Category: Articles

Mankind’s greatest problem is sin. All who have reached the age and ability to distinguish right from wrong have sinned (Rom. 3:23). The wages of sin is eternal condemnation (Rom. 6:23a).

No matter how many good deeds we do, good deeds alone cannot atone for sin. Alone, we are hopeless.

Yet, God planned a means by which hopeless sinners doomed for eternal death can become joyful saints granted eternal life (Rom. 6:23b).

This plan of redemption centers on His Son. Though Jesus Christ is deity, He took upon Himself “the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:7-8).

As a man, Jesus “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). He was then offered as a sacrifice on the cross, so our sins could be atoned for (1 Pet. 1:19). At the cross, Jesus followed through with this part of God’s plan of salvation.

It is significant that Jesus willingly went to the cross. He could have called twelve legions of angels to prevent His death (Matt. 26:53). Instead, Jesus chose to give His life for mankind (Heb. 12:2).

Because He chose to go to the cross, it is now possible for us to be redeemed from the bondage of sin (Eph. 1:7), and to be reconciled to God (Rom. 5:10). Because of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, it is possible for us to spend eternity in heaven instead of spending eternity in hell.

When we understand the significance of the cross of Christ, it leaves no room for arrogance. We have no reason to boast except in Christ’s death (Gal. 6:14).

This does not mean the blood of Christ nullifies our responsibilities in receiving salvation. God’s grace is a gift, but He extends this gift to those who come to Him on His terms.

God has determined that for the blood of Christ to redeem us, we must trust and obey God. The blood of Christ was shed “for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26:28). Obedience to Christ’s will is also “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). In other words, for us to access the benefits of Christ’s blood, we must faithfully obey Him (Phil. 2:12).

After Christ’s death, He was raised, and commissioned His apostles to tell the world about Him (Mark 16:15-16). Their message was to center on Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, and how mankind must respond.

The apostles obeyed and taught Christ’s doctrine. Christ sent them the “Spirit of truth” to ensure this was so (John 16:13). God confirmed the apostle’s “word with signs following” (Mark 16:20).

What the apostles taught by inspiration is that man is lost without Christ, and that for one to be saved, he or she must “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).

The message of salvation has not changed. The benefits Christ made possible through His death are reaped by those who respond to the message of Christ with belief and confession of who He is, repentance (turning from sin to obedience), and baptism in the name of Christ “for the remission of sins.” This is God’s pattern for getting “into Jesus Christ” (Rom. 6:3; cf. Gal. 3:27).

After one becomes a Christian, the sacrifice of Christ should motivate us to love God as He did (1 John 4:19; 5:3). If we submit to His will, the blood Jesus shed on the cross will cleanse us from all sin (see 1 John 1:7).

May we appreciate the cross of Christ. May we recognize both what He did, and what we must do to be saved.

– Michael Hickox

In Matthew 7:21, Jesus said “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

Jesus taught that those who obey God will enter heaven, while those who do not obey Him will spend eternity in hell.

Many choose the second option by “excusing” themselves from obeying God. Consider seven specific excuses Satan may tempt us to make, and what the Bible teaches in response to these.

“I’m Already A Good Person” – Some fail to see their need for obedience because they live a “good life” and thus do not think they need what God offers.

Yet, God teaches that if we have sinned against Him even once (which we all have – Rom. 3:23), then we face eternal condemnation (Rom. 6:23), unless we submit to God.

“God Will Forgive Me Regardless” – Some acknowledge their sin, but do not obey God, thinking “everybody sins, so God will forgive me just like everyone.”

This misses what God teaches about repentance. In Acts 3, the apostle Peter spoke to Jews who had rejected Jesus (verses 14-15). He indicated they had sinned, but commanded “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out…” (verse 19).

While it is true that all have sinned, it is not true that all are living in unrepentant sin. God commands repentance.

“I Could Never Be Good Enough” – Some may think they could never be good enough to be forgiven by God.

Notice that Paul said in 1 Timothy 1:15 “that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” Paul zeaously opposed Christ before his conversion, yet God was willing to forgive Paul when he submitted to the Lord’s terms for forgiveness. God is willing to forgive any who obey Him.

“Many Christians Are Hypocrites” – Some may excuse themselves because of the hypocrisy of some Christians.

Hypocrisy is a problem, but someone else’s evil does not excuse us from obeying God. In 2 Corinthians 5:10, the Holy Spirit through Paul said that each one will be judged by Christ according to what he (or she) has done. Someone else’s hypocrisy does not change our responsibilities. God does not ask us to follow the hypocrite, but to follow Him.

“I Don’t Want to Make the Sacrifices” – Jesus taught that being His disciple is no light task (Matt. 16:24). Some don’t want to commit to the “cost of discipleship.”

Consider, though, what temporary hardships are not worth spending eternity in heaven rather than hell? Furthermore, when we consider that Christ gave His life for us, is it too much for Him to ask us to give our lives to Him?

“I Like Fitting In” – Living as a Christian involves being different from the world (Rom. 12:2). We may be tempted to excuse ourselves from obedience for fear of not fitting in with those around us.

Notice though that Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14 that “many” are taking the path that “leads to destruction,” while “few” are taking the path that “leads to life.” Would we rather be with the “many” headed for eternal torment, or with the “few” headed for eternal comfort? Would we rather be with the “many” who are opposed to God, or with the “few” who are on the Lord’s side?

“I Am Not Ready Yet” – Some may understand each of the points made thus far, and conclude “I know I need to obey God,” but think, “I’m just not ready yet.”

Consider the danger of this.

2 Peter 3:10 teaches that the Day of Judgment “will come as a thief in the night.” God is not going to tell us the specific day and time when Christ will return. He could come at any time, and we must be ready (Matt. 25:13).

These excuses are among those we might be tempted to make for failing to obey God. May we not look for excuses, but simply obey the Lord.

– Michael Hickox

In Matthew 18:21, Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?”

Jesus’ reply, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven,” (verse 22) is a figurative way of saying there should be no numerical limit on our willingness to forgive.

The parable told in verses 23-35 of the chapter drives home this point.

In the parable, Jesus told of a servant who owed his master ten thousand talents. His master demanded he pay up, and the servant begged for forgiveness.

The master, moved with compassion, forgave the debt (verse 27).

The forgiven servant found a fellow servant who owed him one hundred denarii, and demanded he pay up.

This fellow servant owed the servant about 1/600000, or 0.00017%, of the debt his master forgave him of. Yet, when the fellow servant could not pay, the servant cast him into prison.

When the master learned of his servant’s actions, the master “was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him” (verse 34).

This illustrates God’s reaction toward those who are unwilling to forgive others. If He is willing to forgive us upon obedience to Him, why would we not be willing to forgive others? No one is less deserving of our forgiveness than we are of God’s forgiveness.

Christ’s teachings that encourage forgiveness match the example He left us (cf. Luke 23:34).

Take, for example, Peter’s denial. We know that after Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, Peter wept bitterly, recognizing the severity of what he had done (Matt. 26:75). But a question that is heartbreaking to think about is what Jesus would have been thinking when Peter denied Him. Jesus knew it would happen beforehand (Matt. 26:34), but that would not have made it easy to see Peter deny Him three times.

When Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection, He asked Peter three times if he loved Him, and gave the instruction to feed (or tend) his lambs (or sheep) (John 21:15-17). It was apparent that Jesus did not hold a grudge or resentment against Peter, but instead wanted to help Peter serve God moving forward.

Consider also the example of the woman caught in adultery in John 8.

Her accusers asked Jesus if she should be stoned, claiming to ask out of respect for Moses’ Law (verses 3-6). Jesus’ response in verse 7 was: “He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her.” The accusers each left, “being convicted by their conscience” (verse 9). When no one was left but Jesus and the woman, He said to her, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more” (verse 11).

Forgiveness does not minimize sin (notice Jesus words “sin no more”), but it seeks to help others receive the gift of forgiveness that Jesus gave His life for.

Forgiveness is about building others up, rather than tearing others down.

It does not please God or help anyone make it to heaven when we retaliate or hold a grudge against those who have wronged us. What if God held a grudge against us for the wrong we have done toward Him?

May we heed the example of the One who, unlike us, needs no forgiveness, and yet openly offers it to all who will repent and turn from sin to accept the gift He gave His life for.

– Michael Hickox

In Matthew 26, Jesus and His disciples observed the Passover meal. Jesus used this time to institute the Lord’s Supper.

He took two elements of the Passover meal – unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine – and assigned meaning to them that have significance to God’s children under the new covenant.

Jesus first took the unleavened “bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body’” (verse 26).

Jesus next “took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to [His disciples], saying, ‘Drink ye all of it’” (verse 27).

While the bread represents Christ’s body, the cup (“fruit of the vine” – verse 29) represents Christ’s blood, which was shed for us (verse 28).

“The Lord’s Supper” (1 Cor. 11:20) is also sometimes called the “breaking of bread” (Acts 2:42) or “communion” (1 Cor. 10:16). Soon after the church was established, Christians steadfastly observed this memorial (Acts 2:42). The disciples at Troas specifically “came together to break bread” (Acts 20:7), a phrase which, in this context, refers to the Lord’s Supper.

Notice who partook of the Lord’s Supper – “the disciples” at Troas. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial for all Christians to observe.

Christians are to observe this in remembrance of what Christ has done for us (1 Cor. 11:24-25).

The Lord’s Supper is a reminder of the new covenant, which was sealed with Jesus’ blood (1 Cor. 11:25).

The Lord’s Supper is also proclamation to the world of Christ’s death. Notice 1 Corinthians 11:26: For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till He come.

The Lord’s Supper is a time of fellowship with Christ and with fellow brethren (cf. 1 Cor. 10:16-17). Jesus promised to (spiritually) be with His disciples when we partake (Matt. 26:29).

Christians should observe this memorial as God instructs. For instance, the New Testament pattern shows the day the Lord’s Supper is to be observed. Notice the phrase “upon the first day of the week” in Acts 20:7. This specifies when early Christians partook of the Lord’s Supper.

The church at Corinth provided an example of not following God’s pattern for this memorial (1 Cor. 11:17). Two key problems brought out in their observance of the Lord’s Supper are (1) a divisive spirit (verse 21), and (2) turning the memorial into a common meal (verse 22). They were exhorted to have a spirit of unity (cf. verse 33), and they were told that the time they assembled to carry out the work of the church was not the time to be eating a common meal (verse 34).

The Corinthians were told to examine how they partook of the Lord’s Supper (verse 28). Christians today should do the same. If one does not partake correctly, he or she may be guilty of partaking “unworthily” (verses 27,29).

Partaking unworthily leads one to “be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord” (verse 27), showing disrespect toward the One whose body and blood the emblems represent. Partaking unworthily also leads one to bring condemnation on him or herself (verse 29), causing spiritual weakness, spiritual sickness, and spiritual death (verse 30).

Partaking unworthily does not refer to one partaking who is not deserving of Christ’s sacrifice. If this were the case, no one could partake worthily.

Rather, partaking unworthily refers to the manner in which we partake. We must not pervert Christ’s design.

If we follow God’s pattern for why, how, and when we partake, the Lord’s Supper will be a great blessing to Christians.

May we take the Lord’s Supper seriously, follow God’s pattern, and never forget what this memorial is all about.

– Michael Hickox

Immorality has been in the world for centuries.

Noah lived amidst immorality (Gen. 6:5). Jeremiah and other prophets were surrounded by immorality (Jer. 3:6-11). Christians are likewise surrounded by immorality today.

God will one day put an end to the world’s immorality, but until then, He has given Christians guidance as to how we should respond to it.

Stand for the Truth: The Holy Spirit through Paul admonished the Ephesians to “be strong in the Lord” (Eph. 6:10), putting on the “whole armor of God” (verse 11), “having girded your loins with truth” (verse 14). To withstand Satan and the immorality he produces, we must stand steadfastly with Christ.

This includes calling sin what it is, as John the Baptizer did when Herod the tetrarch was committing adultery with his brother Phillip’s wife (Matt. 14:3). Verse 4: …John said unto [Herod], “It is not lawful for thee to have her.” John had the courage to stand against immorality, even though he knew there was a chance the truth would not be received well. We must have this same zeal for the truth.

Speak in Love: Like John, Jesus took a stand against immorality. But the stand He took was never out of bitterness. It was always out of love for the soul(s) of the person(s) who needed to repent. Jesus spoke the right things for the right reasons.

As Jesus looked at the multitudes in Matthew 9:36, “He was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and scattered, as sheep not having a shepherd.” Jesus hates immorality but loves those who are living in immorality, and wants them to be led to repentance and salvation (cf. Luke 19:10).

Jesus could have spoken against immorality with arrogance, given that He Himself never engaged in any of the sin that He opposed. Yet, He approached immorality with humility and compassion (cf. John 8:3-11).

We must, like Christ, speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).

Shine Bright: While Christians’ speech must reflect truth, so too must our actions. We must “practice what we preach.”

The Bible speaks of God-fearing people who preached sermons through their actions. Consider the impact Ruth had on other women through her love for Naomi (Ruth 4:14-15), or the impact Jesus had on Pilate through His silence when He was questioned (Matt. 27:14).

We can have an enormous influence on others by being the people God desires. If we are full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control, people will notice. If we give up things that the world deems important in order to pursue what God says is important, people will notice.

But if we live like the world, people will notice. To help others escape immorality, we must ourselves be free of immorality.

Pray: The power of proper prayer cannot be overstated. Prayer can help Christians throughout the world oppose sin without being severely persecuted (1 Tim. 2:2). Prayer can help us endure hardships we face. Prayer can help doors be opened for opportunities to lead people out of sin (Col. 4:3-4).

While immorality will not go away as long as the earth is here, neither will the truth. Let us not be overcome by the darkness of immorality, but overcome darkness with the light of Christ and His Word.

– Michael Hickox