salvation can only be found in abiding in Christ. There is no other means which a man can be saved outside of the church. Jesus is the head as the only authority. The church is the bride of Christ. As King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Christ rules over His Kingdom. Saints have been baptized into one body which is the one church. All of this shows how important the New Testament church is to the mind of God and how important it should be for men. Salvation cannot be found outside of Christ and that includes the church. Admittedly one of the ploys of Satan that has brought about a misguided view of the church is the many different kinds of churches. This is nothing more than an extension of the great lie he wants to fill the hearts of men with. There is only one church because God had only one eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus. Praise God for His wonderful power that gives us the church.

You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.” (2 Chronicles 20:17)

Jahaziel’s Advice For The Christian

The battle took place more than 2500 years ago but the lessons learned still resonate with the people of God. It was a time of the divided Israel when Ahab and Jezebel reigned in the northern tribes and Jehoshaphat ruled the southern two tribes. The northern ten tribes never had a righteous king and the influence of Ahab and Jezebel sent the people of God down a path of incredible wickedness. Jehoshaphat was a man who followed in the ways of his father Asa doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. A day came when the people of Moab with the people of Ammon gathered against the king of Judah with a great multitude. Unlike his counterpart in the northern tribes, Jehoshaphat sought the blessing of God to help him defeat this great army that had come up against Judah. He begged the intervention of the Lord to spare the people from this catastrophe that waited with this great army. All of Judah, with their little ones, their wives and their children stood before the Lord seeking His blessings.

God sent His servant Jahaziel the son of Zechariah to deliver the message of hope for the people. The battle plan was not a complex maneuvering of chariots, infantry or batteries of artillery bombardment. It did not involve the people of Judah to do anything. Jahaziel told the people to go down and face the enemy and then do a most remarkable thing. First of all, there will be no need to fight this battle because the Lord has already won the victory. What the prophet wanted the people to do was to face the enemy, position themselves and stand still. No movement. No fighting. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Nothing else. They did not need to be afraid or to be dismayed because of the great army that stood before them. God would fight their battle for them. The people believed the prophet and did what he said to do. In place of swords and spears, the people sang praise to the Lord. When they began to sing the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir. In a remarkable battle preserved through the pages of God’s word, the enemy of Judah began killing one another until no man was standing. When the battle was over, Judah came to find the land littered with dead bodies. It took three days to gather all the spoil from the dead bodies. God had won a great victory that day and the people of Judah trusted in the word of the Lord.

Jahaziel’s advice is still pertinent for the Christian. The battle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers and against the rulers of darkness. There is no reason to be afraid of Satan and his minions because the battle is not won by the power of men but the power of God. Facing the enemy is recognizing the powerful influence the devil tries to put in our lives and he is most successful. Allowing the power of God to guide the heart of the Christian, courage begs for the soldiers of Christ to position themselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. He is with us. There is no greater power to defeat Satan than the power of God living in our lives. Through prayer, meditation of the word of God, fellowship and constant devotion to His cause, nothing will be able to defeat us. Trust in the Lord and let Him fight for you. He will give the victory because Jesus has risen from the dead. Thank God for His incredible gift.

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the law of the burnt offering: The burnt offering shall be on the hearth upon the altar all night until morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it. And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen trousers he shall put on his body, and take up the ashes of the burnt offering which the fire has consumed on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar. Then he shall take off his garments, put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out. And the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order on it; and he shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out. (Leviticus 6:8-13)

The Letter Of The Law Was The Law

Examining the Law of Moses it is easy to see there were many details that had to be followed. The daily sacrifices, offerings and many feasts would be an exhausting schedule to keep up with. There were thousands of people assigned various jobs to fulfill the requirements of the Law. What is notable about the instructions are the minute details that fill the pages with what to do and what not to do. The law of the burnt offering is an example of the careful manner the Lord expected the priest to follow. Earlier Moses had instructed Aaron and his sons the burnt offering could be either a bull, male goat or sheep, turtle dove or pigeon. There were two lambs that were offered every day – one in the morning and another at twilight. This would be a continual burnt offering throughout the generations of Israel.

There were specific things required of the priest to maintain the burnt offering. The fire of the altar was to be kept burning without ever going out. This would take a lot of diligence, care and effort to maintain the fire. Someone would have to make certain the supplies for the fire were kept constant. The letter of the law was the requirement to keep a fire going day and night. When the priest came to take the ashes of the burnt offering he was to put on his linen garment and linen trousers. He would then place the ashes beside the altar. The constant burning would create a lot of ashes and this would be a daunting task. It is important to note that while the duties of the priest were very important and filled with the grandeur of the position to honor God, some of his duties were humble reflections of his position before the Lord. Removing the ashes from the altar would remind the priest of his lowly state. Before removing the ashes to a place outside the camp, the priest would once again change his garments. He would then find a clean place outside the camp to dump the ashes. When the nation of Israel settled in a place all of the tribes would encircle the Tent of Tabernacle. Every day the people would see the priest carrying the ashes of the burnt offering far beyond their camp to be disposed out of their sight. This would have been a purposeful lesson every day for the people to remember the grace of a loving God.

Keeping the letter of the law as an important lesson God wanted to impress upon the priest and upon the people. There may have been those who questioned why the fire had to be maintained without end and why the priest had to put on certain clothing to remove the ashes from the altar and then change his clothes to take the ashes outside the camp. Often the Lord tests the faith of His people when He gives them a law to see how faithful they will be in the small matters so that He can see their faithfulness in the larger matters. If a man is unwilling to obey the Lord with small things he will not obey the Lord in weightier matters. What may seem unnecessary at first will be found necessary in the will of God. The law of God has never changed from that path. Before the Law of Moses was given to the people the Lord expected obedience in the small things as well as the larger. Obedience is a willingness to do all the Lord commands without question – because God is always right. This does not regard the wisdom of man whether he understands it or not. Nadab and Abihu (sons of Aaron) offered strange fire and God struck them dead. They failed to appreciate God’s attention to detail.

Religion today is driven by the wisdom of man instead of the law of God. Many things that people do in worship to the Lord are without Biblical foundation. Baptism is rejected as unnecessary because man cannot see the wisdom in being immersed for salvation. Assembling every first day of the week is asking too much. Remembering the sacrifice of Jesus each week is an option. Living a life dedicated to Christ is measured by the whims of carnal thinking. If a person argues the letter of the law they are accused of being ‘commandment keepers’ who deny the grace of God. What men fail to see is the grace of God is enormous but only when the law is observed in the manner prescribed by God. Grace was found in the burnt offerings under the Law of Moses because the Lord took the sins of the people away because of their obedience. When the priest did exactly what the Lord required God blessed the people with His love. Grace and works are inseparable. The letter of the law is the law and without the letter of the law there can be no salvation.

The Day Before Christmas

So what do you put in the bulletin a day before Christmas? Tomorrow is the 25^th day of December traditionally seen as the day of Christ’ birth with many services today focused on silent nights and hearing the angels sing. Festive plays well rehearsed depicting the manger scene of shepherds and three wise men staring down at the baby Jesus will fill churches throughout the world. A huge star will be suspended above the manger. Angels will sing as little boys and girls with fragile wings will squirm and giggle with parents gleaming. The message of Jesus will be preached from pulpit to pulpit lauding the majesty of His miraculous birth. So what would be a good article to put in the bulletin the day before Christmas? Honestly it is hard to say.

We could discuss that Christmas is not really the birth of Jesus. It could be pointed out the misinformation that has longed filled the hearts of people who do not read the Bible to see the real story of Jesus birth. Matthew and Luke are the only ones that tell us what happened but men still get the story wrong. There is little detail in the birth of Jesus but again most of the world does not know the truth about His birth. Mark and John do not take the time to tell the story and the writers of the epistles including Luke’s account in Acts do not discuss it either. The only thing we know about the early life of Jesus are the first couple of years (limited information), when Jesus is twelve years and then when He is the age of thirty. Regarding the adulthood of Jesus ranging in a period of about three years the New Testament writers fill 27 volumes of stories, teachings, instructions and commands.

The basis of what to do to be saved is not found in the birth of Jesus but His resurrection and His commission. Twelve men took the gospel of salvation to the Jews in Jerusalem and three thousand souls were saved that day. Four men set forth stories of the life of Jesus called The Gospels. Countless disciples of the Lord gave their lives to preach Christ crucified and the hope of the resurrection. The New Testament never records a sermon where the birth of Jesus is highlighted with special emphasis on a day of celebration like Christmas. Hearts were convicted when the people were told they had killed the Son of God. Forgiveness was preached through the blood of Jesus Christ. Salvation was a message of promise given by the Father through His Son to all men who would obey Him. Early saints gathered weekly to engage in a memorial that signified the depth of God’s love to allow men to murder His Son on a cross. Their lives were daily committed to serving Jesus changing their characters to be in the image of the Father. The love these disciples had for God was not measured by poinsettias and Easter lilies. They gave their lives for the Lord because they worshiped Him with integrity and truth.

Early Christians were noble people empowered with a message of a cross that stained their hearts. Courage was their banner as they marched to war against Satan. Victories were gained daily as they conquered the carnal onslaughts of a world filled with wickedness. Their religion was not defined by a veneer of faith seen once a year on a silent night. Honor was the badge of love they bore under persecution; sometimes facing death with calm reserve.

What do you write a day before Christmas? The world has gone mad in a religious fervor that defies the truth of God’s word believing their lives are better for believing a lie.

Satan has an interesting ploy to deceive men. So often he does not want man to disbelieve in God. In fact it serves the devil well when men believe in God – as long as they fashion God into an image that is more like him. The totem of man is what Christmas is all about. Ironically men fashion Jesus into an image that glorifies man instead of the truth. All of the pomp and circumstance of December 25 is a memorial to the ignorance of man’s wisdom. How dark the blindness of those who cannot see.

So what do you put in the bulletin the day before Christmas? I guess it sounds cynical but then rebuking error can be viewed in that fashion. Truth is so pure yet so often misunderstood. It is sad how many people believe the lie. Maybe we should try harder to help one another do something noble: read the Bible. Do we think God has given us a book we cannot understand? What kind of God would He be if He could not reveal His truth to all men to know what to do to be saved? Frankly, Christmas is a good example about how a simple story, written in plain language can be so confusing in the minds of men.

Well, that is the end of the story. I have written 854 words and not mentioned a single scripture so here goes. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.’ Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.’” (1 Corinthians 1:18-31)

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:1-4)

A Great Marriage Plan

When God created man and woman He formed the highest union of His wisdom into the formation of the home. On the sixth day the Lord made man in His own image, separating him from the animals as a creation that would never cease to exist. Nothing is known of the relationship between Adam and Eve during their time in the garden except the knowledge they were both naked and were not ashamed. It must have been a beautiful time for the two of them as they basked in the glory of God and shared in the intimacy of marriage as purposed by the Lord. It was not until sin came into the lives of the first man and woman that everything changed. Immediately upon eating the forbidden fruit Adam and Eve were ashamed and scared. Expelled from the paradise that was their home, the couple found themselves struggling to build a life together. The first year of their life outside of Eden must have been an amazing time as they were the only two people on the whole earth. Their first son, Cain was born and then Abel. Other children would come along as Adam lived to be 930 years old. When did the first man and woman have their first fight? How often did the man and woman fail to understand one another and walk away trying to resolve issues they had no one to talk with about? Adam soon realized that Eve was not like him and she immediately understood how different he was. Sin brought problems. Learning how to resolve those misunderstandings, hurts, slights and neglect would have been daunting. It must have been incredible for the first home to weather those marital challenges.

One of the constants of man’s creation is the intercession of the Lord to reveal His plan for happiness in life. There are no records of long dissertations given by God to Adam and Eve on how to live a happy life. The Lord did reveal Himself to early man in the oral traditions and teachings and like Abram speak directly to the heart of men to guide them. As the word evolved over the eons of time into the printed form we have today, God’s will continues to guide men and women on how to find happiness in marriage. Every solution to the questions of the marital union can be found in the Bible. More often than not these answer come from passages that do not directly speak to the husband and wife but apply in the principles of Christian character. Paul was writing to the saints in Christ Jesus who were in Philippi and the applications of his letter fit well with the marriage plan.

Husbands and wives please the Lord when they are like minded and share the same love. This is basic to the relationship of a man and woman. Having a mind that is on the same page is necessary to bring happiness to the home. Learning how different the species of man and woman was created is the beginning of bringing minds together as one. The symphony of hearts will bring a union of purpose to the relationship. It is not about me – it is not the selfish ‘me-me-me’ view of life demanding the rights of self-interest. Marriage is about one plus one equals one. There will be differences and divergent views. People of God seek to please the Lord in finding a common path of unit in one accord and one mind. The man does not lord over his wife in dominion nor does the wife exercise headship over the man. There are three people in marriage: the husband, the wife and the Lord God. Any marriage that is only made up of only a husband and wife will fail. Unity is brought about by the word of God. Happiness in marriage is not what will make the husband or wife happy. To find the real virtue of joy in the marital bond of unity is finding happiness in what the Lord desires. If a man wants to show love to the wife – please God first. When a woman seeks to please a man – listen to the Lord first.

Humility is the greatest treasure a marriage will have. Nothing should be done through selfish ambition or conceit. There are too many marriages being undermined because someone wants to be the superior self. Husbands must possess a lowly mind that esteems the virtues of his wife above his own. When wives reciprocate with the same spirit of humility they value above themselves the husband. The words of Paul are not suggestions but instructions by the Lord in our treatment of others; how more fitting in the marriage bond. The husband is looking out for the interest of his wife and she is seeking his welfare. Happiness in the marriage bond will only be found when we stop being selfish. Sin will always bring conflict between the man and woman. The only solution is to follow the righteousness of God in the divine plan as He established in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were in paradise when they walked with God. If a man and woman want to find happiness in marriage they must walk with God.

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 14:6-7)

Keep Christ In Christ

Bumper stickers, yard signs and church logos fill the land with a plea to ‘Keep Christ in Christmas.’ It is the season of poinsettias reminding people of the time when the world celebrates the birth of Christ when pageantry, gift giving, caroling and special church services devoted to the story of Jesus’ birth. Bibles are opened declaring the words of His amazing birth. Stories are passed from generation to generation of Joseph and Mary with their infant son surrounded by shepherds and wise men basking in the glow of a heavenly star. It is a magical time of year. New promises are made for the coming year for a momentary folly of consciousness driving the hearts of men to dedicate their lives to be a better person. In time all of the sounds of Christmas die out as winter takes a tighter grip on the land and folks return to their lives thinking little about the meaning of the baby born in Bethlehem. ‘Keeping Christ in Christmas’ becomes a public relations ploy soon replaced by the carnal pursuits of a materialistic world. Life returns to normal.

Religion becomes defined by the shallow ways people try to salve their conscious to pretend as if they love God. Christmas is an example of how easy it is to convince the masses of a story that is not found in the word of God. Trying to keep Christ in Christmas is attempting to create a world that does not exist. Jesus Christ was never in Christmas because the story of Christmas is based on a ruse by the Roman Catholic Church many years ago to embrace the feeble hearts of mindless followers. The Son of God was not born on December 25 – the Roman Catholic Church decided the date. Reading the text of scripture with an honest heart tells the student of the Bible the wise men never saw Jesus as a baby in the manger. The Bible never claims the ‘Star’ was above the manger. Only the shepherds found the family in the stable. It was much later (almost two years) when some wise men (unknown number) visited Joseph and Mary in a house guided by the Star. If the Bible was read in truth these facts would be clear.

Christ was never in Christmas and He has no desire to be in Christmas. He declared of Himself that He is the only Truth. The story of Christmas is a lie and yet people continue to blindly follow a story that is based upon the whims of an apostate church as if it were truth. Imagine the uproar if honest hearts removed the wise men and star from the manger scene. What would happen if the masses decided to stop celebrating December 25 as the birth of Christ? There would be chaos and confusion. Christ came to earth to bring men the words of His Father. Believing that Christ is in Christmas denies the Father. Jesus said if we know Him we will know the Father. Did God make a mistake in putting the story of His Son’s birth in the Bible? Are men so bold to think that changing the story of the birth of Jesus to suit their carnal needs is pleasing the Lord Almighty? Keeping Christ in Christ is to retain the honor of who Jesus is and what He came to do. He is the Christ, the Son of God. The birth of Jesus does not save men – His death and resurrection is what saves men. Serving the Lord is following His word and accepting the only truth is Jesus Christ. He is the only way to the Father. Life cannot be found outside of Christ. Keep Christ is Christ.

God is jealous, and the Lord avenges; the Lord avenges and is furious. The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies; the Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. The Lord has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. (Nahum 1:2-3)

The Way Of The Lord

There is no more clear evidence of the character of the Lord God than what is revealed in the Old Testament. When Moses began the book of Genesis, he declared that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. What follows after that is the unfolding of the nature of God in His severity and His goodness. Men attempted to trifle with God and found Him unyielding. The story of Noah and the flood that destroyed all that had the breath of life save eight souls reminds man early on that God means what He says and demands obedience. Reading the history of the nation of Israel from deliverance out of Egypt to the days of Jesus establishes how jealous and powerful the Lord God shows Himself. There can be no question of who God is. His character is fully revealed in the Old Testament so that man can know how to worship Him, honor His name and give glory to the unchanging nature of the Creator. No one will stand before God in judgment and say they could not know who God is. The scriptures reveal Him in every detail.

Nahum the prophet was tasked with declaring the end of the great city of Nineveh. As capital of the Assyrian empire, Nineveh was the center of one of the great kingdoms of the world. The Lord used the Assyrians to punish His own people because of their rebellion against His word. When God used other nations to inflict judgment upon His people He was not suggesting they were more righteous. While the Assyrians were able to destroy the northern ten tribes of Israel they would not go unscathed from the wrath of God. The book of Nahum is the testimony of the final decimation of the Assyrian empire by the hand of the Ruler of all the heavens and earth. There is no doubt who brought the judgment upon the city of Nineveh and from this text we learn about the character of the God. It should be noted that God does not change and what Nahum declared so many generations ago is still true today.

God is a jealous God. He demands complete allegiance and nothing less will be accepted. Man has struggled with this because he will resist the authority of anyone higher than himself. The Lord is unmoving in this part of his character. If God is not first there is nothing else. He will not accept anything but complete and absolute rule in the life of all those who come to Him. It is unquestioned loyalty. The history of Israel is a powerful example of how often they tried to walk away from God and serve other gods; only to find the wrath of God avenging their disobedience. His jealousy is served by His avenging those who disobey His will. The law of the Lord is perfect demanding complete obedience. He will take vengeance on all those who ignore Him, despise Him and try to replace Him with the gods of self. His severity is real. Nahum will show the love of God because the Lord is slow to anger. It is not easy to rouse the fury of the Lord. When the Bible tells the story of God’s wrath upon men, it is because the final straw of mercy has been given and there is no more hope. Why did He destroy the world in the days of Noah or the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah? The patience of the Lord had come to an end. He did not act hastily in their destruction. His anger was slowing brought to the judgment He pronounced and carried out by His will. Nineveh had received the blessing of God’s mercy with the preaching of Jonah. The whole city repented and turned to God. By the time of Nahum’s vision there was little hope remaining.

God is love and for that all men should be thankful. This should not dissuade the heart from acknowledging that He is still a jealous God and will avenge those who disregard His word. Too many people have fashioned the Lord God into an image of kindness that would never punish anyone for whatever lifestyle they choose to live. Believing the Lord is only a loving God and that man can do whatever he desires because God will understand – will find a horrible reality in judgment when they feel the vengeance and wrath of His jealousy. He will not exonerate the wicked. Blessed is the man who obeys the will of the Father. Let those who refuse to obey God be warned of the wrath to come.

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man, and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. (Acts 10:1-2) 

When Was Cornelius Saved?

The conversion of Cornelius is an example of the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ changing the hearts of lost men.  Here was a man of some note and with a great deal of authority at his charge.  A Roman cohort (regiment) would number around six-hundred men.  The ordinary duties of the centurion were to drill his men, inspect their arms, supply food and clothing, and to command them in the camp and in the field. Cornelius was also a religious man who was unlike his fellow soldiers and officers who would have worshiped idols and gods of men.

The text of Acts 10 reveals that around the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God appeared to him and told him to send to Joppa for Peter.  The angel told Cornelius that Peter would tell him “what you must do (v6).” Cornelius obeyed the angel and sent two servants and a devout soldier to find Peter. Four days later, Peter arrived in Caesarea. Peter was glad to speak to those assembled in the house of Cornelius and explained how that God had shown that the gospel was for all men who would believe on Jesus Christ.  As Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those “who heard the word (v44).”  The Jews that accompanied Peter and Peter himself were astonished at the coming of the Holy Spirit and how the household of Cornelius was now speaking in tongues.  “Then answered Peter, ‘Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?’ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.” (Acts 10:46-48)

The conversion of Cornelius sets forth important lessons of how a person is saved.  It also shows what things did not save Cornelius.  Luke tells us that Cornelius was a devout man, generous and prayed all the time – but he was still not saved. In Acts 11:14 Peter recounts the conversion and shows the angel telling Cornelius to send for Peter “who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.” If Cornelius was a saved man before the angel came then there would be no reason for Peter to come.

Cornelius was not saved because an angel appeared to him. (10:3) Cornelius would not be saved until he obeyed the words of the angel to send to Joppa for Peter.  This explains that man must do something for salvation.  Cornelius had faith and believed in God but without works he could not have heard the words of Peter.  He sent to Joppa for Peter.

Peter came to the house of Cornelius to tell him “words” (10:22) that would lead him to obedience to Christ.  Cornelius understood that Peter would come and “speak” (10:32-33) to them. Peter opened his mouth and taught them about Jesus Christ and while he was speaking the Holy Spirit came upon the household of Cornelius. This was the same thing that happened to the twelve apostles in Acts 2 (See Acts 11:15) but this did not save Cornelius.  Peter did not believe they were saved by the baptism of the Holy Spirit because he said, “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?” (10:47) He commanded them to be baptized (for repentance to life – 11:18) in the name of the Lord.  That is when Cornelius was saved!

Being a religious person (10:1-2), having an angel appear (10:3), being baptized with the Holy Spirit (10:45) or hearing the words of a preacher did not save Cornelius but his obedience to the will of God did.  Being a religious person today will not save you.  If an angel appears to anyone today it is not from God (Galatians 1:8-9). Speaking in “tongues” does not save a person nor the manifestation of the Holy Spirit (of which cannot be done today as in Acts 2 and 10).  What will save a man today?  Read Mark 16:16; Acts 2:37-38; Romans 6:1-14; Ephesians 2:1-10; Colossians 2:11-12 among other passages.