Rich's Bible Study

I need a double cleansing.

2009-08-26T07:26:00.002-04:00

I need a double cleansing. From sins I know (too many), and from sins I don't. (how many?) John Piper

2009-08-22T11:31:00.016-04:00

Who created heaven and earth?

Question: "Who created heaven and earth? Was it God or was it Jesus?"

Genesis 1:1 says it was God: "In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth."

Colossians 1:15-17 says it was Jesus: "Christ is the exact likeness of God, who can't be seen. He is first, and He is over all of creation. All things were created by Him. He created everything that can be seen and everything that can't be seen. He created kings, powers, rulers and authorities.

Everything was created by Him and for Him. Before anything was created, He was already there. He holds everything together."

Genesis 1:2 says the Holy Spirit was involved as well: "The earth didn't have any shape. And it was empty. Darkness was over the surface of the ocean. At that time, the ocean covered the earth. The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters."

This question might come from a genuine seeker who has a legitimate question about Christianity. Quite often, this is a false, "gotcha" type question thrown out there to cast doubt on the deity of Jesus Christ. The answer to the question is: "Trinity."

The early church came up with the word "Trinity" to describe the three "persons" in the God-head and the three roles each "person" assumes in creative and redemptive history. The word Trinity is used as a combination of Tri- and Unity, emphasizing the three "persons" and at the same time the Unity of the three. All of true Christianity affirms that there is "One God in three persons."

All non-Christian religions deny the Trinity. Some so-called Christian sects deny it as well. Jehovah's Witness and Mormon come to mind. The concept of the Trinity is unique to Christianity. Although the word does not explicitly stated in Scripture, the idea is there.

Matthew 28:19 is the most well-known verse regarding Trinity: "So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

This statement by Jesus, otherwise known as the Great Commission is one of the most quoted in Protestant Evangelical Christianity. Jesus equates Himself with God and the Holy Spirit. He gives all of their Names equal footing in the task of world evangelization.

Affirmation of the Trinity is the bedrock of Christianity. Depart from it at your own risk.

Is Jesus God?

2009-08-15T12:18:00.026-04:00

Is Jesus God?

Well, doesn't this cut right to the chase?

Many atheists, New Agers, and followers of other world religions would say no. Even some claiming to be Christian would say no. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus was a spirit creature who was created by God and became the Messiah at baptism. Mormons believe that Jesus is a separate being from God, but is one in purpose, but not essence.

Bt what did Jesus say about Himself? Did He claim to be God?

The answer to that is...No and Yes. No in that, He never said plainly, "I am Yahweh." But Yes in that, there were a lot of things Jesus did not say directly. He said stuff like, "Before Abraham was, I am." "I and my Father are one." "The Father is in Me, and I in Him." "He that has seen Me has seen the Father."

And there is more. His followers certainly believed He was God. John wrote, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God." "And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." Old Doubting Thomas who would not beleive until he had touched the wounds on His hands and body finally said, "My Lord and my God," when addressing Jesus and Jesus did not correct Him. He received that title and that worshio.

Paul, the Apostle who came late, said to the Ephesian elders, "Keep watch over yourselves. Keep watch over all the believers. The Holy Spirit has made you leders over them. Be shepherds of God's curch. He bought it with His own blood." Paul interchanges the word God with Jesus. Paul also wrote, "For by Him were all things created," and "In Him dwells all of the Godhead bodily." Paul believed that if you have seen Jesus, you have seen God. All of God's attributes were and are displayed by Jesus Christ.

Paul goes on to write to Timothy, "God was made manifest in the flesh." And to his other apprentice, Titus, he wrote about, "the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ." He also wrote that Jesus did not think that it was wrong for Himself to be considered equal with God.

In an interesting twist, the writer of Hebrews quotes Psalms 45:6 and applies it to Jesus. He wrote, "But here is what He says about the Son: 'You are God. Your throne will last forever and ever. Your kingdom will be ruled by what is right.' "This is god the Father speaking to God theson saying, "You are God. Your throne will last forever and ever."

Jesus Himself said, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."

So I think we have established some things in accordance with the Bible. First, that Jesus did indirectly claim to be God despite the fact that He never said it explicitly. Second, His followers certainly believed that He was God and when tey said this, He did not corret them or refuse worship.

How about the early church? The Nicene Creed, adopted in 325 AD, states:

"I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified, also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end..."

There are also more creeds and statements of belief of the early church that I will not list for the sake of brevity. Yet, suffice it to say that the early church affirmed the deity of Christ and teaches that today. The Apostles knew Him, spoke with Him, and lived with Him and they all believed He was God. He never disputed nor corrected them and received their worship.

Now for the conflict...

There are those who vehemently attack the Christian Church and Christ Himself. They do not seek to know and understand. They seek to oppose. They are like the magician Elymas. They are children of the devil. They are an enemy of everything that is right! They chest people and use all kinds of tricks. The Lord's hand is against them. Will they ever stop twisting the right ways of the lord?

And there are those who are honestly seeking answers. The magicians, witches, atheists and New Agers of this world would like to keep the answers from those who desire to know. They want to hide and keep them in darkness.

They point to vese in the Bible and say that Jesus cannot be God or the Bible cannot be true. Their objections boil down into one basic argument. If Jesus is God, then why does the Bible, indeed Jesus Himself refer to God as a separate person? The insinuation is that, while Jesus was a good man, He never claimed to be God and it was Paul and the early church that raised Him to deity status. They see a contradiction in the fact that the Church claims Jesus as God and yet so many times the Bible refers to Jesus and God as separate individuals. Is this a contradiction? Did they find the flaw in the Christian faith?

Well, rest assured, dear reader, that they did not. Christianity has been under attack from the forces of darkness for thousands of years. The brightest intellects of humanity has been able to produce have studied the issue and everything is settled. Solomon said there is nothing new under the sun, and he was right. There are no new heresies, only old ones repackaged. This old heresy was settled long ago.

There is a word we all know that resolves this conflict..."Trinity."

Trinity is defined as the "term used to signify the central doctrine of the Christian relgion --the truth that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, these three persons being truly distinct from another."

Although the New Testatment does not use the word "Trinity" explicityly, it refers to the idea and the term is what we use to signify that idea. For example, Jesus said, "So you must go and make disciples of allnations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and Son and of the Holy Spirit." The word Trinity is not used, but the idea is there. One God. Three Persons.

Paul wrote, "May the grace shown by the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love that God has given us, and the sharing of life brought about by the Holy Spirit be with you all." Again the word is not used, but the idea is there. One God. Three Persons.

But the skeptics might say, what about passages like, "Israel, listen to me. The Lord is our God. The Lord is the one and only God." Have they found the weak point? Does this verse disprove the idea of Trinity? Of course not, unity is essential in Trinity. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are unified in being, purpose, and thought so as to be one with each other. They are all God, all holy, all worthy of devotion and worship. Yet, they are distinct as persons and in their roles and activities. There is perfect love between them and perfect agreement. One God. Three Persons.

The prophet Isaiah wrote, "...The virgin is going to have a baby. She will give birth to a son. And He will be called Immanuel." Immanuel is to be interpreted as "God with us."

More verse implying Trinity:

"As soon as Jesus was baptized, He came up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened. Jesus saw the Spirit of God coming down on Him like a dove. A voice from heven said, 'This is My Son, and I love Him. I am very pleased with Him."

"The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come to you. The power of the Most High God will cover you. So the Holy One that is born will be called the Son of God.' "

Stephen "...was full of the Holy Spirit. He looked up to heaven and saw God's glory. He saw Jesus standing at God's right hand. 'Look!' he said, 'I see heaven open. The Son of Man is standing at God's right hand.' "

"The Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you. So the God who raised Christ from teh dead will also give life to your bodies, which are going to die."

"Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. You didn't received a spirit that makes you a slave to fear once again. Instead you received the Holy Spirit who makes you God's child. By the Spirit's power we call God 'Abba.' Abba means Father. The Spirit Himself joins iwth our spirits. Together they give witness that we are God's children. As children we will receive all that He has for us. We will share what Christ receive. But we must hare in His sufferings if we want ot share in His glory."

"In the same way, the Holy Spirit helps us when we are weak. We don't know what we should pray for. But the Spirit Himself prays for us. He prays with groans too deep for words. God, who looks into our hearts, knows the mind of the Spirit. And the Spirit prays for God's people just as God wants Him to pray." The Spirit and God are unified yet separate. One God. Three Persons.

The verses go on and on and so does the analysis and debate. There have been two thousand years of conversation, writing, and argument, mostly within the Church about what the Trinity is. Those who oppose Christianity have used this internal debate to discredit God...the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

However, do not be discouraged precious believer and those who honestly seek God. If we could totally understand God, would He really be God? Our minds cannot contain Him, yet He is very real.

There is one God, eternally existent in three persons. The Blessed Trinity.

2007-07-09T08:24:00.000-04:00

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.

The things I say...I just say too much. And much of it comes out wrong. It sounds OK to me, but sometimes the things I say don't quite have the right effect.

My speech is not always gracious. Let me rephrase. My speech is almost always NOT gracious. It just doesn't come natural. I have to work and think hard at it.

Paul says our speech should be seasoned with salt. In the right amount, salt adds flavor. Too much salt will choke a person.

I think we go to opposite extremes.

Sometimes we don't say enough. Someone loses a loved one and we stay away and don't express ourselves to them. We don't know what to say, so we don't say anything. Someone is making bad decisions or needs a helping hand and we keep quiet. No salt there. Bland. No flavor.

Sometimes we say too much. We criticize a person's faults. We tell them every time they are wrong. Too much salt. It chokes them to death. It makes them gag. They can't get down everything we are saying. It's too salty.

So, don't forget to salt your words a little. You don't want to be bland! But don't put on too much. You don't want to choke anyone, do you? Just the right amount of salt will make others thirsty for more Jesus, the Living Water!

Colossians 4:5

2007-07-06T09:46:00.000-04:00

Colossians 4:5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities.

The word translated as "conduct" is the Greek word "peripateo." It literally means "to walk." In Matthew 11:5, Jesus literally made the lame walk.

But it also has a figurative meaning, such as when the Pharisees asked Jesus, "Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders," Mark 7:5. They were using the word to indicate a way of living.

The elite have their own walk. Jesus warned us of them. "Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; " Luke 20:46

How should we walk?

In newness of life. Romans 6:4
Not after the flesh Romans 8:1
By faith, not by sight 2 Cor. 5:7
In the Spirit Gal. 5:16
Not in vanity Eph 4:17
In love Eph 5:2
As children of light Eph 5:8
Worthy of the Lord Col 1:10
In Christ Col 2:6
As Jesus walked 1 John 2:6

A tremendous amount of the Bible is devoted to teaching us how to "walk the walk" of Christ. Does this mean that God thinks our "peripateo," our walk, is important? I think so.

So let us conduct ourselves with wisdom, particularly with regard to those outside the Church. Don't let them use you as an excuse! Make the most of opportunities God gives you to walk as Jesus walked.

Colossians 4:3-4

2007-07-04T10:51:00.000-04:00

Colossians 4:3 At the same time pray for us too, that God may open a door for the message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4:4 Pray that I may make it known as I should.

The word that stands out is mystery. What is this mystery?

From the beginning God allowed mankind to go his own way. We have been free to choose good or evil. For the most part, we have chosen evil. This comes with a price. Sin and death plague us.

But God had special mercy on one group: Israel.

His promises originally belonged to them, but they rejected (for the most part) the One whom God sent to save them.

As a result, they have become partially hardened. The hardening of Israel continues today. By and large, they have rejected Jesus.

As a result, God's promises were offered to the Gentiles until the full number has come in. What does that mean? God has a number of Gentiles that will be saved.

What next? After the full number of Gentiles comes in, the partial hardening of Israel will be lifted and Israel will return to God, through faith in Jesus Christ.

We were formerly disobedient, but have received mercy. Israel, disobedient as well, will receive mercy once again.
So the mystery, is this...God has opened the Gospel to the world. Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely! See Romans 11 for details.

Colossians 4:2

2007-07-03T07:45:00.001-04:00

Colossians 4:2 Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.

Paul is giving final instructions for this letter. He has given much doctrine and now he gives practical assignments.

First is prayer. We should be steadfast in our prayer, persevering and not fainting.

It is a strange thing that God hears our prayers. How can He fulfill age-old prophecies, make destinies come to pass just as predicted and at the same time, hear and answer every prayer that is lifted up by His children? The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write that we should be devoted to prayer. We don't have to understand it or explain it. We just need to devote ourselves to it.

But there is a balancing act. As we pray, we must also watch, keeping alert. How? Pray with one eye open? Paul wants us to balance prayer with action. J. Vernon McGee tells of a farmer who prayed for his corn crop, but said Amen with his hoe! That is a good balance of prayer and action!

How should we pray? With thanksgiving. Too often, we present God with a never-ending list of our wants and needs, never stopping to thank Him when we receive. We are never satisfied. As soon as we get one thing crossed off our list, we start asking for the next thing.

Prayerful yet alert. Child-like in our dependence on Him yet full of wisdom when we thank Him for what He provides.

Contradictory? It's the balanced Christian life.

2007-06-29T07:36:00.000-04:00

Colossians 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching – like those who are strictly people-pleasers – but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord. 3:23 Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people, 3:24 because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ. 3:25 For the one who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there are no exceptions. 4:1 Masters, treat your slaves with justice and fairness, because you know that you also have a master in heaven.

These verses can be summed up easily and quickly:

Treat others the way you would want to be treated. It is the Golden Rule.

Employees, obey your employers in EVERY respect, not just when they are looking. Don't just go through the motions. Be enthusiastic! You are really working for the Lord. Your extra work and good attitude will be rewarded, either on earth or in heaven. If you slack off, the Lord knows about that, too.

Employers treat your workers with justice and fairness. You are accountable to God for your treatment of those under your authority, whether good or bad. Treat them wrongly and you will pay!

Those UNDER authority must OBEY those IN authority. Those IN authority must SERVE those under authority. This is a Biblical principal that applies in the home and in the workplace.

It's God's way!

कolossians ३:२०-21

2007-06-26T23:01:00.000-04:00

Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord। 3:21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become disheartened.

Paul writes directly to the children। Does he think they will be reading this letter? I don't think so।

This verse is for the parents। Children SHOULD obey their parents. We have too many parents today who have this reversed. We have parents obeying their children. This is not to be and directly violates the teaching of the Bible.

The Bible sets forth a definite structure of authority। Children submit to parents. Wives submit to husbands. Husbands serve the family. The family submits to the civilian government. Civilian government serves the family. All submit to Christ. Christ voluntarily submitted to God the Father.

This is all pleasing to God। No one is putting themselves first. Everyone is preferring and serving others over himself. Organizational and family structures become unstable when this order is not observed. Sin enters the picture.

However, there is another issue। Fathers should not provoke their children to anger! They will become disheartened. Children are at the bottom of the pole. They must submit to everyone! It is easy to get disheartened when you are at the bottom.

So, parents don't hound, harass, and nag your kids. Don't ignore them, either. It makes them angry. But if you give an order, stick by it. Expect them to obey. We are accountable to God for the raising of our children.

''My database does not encompass the dynamics of human pair-bonding। ..." Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines।

2007-06-15T22:49:00.000-04:00

Colossians 3:18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 3:19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.

''My database does not encompass the dynamics of human pair-bonding। ..." Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines।

Let's not be like Arnold! Let's turn to the Bible for wisdom and guidance।

The Bible encourages wives to submit to their husbands। This is not popular. Submission never has been a popular word in the U.S. From our beginnings, we have been a rebellious lot.

The Bible encourages men to love their wives as much as they love their own body। This is not popular in our me-first society.

At the root of the problem is a lack of understanding of the symbolic nature of marriage। Marriage was intended to symbolize the relationship between Jesus Christ and His Church. The Church is to submit to Christ as Lord and follow Him wherever He leads. Christ gave up everything for His Bride, the Church.

Men have the God-given responsibility to lead their wives to a deeper relationship with the Lord। We, husband and wife, are servants to the same Master.

So, wives, submit to the leadership of husbands that love you. If he is not leading like he should, encourage him! Help him to grow into the man that you desire, by the Grace of God. Husbands love your wives as you love your own body, as Christ loves the Church. It's the way God intended!

Colossians 3:16-17

2007-06-14T09:30:00.000-04:00

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God. 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Let the word of Christ richly dwell in you. Remember His spoken words as recorded in Scripture. Mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience are qualities that Jesus talked about and lived. The Bible is a rich resource because it contains His words, the words of life.

We are to teach and exhort one another with wisdom. Exhort means "to urge, advise, or caution earnestly." It's good to be zealous. But zeal should be tempered with wisdom. We should endeavor to help one another along wisely, step by step, growing closer to Him.

Singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Church singing is not just entertainment. Many songs and hymns are Scripture put to music. We should lift up our voices, not with pride, but with grace. We are giving a gift back to God and to other believers.

Everything we do, whether word or deed, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Give your life away to others and thank God for the opportunity.

Paul's vision for the Church, revealed to Him by Jesus, is one of unity and love.

Fulfillment of the soul

2007-06-13T00:33:00.000-04:00

Colossians 3:14 And to all these virtues add love, which is the perfect bond. 3:15 Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body to this peace), and be thankful.

Paul has made a list of virtues: mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness. All of these are wonderful virtues. No one would disagree. The perfect superglue is love. It bonds all of these virtues together so that they operate in unity.

But how can I draw love out of myself when there is none to draw? Sometimes folks get under my skin. Sometimes folks are hard to love.

Is the problem with them? Or with me? It's really both.

My soul needs fulfillment. I need to be content with something. Generally, I look to people around me. Inevitably, they disappoint. Often, I try to find peace within myself. I am disappointed there also. It is hard to love those who continually let us down.

We have exchanged the One that can satisfy our souls, for other things or people that cannot satisfy in the same way. When we look to God for satisfaction, we are not let down. If we are satisfied with God, then we no longer need to look at those around us for fulfillment. They are relieved of this burden and we are free to love them.

Look to God to complete your soul. Then you will be free to love others as this verse commands.

2007-06-11T06:54:00.001-04:00

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 3:13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.

Elect of God, take off that old man and his practices. Put on the new man, the REnewed man. Let Christ be your all in all.

The new man has a merciful heart. He does not take revenge.

The new man has a kind heart. He is tolerant and considerate of others. He does not wish any misfortune on
any person.

The new man has a humble heart. He is not arrogant or prideful.

The new man is gentle. He is not harsh or stern.

The new man is patient. He bears annoyance, misfortune, delay and hardship without complaining.

Most of all the new man bears with others. He overlooks flaws. He puts up with the peculiar things that people do.

Don't be a doormat, a pushover. If someone bothers you, deal with it. Confront the person. Don't talk about it. Do it. Yet, do it as the Elect of God, clothed as a new person. Air your grievance to the other persons face. Then be ready to forgive quickly.

The Lord has forgiven us for so much. In the same way, we forgive others when they are wrong, in His name, for His sake.

The Pursuit of Holyness

2007-06-09T22:14:00.000-04:00

Colossians 3:5 So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry. 3:6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. 3:7 You also lived your lives in this way at one time, when you used to live among them. 3:8 But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. 3:9 Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices 3:10 and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. 3:11 Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all.

My mom told me about some scandals that went on years ago. Wife swapping, divorce, lesbian relationships among people she knew.

Most of them church members.

It shouldn't happen. When we come to Christ, we are commanded to take off the old man like you would take off dirty clothes.

I may fall tomorrow. God forbid. But today, I stand flat-footed before God and say that whatever part of me still belongs to this earth, I wish God would kill it.

The old man needs to be gone. Even though I'm the one that keeps calling him back, I know he needs to be gone.

If you talk the talk, then walk the walk.

2007-06-08T20:24:00.000-04:00

06/09/2007
Colossians 3:1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 3:2 Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, 3:3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 3:4 When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.

Tonight was the closing night of VBS at a nearby church. We love VBS and sign the kids up for as many as we can during the summer. Every night, the pastor gave an altar call. Over the course of the week, ten young people responded indicating that they would like to know Jesus. The pastor later counseled the children after the service about how to know Jesus as Savior. It was a good thing.

I'm never as happy as most other people when it comes to professions of faith. I'm more interested in the walk, not the talk. There is a definite theme of continuance in the Bible. Keep seeking the things that are above. Because that is where Jesus is, seated at the right hand of the Father. Keep thinking about things above and not earthly things. Make Christ your life. Do this and you will live!

Keep seeking Him. Keep thinking of Him. Keep running. Keep fighting.

Want to be with Jesus when He comes? Want to be saved? Then you must live out what you have spoken out!