As Christians, we understand that to be saved we need to come to Christ, repent of our sins, and receive Him as Lord and Savior of our life.
In my last article“What is salvation in Christianity,”we defined salvation as God’s act of reaching out to man to rescue him from the power of sin and eternal punishment in hell.
But biblically speaking, salvation in Christ is often spoken of in three phases or tenses: salvation past (justification), salvation present(sanctification),and salvation future(glorification). The Bible undoubtedly teaches that:
We have been saved (past) – Ephesians 2:8
We are being saved (present) – 1 Corinthians 1:18
We will be saved (future) – 1 Peter 1:5
In this article, we define salvation as a process by which an unsaved sinner separated from God by sin and destined for hell, is redeemed from hell, reunited with God, and destined for heaven. This threefold process of salvation begins in justification, proceeds through sanctification, and ends in glorification.
Justification
“A right understanding of justification is crucial to the whole Christian faith. And if we are to safeguard the truth about the gospel for future generations, we must understand the truth of justification because a true view of justification is the dividing line between the biblical gospel of salvation by faith alone and all false gospels of salvation based on good works.”– Wayne Grudem (Systematic Theology, Justification)
Justification is the judicial act of God whereby He forgives the sinner of all his sins – past, present, and future – and declares him righteous in His eyes and free from guilt and punishment. It is an immediate and instantaneous act of God upon the sinner’s confession and his acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9).
Justification is NOT Pardon
One of the modern errors of today is to identify justification with pardon. Justification is more than just pardon; to justify means to declare righteous. When God justifies the sinner, He does not acquit him of his sins. Instead, God restores him back to a state of innocence.
It’s also important to note that the sinner is not made righteous but declared righteous and justified by God the Father based on the works and merits of our Lord Jesus Christ. The sinner puts on the righteousness of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Henceforth, God sees the sinner as righteous and perfect in the righteousness of Christ. The sinner is justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and not by works (Romans 5:1; Romans 3:28).
For a more detailed study on the doctrine of Justification by Faith, I highly recommend you get the book“The God Who Justifies”by James R. White.
Sanctification
Perhaps you’ve heard somebody refer to salvation as a continuous process in the life of a believer and not just a one-shot deal. That’s true because of sanctification – the second phase of salvation.
The basic meaning of sanctification is“separation” or “to be set apart.” In the spiritual sense of a believer’s life,sanctification means to be set apart:1)by God2)for God3)from sin4)unto a holy life, and 5) to be made more holy through conforming to the image of His Son Jesus (Romans 8:29).
Sanctification differs from justification in several ways. In justification, our standing in the Lord is changed while in sanctification our character is changed. Justification occurs at the moment of salvation; it is a one-time work of God that results in a declaration of“not guilty”before Him because of the work of Christ on the cross.
Sanctification is Spiritual Growth
Sanctification, on the other hand, is a process. It is primarily the work of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life (2 Thessalonians 2:13), beginning with justification and continuing throughout life, whereby the believer moves from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity over time as he learns God’s Word (2 Peter 2:2) and chooses to live under God’s will. In short, sanctification means spiritual growth (2 Peter 3:18).
We have to reiterate that good works cannot save us. What does Paul mean when he says in Philippians 2:12-13 that“we must work out our salvation…?” To “work out”means to bring to completion or to accomplish. We need to work out our salvation because though our past sins have been removed and we have been justified, the present is still here. We are still living and every day we face a world full of sin and temptations.
Paul goes on to say in Philippians 3:13-14 that he’s not perfect but he presses on to achieve all the purposes for which Christ has saved him. This should be our goal as believers in Christ. To keep pressing on until the day we will meet face-to-face with the Lord. But until then let us retain a sanctified walk by living a life of implicit obedience to God, (if we fail, we immediately confess it to God and He will restore us), resisting the devil, and by faithful regular Bible reading, prayer, witnessing and living for others.
Sanctification is not instantaneous but is ongoing until the believer leaves this world and goes to heaven.
Glorification
Glorification is the final phase of the saved sinner’s salvation experience wherein he leaves this world, either by death or by rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17), and is reunited with the Lord Jesus in heaven. The believer never achieves sinless perfection until he is glorified in heaven; his sin nature is removed and is given a perfect glorified body.
Philippians 3:20-21 says, “Our citizenship is in heaven from which we wait for our Savior to transform our lowly body to be conformed to His glorious body…”
Jesus died on the cross to save us from eternal death and to grant us eternal life. He will come again to complete our salvation by transforming our bodies into immortal glorified bodies to live with Him for all eternity.
IN CLOSING, I challenge each one of us to maintain a sanctified walk with Jesus, just as the apostle Paul did. Let us deal with the present and allow God daily to work in us for His purpose and glory. Let us grow in holiness by completely submitting to the lordship of Jesus in every area of our lives and continuously leave past behind all the things that are not right in the sight of God.
Let us live as Jesus wants us to live, allow Him to work in us, have His way in us, and let us be always open and sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
When talking about salvation, people make it sound so complex when in fact it really isn’t. Many Christians who claim they’re saved do not really understand what it means to be saved. What is salvation in Christianity?
In our evangelism we often quote Romans 10:9 which says, “that if you confess with our mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”Saved from what? Why do we need to be saved?
Some also use Matthew 24:13 which talks about standing firm to the end in order to be saved. Again, saved from what? And why do we need to be saved?
The Definition of Salvation
Just a quick glance at the world we live in reveals man’s sinful condition and the awful and sad reality that man will never be able to save himself all on his own. Man’s condition is one which is completely helpless and despite all his efforts to bring about peace and prosperity in a supposedly new society, the world remains in chaos, shattered and torn as a result of sin.
It all started in the Garden of Eden when Adam sinned by disobeying God. As a result, man’s fellowship with God was cut off and he was bound to suffer eternally in hell as punishment for his sin. There is hope, however, as the Bible speaks of God’s gracious plan to provide a solution to man’s problem and we call that “salvation.”
The word salvation is from the Greek word “soteria”which is derived from the word“soter” meaning savior. It is personal and universal and is centered on the life and works of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As used in Scriptures in its broadest sense, the word salvation includes comprehensively the total work of God by which He seeks to rescue man from the power of sin and bestows upon him the abundance of His grace, eternal life and eternal glory.
In theology, however, the major use of the word salvation is to denote a work of God on behalf of men which includes redemption, reconciliation, propitiation, conviction, repentance, faith, regeneration, forgiveness, justification, sanctification, preservation, and glorification.
In simpler terms, salvation is God reaching out to man to rescue him from the power of sin and the eternal punishment for that sin in hell.
Why Do We Need to be Saved?
In order for us to really come to terms with our need of salvation, we first need to realize that we are sinners in need of saving; we’re all fallen. We need salvation as a result of the sin of rebellion as recorded in Genesis 3 and also our own personal rebellion against God and rejection of Him.
We need salvation to escape the penalty and punishment that hangs over all mankind. We need to be saved from eternal destruction and punishment. Man’s offense was against God, and God being holy and just demands justice. The Bible tells us that“we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”(Romans 3:23) and the penalty for that sin is death (Romans 6:23).
Secondly, we need to be saved from our state of being alienated or separated from God. Isaiah 59:2 says, “our sin has separated us from God.” If we are separated from God then we will not able to enjoy His presence, His fellowship, His grace, mercy and blessings.
In other words, we will not be with God in heaven for eternity because hell means “separation from God.” Heaven is God’s throne, His dwelling place (Acts 66:1; Acts 7:49), and if we will not be with God in heaven, then we will be spending eternity in hell.
How Did God Save Us?
God saved us by sending His only Son to die on the cross for us. On the cross, Jesus made the once-for-all sacrifice for man’s sin and its penalty which is death. Since the just penalty for sin and death is finite and eternal, only God Himself could pay for it because only He is finite and eternal.
But God being divine could not die so He had to become human in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ who is God, took on human flesh, lived a perfect life of obedience to the Father, even to the point of death (Philippians 2:8).
The Bible says that we are spiritually dead because of sin (Ephesians 2:1) and are cut off from the presence of God, making it impossible for us to make contact with God by our own efforts. It is for this reason that Jesus Christ came; He came to redeem us and to bridge the gap that separated us from God. Jesus came to restore the broken relationship between man and God.
How Do We get Saved?
In Acts 16:29-31 we read how the jailer asked Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved. And in response, Paul and Silas told him to believe in the Lord Jesus and he and his household will be saved.
God has already done the work for us. All we need to do is receive the gift of salvation that He is offering for free. Salvation is received by grace through faith alone in the Lord Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). This is what makes Biblical Christianity different from all the other world religions, sects and cults. We are saved by putting our trust in something that God has done for us and not in something we can do.
It is because of God’s great love that He Himself made a way for us to be reconciled back to Him. God had to bear the pain of seeing His Son suffer and die so that we will not perish in hell but have eternal life (John 3:16).
Conclusion
This is what salvation means in Christianity; God coming in human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, to live a perfect life of obedience and set an example for us to follow, to suffer and die on the cross for our sins and to rise again to conquer death and hell, in order set us free from the power of sin and death and to rescue and deliver us from the wrath of God and the judgment that is to be poured out upon all flesh on the earth in a future event known as the Great Tribulation.
Question is:Have you acknowledged your need of a Savior? Have you trusted Jesus for your salvation? If not, trust Him today. Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. It’s not yet too late, for God is patient with you because He does not want anyone to perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
In this revised and updated bestseller, The Case for Christ, Lee Strobel cross-examines a dozen experts with doctorates from schools such as Cambridge, Princeton, and Brandeis, asking hard-hitting questions–and building a captivating case for Christ’s divinity.
Strobel asks challenging questions like:
How reliable is the New Testament?
Does evidence for Jesus exist outside the Bible?
Is Jesus who he said he was?
Is there any reason to believe the resurrection was an actual event?
Winner of the Gold Medallion Book Award and twice nominated for the Christian Book of the Year Award, Strobel’s tough, point-blank questions read like a captivating, fast-paced novel. But it’s not fiction. It’s a riveting quest for the truth about history’s most compelling figure.
High above any other gauge that is used to test the quality of anything with measurable properties, God’s standard on testing our faith is way beyond comparison. When God tests our faith He may bluntly have us face the blank side of the wall without any clue on what’s waiting for us on the other side. His ways of putting our faith into the test is not within the limited boundaries of mankind’s comprehension.
Within man’s understanding, God’s sovereign ways may seem to be unreasonable and perhaps, sometimes felt to be unjustifiable. For what then is meant for Him to be the God of the universe, the Creator of heaven and earth, the King of kings if He makes no difference from the ways of men. Who are we to question His ways?
As believers and faithful followers of Jesus we face different levels of intensity on the testing of our faith. Yours maybe different from mine and different from the others. But every test of faith is a chance to show your trust, obedience and love for God. When God tests your faith, take it as an opportunity for you to achieve a most-deserved promotion in His kingdom.
When God tests your faith, He neither looks after your age or how long you have been born again. In the life of Abraham, at a biologically elderly age, he too was not spared from what I consider a paramount kind of testing for his faith. In Genesis 22:1-19 (paraphrased here below), Abraham’s faith in God is well described and teaches us how we too should respond when we face our own test of faith.
Abraham’s Faith in God is Sensitive
It was most-likely that whenever God calls Abraham, He is into something really big! With his usual readiness getting into service, Abraham reported on duty to His master, “Here I am!” (Genesis 22:1) He presented himself in promptitude as God called his name.
It could be a calling, a request, a command, an instruction that God has called out your name. We have to be always sensitive to God’s calling no matter what situation, circumstances or time we are in. He calls you for a purpose and that is to grace you with His blessings! Let our response be the same as Abraham’s, “Here I am!” (See also Isaiah 6:8.)
Abraham’s faith in God is Submissive
“Take, go and offer Isaac.”(Genesis 22:2) To Abraham at that time, God’s vivid instruction could have been similar to the reverberating sound of a gunshot in the air. I can only imagine the ticking of the clock frozen within that very moment. The instruction was perhaps beyond Abraham’s ingenious understanding.
However hard it was to understand, it was with God’s grace, the instruction never got over his submissiveness to God. Just like how it would be to any father of a beloved son, Abraham surely was pondering with a somewhat disturbed heart. Yet, his quiet response with submissiveness was on top of the situation.
Many among us while claiming to be followers of Jesus, submit indiscriminately to God’s instructions. We rather choose to submit only to that which will not hurt us. We tend to turn our eyes and our ears away from anything that could mean giving-up our precious possession, status in life and our pride.“Anything Lord, tell unto me and I will follow.” (See also Psalm 143:10.)
Abraham’s Faith in God is Enthusiastic
Without further delay and without wasting any single moment, Abraham rose up early morning the very next day and nobody less than himself prepared the firewood and saddled his donkey for the journey to the offering place, the mountains of Moriah (Genesis 22:3).
What an enthusiastic manner of obeying God’s instruction! It was the same instruction which might have madly made his heart beat faster, that he is enthusiastically obeying that early morning of the very next day! Abraham knows God’s business so well. He knew who gives the orders and who carries them out. He knew that there was no point of lying back on his couch while hoping for God to change His mind.
Whenever God sends us the signal and raises His mighty hand, let us believe in Him and get it done. Never put aside for some other time what God wants you to do this very moment. Get yourself ready the way He wanted it to be and say,“I am ready Lord, let’s go!”
Abraham’s Faith in God is Endurant
It would have only taken a bit of Abraham’s effort to pull the donkey tack and say“It’s over, let us go back.”Within the three-day journey to the mountains of Moriah (Genesis 22:4), every single second of it could have been an unbearable torment to Abraham. It is a long journey towards the place where he has to lay down his burnt offering, who is no lesser than his beloved son, Isaac.
All along the duration of the journey, his head must have been spinning around with thoughts on how he will make his way back later on to his wife Sarah without Isaac, their beloved son. Instead of turning back, he obediently endured all the pain and heartaches a father would undoubtedly have felt on what awaits them.
The inevitable is a step closer on every move they make. Albeit the long journey, there is no point of return without carrying on his obedience to the God he believes in and serves.
Many amongst us will turn back, halfway to the place where the Lord is leading us. We can barely endure life’s torment along the rocky road we need to take. But we need to look forward to the glory that’s waiting for us rather than looking back at the torment we have been through.“I will keep pressing forward knowing that the Lord is waiting there at the end.”(See Phil 3:13.)
Abraham’s Faith in God is Determined
Abraham is that much determined to obey what he was told to do such that he will take away any obstacle that may cut through his way. Ascending up the mountains would have been much easier with the help of his two servants to take the load of the firewood they bring.
Knowing that his servants would surely get into his way and do whatever it takes to stop him from offering Isaac, he told them to stay behind (Genesis 22:5). Abraham got rid of the obstacles in carrying out what he has to.
Life is full of distraction, full of obstacles in getting things done the way we were told to. We tend to forget to focus on our goal and get influenced by our surroundings, by the people and the surrounding circumstances.“Where He leads me, I will follow, no turning back.”(See Deuteronomy 5:32 & Luke 9:62.)
Abraham’s Faith in God is Steadfast
Abraham’s steadfast faith in God gave him the strength to raise up the knife and aimed to stab Isaac after binding him on the offering altar (Genesis 22:9-10;). I can just imagine the pain he must have felt in his heart as he raises up the knife towards his very own beloved son. This he bears, with the strong faith in the One who told him to do as he did.
He believes that God will fulfill His promise that he will be blessed with many nations through Isaac. If so, how can he aim to kill his own son, the channel of God’s promise? Abraham believed that no matter what, God will restore Isaac to fulfill His promise! (see Hebrews 11:17-19). His duty is to obey and believe. The rest is up to God.
Our faith in God must be unconditionally steadfast. We cannot say“I believe”with a single spot of doubt in our heart for this is foolish in the eyes of God. When God says so, He means so.“Lord, help me sustain my faith,”(see also Isaiah 41:10).
What about Your Faith in God?
When God tests your faith, do you spend more time focusing on complaining rather than obeying? Do you keep your mind busy thinking what God needs to do for you rather than thinking what you can do for Him? Just like Abraham, we too need to raise up the knife in our own test of faith and aim steadfastly without doubting that God is watching on how we really trust Him.
God saw how faithful Abraham was up to this point where he needed to give up his beloved son in obedience to God’s instruction of test. God, through his angel stopped Abraham from killing Isaac and provided a substitute offering by means of a ram (Genesis 22:11-14). With an enduring display of faith, God has affirmed His promise to Abraham to bless him with many nations through his son Isaac (Genesis 22:15-19).
Abraham clearly showed his obedience with faith. Why did God put Abraham into test when he has already proven to be a faithful servant of God? Only God knows the real answer to this. Based on the scriptures, we can only suppose that God tested him to know if He is still sovereign in Abraham’s life notwithstanding Abraham’s immeasurable love for his son, Isaac.
Abraham did not only obey but he firmly believed in the promises of God. Did God bless Abraham because of his obedience? God fulfilled His promise that Abraham and his offspring will be heirs of the world because of his righteousness that comes from faith (see Romans 4:13-14).
Recommended Resource:
The Testing of God’s Sons – eBook
By Gregory S. SmithThere exists a general lack of biblical understanding for the idea of “testing” that emerges in the Old Testament as a significant theological theme. The faithful from both Old Testament and New Testament times are tested for their faith. This kind of experience often involves enduring hardship and difficult times. While often confused with the biblical idea of “temptation,” the biblical idea of testing stems from a metallurgical background and carries a unique covenantal function. Testing will be at the center of how God responds to the rebellion of his people and reveals God’s primary concern for the faith of his saints.The Testing of God’s Sons focuses on the language of testing and explores the semantic range for the idea of testing that draws from both the biblical context, as well as the world of the ancient Near East. This study then focuses on the often overlooked Joseph narrative and its unique contribution to the theology of testing that is presented by the rest of the Pentateuch. Finally, the remainder of the biblical texts are investigated on the theme of testing. The last chapter shows the fact that God tests His sons – Adam, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Job, Israel and even Christ.
It is through the experience of God’s tested sons that believers are invited to more fully and deeply understand their own experience of testing.
Have you ever had someone tell you that Christians and the Church should not get involved in politics because it’s in clear violation of the policy on separation of church and state? Or that Jesus Christ never got involved in politics so neither should Christians? Or that Christians should just focus on preaching the Gospel instead of meddling with matters of human government?
Christian involvement in politics has been a much-debated subject and many believers are taught that Christians should not engage in politics because “faith and politics do not mix.” Probably as a result of the complex history between the two, Christianity and politics have since become a complex subject that often evokes strong opinions.
A few centuries after the birth of the church, Christianity became intimately intertwined with the politics of the Roman Empire immediately after Emperor Constantine made Christianity the empire’s official state religion. What took place over the subsequent centuries was not only unhelpful but damaging for Christianity as the fusion of religion and politics created an empire that in many ways did not reflect the values held and taught by Jesus Christ.
And that is why today, many Christians shy away from politics. Pastors do not talk about it from the pulpits and more and more believers do not cast their ballots anymore. They prefer to stay home during the elections because they see politics as nothing more than a “dirty game.”
Politicians seek government offices as a means to gratify their greed and hunger for position, money, and power and they don’t want anything to do with it.
Should Christians Get Involved in Politics?
If the answer is yes, to what extent? While some may argue that we should just preach the Gospel and not be involved, others imply that having conservative Christian candidates elected is of utmost importance. So let us look at what the Bible says as regards politics and government.
First, the Scriptures clearly state that governments by nature are God-ordained and thus accountable to God (Romans 13:1). Interestingly, believers who claim submission of their lives to Christ tend to forget about His lordship once the subject switches to politics. Christians must also allow Jesus to be Lord of their political views.
Romans 13:2-3 warns that those who resist authority are in effect resisting that which God has instituted and will consequently bring judgment on themselves for rulers will not punish those who do good but the evil.
Second, God ordains government to promote justice for all (Romans 13:4 & 1 Peter 2:14). The government does this, at least partially, by legislating morality. Laws against murder, rape, assault, and many other crimes are actually moral issues commanded in the Bible to protect citizens.
Well, people might say, “Don’t try to impose your morality on me because I’m not trying to impose my morality on you.” Hey, you know what? You do not need the Bible to know that murder and rape are wrong. The question now is, which moral standards should the government legislate?
Third, the relationship between the church and government or state is not total separation nor total identification, but education and confrontation. There is no such thing as total separation of church and state. It’s important to note that the phrase doesn’t occur anywhere in the U.S. Constitution. It is a phrase that was made up in an effort to explain the First Amendment:“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
There is nowhere in the constitution that forbids individuals from mixing faith and politics or from sharing their faith in a state-related function or location. Historically, no one interpreted the First Amendment to exclude religion from the political sphere. People have seriously misunderstood what “separation of church and state” means.
The founding fathers created the First Amendment to keep the state out of the church, not the church out of the state.
Why Christians Should Be Involved in Politics
As Christians, we need to be involved because we believe in a God who cares passionately about this world and consequently how it is run. We should get involved because the Bible is hugely political – in that it is about how God wants people to behave and act towards Him. Does God have a hand in politics? Daniel 2:21 says, “it is God who sets up kings and deposes them.”
Politics gives all individuals the right to vote on issues that they believe will have an effect on them, including Christians. And although Christians do not have to vote as their church or pastor tells them, they should be involved in the sense that they first seek to be informed and then make up their own minds.
With all the present matters of human trafficking, persecution of minorities, tyranny, and many other cases of inhumane acts, the need for Christian involvement in politics should be obvious. It should also be evident that Christians are the most ideal people for this role.
The Bible says that “only the righteous is concerned about justice for the poor” (Proverbs 29:7). Some may argue that Jesus Himself was never politically involved but He often confronted the Pharisees who were the religious and political leaders during His time.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men do nothing.”
The Bible also includes other incidents in which God was not opposed to His people’s using political influence. Bible greats such as Joseph, Daniel, and Esther were all elevated to positions of political power so that God could carry out His will. Even the apostle Paul’s Roman citizenship played a major role in the spread of the Gospel (Acts 22:25; 26:32).
It is, therefore, a mistake for Christians to completely isolate themselves from the realm of politics. When believers do not take it upon themselves to vote or run for office, they carelessly leave the fate of future generations in the hands of the wicked and immoral men.
Christian Apologist Dr. Frank Turek explains further why Christians should get involved in politics.
Church Pastors and Leaders in the Political Arena
When Bro. Eddie Villanueva, president and founder of Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide (JILCW), one of the largest Bible-based, full gospel Christian Churches in the world, ran for the Philippine presidency for the first time in May 2004 many Church leaders supported him.
Although they did not directly advise their congregation and Church members to vote for him, they did encourage them to vote for a political candidate who is God-fearing and with high standards of morality.
Unfortunately, Bro. Eddie lost to then-incumbent President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who was seeking a full six-year term as President. Arroyo succeeded ousted President Joseph Estrada who was impeached with charges of plunder and corruption. Bro. Eddie ran again for the 2010 presidential election where he lost for the second time despite the huge support from the Philippine Evangelical movement.
This led many born-again and evangelical Christians to conclude that it is not God’s will for church leaders and pastors to get involved in politics because first and foremost politics is a dirty game. That although Christians must exercise their right to vote, they should not run for public office because it is not God’s will for Christians to serve in the government.
Instead, they should just focus on sharing and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ because they might get compromised after exposure to politics. There is some validity to this caution. Some believers entering the political arena have become so politically focused that they have compromised teachings that are fundamental to the Christian faith and others have made the mistake of resting all their hope on politicians and government at the expense of morality and godly living.
The Example of Daniel
Christians who hold positions in the government should follow the example set by Daniel. Daniel was given great authority in the ruling government of his day. He used his position to influence the king and others but he never set his hope on Babylon, and this enabled him to be a prophetic witness towards Babylon. He was also able to serve under Persia.
Daniel used his influence as much as possible for good while never setting his hope in these kingdoms because he understood that the advancement of the kingdom of God does not ultimately depend on political failures or political successes.
They should work as much as they can within their authority to promote righteousness and restrain evil, but always remember that the government cannot ultimately bring righteousness on the earth. Only God Himself can do that. The Bible shows us that God does put people in places of authority and influence for His sovereign purpose but it’s not a biblical mandate to seek authority and influence in government.
Christians must see government and authority in society as the means to advance the Gospel and encourage those who have been given positions of authority in society to use their position for influence. If godly men and women can serve in places of leadership then, by all means, let them pursue it.
However, we should also not get disappointed when believers fail to come into places of influence. We should rejoice when a believer becomes president, but not consider it a failure to advance the Gospel when a believer loses the election.
Conclusion
Yes, Christians must get involved. Christians must let their voice be heard by casting their ballots. They must, by all means, support and vote for the candidate who could best represent them and will strongly stand for the right to religious freedom, the right to life for the unborn, and is for the God-ordained marriage which is between one man and one woman only.
And yes, Christians should spend time on their knees praying for the right candidate to win the elections but they must also do their part by going out and vote.
One more thing, Christians must remember that although they are commanded to submit to the authorities and rulers and to pray for them (1 Timothy 2:1-2), their hope resides in the protection that only comes from God. Political entities are not the savior of the world. The salvation of mankind is accomplished only through the life and works of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A variety of perspectives exist within the Christian community when it comes to political issues and political involvement. Comprehensive and readable Politics According to the Bible presents a political philosophy from the perspective that the Gospel pertains to all of life and therefore argues that Christians should be involved in political issues.
In brief, this is an analysis of conservative and liberal plans to do good for the nation, evaluated in light of the Bible and common sense. In this ground-breaking book, recognized evangelical Bible professor Wayne Grudem rejects five mistaken views about Christian influence on politics: (1) compel religion, (2) exclude religion, (3) all government is demonic, (4) do evangelism, not politics, and (5) do politics, not evangelism.
Grudem proposes a better alternative: (6) significant Christian influence on government. Then he explains the biblical teachings about the purpose of civil government and the characteristics of good or bad government. Does the Bible support some form of democracy? Should judges and the courts hold the ultimate power in a nation?
With respect to specific political issues, Grudem argues that most people’s political views depend on deep-seated assumptions about several basic moral and even theological questions, such as whether God exists, whether absolute moral standards can be known, whether there is good and evil in each person’s heart, whether people should be accountable for their good and bad choices, whether the property should belong to individuals or to society, and whether the purpose of the earth’s resources is to bring benefit to mankind.
After addressing these foundational questions, Grudem provides a thoughtful, carefully reasoned analysis of over fifty specific issues dealing with the protection of life, marriage, the family and children, economic issues and taxation, the environment, national defense, relationships to other nations, freedom of speech and religion, quotas, and special interests.
He makes frequent application to the current policies of the Democratic and Republican parties in the United States, but the principles discussed here are relevant for any nation.
If you belong to a Church that teaches and practices the principle of tithing, chances are you know Malachi 3:10 by heart and can very well recite it from memory. It’s because this is what pastors and church leaders are most likely to quote when exhorting their congregation to give their tithes and offerings.
Accordingly, God commands us to give our tithes and when we choose to disobey Him, then we are robbing Him which consequently puts us under a curse. But what does the Bible teach with regard to tithing? What are the biblical principles of tithing?
The subject of tithing has been an issue of disagreement among Christians and still is today. Although followers of Christ generally agree on almost every essential or fundamental doctrine, there are certain topics that remain unsettled. No matter how we all try to stick to the Bible and submit to its final authority, we still have differences in as far as minor theology is concerned.
When it comes to the subject of tithing, it is important to see that there are two extremes that Christians must by all means avoid. First is the temptation to conclude that tithing is not for Christians today, and so I am not in any way obligated to give and I can keep all the money to myself. The other is to use Malachi 3:10 and other tithing texts to make people feel obliged to give more than what they’re willing to give, and to feel guilty if they don’t.
Is Tithing a Commandment?
The word tithe means a tenth. It was an ancient form of worship that predates the Mosaic Law. The first explicit reference to the tithe is found in Genesis 14:20, where Abraham paid a tithe to Melchizedek, a priest of God Most High, giving him a tenth of all the spoils from battle (See also Hebrews 7:1-2). Later, we read of Jacob vowing to God “a full tenth” (Genesis 28:22).
However, these tithes were not given in response to any specific laws about tithing. They were simply expressions of gratitude to God for His mercy and grace. Abraham and Jacob were pleased to worship the Lord by offering a tenth of their income.
Later in redemptive history, God commanded His people to give a tenth of their income for the support of His work. As part of the Mosaic Law, God commanded the Israelites to provide for the maintenance of the temple and the Levites.
The Levites were the one tribe of Israel who did not receive a portion of the land which God graciously gave to Israel. For the Levites, the priesthood was their inheritance (Numbers 18:24). As priests, they were to serve the other tribes. In order to provide for their survival, God appointed the tithe (Numbers 18:21).
Tithing, therefore, was an important part of Israel’s covenantal life with God. It was a great sin to withhold tithes, and to do so was to steal from God. That’s why when we go to the book of Malachi 3:8-9, God indicted Israel for the sin of breaking their covenant with Him by withholding their tithes. (Note: If you’re reading from the New International Version, the passage heading reads: “Breaking Covenant by Withholding Tithes.”)
In Malachi 3:7, God starts off with a general charge of disobedience, that is, turning away from His decrees, and then narrows it down to a specific charge of disobedient giving in the next two verses quoted earlier. When God’s people fail to obey His word with regard to giving, they are robbing Him.
Conversely, if Israel would show their trust in the Lord by obeying Him with the tithe, they would have their needs met and be blessed (Malachi 3:10).
Are Christians Commanded to Tithe?
The New Testament gives no explicit command for tithing. We don’t read Jesus and His disciples teaching the necessity of tithing. Neither can we find any statement that they tithed. It is also significant to note that tithing is never mentioned in any instructions to the Church, although much is said about giving.
If the Church is supposed to give ten percent, it seems strange that Paul did not mention this when he wrote to predominately Gentile churches, which would not be familiar with the Law of Moses. So why should we tithe when the early Church did not practice tithing? The strict tithe seems to be linked to the old covenant, that is, God’s covenant with the nation of Israel.
Nevertheless, there is some continuity between the old and new covenants when it comes to giving. Just as Israel was to provide for the priests in the old covenant, the Church is to provide for the ministry of the Gospel in the new covenant. The apostle Paul makes it very clear that the ministry of the Gospel is to be supported with the resources of the Church. Paul gives very straight-forward teaching on this topic in 1 Corinthians 9:14.
When Paul wrote to Timothy, he quotes some general laws from the Old Testament and applies them to the ministry of the Word. (See 1 Timothy 5:17-18) Also when Paul wrote to the Galatians, he says, “Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches”(Galatians 6:6). To this end, every Christian should be mindful of his responsibilities in supporting the budget of the congregation to which he belongs, so that the aforementioned needs are being met.
No longer under Law but under Grace
Christians who say we do not have to tithe argue that tithing is an Old Testament Law and is applicable only to the nation of Israel. We are not physical Israel and we do not own the land so we are not under the Law. We are living under grace in the new covenant and so tithing does not apply to us.
Christians who are against tithing also argue that using the ten percent measure in our giving to God is limiting what we can give, thereby limiting our blessings. In other words, why limit your giving to a mere ten percent when you can give more? This month you may choose to give fifteen percent, next month twenty-five percent or more and the following month perhaps a bit less depending on your financial needs. This seems reasonable and acceptable, don’t you think?
On the other hand, Christians who hold to the view that tithing still applies to believers today often quote Malachi 3:10 where the command to tithe is given by God Himself. They also cite Matthew 23:23 to argue that Jesus affirms tithing when He rebuked the Scribes and Pharisees for neglecting the weightier matters of the law such as grace and mercy but commended them for tithing in mint, anise, and cumin. They believe that the tithe and offerings are two separate things.
Your tithe is the tenth of your income while your offering is any amount that you want to give to God from the remaining ninety percent, on top of your tithe, that is. For your offering, you can give as much as your heart desires. But the tithe is a fixed amount, that is, the tenth of all the blessings you received from God.
The only problem I see with dutifully practicing or imposing tithing is the tendency for it to become ritualistic and mechanical. Legalism would start creeping in, standards might be set up which aren’t necessarily biblical standards and hypocrisy would arise. Take for instance the self-righteous Pharisee in Luke 18:12, boasting about his tithing as proof of his righteousness.
The Standard of Giving in the New Testament
If the compulsory Levitical tithe was particular to the Levitical priesthood and the New Testament does not explicitly command a strict ten percent of one’s income, just how much should the believer give? Paul gives us at least three guidelines. Let us then consider carefully the following three principles.
1) Give freely, generously and cheerfully.
In 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 Paul says that “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” There is no prescribed amount that one must give. The amount you give is something that only you can decide but however much you give, do it with joy.
So you say, “Great to hear that. It means I can give what’s left after I have settled all my bills and set aside my budget for this month.” Of course, you’re free to give what you’re willing to give but will it make you joyful knowing that you’re not giving God the best? Are you cheerful to give just two percent or maybe five percent of your income to the Lord?
While ten percent is not a strict requirement for the new covenant, it is nevertheless an excellent guideline. Christians must do well to make ten percent of their income the minimum of their giving as an expression of their joy in the Lord.
2) Give consistently.
In continuation of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian Church, he gives us direction. He says, “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”
We are to establish the practice of setting aside a certain amount of our resources for God’s work, just as you would anything else in your monthly budget and financial planning. Whatever amount we decide to give, we are to do so consistently on a weekly or monthly basis. We don’t choose to give a certain amount this month and skip it next month or the month after, then give again after that. The support of the local church relies upon the regular giving of the members of the congregation.
3) Give as the Lord prospers you.
Consider Paul’s commands above: “as he may prosper.” It means our giving should be in proportion to what God has given us. As God increases your income, your giving should increase accordingly. We see how the old covenant practice of tithing can be applied in the new covenant. When we set aside ten percent of our income, whether we make a little or a lot, helps us to give as the Lord prospers us.
Biblical Principles of Tithing
Tithing is a matter of the heart. The main principle behind tithing is the fact that what we do with our money shows where our heart is (Matthew 6:21). By giving ten percent or more of our income instead of keeping that money for ourselves, we show that our heart isn’t tied to our money and that we love God more than our money.
Always remember that everything we have belongs to God, He just entrusted them under our care. Even though most of us probably work for the money we make each month, even God has a hand there – He has given us the ability to do our jobs (Deuteronomy 8:18).
If we are able to grasp what God has fully given to us, we are certain to agree that ten percent doesn’t even feel like much. If Abraham tithed to Melchizedek whose priesthood was based on the law and the Old Testament saints who were living under the Law practiced tithing, how much more for us today who have been redeemed by Christ and are now living under His covenant of grace?
I believe that it’s a big mistake to use the “we’re no longer living under the law but under grace” as an excuse for the people of God not to give. It’s very easy for you to say that you are faithfully obeying God. But what if the Lord says, “Oh yeah? Why don’t we get more specific. How is your giving?”
It’s important to realize that giving is one of the litmus tests of your relationship to God. Your Bible knowledge maybe impressive and so as your prayer life and years of service in your Church ministry. But what about your stewardship of the money that God has entrusted to you?
Do you maintain integrity in terms of money matters? Are your priorities and motives for earning, spending, saving, and giving in line with biblical standards and principles?
*Recommended Resource: Perspectives on Tithing: Four Views By David A. Croteau, Scott Preissler, Ken Hemphill, Bobby Eklund, Reggie Kidd, & Gary North
Was the tithe just for Israel, or is it also applicable to Christians?
Must a tithe go only to your local church, or can it be received by any Christian organization? Do we tithe on the net or the gross amount?
Perspectives on Tithing presents in a point-counterpoint format the most common views about how Christians are to give of their financial resources, addressing the myriad of questions that surround the complex issue.
Ken Hemphill (Empowering Kingdom Growth) and Bobby Eklund (Eklund Stewardship Ministries) contribute “The Foundations of Giving” while the book’s editor, David A. Croteau (Liberty University), writes “The Post-Tithing View: Giving in the New Covenant.”
A chapter by Reggie Kidd (Reformed Theological Seminary) is called “Tithing in the New Covenant? ‘Yes’ as Principle, ‘No’ as Casuistry.”
Finally, Gary North (Institute for Christian Economics) looks directly at “The Covenantal Tithe,” and Scott Preissler (Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) provides the epilogue.
The Ten Commandments of God are outlined in Exodus chapter 20: the first five being our moral duties to God while the remaining 5 are our moral duties to our fellow men. Going to the New Testament, the 10 commandments were reduced or summarized to just 2:(1)Love God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul and with all your strength, known as the greatest commandment of God; and(2)Love your neighbor as yourself.
For the purpose of this study, we’re only going to tackle and discuss the first and greatest commandment of God, and that is to love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. This passage appears in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark but again in this study, we are going to use Mark’s interpretation.
Mark 12:28-30 “The First and Greatest Commandment of God”
One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; 30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.”
If we start reading from verse 18, Jesus was approached by the Sadducees and started to ask Him about the resurrection. The Sadducees are a group of religious leaders during Jesus’ time who do not believe in the resurrection, and yet they were asking Jesus about it. Jesus then went on to correct their wrong notion about marriage at the resurrection and told them plainly that at the resurrection people will neither marry nor are given in marriage.
Jesus’ answer to the Sadducees sounded convincing to a scribe who happened to be in the crowd. And as it turned out, he had a question of his own. He wanted to know from Jesus what is the first and greatest commandment of all. As a Jewish teacher of the law, he knew very well that the Law consisted of not only 10 but 613 commandments.
And in response, Jesus essentially quoted Deuteronomy 6:4-5, the“Shema.”(The Shema is the Jewish declaration of faith which they recite every day: morning and evening.) So by quoting the Shema, Jesus reaffirmed that the requirement for God’s people has never changed, it has always been the same and indeed, it will always be the same.
So what then does it mean to love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength?
How to LOVE God with All your Heart
In the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB), Proverbs 4:23 says“the heart is the source of life.”In other translations it says that out of the heart springs the issues of life.
Now, why does the Bible say that the heart is the source of life? Simply because it’s your heart that keeps you physically alive. So it’s referring to physical life. Remember that there are 3 aspects of life namely: physical, spiritual and eternal. So as long as your heart is beating and performing its normal functions, you’re alive. But once your heart fails or stops, then you’re dead! That will be the end of your physical life.
The heart being the center of our life is also the control center of all our affections. And ultimately, it’s our heart that determines what actions to pursue based on our affections.
What does it mean to love God with all your heart?
1)To love God with all your heart is to set all your affections on Him; to desire God above all else as the deer longs for streams of water (Psalm 42:1). Notice how a deer is longing for water brooks. That’s how you would long for God if you truly love Him with all your heart. You would want to always be filled with the Holy Spirit and are always longing for His presence.
2)To love God with all your heart is to make Him number 1 in your life and love Him above all else. Do you long to communicate with God every waking hour? In this generation where technology is the new “thing” nobody seems to survive anymore without access to the world of information and communication.
Today we’re living in a society where people sit across the table but do not even talk to each other. They’re so hooked on their smartphones and tablets that they seem to not care about other people around them anymore.
To love God above anything or anybody else is to always make Him your number 1 priority. But how? How exactly are you going to do that? Well, if you can treasure God above anything or anyone else then you can actually say with confidence that you truly love God with all your heart. What or who is your priority?
A litmus test to know who or what your priorities really are is to discern and identify what you treasure the most. You can easily determine where your affections really lie by identifying what you treasure the most, because your affections follow what you treasure. Matthew 6:21 says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Now ask yourself,“What do I value the most that I cannot survive without? What do I treasure so much that I cannot and will never give up?”Is it money, your job, possessions, career, family? If you say yes to any or all of these, then it’s time to reevaluate your priorities.
Do you choose to work on Sundays instead of going to your local Church to worship God in order to make more money? Are you going to listen to what your friends and family tell you knowing very well that they’re contrary to God’s word? Do you really want to love Jesus completely?
Then you’ll have to treasure Him supremely. Think about God’s love, His goodness and His grace. Always remember Jesus’ sacrifice and you will never have to worry about your heart being somewhere else other than with God.
How to LOVE God with All your Soul
If the heart is the control center of all our affections, the soul is the center of all our emotional activities. Our soul literally defines who we are. Our soul is our inner self; it is our identity or personality. If loving God with all our heart has to do with affections, loving the Lord with all our soul has to do with devotion.
Note:The soul is not the same as the spirit; they are connected but separable. The spirit is the immaterial aspect of man that connects with God. It enables us to have an intimate relationship with God.
How do you love God with all your soul?
1) To love God with all your soul means to be devoted to Him completely. We are talking here of a“wholehearted devotion” to God. It means total commitment to God to the point that you are willing to surrender your life to Him completely.
2)To love God with all your soul is to be passionate about Him; to be always on fire or zealous for God and not be lukewarm (Romans 12:1). And to love God with all your soul is to obey His commandments (John 14:15). Obedienceis one aspect of our Christian life where we can show God we truly love Him.
Do you want to love God with all your soul and follow him wholeheartedly? The cost of following Jesus is clearly laid out in Luke 9:23-24. It talks about self-denial and taking up your cross daily. It means not really caring about your life here on earth, your personal ambitions, wants and desires, because you’re looking forward to an eternal life with Jesus.
The word we’re looking for here issacrifice.Can you set aside your wishes and desires in order to follow God? Are you willing to suffer and give your life for the sake of the Gospel? Can you honestly say that no matter what happens and despite the persecutions and ridicule you receive from people of the opposing view, that you will remain faithful to God?
Are you dedicated to keep and obey all of God’s commandments even if at times you will be put in a tough spot or end up in an impossible situation as a result of your obedience? Will you continue to serve God in your ministry even if your pastors and leaders continue to disappoint you by their words and actions?
Only you can answer these questions. And remember, God hears even the softest whisper of your heart.
How to LOVE God with All your Mind
The mind is the seat or center of our intellectual life. It is the origin of our ideas, our perspective in life and our viewpoints. God has gifted each of us with a mind of our own which gives us the capacity to think and make decisions. The mind is an amazing gift from God; and it can be everything from fairly feeble to an incredible genius.
What does it mean to love God with all your mind?
1)To love God with all your mind is to bring your mind under the lordship of Christ and pursue a mind that seeks the truth about God. This means that your intellect and thinking must be in strict subordination to God’s revelation of Himself.
We read in 2 Corinthians 10:5 how we are instructed to destroy all arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and every thought must be taken captive to obey Christ. Although we will never get to a point where we will be able to grasp everything about God completely because we are finite, we must desire to keep learning more about Him through His revelation of Himself in the Bible.
Although God’s thoughts and ways are so high we can’t fathom as it says in Isaiah 55:8-9, we are to submit to Him by allowing His Word to transform us by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2).
2)To love God with all your mind means submitting your mind, thought patterns, opinions and decisions to God’s word. It means dedicating your mind to Him and to not lean on your own understanding (Proverbs. 3:5).
Often times we tend to act on impulse; we make decisions according to what we think is right without consulting God first. Whenever you’re in a situation where you may need to make important and life-changing decisions, get to the Word first. You ask God,“Is this your will Lord?”Because loving God with all your mind means you act not on what you think but in accord with the facts of the Word of God.
How to LOVE God with All your Strength
Loving God with all our is perhaps the easiest to understand. Because while the heart, soul and mind have to do with what’s on the inside of us, strength has to do with what’s on the outside of us. Strength refers to our abilities, talents, capacities, gifts and physical powers. In other words, strength is about what we can do and the things we have such as skills, money and resources among many other things.
How are you to love God with all your strength?
1)Loving God with all your strength is to love Him with all your skills, abilities, your money and your time. You must surrender all these to God and use them for His glory. To love God with all your strength is to devote your capacity to God instead of being devoted to your personal wishes. This does not mean you cannot do stuff for yourself anymore; it just means that you devote what you have and what you do for yourself to God.
In Colossians 3:17, the word of God admonishes us to do everything in the name of Jesus our Lord with thanksgiving to God the Father through Him.
Ask yourself: What do I do with my time? What kinds of things do I read and what programs do I watch? Where do I spend time when I want to relax? What kind of entertainment do I enjoy? Is God glorified with the things I love to do and enjoy?
2)To love God with all your strength is to recognize God as your“only” source and means for living. Let me make this clear. God isNOT a RESOURCE, He is our“only”source. God owns everything (Psalm 24:1); your wealth, properties and possessions including your life. Whatever you think you own belongs to God but He entrusted them to you. Now, how are you using God’ properties and money? Are you using them for God’s glory and purpose?
You may think that it’s your own ability that’s making you produce wealth. You think that because you’re working as hard as you can that you own what you possess and you have every right to enjoy them or do whatever pleases you. But the Word of God says it very loud and clear. It is God who gives you the power or ability to produce wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18).
In the Old Testament, the Israelites were supposed to give 10% to God. The purpose of which was to demonstrate their love to God. They practiced tithing as a discipline to teach them that everything belongs to God. They received from God, held on to it, and then quickly gave the first part to God (Proverbs 3:9).
When we come to the New Testament, we Christians cannot do less. If you think that living under grace means you can give less, I believe that’s a mistake! We should be able to give more than just 10%, not because the Word of God compels us but because grace impels us.
3)Loving God with all your strength is not to lean on your own strength, but you use your strength as you lean by faith on Him. What does this mean? It means that you always trust in God to give you the strength to overcome any trial or difficulty. Yes, you are to make an effort but always acknowledge God to be the source of your strength because without Him, you can do nothing (John 15:5).
Every fiber of our being and every aspect of our lives are to be focused on God for He is the reason for our existence. We are living and breathing because of God’s love, mercy and grace. In God we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28a).
In conclusion and closing, I would like to call your attention to how the words “with all your heart,with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength”are not condensed as in“with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.”
Instead, the words“with all”are repeated with each noun in order to place emphasis on each faculty that we are to use in loving God. This strongly stresses the fact that there should be no holding back or incompleteness in our devotion and commitment to God.
We are to love God 110%. We must go all out and give it our best shot. We cannot really divide our love, trust and affection. Matthew 6:24 says,“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
So, does what you give of your money illustrate your true love for God? Does your giving of your time, talents, gifts and strengths illustrate your true love for God? That’s between you and God.
At the end of the day, our purpose is to glorify God and to love Him with all our being. We may stumble and fall along the way but we’ll just have to live each day striving to perfectly love God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength.
How often have you actually heard people say that blessings come through obedience? Or how many times were you told during Church services that blessings follow obedience? What does the Bible teach about this matter? Does God really require His people to obey Him in order for them to receive His blessings?
Today, I would like us to have a Bible study on obedience. We are going to look at what the Bible, the written Word of God, has to say about obeying God.
When the Israelites, under the leadership of Moses were on their way out of Egypt where they were enslaved for 430 years, God promised to bless them for as long as they were obedient to Him and lawfully followed all His commands. God then went on to mention all those blessings that are in store for them.
Deuteronomy 28:1-14 Blessings on Obedience
“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God:
3 “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you being the country. 4 “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.
5 “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 6 “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. 7 “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.
8 “The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
9 “The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. 10 Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. 11 And the Lord will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you.
12 The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13 And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them. 14 So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
What wonderful promises God has given to His people if only they would obey Him, keep His laws and commandments. But did the Israelites do as God told them to? No! In fact, they deliberately disobeyed God and repeatedly rebelled against Him. It became a cycle that lasted for many years.
How disappointing that despite everything God has done for them, despite the miracles God performed for them right before their very eyes, including parting the Red Sea so they could get away from Pharaoh and his armies and providing them manna and quail from heaven and water from the rock, they remained stiff-necked. Nevertheless, God remained faithful to them and kept His covenant with them.
Why then does God require obedience? Why do we have to heed God’s commandments when the Bible repeatedly affirms God’s faithfulness despite our disobedience and unfaithfulness?
Let us now look into some occasions or instances wherein God requires obedience, biblical characters who exemplified the true meaning of the word by their actions, and how God honored them as a result of their obedience to Him.
A. God may ask you to do something that does not make sense from a human perspective.
Joshua
God promised that He would bring His people out of Egypt into a land that is flowing with milk and honey. However, the land was occupied by the Canaanites and in order for the Israelites to take possession of the land, they would have to conquer it. Their first obstacle was the city of Jericho whose walls were securely shut up, no one went out and no one came in. So how are they going to get in and take possession of the land? God gives instructions to Joshua in Joshua 6:1-27.
Joshua was told to march around Jericho with his army once a day for 6 days and 7 times on the seventh day. Included in the march were 7 priests carrying 7 trumpets and the ark of the Lord. Joshua, the chief commander of the army obeyed God instead of relying on the military tactics he knew. From a human perspective, what God asked Joshua to do did not make sense at all but Joshua obeyed God, no questions asked. The end result: the walls of Jericho collapsed and they took the city.
Naaman
We read in 2 Kings 5:1-14 about Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Syria. He is described as a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master because of the victory that was given to Syria by the Lord through him. But he had leprosy and lepers were considered unclean.
So Naaman was told by prophet Elisha through his messenger to wash 7 times in the Jordan in order for him to be healed. But Naaman got angry and refused to do obey. After some convincing from his servants, he then went down and dipped himself 7 times in Jordan as the man of God told him and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy (v.14).
Noah
As recorded in Genesis 6:9-22, God asked Noah to build a massive boat and it definitely made him the laughingstock of his community. Building an ark did not really make sense at that time considering that it hasn’t been raining for years and years. You can just imagine the mockery that Noah received from the people. But Noah obeyed and took God at His word (Genesis 9:22)
And what was the end result of Noah’s obedience? He and his household were ready when the flood came. The Bible tells us that only Noah and his family were saved: his wife, his three sons, and their wives. And the pairs of clean and unclean animals that Noah loaded in the ark.
*** Maybe you’ve been asking God for a pay raise in your current job. Or perhaps you’re praying for a part-time job to increase your cash flow because you want to give your family a more comfortable life. And you wish you could also help your Church ministry financially because you see that the finances are scarce.
But instead of giving you what you’re asking for, God seems to be prompting you to quit your job and go full time in your Church ministry. And you say, “What? Is that really you Lord?” So you start doubting if it’s really God speaking to you. You think it might be the devil playing with your head. Why would God ask you to give up the channel He’s using to bless you? How are you going to support your family? How are you supposed to send your kids to school?
This may not be making sense to you right now because you’re thinking of your family’s welfare. Your wife may not be supportive of your decision, she may even get really upset or disappointed. But know that God will always have your best interest at heart. You may not understand it now but in the end, you will realize that this is how God wanted things to work out for you, He just needs to know that you trust Him enough to obey Him.
***Or maybe you’re in a situation wherein you are being abused by your employers. You wanted a higher paying job so you left home to work overseas so that you’d be able to support your family and give them a better future. But God puts you into a household of not-so-kind and considerate people.
Your salary is always delayed, you’re not having enough food supply, you are forced to work almost non-stop 24/7 and you’re only allowed to take 1 day off every month. So you cried out to God to rescue you. You keep asking your brothers and sisters in the Lord to pray for you; for God to take you out from your situation and to give you kind, generous and considerate employers.
However, God is not listening to your pleas, or so it seems to you. Your brethren also advised you to just stay put and be patient because maybe God has other plans for letting you into your employers’ lives. But why would God let you suffer despite your faithfulness and obedience to Him? It doesn’t make sense at all, isn’t it?
Remember, God is sovereign and He knows what’s best for you. He has a plan and purpose in your life for getting you into the situation you are in right now. Learn to listen to God, obey Him and you’ll soon find out that He was going to use you as a blessing to your employers and as a result, you will be greatly blessed for your obedience because blessings always follow obedience.
B. God may lead you to give up something or someone that’s very valuable to you.
Abraham
Abraham offering up his son Isaac is a classic example of giving up something you treasure dearly. We read in Genesis 22:1-18 how God tested Abraham’s faith by asking him to offer Isaac as a burnt offering. We know by reading the account of Abraham and his wife Sara how they had waited for God to fulfill His promise to give them a son. How could God ask Abraham to offer to him the son He has promised?
But Abraham chose to obey God because he trusted God for His word. Abraham trusted God’s promise that his descendants will become as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore (Genesis 22:17) and all nations on the earth will be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3). And God fulfilled His promise as a result of Abraham’s obedience.
*** Are you in a relationship with someone that God does not approve of because he/she is not a believer in Jesus? Perhaps you’re thinking that God will use you to bring your partner to faith in Jesus. You are so convinced that your partner will eventually become a Christian once you’re married. If your partner does not approve of your faith in Christ now that you’re still dating, don’t expect him/her to become a Christian just because you’re married.
If nothing seems to change after years of praying for your partner, then maybe that’s a sign of God’s disapproval. Maybe God is telling you to let go because he/she is not the one for you. It’s going to hurt of course, but God has the best in store for you. You just have to trust God, obey Him and focus on serving Him.
C. God may want you to do something out of your comfort zone and face your fears.
Moses
Moses is described by the Bible as a Stutterer and yet God chose him to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. Moses reasoned with God that he couldn’t do what God was asking him to do because he is not eloquent and is slow of speech and tongue (Exodus 4:10). Yet he chose to obey God and as to God’s instructions, Moses appeared before Pharaoh, the leader of a powerful civilization, many times to demand freedom for the Israelites.
Although the Egyptians had to experience God’s wrath through the 10 plagues that He had poured upon them for refusing to let the Israelites go to the desert to worship and to sacrifice to God, Pharaoh ultimately allowed them to go.
Peter and the apostles/disciples
The early Christian Church suffered a great deal of persecution under the Roman-ruled Jerusalem during New Testament times. The early followers of Christ led by His disciples were threatened with flogging and imprisonment for preaching about the risen Christ. And most of them died as martyrs for their faith but as a result of their boldness, the Church continued to grow and Christianity has spread throughout the Roman Empire and into Asia Minor, Greece, Europe, etc.
*** Is God telling you to share your faith with your non-Christian friends and colleagues but you fear that once you start talking about God, that they would start avoiding you? Perhaps you’ve worked really hard to fit in and get accepted by the group and you don’t want to throw all that away by sharing your faith with them.
Maybe you are aware that they don’t want to talk about “religious stuff” so you’d rather keep mum about the good news of salvation. You think that talking about the love of God and the sacrifice Jesus has done for us may put you in a really bad spot; that they might start ridiculing you or worst they might label you as a bigot and judgmental.
Conclusion
Why does God require obedience? One thing we need to understand is that although God’s love is unconditional, all His promises aren’t. So yes, God requires obedience from us if we want to receive the rewards He has promised because every act of obedience comes with a blessing. But is that all? We only obey because we want blessings? No! We obey God to show Him that we love Him. Obedience is proof that we truly love God. Jesus said that if we love Him then we will keep His commandments (John 14:15).
So if you love God, you will keep His commandments. To say that we love God but refuse to obey Him is not really loving God at all. Because it’s easy to say, “I love you Lord” but our actions prove just quite the opposite.
Obedience to God’s commands is the true sign of our love for God.
When I tell my friends and acquaintances that I’m a born again Christian, they quickly assume that I belong to another sect of Christianity, and I get that. I completely understand why. That is because the term “born again”is often misunderstood. Is born again a new religion?
Most people think that it is another religion or denomination of Christianity. Before I came into a covenant relationship with God, I also thought the same thing and that is why I struggled to come out from where I used to belong. That although I have already received Christ in my life as Lord and Savior, I still thought that leaving my traditional belief was big deal.
What is Born again Christianity?
So what is born again Christianity, where did it come from and how did it start? Is born again a religion? Is the term even biblical?
The classic passage where we read the words “born again”is in the Gospel of John 3:1-8 in a scene where Nicodemus, a Pharisee and leader of the Jewish Sanhedrin during Jesus’ time, came to Jesus one night.
John 3:1-8
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
When Jesus told Nicodemus that no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born again (verse 3), Nicodemus thought that He was referring to physical birth so he asked how a man can be born twice (John 3:4). Correcting Nicodemus’ misunderstanding, Jesus explained it in verse 5-8 that people must be reborn spiritually.
The term in the original Greek text is “gennao”(born) which means to regenerateand“anothen”(again) meaning from above. So the phrase “born again”literally means “born from above.” Jesus was telling Nicodemus that he needed to be born spiritually; he needed spiritual transformation — a change of heart.
What is Regeneration or the New Birth?
Born again is not a religion or sect of Christianity. Regeneration is a spiritual quickening, a new birth, a new creation. We cannot alter the old nature, or reform it or re-invigorate it but we need a new birth, the impartation of a different “kind” – God’s holy nature.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, he becomes a new creation and old things have passed away.”
Regeneration is a change from death to life – this is a spiritual resurrection. We were born the first time physically and the second birth is a spiritual birth. We were dead in our trespasses and sins but were made alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:1).
Regeneration is not baptism. Baptism is a Church ordinance signifying that one is a Christian and had died with Christ, been buried, has risen, and is now living with Christ, daily (Romans 6:4). It is not reformation. Reformation is the act of the old nature of turning from certain evils while regeneration is the supernatural act of God; it is a spiritual crisis; it is a revolution; it is a complete right-about-face.
Why do we need to be Born Again?
Spiritual rebirth is necessary in order to enter God’s kingdom. And this process of regeneration or spiritual rebirth is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. Like the first birth (physical) it is an event and not a process, though from the first conviction of sin to regeneration may cover many days, weeks, months or even years. Yet, the actual birth takes place in a second, as one passes from darkness to light. The person has a second birthday and begins a new life.
In Ephesians 2:1 Paul said that we were “dead in trespasses and sins.” And when Paul wrote to the Romans he said that “we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
The apostle Paul isn’t talking of physical death. We maybe alive and well physically but spiritually dead. As sinners, we are spiritually dead and a spiritually dead person cannot approach God nor connect with God. A spiritually dead person cannot enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:5). We receive spiritual life by faith in the Lord Jesus. And only when we are born again that we receive forgiveness of our sins and we enter into a relationship with God.
Who Needs to be Born Again?
The Scriptures plainly teach that all need to be born again; the language of the Savior is imperative (John 3:3; John 3:7). There are no exceptions to this rule (outside of the Savior); neither sex, age position nor condition exempts anyone from the necessity of the new birth (Galatians 6:15). There is no substitute for the new birth; to fail to be born again is to be lost.
Like with Nicodemus, being born again is not based on your nationality or ethnicity; it is personal. God’s gift of rebirth is not through our human effort or merit, but comes through God’s mercy alone. To become a new creature is to be born again. The universal sinful condition of man demands a change, the new birth for salvation.
What must I do to be Born Again?
To be born again, first you need to acknowledge that you’re a sinner, confess your sins and ask for His forgiveness and cleansing. Then you need to place your trust in Jesus who paid the penalty for your sins by dying on the cross, receive Him as your personal Lord and Savior.
When you receive Christ, God will give you the right to become a His child (John 1:12-13). You also must confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9).
The Sinner’s Prayer
If you have never trusted in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, would you consider receiving Him today and trusting Him for your salvation? Would you listen to the conviction of the Holy Spirit that you are in need of a Savior who has paid the price for you through His suffering and death on the cross? Would you accept God’s gift of eternal life by praying this prayer of repentance and acceptance?
Dear God,
I thank you for your gift of eternal life. I acknowledge that I am a sinner in need of forgiveness and salvation because I cannot save myself. I repent of all my sins and I put my complete trust in you alone, Lord Jesus, as my Savior. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for my sins on the cross, and that He rose from the dead to redeem me. I invite you now Lord Jesus to come into my heart and life. Thank you for your wonderful grace and forgiveness. I ask that you write my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
This is my prayer in Jesus’ name, Amen!
Now what?
If you have repented of your sins and believed in the Gospel in response to God’s invitation, welcome to the family of God! So now what, you may ask. You may wonder what comes next now that you are a Christian. First, God’s Word instructs you to find a church that teaches the Bible where you can learn the Word of God and fellowship with other Christians.
The author of Hebrews in Hebrews 10:23-25 exhorts us to hold fast to our confession of hope without wavering because God is faithful. We must not forsake our assembly or gathering together like some are doing, rather we must continue to encourage one another all the more because the return of the Lord is near.
Also, you should be baptized in obedience to Jesus Christ and as a testimony to your faith. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He commissioned His disciples in Matthew 28:18-20 to go and make disciples of all nations, to baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and to instruct them to observe all His commandments.
This commission is not only for the disciples during Jesus’ time but it is also for the followers of Jesus Christ today. To be a disciple of Jesus is to live the kind of life that He lived and to obey all His commands and teachings.
Are you willing to follow Christ and become His disciple today? When you do, you are not entering into a new religion or denomination. Instead, you will be entering into a new covenant relationship with God through Jesus Christ His Son, be forgiven of your sins, and receive God’s promise of eternal life with Him in His kingdom.
*Recommended Resource: Experiencing the New Birth: Studies in John 3; Book Club Edition
By Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Over the course of his career, Lloyd-Jones preached 28 sermons on John 3. Reflecting on the powerful story of Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus and what it means to be “born again,” this collection of biblical expositions highlights God’s stunning love for the world—as expressed through his unique Son, Jesus Christ. 393 pages, hardcover from Crossway.
Was the tithe just for Israel, or is it also applicable to Christians? 
