The Heaton File

Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:12-19)

The Unthankful

During the ministry of Jesus, multitudes of people were healed of disease and infirmities through the healing power of the Holy Spirit. A woman with a blood disorder suffered for twelve years before being healed. Some men born blind were given sight for the first time. Demon-possessed people had their horrors taken away from them, giving them peace. The age of miracles was a time of great change in the world of Palestine, unknown in any other time in history by people who experienced the grace of God in a real way. No other time in history saw the power of God so manifested as it was during the ministry of Jesus.

A man born blind would find great joy in being given sight. He had never seen a blue sky, a green tree, or the blue waters of Galilee. Words fail to describe how the lives of so many people were changed by the hand of God. The demon-possessed man of Gadarene wanted to follow after Jesus, but the Lord told him to spread the good news of what had happened. There was no hesitation in the former possessed man telling the world what great things Jesus had done for him. Leprosy was a feared disease that meant an inevitable and slow death. Lepers were shunned by society, cast out by family, and lived in communes filled with death. There was no more loathsome disease than leprosy.

Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem when he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. As He entered a village, He was met by ten lepers who, standing afar off, begged the Son of God to have mercy on them. They recognized Jesus of Nazareth and had heard of His power to cure any disease. Their faith was shown by seeking the grace of God through Jesus to heal them of leprosy. This kind of faith was a challenge for a disease that was incurable. There was nothing that could be done for leprosy. The last time a leper had been healed was hundreds of years earlier when Naaman, a Syrian commander, was cleansed. There were many lepers in that day but only one had found the grace of God to be healed.

Jesus had compassion on the ten lepers and told them to show themselves to the priest. The Law of Moses required a man to confirm whether he had leprosy by going to the priests. A remarkable thing happened as the men turned to go to the priests. The ten lepers felt the horror and stench of leprosy leave their bodies and were pure once again. It must have been an incredible feeling to endure the ravages of leprosy and then, in a moment, feel no pain or distress. They realized the curse of death was lifted. The sentence of certain death by a slow and horrible disease was gone. How happy they must have been. Their joy so overcame them that they forgot one essential part of their healing.

As Jesus watched the ten men hurry to the priests, He noticed one of the men stop, look at himself, and turn back to find Jesus. A lone soul, a leper moments before, stood before Jesus Christ and glorified God with a loud voice for the mercy shown to him. To the sadness of Jesus, the nine did not return to give thanks to the God of mercy. Jesus did not heal the men to beg for acknowledgment or thanks. He healed them from a compassionate heart. His power to destroy leprosy confirmed He was the Son of God, the Divine. The difference between the nine and the one is that one saw the glory of God and gave thanks.

God has done so much for man. There is not enough time or space to reflect upon all that God has provided for sinful man through His Son. Jesus left His Father to become a man and live as a man. God became flesh to experience everything about the flesh. Jesus died a horrible death at the hands of the Jews and Romans with mockery, abuse, humiliation, torture, and crucifixion. The ten lepers were healed of a disease that would have taken their lives, but a great disease is the sin that will destroy an eternal soul. Nine men did not return to the Lord to give thanks. One leper returned to acknowledge the glory of God. How many of the blood-bought children of God give thanks to God for the cleansing power of Jesus to destroy sin?

The nine ungrateful lepers illustrate the humanity of those who enjoy the blessings of God’s mercy and fail to give Him glory for what He has done. What is sad in the kingdom of God are the innumerable saints who have been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and refuse to give thanks or glory to His name. They have little interest in the memorial of remembrance instituted by Jesus on the night He was betrayed. A spirit of ingratitude fills their hearts. The lives of the ungrateful expect God to save them with little or no effort on their part. They live like the world and hope for life in the eternal.

When Jesus saw the one return, He saw hope in a heart moved by the mercy of God. It is sad that only one returned. Jesus said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” There are many who will not give glory to God for His grace. Their lives are ungrateful, unkind, and filled with an unthankful heart. Be thankful. God’s grace is undeserved. Tell Him often how much the cleansing of sin has meant to you. Do not be numbered with the nine. Stand apart. Be the one who returned.

When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!” For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness. Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss. Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned. (Luke 8:28-33)

Jesus Had Authority Over Demons

The multitudes that followed Jesus experienced the healing power of the Spirit to cure them of blindness, infirmity, leprosy, mangled limbs, lameness, sickness, and, in some cases, resurrection. These miracles testified to the power of Jesus over all disease. He also showed His power over the natural forces of nature. Everything in the world was at the command of Jesus. The Lord showed His authority as Creator to control His creation. Thousands of people could testify to the healing power of Jesus, and many more experienced His power over nature.

Another group of beings faced the authority of Jesus with fear and trembling. Jesus had power over the demon world. Little is known about the world of evil spirits and demon possession. The only time the manifestations of the spirit world appeared was when the Holy Spirit exercised His power to control them. During the ministry of Jesus and the early days of the church, God allowed the demon world to exercise limited power over men. The purpose was to show that Jesus had authority over all things in the world and those in the demon world.

Jesus visited the country of Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee, and found a man possessed of demons for a long time. The man was in a terrible state as the demons drove him to madness where no man could tame him or allow him to live in peace. Immediately upon the arrival of Jesus, the demon called out to Jesus, calling Him the “Son of the Most High God.” The world may struggle with believing Jesus is the Son of God, but this is not the case with the demons. They knew exactly who Jesus of Nazareth was, and they feared Him. It is clear they knew they were subject to Him.

Demons had names. The one Jesus encountered was called “Legion” because many demons possessed the man. When Jesus commanded the demon to come out of the man, the demon obeyed without question. There was no thought to argue with Jesus or to refuse to obey. The word of Jesus commanded the demon to come out of the man, and immediately, the demon obeyed and possessed a herd of swine feeding nearby. About two thousand swine then ran headlong into the sea and drowned.

The demons did not argue with Jesus or refuse to obey Him. They knew the authority of Jesus Christ and that He had authority over them. No man had that power except as given by the Holy Spirit. Jesus cast out demons to show He had power and authority over everything in the natural world, and He had control over all the demons. The fullness of His authority was confirmed in the manner the demons recognized Him as God’s Son, and whatever He commanded them to do, they had no choice. Jesus did not allow them to testify of Him. He told them to be quiet whenever they proclaimed Him to be Lord. The proof of His divinity could not come from the testimony of evil spirits.

Having power over the demon world completes the divine authority of Jesus of Nazareth. He could cure any disease, change and control the natural world, and exercise authority over all the spirit world. There was nothing He did not have authority over. His control and power were complete. The miracles of Jesus included the power of demons to show the world there was nothing Jesus could not do for them. There is no demon possession after the early days of the church. The power of Jesus has not diminished. After God raised Him from the dead, Jesus became Lord, Christ, and King. His dominion is complete. If Jesus can heal any disease, calm the forces of nature, and command the demons; what can He not accomplish in my life?

The power of Jesus was not demonstrated to tell stories centuries later. When the Holy Spirit wrote the scriptures of the divine book, He intended to show the power of Jesus Christ so that all men could know what the Son of God could do in their lives. God gave His Son as a gift of His grace to bring all men to salvation. Jesus can take away any sin when a man repents. There is nothing Jesus cannot do. Why not let Jesus remove the stain of sin from your life and make you free from the bondage of Satan? Jesus has all power and authority.

Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out. But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!” (Luke 8:22-25)

Jesus Controlled The Weather

The world can be a dangerous place when it comes to the forces of nature. Few places on earth do not experience a form of excessive weather that can jeopardize human life. Hurricanes roam the waters, tornados leave huge paths of destruction, earthquakes shake the world, and floods wipe out communities. There is very little man can do against the incredible force of nature gone wild. Hurricanes go where they want, and no technology of man will ever harness the power of such a force. Tornados cannot be fully predicted and can come at a moment’s notice, often without warning. Tsunami barriers give a false sense of security when the earth underneath moves, sending a torrent of water crashing through cities.

Weather is no different today than how it has been from the beginning. God promised that the world would continue as it had until the end. There will always be four seasons. This is a promise made by the Creator. When the Son of God was on earth, He faced the onslaught of storms and challenging weather throughout His life. On one occasion, He was in a boat with His disciples when a windstorm swept across the lake they were sailing. It was a violent storm. The boat began to fill with water and was in great danger. Jesus had settled down for a nap and slept during the storm. The disciples were not sleeping but fearful.

As the storm grew worse, the disciples awakened Jesus, as they feared they were going to die. The wind blew hard against the boat, with waves crashing over the side in strong torrents of raging water. Four of the disciples were seasoned fishermen, but they were afraid. It was a perilous time for the twelve. Jesus awakened from His sleep, arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. It was a split second, and the storm ended. The sea became calm and clear, and the winds vanished instantly. All the fear of a deadly storm died out at the words of Jesus. The Lord rebuked His disciples for lacking faith in His presence and power.

When Jesus rebuked the waves and the winds, they ceased immediately, and the disciples were afraid. In fear and amazement, they considered what had just happened. They were in the midst of a terrible storm, violently throwing their boat around as if it were nothing. Jesus spoke a few words, and the powerful forces of nature bent to the will of Jesus. There was not a long period of slowing calming. It happened immediately. They had never seen or heard of such a thing happening. Peter, Andrew, James, and John had never experienced such a miracle as fishermen. They were astonished.

Jesus commanded the winds and the waves, and they obeyed Him. As Creator, Jesus had power over the forces of nature. When the storm was raging, Jesus slept. He had no fears of the wind and waves because He trusted in His Father. He showed the disciples His power was over all things in the world. Jesus had the power to control any part of nature. He walked on water as dry land. When He turned water into wine, He overpowered the natural process. Multiplying the loaves of bread was a miracle over nature. Jesus had power over the world.

The miracles of Jesus are given to prove He is the Son of God. If a man refuses to accept Jesus’ miracles, he refuses to acknowledge Jesus as Lord. Knowing the power of Jesus affirms that He is God’s Son and that His death was for the redemption of mankind. If Jesus can control the weather in calming violent storms in a heartbeat, what can He not accomplish in your life and mine? The Lord will not intervene if a hurricane bears down on the coast, but He will intercede when sin knocks at the door. Weather may have powerful forces that destroy lives and properties, but sin destroys souls. The One who calmed the storm on the sea can and will calm the storms in your life. Believe He has the power. Do not lack faith in knowing how He can help. His words will bring peace and calm to a troubled soul.

Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. (Luke 7:11-15)

Jesus Raised The Dead

Living during the age of miracles must have been an amazing time. The prominent times of miracles include the rescue of the Hebrews from Egypt, the time of the prophets, during the ministry of Jesus, and the early days of the church. All of these times were days of conflict, and the miracles proved the power of God and His will. Jesus performed miracles by the Finger of God, the Holy Spirit. Each miracle proved Him to be the Son of God, and the greatest miracle, His resurrection, proved Him to be Lord and Christ. Jesus healed thousands of people of any disease that afflicted them. He never failed, and the miracle was instantaneous.

While all miracles were amazing, with individual results changing the lives of all who experienced them, the power to raise the dead was in a class by itself. The Bible does not reveal all who were raised from the dead. Jesus gave power to the twelve apostles to raise the dead. In the early church, the miracle of resurrection was exercised. The Gospels record Jesus raising three people from the dead. A friend of Jesus, Lazarus, was raised from the dead and had been in the grave for four days. The tombs were sealed after the third day because the body began to decompose. Lazarus had been in the tomb long enough for the visible sign of decay to be evident. He walked out of his tomb, still bound in his burial garments.

Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, from the dead. After Jairus had come to Jesus asking him to heal his daughter, who was at the point of death, the Lord journeyed with the ruler to his house. On the way (after the incident of the woman with an issue of blood), the girl died. Jesus assured Jairus and the multitude there was nothing to fear. Jesus raised the twelve-year-old girl from the dead, and the people were overcome with great amazement.

Luke is the only writer to tell the story of Jesus arriving in the city of Nain, accompanied by many of His disciples and a large crowd. When they came near the city gate, a funeral procession was making its way out of the city. A widow had just lost her son, and they had placed him in an open coffin to carry him to the family plot. When Jesus saw the processions and mourners surrounding the grieving widow, He had compassion on her and told her not to cry. To the astonishment of the widow and all the people, Jesus halted the procession and told the young man to arise. He did. The widow’s son sat up and began to speak. Jesus presented the son to the jubilant mother and great fear came upon all, and they glorified God.

It is impossible to suggest one is greater than the other. Stilling the storm would have been a miracle to experience, much like Peter walking on the water. Healing all diseases would have been an amazing thing to experience, especially for the victim. Bartimaeus received his sight; shortly afterward, the man who gave his sight was killed on a cross. Raising the dead is a testimony to the power of God to accomplish anything; even the impossible. Through the centuries, man has been able to cure or mediate some diseases. Technology has given man a new experience into the impossible. Miracles (Biblical) ceased two thousand years ago. Faith healers today are liars and frauds. Raising the dead is proof of that.

Jesus raised the dead to show the limitations of human wisdom and power. Nothing in the arsenal of human wisdom can raise someone from the dead. When a man dies, he cannot be raised. God allowed that power to exist on earth for a very short time, and He has now withheld it. Jesus walked up to an open coffin and spoke to a dead person, and he arose. How can a man explain that? There were no incantations, spells, or rituals to perform. Jesus spoke, and the young man sat up. There is no doubt he was dead. The family was taking him for burial. Jesus raised the dead.

If the Son of God can take a man four days in the tomb, a twelve-year-old girl, and a young man who just died and raise them from the dead, what can he do for you and me? Jesus did the impossible, and He can do the same for anyone willing to believe Him to be the Son of God. Sin is worse than death, and Jesus can take that away. Death is temporary, but the consequence of sin is eternal. Jesus can raise a person from the depths of sin and make them alive. His word will bring salvation to a dead heart. Paul describes the avenue of resurrection through the power of Christ when he writes that when a man is baptized into the death of Jesus, he can be raised as a new creature. Jesus raised the dead, and He raises people today from the spiritual death of sin. Believe in the impossible. He can raise you from the dead so that one day He will raise you from the dead and dwell with the Father forever.

And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all. (Luke 6:17-19)

Jesus Healed A Multitude

The miracles of Jesus proved He was the Son of God. Each miracle confirmed His authority over time, nature, distance, spirits, and death. The gospels record many individual miracles of the blind receiving sight, the lame healed, the spirit possessed released from their misery, and the dead being raised. All the miracles Jesus performed are not listed in the gospels; as John noted, there is not enough time or space to tell the whole story of Jesus. On a few occasions, the gospels say Jesus healed the multitudes.

On one occasion, Jesus was faced with a great multitude of people. There were a lot of people who came to Jesus, along with a large population of His disciples. When Jesus fed the five thousand (not counting the women and children), they were called the “multitude.” The great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, Tyre, and Sidon could have numbered in the thousands. This is not just a crowd of the local population. Jesus was confronted with thousands of people flocking to Him to be healed of their diseases and find release from unclean spirits. The fervor of activity surrounding Jesus was Him healing those with diseases, and many people sought only to touch the Lord to be healed.

The story of Jesus healing the multitudes is repeated in scripture. There well could have been tens of thousands of people who attributed their healing to Jesus. Great multitudes of people returned to their homes without infirmities. A number of blind people could now see. Lepers rejoiced to be cleansed of their death sentence. Any disease was destroyed by the will of the Father through His Son and the power of the Holy Spirit. In the nearly three years of the ministry of Jesus, untold numbers of people in the Middle East were healed of their infirmities. There is no place on the planet where so many “healthy” people lived as those in the days of Jesus in the regions of Judea, Jerusalem, and other parts of the land.

What is a sad irony to the story of Jesus healing so many people is that the people rose up and had the Great Physician killed on a cross. With the testimony of thousands of people healed by Jesus Christ, no one came forth to defend Jesus. Where were the lepers Jesus healed? Why did not the blind who were healed come to the defense of Jesus? There were those who were dead and were brought from the grave, and yet no one spoke in defense of Jesus. The great Healer stood before the Jewish leaders and Roman authorities and said nothing of His healing power. Jesus did not just heal a few people; He healed thousands, often at the same time.

The miracles of Jesus were done to lead people to the Father. A miracle cannot save one from the wrath of God. It serves as a catalyst to show the power of God. With all the evidence of the power of Jesus healing so many people, how could the world turn against Jesus and kill Him on the cross? They could not see the power of God in the teachings of Jesus. Faith comes from hearing the word of God, and while they enjoyed the benefit of Jesus’ miracles, those healed by Jesus failed to come to the word for salvation. There are no healing miracles today as touted by false preachers who deceive the multitudes. Salvation is found in the word of God. The miracles of Jesus testify that Jesus is God’s Son. Obey the will of the Father to experience the miracle of the new birth.

Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. (1 John 3:7)

Who Is Righteous?

There are a lot of good people in the world. They go about doing benevolent things, they obey the laws of the land, encourage community unity, and show the world a kind spirit. The world is filled with religious groups that follow a certain faith that makes them distinctive. Some of the world’s religions are very old, while new movements of religious fervor begin with each generation. There is an innate desire in the human experience to worship. How that worship is directed depends upon the philosophy of the belief system. Not all faiths have an eternal reward. For some, it is a matter of living a good life, and there is nothing more after death. Some religions have an eternal view of the afterlife, calling it Nirvana, Valhalla, Reincarnation, or Heaven.

Righteousness is the state of being right. There are two kinds of righteousness: the system of right and wrong, which is determined by human wisdom, and that which the Lord God establishes. While there are some similarities to both ideals of righteousness, there are glaring differences in how righteousness is determined. The righteousness of human wisdom allows man to live as he desires to justify what he believes is right and wrong. This system of righteousness fails because man’s righteousness changes to his whims. Idolatry is a system of righteousness based on the carnal desires of human wisdom that would include sexual immorality and human sacrifice. God calls idolatry an abomination because His righteousness condemns the meaning of what is right and wrong in idol worship. Sexual immorality and murder are abominations to the righteous character of the Lord.

Defining who is righteous cannot be done through human wisdom. A man is righteous when he does what is right in the sight of God. Human wisdom cannot determine what is right and wrong. God establishes government, but it cannot assess righteousness apart from the law of God. Individual choice cannot say what righteousness is. The character of right is founded on the word of God given to man to know how to live before his Creator. Only God can say what is right and wrong. Failing to obey the word of God is unrighteousness because righteousness is in God’s mind. A man can live a sterling good life and be lost because he has not followed the will of the Father. Jesus described many who were very religious but were cast out because they did not follow the will of the Father.

Human wisdom has convinced the world that being good is all a person needs to do, and having some sense of religion will suffice. The apostle John warns his readers not to be deceived into believing that righteousness is found in any form. Only those who practice righteousness or do God’s will can be saved. This demands action on the part of the individual. James writes that faith, without works, is dead. Righteousness is found in those who practice following the word of God. Being a good person will not save and being religious will not save. Human wisdom cannot and will not save. If a person is to be righteous, he must practice righteousness.

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26:26-28)

Baptism, Blood, And The Supper

The New Testament clearly defines the terms of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. From the beginning, blood has been given for the atonement of sin. Because life is in the blood, it became the medium of expiation. Blood was used in the Law of Moses to cleanse and sanctify, and all things used in the worship had to be cleansed by blood. A covenant between God and man was dedicated with blood. One comes into a covenant relationship with God by reaching the blood of Jesus Christ.

When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, He told the eleven His blood would be shed for the remission of sins. This was accomplished in His death. In the death of Jesus, a sinner is washed in the blood and receives remission of sins. The command of baptism is the agency where the sinner washes away his sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. Baptism is necessary for salvation because that is the place where the blood cleanses the sinner. The blood of Jesus was shed for the forgiveness of sin, releasing one from sin by the blood. Baptism is necessary for salvation; without it, there can be no forgiveness of sin.

The early church taught the necessity of baptism, and the church today is under the same obligation to teach baptism as necessary to wash away sins. Jesus instituted a memorial feast commemorating His death, burial, and resurrection. The early church taught the necessity of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week to remember Jesus’s sacrifice. Paul rebuked the church in Corinth for their flippant disregard for the Supper, warning them that if anyone did not properly discern the Lord’s body, they would stand in judgment from the Lord.

It is possible to observe the Supper in an unworthy manner. The Corinthians did not gather together to observe the memorial properly, and Paul warned them of the consequences. Taking the Lord’s Supper requires a gathering together. Events of the past few years have mistakenly led some to believe they can remain at home and “worship” and take the Lord’s Supper. There is no authority for this, COVID or no COVID. Paul referred to the Supper as a “gathering together” on the first day of the week. The church teaches the necessity of the first day of the week and the taking of the Supper on the first day of the week by the authority of the New Testament.

There is no reluctance to teach the necessity of baptism, but for the last few decades, there has been a growing reluctance to teach the necessity of the Lord’s Supper. One cannot be a Christian without first having their sins washed away in the blood of Jesus. However, after a person is washed in the blood of Jesus, they are commanded to remember that blood in the taking of the Supper. Either the Lord’s Supper is commanded, or it is not. The Hebrew writer explains that a willful refusal to gather with the saints to remember the memorial of Jesus Christ tramples the Son of God underfoot, counts the blood of the covenant as a common thing, and insults the Holy Spirit. There is a certain expectation of judgment against those who do not assemble with the saints on the first day of the week.

Excuses abound on why people cannot assemble with the saints. Their jobs keep them too busy, or they have a slight headache (that miraculously goes away Monday morning), they’re on vacation, company comes to visit, or it’s a good day for shopping. There are multitudes of excuses why the Christians cannot assemble, and months go by or longer. The church looks the other way as they try to encourage them. While encouragement is a vital part of the restoration, seldom is the seriousness of the neglect to honor the blood of Jesus Christ given passing notice. Baptism is essential, and the Lord’s Supper is commanded because of one common factor: the blood of Jesus Christ.

A parallel between baptism and the Lord’s Supper is found in the Law of Moses, where circumcision is required to be a Jew, but keeping the Sabbath was an option. No one could be a Jew without circumcision. When a person made a covenant with the Lord, he was obligated to remember and keep the Sabbath day holy. One man found that picking up sticks on the Sabbath brought about his death. If the church teaches the necessity of baptism, they must teach the necessity of the Supper; as much as the same figure is found in circumcision and the Sabbath. Both circumcision and keeping the Sabbath were commanded. Baptism and the remembrance are commanded. Failure to remember the sacrifice of Jesus will jeopardize the soul and bring the wrath of God against the rebellious heart. What will the church teach?

The Lord said also to me in the days of Josiah the king: “Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot. And I said, after she had done all these things, ‘Return to Me.’ But she did not return. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also. So it came to pass, through her casual harlotry, that she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned to Me with her whole heart, but in pretense,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 3:6-10)

Learning From The Mistakes Of Others

The nation of Israel was united for one hundred twenty years before falling into civil war and dividing north and south. After the death of Solomon, ten tribes followed after a rival of Solomon named Jeroboam. The son of Solomon, Rehoboam retained the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and control over the city of Jerusalem. Beginning with Jeroboam, all of the kings of Israel (the northern tribes) were wicked. The northern tribes lasted two hundred years before the Assyrian Empire destroyed them in 722 B.C. During that time, the prophets repeatedly warned the two southern tribes (Judah) that what happened to Israel would happen to them if they did not repent.

There is a powerful testimony to the misfortunes of others that must be realized. None of the kings were righteous in Israel, and the people suffered greatly. When the Assyrians came, they destroyed and devastated the people and the land. Judah was spared the onslaught of the Assyrians when an angel of the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrian mighty men in one night. King Sennacherib went home and was killed in his temple by his sons. Prophets like Jeremiah warned Judah the things that befell Israel would happen to them. Sin is not a respecter of persons. What condemned Israel would condemn Judah.

Judah saw the idolatry of Israel as the people worshiped other gods on every hill and under every green tree. God was angry with them and destroyed them. Mercy was given to Israel, but they refused to repent, and God punished them. Judah saw what God did to their brethren in the north, but it did not impact their hearts. God divorced himself from Israel, and this did not bother Judah. Everything that happened to Israel should have been a warning to Judah. God showed His wrath and fury against the wickedness of Israel to show Judah the need to repent. Judah did not believe what God did to Israel would happen to them. They were wrong.

The Assyrians did not come against Jerusalem again. After the battle of Carchemish, the Babylonians took center stage as a world power and turned their attention to Judah. In 606 B.C., the Babylonian Empire began their conquest of Judah and the remnant of God’s people. In the year 586 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar did the unthinkable and the impossible. He burned Jerusalem to the ground and destroyed the temple built by Solomon. For one hundred thirty years, God told Judah what happened to Israel would happen to them. They refused to believe God would do such a thing. In 586 B.C., they remembered the word of the Lord.

Jeremiah says that Judah is more treacherous than Israel. The reason is that Judah had the example of Israel as a pattern to God’s wrath against sin. No one in the land could excuse themselves for not understanding what the Lord would do with rebellious Judah. If God punished Israel, He would punish Judah. The people of God saw how evil Israel had become and how God destroyed them, but they had no fear of God. Judah left the Lord and suffered the same fate. That is the pattern of divine justice.

The Bible contains examples of God’s wrath against sin and His mercy toward those who repent. His will has not changed since the day He drove Adam and Eve from the garden. In the days of Noah, everyone on earth was killed by the hand of God as an example of God’s wrath. Few people take notice. The special people of God, the nation of Israel, were destroyed because they rebelled against God. Later, the Jews killed the Son of God through the agency of the Roman government. This made all men guilty of killing Jesus. Few people take notice of God’s wrath against sin.

God has given the world every message of His divine grace, love, wrath, and judgment against those who refuse to repent. The world can deny there is eternal punishment, but they will know for certain one day; and it will be too late. Those who are punished will know that God gave testimony of His grace and wrath, and they refused to listen. Like Judah of old, they had no fear of the Lord. That will change in death. How important it is to learn from others’ mistakes. Let Judah’s failure become your victory. Listen to the Lord. Repent.

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)

The First Rule Of Preaching

Preaching the gospel of Christ comes with a heavy burden and eternal responsibility. All those who teach and preach the word of God will be held to a higher standard as they are handling the divine message of salvation. The apostle Paul was a fierce defender of truth, traveling throughout the Roman Empire to share the good news of Christ. He took his role in the kingdom very seriously as one who plants the seed so that others can water and pray for the increase from God. Paul loved to find open hearts that wanted to find the grace of a loving Father who could bring them out of the darkness of sin.

When Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, he reminded them of his preaching and the manner of his work as an evangelist. There were men in the church who prided themselves on their oratory craft, verbal skills, and persuasive words to impress others. For many, they came with excellence of speech or human wisdom to impress the listeners. Part of the problem at Corinth found its way into the hearts of brethren who elevated men above the word. The division in the church partly came from those who said they followed Apollos, a man who was eloquent and mighty in the scriptures; and others who said they were followers of Peter, and some followed Paul.

Corinth had become a divided fellowship of saints who elevated one man above another. It was not the intention of Paul, Apollos, and Peter to have brethren act in this fashion. Paul reminded the Corinthians that when he came to preach for them, he did not have a great presence, and his speech was less than eloquent. He did not try to impress the brethren with fancy language or impressive speech to sway their hearts with persuasive words of human wisdom. Paul preached the word. There was nothing else to preach. The power of the gospel is what saves men, not the persuasive speech of a great orator. Any pricking of the heart had to come from the message of the word, not the method of the preacher.

Dee Bowman said that preaching must storm the heart and that storm must come from the word of God, not the word of men. Paul did not want the Corinthian saints to be impressed with him but allowed the word of God to show the wisdom of God and the power of God. That is the first rule of preaching. The word must convict the heart without any assistance from the wisdom of men. If a man cannot open his heart to the grace of God, there is nothing left for a man to seek. Saving faith is not in men but in the word of God. Conversion happens when the heart is moved by the message of the divine word. Preach the word, but preach only the word.

And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. (Philippians 4:3)

The Book Of Life

God is a bookkeeper. Eight times in the New Testament, the “Book of Life” is mentioned by the apostles Paul and John. Paul includes a reference when he writes about two women named Euodia and Syntyche, with Clement and the rest of those who labored with Paul. John refers to the Book of Life in the Revelation. The reference to the Book of Life is not a literal bound volume but a metaphor of God’s divine knowledge of all men. John says the Book of Life has names in it. The names are those of the saints of God in covenant with the Lord. Luke alludes to this figure when he writes about the Lord adding those who are saved to the church.

Jesus tells the church at Sardis they are a dead church, but a few are walking in white. He warns the church that only the faithful will walk with Him in white, and He will not blot out their names from the Book of Life. Not only is there a Book of Life with the names of the saved, but those names can also be removed. John also describes the Book of Life as one of the books opened on the last day. The dead, both great and small, will stand before the throne of God and be judged from what is written in the Book of Life. And the dead will be judged according to what they had done, as recorded by the hand of God. The judgment will be according to a person’s deeds in life. Anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Eternal life is only given to those written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Not everyone will go to Heaven. Jesus reminded His disciples that few will be saved. The sad and tragic reality is that most people do not have their names written in the Book of Life. There is a false sense of security that most people who die will rest in peace and enjoy the pleasures of Heaven and the presence of Jesus. The Book of Life says that few will be saved. Few will be allowed into the eternal city of God. John concludes the Revelation by showing that anyone who adds to or takes away from the word of God will be removed from the Book of Life. They will not be allowed to enter the holy city.

God is a record keeper relative to His grace, mercy, and love, but its content comes from the deeds of a man’s life, whether he has done the will of the Father. If a man refuses to submit himself to the law of God, his name will not be in the Book of Life. When men follow religious errors contrary to the doctrine of Christ, they will not enter Heaven because the Book of Life does not show their name as saved. The Lord knows those who are His! He knows the saved, and He knows the lost. The real question is whether a man finds his name in the Book of Life. Salvation does not come from being a good person, religious, or influential person in the affairs of men. Keeping the will of the Father is how a man finds salvation.

There is a Book of Life with the names of the saints who will be ushered into the holy city of God – and those outside the Book will not enter. The Book of Life is a real and powerful image. God uses imagery to remind men that He knows what a man does and what a man thinks. He holds into account what a man does or does not do. No one will escape the righteous judgment of God on the final day because there is a Book of Life. There is only one way to have your name written in the Book of Life. It must be written in the blood of the Lamb, and that blood is only found in the waters of baptism.