Demons have always been one of the most confusing topics in the Bible. Do they exist today? Did they exist in the past? If they do exist, then how much power do they have in people’s lives today?
Well, the answer to the first two questions is yes. While we don’t know exactly what demons are – they may be fallen angels or they may be the wicked spirits of men – we do know that they exist. The Bible clearly tells us so.
However, the third question, regarding demonic power and its influence in people’s lives today, is a bit more complicated to answer. The Bible tells us that when that which is perfect comes (the completed New Testament) then that which is partial will pass away (1 Cor 13:8-10). In this same section it also tells us that prophecies, tongues, and “knowledge” will pass away.
The casting out of demons was certainly a miracle in the time of Jesus and the apostles. Yet, from reading these verses it seems that miracles have ceased. And if the miraculous ability to cast out demons has ended, then wouldn’t it make sense that God would take away demon possession as well? It doesn’t seem logical that God would leave demons here and take away our ability to counter them.
So, the Bible does indeed tell us that the time of miracles, prophecy, and demons has passed away.
I find it extremely interesting that some folks see Christianity as a way to solve all of their problems after they live their life any way they please. They do not want to follow the meek and lowly life presented to us by Jesus yet they still want the great reward that Jesus has promised to all who follow after him.
Um, this is clearly a logical contradiction. If someone says that they will pay you for playing professional sports then it is quite obvious that they expect you to…um…actually play. Why is it different with Christianity? Jesus has given us a set of commandments that we need to strive to keep (while staying in a repentant state) and then, and only then, can we reap our reward.
In no way am I saying we earn our salvation – it is a gift from Jesus. However, we must adhere to the prerequisite commands of our Savior in order to receive that gift. You have to sign your check to cash it and the bank has every right to ask you to do that. It is the same with salvation, Jesus has every right to ask you to stay in a repentant state, confess, be baptized, and live faithfully. He is the one giving the gift and he has a right to ask you do do certain things in order to receive that gift.
Universalism, the belief that Jesus will save everyone on earth no matter their belief or religion, is such a doctrine. This video might better help you understand what I’m talking about. If you get a chance subscribe to may channel because I hope to be making more videos soon:
Psalm 62 discusses the fact that the only one we can truly rely on is our Creator. God is the only one that is consistently there for someone in times of doubt, trouble, strife, and loneliness.
The thing is, God is enough! You may have highs and lows with the other people in your life, but if you keep following the commandments of Christ you will be taken care of.
David, the writer of this Psalm, felt oppressed and attacked by those around him – but David kept his hope in God. It is unfair to base your hope in the people around you. It is unfair to you (for they can never live up to what you expect from them) and it is unfair to them (for they are imperfect just as you yourself are imperfect).
You should not expect the people in your life to give you what only God can give you. Only God can give you the ultimate support and love that you need. Humans support and love, but they must do so in an inferior manner to God. God’s love is completely just and unwavering. God’s ego does not get in the way of His love. A bad day at work does not get in the way of His love.
You should not put burdens on people that they cannot bear, and you must not expect them to show the same amount of affection and support every day. Only God can do that. As David so eloquently put it in Psalm 62:
Psa 62:2He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
Martin Luther said that it is impossible to break one of the Ten Commandments without first breaking the first commandment:
Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Today, we do not go explicitly by the Ten Commandments because we are under the new covenant (which Jesus brought into being). Nine of the Ten Commandments are still applicable today, because they are repeated in the New Testament. Only “remember the Sabbath” is done away with under the new covenant.
Still, Martin Luther’s point holds a great deal of value and truth. If one were to take a shady business deal in order to gain a great deal of money – then they would be placing money as an idol above God. If one were to go out on their wife, they would be placing their own lust and desire above the will of God (and God’s design for marriage).
As you go about this week think about the “gods” you might be placing above the One True God. Remember, idolatry does not have to be the worship of icons made of wood or metal. An idol is anything you put above the will of God for your life.
We know God’s will through his Word and the commandments he has given us therein. Let us not place anything above his divine and holy will, for nothing is comparable in value to our eternal destiny.
Mar 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
In my recent studies I have been exploring the journey of Paul into Athens and (particularly) his discussion with the council of philosophers and officials at the Areopagus. This story is found in Acts 17. The Areopagus was a rock outcropping northwest of the Acropolis and was an important meeting place for a group regarded as the Greek Council.
This council was formed of elders and representatives of the city (and many philosophers) and was quite powerful and influential (similar to what the Senate would have been in Rome). Here, discussions would be held about various gods, new ideas, city matters, and philosophies. Paul was taken here by the council so they could hear his thoughts, beliefs, and ideas (Acts 17:19 NET).
Paul taken to the Areopagus
Notice I said “taken” to the Areopagus. The terminology used here is very similar to Acts 16:19-20 where Paul and Silas are “seized” and “dragged” into the marketplace to face the authorities. This council felt they had the legal right to hear any new “ideas” that were brought forth and to make sure that they did not endanger the city.
So, what seems like a great discussion of ideas with various philosophers and council members is actually (again) a trial of sorts. Paul deals with it well and his lessons in evangelism here are immense. First, he relates to his audience by stating that he can see they are “very religious” (Acts 17:22).
Paul Begins his Oration
Next, he asserts that he can identify the “unknown god” that they have built an altar for. It seems they had many gods and idols and had built this altar in case they had left one out. Regardless, Paul preaches God to them and then relates to them once again by quoting one of their respected philosopher/poets, Aratus, who said ‘For we too are his offspring’ (Acts 17:28-29).
Paul is certainly using rhetoric and argument in a powerful way – but he is also using it in a Godly way. Paul is “softening the blow” for his “elite” and “sophisticated” audience. He is relating to these people on a personal level before giving them the hard truth of God, Jesus, and the resurrection.
Evangelism Today
What can we learn from this that might influence our own evangelism today? Well, I think we can learn to relate to our audience before giving them harsh truths. I think we can see where someone is right before we address where they are wrong, and I think that we can follow all of that up with God’s saving truth.
Finally, there is one more step that should be mentioned. If, after presenting the truth, you are rejected, then you must move on to the next opportunity. That doesn’t mean you’ll never try to evangelize to that person again, but it does mean that for the time being you must “shake the dust off your feet” and leave them for a time (Matt 10:14). After all, the fields are white for harvest (John 4:35).
Spreading the gospel is not so much about the success as it is about the trying. God causes the growth, we can but plant and water. I always loved this line by T.S. Eliot in his book of poems, Four Quartets:
“For us there is only the trying, the rest is not our business.”
This week’s article will likely be short, but I want to cover some of my recent thoughts about evangelism, tradition, and the status quo. “Status quo” simply means the “existing state of affairs”. Many times people are reluctant to challenge the status quo because of tradition. I believe the is the case with evangelism.
Somewhere along the line we (and by “we” I mean the church of Christ) started pushing evangelism to the side. Don’t get me wrong, there are congregations who do plenty of evangelism (and that’s great) but I do feel there are many that do not do adequate evangelism.
On the other hand, I do not think the evangelism problem (if you want to call it that) is easily solved. I think it is something that each congregation should discuss and take small actions on. I think that sometimes members of the Lord’s church think that evangelism requires a complete redesign of everything within the church, when in reality it is simply adding a few simple things to the congregations agenda. Then a few more. And a few more.
Still, the very mention of evangelism seems to ignite hopelessness and sometimes indignation within the body of Christ. I assert that that needs to end. I believe that many congregations in the Lord’s church need to see that every tiny step (getting church business cards, starting a church newsletter, keeping the church website up to date) counts as evangelism. Then, I believe that each congregation should plan to add more and more evangelizing techniques to their agenda. Again, it doesn’t have to be a BIG-thing, it just has to be SOME-thing!
Also, we should remember that our examples in public (work, the grocery store, events and services) should represent Christ well. This is also a form of evangelism. So, what steps can we take to spread the Word of God more effectively? That’s a good question. I think that’s something for every congregation to consider and take action on regardless of tradition or the status quo.
Mat 28:19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
As someone who has owned a business, made various television appearances, lived a life out “in the world”, and, of course, been a member of the Lord’s church, I can tell you one thing that I have learned along the way. It is that promoting the truth is not the way to fame, fortune, popularity, and worldly success.
In my fitness business I tried to tell people the “secret” to getting in shape – unfortunately it involved hard work and discipline. While this helped many of the people I came in contact with, it also pushed away countless folks who were looking for an easier way.
The same happened on my local television appearances (NBC, ABC, CBS). Though I put my phone number at the bottom of the screen for each of these appearances, I only ended up with one phone call (in around 40 appearances). What was my message to the masses? Well, that there is no “easy” way to get in shape, but it can indeed be done with some dedicated work and some caloric reduction. Needless to say, this message did not “sell like hotcakes”, well, maybe like “broccoli hotcakes”. However, the problem remains. The truth is the only thing that works, and in the case of the gospel it is the only thing that saves.
As a member of the Lord’s church I see the same trend in national “Christianity”. Only 1-2% of the population is a member of the Lord’s church (a sad number indeed). As cultural truth is pushed farther and farther from the “absolutes” set forth by the Bible this number has continued to decline. The number of church of Christ congregations in the United States is dwindling, dropping 9% in the last three decades according to a National Directory published by 21st Century Christian.
What did Jesus say about this? Did he say that truth should produce the most Christians? Did he say that the truth should have people coming to us in droves? No, in fact he predicted our very situation:
Mat 7:13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad isthe way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
So, does this mean we should give up? I do not believe it does. I believe it means we need to evangelize more than ever and work to engage the culture (and the young people growing up in said culture). I believe that the media is leading many astray and that we need to step up and “call out” those who are promoting false doctrine. Do I mean false gospels? Yes, but I also mean the doctrine of evolution, materialism, relativism, and the like.
Jesus wants us to spread the gospel to as many as possible, because indeed progress can be made. Some will accept the message and be saved, and our job is to maximize the number of saved individuals by telling them about Christ:
Mat 28:19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
When should we start? Well, as the old saying goes the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, but the second best time is right now. Let us all strive to begin pushing back against the darkness that is enveloping our society, let us all strive to evangelize and spread the good news of Jesus Christ.
Some historians (usually those of the atheistic or agnostic persuasion) try to claim that the New Testament is not a reliable historical document. In today’s article I’d like to briefly cover the manuscript evidence for the New Testament compared to some other historical documents. While this is just one (of the many) pieces of evidence for the reliability of the Bible, I believe it to be an integral one.
The question we must answer is: is the New Testament reliable as a historical document based on manuscript evidence? Well, we need to consider that there are more copies of the New Testament documents (over 5,800 copies) than many of the other texts that historians have no problem accepting as authentic. Here are some examples:
Homer’s Iliad: Written about 700 B.C., the earliest manuscript of this work is unknown. There are 643 known copies of this manuscript.
Josephus’ Jewish Wars: Written about A.D. 70 and the earliest known manuscript is dated at 400 A.D. There are 9 known copies of this manuscript. *There are parts of Joshephus’ work that some believe to be embellished but that is another topic for another time.
Histories of Tacitus: Written about A.D. 100, the earliest known manuscript is from around 900 A.D. There are 2 known copies of this manuscript.
The New Testament: Written between 50-100 A.D. with the earliest manuscript (partial) dating back to 125 A.D. There are now over 5,800 known manuscripts of the New Testament.
It should be noted that historians seem to have no problem accepting all of the manuscripts above largely as historically reliable – except for the New Testament. It should also be noted that when it comes to overall historical reliability (based on manuscript evidence) the New Testament wins “hands down” against these “respected” historical documents.
The conclusion is that the New Testament is indeed a reliable document. We do have what was originally penned and whether or not you believe the content of the New Testament does not determine its reliability (based on manuscript evidence). This is just one more piece in the puzzle that should lead all reasonable men and women to a believe in the inspiration of the Bible.
In America we love to measure and keep account of things. It may be our finances, our career position, or even our bowling average (I think that’s what you call it). We love to count things to see if we are progressing and there is nothing wrong with that. However, when it comes to making time for new acquaintances we might be inclined to say “I have enough friends” or that there is “only so many hours in the day”. With the pressures of our family, our current friends, and other associates, we just might not feel we have extra time for a “new arrival” – in other words, we might feel that our soul capacity is full.
I remember researching about the hiring process when I was looking for a new worker in my business years ago. One piece of advice that I thought was pretty good (at the time) was to set an inopportune time for the potential hire to come in for a meeting; say, 6:00am. If the hire did not show up (or was late) you could immediately write them off of your list of potential hires.
This might be good advice for a boss who is looking for the most “productive” worker he can get, but I think it is terrible advice for a Christian looking to save souls. We must remember that everyone we meet is a soul that God created! That soul has the potential to end up either in Heaven or in Hell. We should not test people to see if they are “worthy” to hear God’s Word (or to be our Christian acquaintance). We should not “look” at them (or their background) to see if their personage qualifies them for Christian aid. That is how the “world” behaves, that is not how a Christian behaves. If someone wants to discuss Biblical topics we should be there for them at any time, no questions asked. As James said so eloquently:
Jas 2:2 For if there come unto your assemblya man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
Jas 2:3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
Jas 2:4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
Does “being there at any time” mean you should just leave work to attend a Bible study with a potential convert? Does that mean you should just leave your wife (who happens to be in labor) to get to that phone call from a potential Christian? Not necessarily. It means you should enthusiastically let the potential Christian know that they are important to you and you should get back to them in a timely manner. Let them know that you want to help them as soon as possible and schedule a time to do so.
This same rule should extend to all of our brothers and sisters in Christ. If someone needs something we should always be there to help. We may think, “this person is trying to use me”, or “I’m not a psychologist”, but the truth is that we cannot tell how much a person is in need by looking at them. That brother or sister may be in desperate need of advice or a Christian discussion. And of course this always goes for someone looking to become a member of the body of Christ…
We’ve probably all heard the story of someone calling up a preacher at midnight and saying “I’m ready to become a Christian!” The next part of that story is usually that the preacher gets up and goes to the church (no matter the time) and baptizes that individual. That is the exactly what should happen! In the case of someone seeking to be baptized we should always be there immediately. In addition, I hope that a part of that story is that the preacher (or Christian) shows up and does his duty with enthusiasm and joy. That is our purpose here, to obey God and to bring the lost to Jesus. Let us strive to never leave a soul out in the cold. Let us strive to never reach our “maximum soul capacity”.
One of the biggest controversies in religion today is whether we are saved by faith (often called antinomianism) or by works ( often called legalism). It seems that most people view “faith” and “works” as if they are on opposite ends of a spectrum – and maybe they are. However, even if they are it does not follow that two things on opposite ends of a spectrum are necessarily in conflict or opposition.
In addition, the words “antinomianism” and “legalism” remind me a lot of the “package deals” of political ideologies. You are either “red” or “blue”. We should remember, however, that red and blue (when mixed) make purple, and there is nothing contradictory about purple.
Pro 4:27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
We should never stray too far from God’s Word when seeking truth. Truth is only measured by the Master of all truth, God. Since we have God’s Word we no longer have to seek the opinions of men or “groups” to find ultimate truth.
So, Faith or Works?!?!?
Let’s break this down a little bit. the Bible tells us that all scripture is from God and should be treated as such (respected and adhered to). Most people would agree with this assertion, but just in case you need a little proof, here is some scripture to back up this claim:
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Even so, many denominations today say that Paul and James are in conflict or they ignore the part of scripture that does no suit their traditional values (usually that of faith only). Here is an example (from Romans) of the teaching that most denominations assert to be true:
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
And here is a section of scripture that is either ignored or explained away in an insufficient manner:
Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Now, one has to make a decision. Are we going to believe both James and Paul? If we say yes then we must work to achieve harmony by rightly dividing the Word of God. This means we must see if we can make these verses about faith and works (and many other verses on this topic in the Bible) harmonize. We do that by reading the rest of the Bible and applying a rational study of the gospel.
Thankfully, when one puts in the necessary Bible study they are easily able to see that “faith” and “works” are not exclusive to one another. We are able to see from the story of Abraham that it was both faith and obedience that made him a friend to God. If we look at what is commonly called the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11 we see countless examples of faith and then action (Noah, Rahab, even Sampson, etc.).
The Bible affirms that faith and works are not in conflict and that both faith and works (obedience) are required to attain eternal life. That is how we show our faith:
Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
What Kind of “Works” is Paul Speaking of?
Why does Paul seem to be preaching against works in many verses? Because he was preaching against the tendency of many Jewish Christians to demand that the Law of Moses continue to be kept despite Christ’s bringing in of the New Covenant (Acts 15: 1, 5). Jesus had brought in the New Covenant which enhanced and fulfilled these old “laws”. Paul wanted the Jewish Christians to let go of the past and embrace the New Covenant brought in by Christ.
Still, we can see that Paul also preached that faith and works were necessary:
Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
This short article is not designed to fully explain faith and works, however, I think it shows enough to get an adherent of the “faith only” doctrine to stop and think. If you believe in faith only then you simply need to reexamine the scriptures with an open mind. You need to see that faith and works are not at odds with one another and that the Christian can (and in fact must) both obey and have faith. It’s only then that Jesus’ blood will be able to cover his/her sins.
Please do not think this means you have to be perfect. None of us are worthy of salvation (we are all sinners) but thanks to Christ’s blood we can have our sins remitted, remitted by His ultimate sacrifice. Let us all be grateful for this sacrifice and seek to live in a way that incorporates both faith and obedience.
