Verse-by-verse through Philippians (4:8, Part 2)

Last time, we started talking about things we should meditate upon—those things that will help us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2nd Peter 3:18). Those things that we should set aside time for every day. Being surrounded by the evil that competes for our attention, it’s hard sometimes for a Christian to know what kinds of things they should read or listen to. Our salvation does not necessarily depend on what we watch or read—but if we say we love God, and we listen to music or watch movies that glamorize those things He hates, then we are grieving His heart, and we should avoid those things. First we saw that the things we spend time reading or watching should be true. If we surround ourselves with truth, we will be less likely to believe the lies of the devil. We should meditate on things that are noble. Those things that have, as their main purpose, the glory and the worship of God. And today we’re going to continue down the list.

Philippians 4:8—Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

When we read this verse, we could be tempted to think, “Well, that’s easy for him to say—they didn’t have all the influences we have today.” But that is not necessarily true. These Philippians were in a situation not unlike the one we find ourselves in today. Philippi was a Roman colony. They were under Roman government, they were surrounded by Roman culture and it would be very easy for them to be influenced by Roman paganism. And, of course, there were all the Roman philosophers and writers. So we can see that they didn’t have it any easier than we do. They were actually at a disadvantage compared to us, because they couldn’t just run down to the local Wal-Mart and plunk down $5 to buy their own copy of the Bible. So, when Paul gives them this list of things to meditate upon, it wasn’t any less of a difficulty for these Philippians than it is for us today. And it is actually less difficult for us because we have nearly 2000 years of understanding and teaching to help us. So let’s take a look at what Paul is telling them—and us—to meditate on in our text today. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just… Or, “righteous.”

One fellow said, “Giving to God what belongs to him, and to man what is his due; studying to exercise a conscience void of offence to both; [being] in opposition to all injustice, violence, and oppression.” Three times in the book of Acts, this word “just” (or “righteous”) is used as a title for Christ. Acts 3:14—“But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you.” Acts 7:52—“And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers.” Acts 22:14—“Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.’” The most just and the most righteous thing we can ever think upon is our Lord Jesus Christ. In Romans 3:21-26, Paul uses words like “righteous” and “righteousness” and “justified” and “the justifier”—all from the same root word. Romans 3:21-26—But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

To all who believe, God gives the righteousness—the “just-ness”—of Christ. Christ paid the price for all who believe—so that we don’t have to! And because Jesus has paid that price, God can be just in justifying us by our faith. He is the “Justifier” and He is “Just.” Paul is saying, “Think about that.” Think about the “just-ness” we have in Christ! And to go a step further, if we are all meditating upon Christ, then we will all be what Paul encouraged us to be back in chapter 2. Philippians 2:2-5—Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind…let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. It’s the whole “How do you tune 100 pianos” question. You tune 1, then you tune the rest by that one. If we set our minds on the Just One, then the thoughts we have are more likely to be in line with the thoughts of that Just One.

And if our thoughts are in line with that Just One, then the words we speak will be more like that Just One. Matthew 15:18-20—“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man…” Those are things that are in the heart. Also, the kind of man we are will depend—not entirely, maybe, but largely—on what we put before our eyes and take in through our ears. Matthew 6:22—“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.” What was Jesus’ main accusation about the Pharisees? They looked good—on the outside. And in Matthew 23, He compared them to whitewashed tombs. Matthew 23:27-28—“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” Next time someone tells you that you are wrong for speaking the truth,a nd that you "Need to be more like Jesus"--point them to Matthew 23.

It’s not enough to look good on the outside. Our hearts and our minds have to be right. We can come to church every Sunday, even sing in the choir—but if we’re still sinful and evil on the inside, we’re just whitewashed tombs. We are full of all uncleanness and wickedness and sin. Because we are not taking in those things that point us toward that Just One. We’re gonna forget the things of that Just One, and we’re gonna drift off, and drift off, and the next thing we know we’re gonna be in the middle of the ocean, all by ourselves, and we’re gonna wonder “How did I get here?” Because we didn’t meditate on things that are just. Righteous. Now, is the Law of God just and righteous? Romans 7:12—Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. Every single human being who does not know Christ will be judged by that same Law. Romans 2:12—For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law.

This leads us into our next topic. Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure... Psalm 12:6—The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Has anybody heard the story of how a silversmith refines silver? The refiner sits over the smelting pot, and as the silver heats up, the impurities rise to the top. This is called “dross,” and it is scraped away. Then the refiner waits for more impurities to rise, and scrapes them off. And he keeps doing this until the silver is as pure as it can be. And how does he know it’s done? When he can see a reflection of himself in the silver. Sounds like our God, doesn’t it? Galatians 4:19 (NET)—My children—I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you! Malachi 3:2-3 (KJV)—But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

You know what God does? If there are impurities in His children, He will sit as a refiner of fire, and He will allow circumstances to happen in our lives to “turn up the heat” as it were. In the OT when you see a phrase that says something like “try me O LORD”—when you see the word “try” or “tried” it quite often has this meaning. That God is examining us like silver, and He will either use His word or He will allow circumstance into our life to show us some impurity within us, so that we can lift it up to Him in prayer, and ask Him to take it away. Psalm 26:2—Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my mind and my heart. Psalm 66:10 (KJV)—For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

Would it be better for us to suffer things in this life—or in the life to come? So would it be better to keep our minds on things that are pure and that keep us pure—or would we rather have God allow our circumstances to purify us? Hebrews 12:5-11 (NASB)—“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.” God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? My daddy whooped me at 5 for calling my sister the “B” word. Guess how many times he heard me cuss after that?

Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. In other words, so that when He looks in that smelting pot, He sees a reflection of Himself.

All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Or, “just-ness.” I think we would all agree that it is better to suffer in the body than to suffer in Hell. And when does this chastisement usually happen? What kind of condition are we usually in when God chastises us? Now, does that happen all of a sudden? I mean, do we just wake up one morning and say, “You know, it’s such a beautiful day, I think I'll get hooked on pornography today?” What happens? What is that little song we teach children? “Be careful little eyes what you see/Be careful little hands what you do/Be careful little feet where you go/Be careful little heart what you love.” There is a reason we teach this song to children. And what is that reason? Because when we find ourselves on the road of sin, it's not usually because we jumped on it with both feet. It happened because we weren't careful about what we looked at, what we listened to, and little by little we started down the road.

So we sing that song to children. Now, do we ever stop being children, really? We call ourselves adults—should our eyes be careful what we see? Our hands what we do? Our feet where we go? Our hearts what we love? Casting Crowns came out with a song called “Slow Fade.” Listen to these lyrics:

Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid when you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It’s a slow fade.

How many adulterous affairs start with sex? The journey of a thousand miles… How many times does a church simply jump head-first right smack-dab into heresy? They don’t, usually. Typically, it starts with compromising one seemingly “small” doctrine. Thing is, it’s usually a doctrine that has something to do with the nature of God or the means of salvation. And when they compromise on, say, the virgin birth of Christ, they have to give up teaching that Christ was sinless. If they give up teaching that Christ was sinless, they need to give up teaching that Jesus Christ was God the Son. Finally, they give up teaching the Trinity. By the time they're done, they're worshiping a God of their own design. All because they compromised on that one doctrine. All because they did not keep themselves pure. 1st John 3:2-3—When He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

If we are children of God, if we have been saved by the blood of Christ, then we need to keep ourselves pure—NOT that we keep ourselves SAVED, God does that—but we keep ourselves pure. When Jesus was washing Peter’s feet, John 13:9-10—Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean…” James 1:27—Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. 2nd Corinthians 11:2—I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. Hebrews 10:22—Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Ephesians 5:25-27—Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself as a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. Listen to that again. That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.

And how pure is the Word of the Lord again? Psalm 12:6—The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. What’s the purest that gold can be? It can never be called “100% pure gold.” Are there any impurities in the Word of God? Should we meditate on those words? Whatever is pure…meditate on these things. Charles Spurgeon, from The Treasury of David:

“What a contrast between the vain words of man, and the pure words of Jehovah. Man's words are yea and nay, but the Lord's promises are yea and amen. For truth, certainty, holiness, faithfulness, the words of the Lord are pure as well-refined silver. In the original there is an allusion to the most severely-purifying process known to the ancients, through which silver was passed when the greatest possible purity was desired; the dross was all consumed, and only the bright and precious metal remained. So clear and free from all error or unfaithfulness is the book of the words of the Lord. The Bible has passed through the furnace of persecution, literary criticism, philosophic doubt, and scientific discovery, and has lost nothing but human interpretations which clung to it as alloy to precious ore. The experience of saints has tried it in every conceivable manner, but not a single doctrine or promise has been consumed in the most excessive hearing. What God's words are, the words of his children should be. If we would be Godlike in conversation, we must watch our language, and maintain the strictest purity of integrity and holiness in all our communications.”

Whatever things are true…noble…just…pure…meditate on these things.

Jesus Christ is Lord.
Amen.

"Paul never quoted Jesus!" (Galatians)

Today, we look at the places where Paul told to the saints in Galatia of the things taught by our Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:1--Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead).

• Acts 22:15-18--"So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’"

Galatians 1:3-4--Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.

• Matthew 20:27-28--"And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
• John 16:33--"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Galatians 1:15-16--But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood...

• Acts 22:9-10--"And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, 'Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.'"

Galatians 2:11-13--Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

• Matthew 5:46-47--"For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?"

Galatians 3:5-9--Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

• Matthew 8:5-13--Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented." And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof"...When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!"...Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.
• Matthew 15:21-28--And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed"...And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Galatians 3:10-12--For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”

• Matthew 5:20--"For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."
• Matthew 5:48--"Therefore, you shall be perfect even as your Father in Heaven is perfect."

Galatians 3:13--Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”).

• Mark 15:33-34--Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Galatians 3:23-25--But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

• Matthew 5:17-18--"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled."

Galatians 4:4-5--But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

• John 3:16-17--"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

Galatians 4:17--They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.

• Matthew 23:15--"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves."

Galatians 4:31-5:1--So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.

• John 8:31-36--Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

Galatians 5:6, 13-14--For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love...For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

• Mark 12:29-31--Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
• John 13:33-35--"Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Galatians 6:12-13--As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

• Matthew 23:25-26--"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also."

Jesus IS Lord in Acts

Next in this series, we look through the Book of Acts to see that Jesus is declared to be "Lord" there. The clearest examples are placed first, here:

• Acts 2:34-36—"For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool."' Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus...both Lord and Christ."
• Acts 10:36-37—"The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached."

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The apostles of Christ refer to Him as “Lord”

• Acts 1:4-6—And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
• Acts 15:25-26—"It seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."


• Peter
• Acts 1:21-22—"Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection."
• Acts 2:16, 20-21—"But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:...'The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.'"
• Acts 11:16-17—"Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?"
• Acts 15:11—"But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they."


• Paul (and Luke as writer of Acts)
• Acts 9:5-6 (see also Acts 22:8, 10, 26:15)—And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
• Acts 13:47—"For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.'"
• Acts 15:36—Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing."
• Acts 16:31-32—So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
• Acts 20:19-21—"Testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."
• Acts 20:24—“But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
• Acts 20:35—"I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
• Acts 21:13—Then Paul answered, "What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."
• Acts 22:19—“So I said, 'Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You.'”

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Luke, as writer of Acts, refers to Jesus as “Lord”

• Acts 4:33—And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
• Acts 8:16—For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
• Acts 9:1—Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest.
• Acts 9:27-29, 35, 42—But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him…So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord…And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.
• Acts 10:48—And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
• Acts 11:20-21, 23-25—But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord…When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
• Acts 13:48-19--Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.
• Acts 14:3—Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
• Acts 14:23—So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
• Acts 15:35—Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
• Acts 16:10—Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.
• Acts 18:8-9—Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized. Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent."
• Acts 19:5, 10, 13, 17—When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus…And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks…Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches."…This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
• Acts 23:11—But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."
• Acts 28:30-31—Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

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Stephen called Him “Lord”

• Acts 7:59—And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

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Ananias, who baptized Paul (and Luke as writer of Acts) calls Jesus "Lord"

• Acts 9:10-17—Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.” Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

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Jesus refers to Himself as "Lord"

• Acts 22:16—"'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'"

What exactly DOES Hebrews 6:4-6 mean, anyway?

When dialoging with Arminians and others who teach that a person can be "lost" after they have been truly born again, one of their pet passages is Hebrews 6:4-6--4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

Now, at face value, it does sound like the writer of Hebrews (hereafter referred to as "The Writer") is saying that a person can be saved and then fall away to the point that they cannot be saved again. But is that really what Writer is saying? No, it isn't, and we will see why.

The first thing we must do in order to study this passage properly is to get rid of the chapter and verse divisions and any paragraph formatting. While these tools help us to find where certain passages are located, they were not in the original manuscripts and can, more often than not, interfere with our understanding of Scripture. What happens, many times, is our mind sees the numbers, separates Scripture from Scripture, and we put up mental walls around the texts and chop them up into separate thoughts, rather then seeing the constant, continuous flow of thought the writer intended. We also tend to chop paragraphs apart form each other, instead of seeing that the author was writing one long paragraph (for example, Ephesians chapter 1 is actually one long paragraph, rather than a bunch of smaller ones).

That said, in order to understand what The Writer is saying in Hebrews 6:4-6, we actually need to go back and start at chapter 5, verse 12 and read through chapter 6, verse 8. So, here is Hebrews 5:12-6:8, with no breaks--

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

What is the idea that The Writer is trying to get across to the reader? Well, he starts off by saying For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. These people had been taught, over and over again, the first principles of Christ. By now, they should have had a better handle on the truth than what they actually had. But, for some reason, they were not growing in their knowledge, so the writer had to go back over it again. This is the state that many in the church find themselves today. They walk into a fancy building on Sunday morning, they sit in a nice, comfy chair, and a glorified pop-psychologist feeds them some regurgitated, ground-up mush that he calls a "sermon"--while neglecting his duty to take the people deeper into God's word.

The Writer, however makes it clear that those who do not go deeper into God's word will not grasp what true holiness is. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. How is a person going to know how to spot the heresies if they don't have a full knowledge of the truth? Ephesians 6:14--Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness. Notice how Paul links truth with righteousness?

He puts the two side-by-side because they are linked arm-in-arm. Think about it: when Johnny Pewsitter gets a knock on his door, and a couple of finely-dressed young men present him with "the gospel that was restored by the prophet Joseph Smith", and Johnny doesn't know how to respond to their claims because he hasn't been taught anything more than "Jesus loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life"--when Johnny hears this new "plan", he's gonna get sucked in and dragged away into error. It's like Spurgeon said--"Discernment is not so much knowing the difference between right and wrong. It's knowing the difference between right and almost right."

But The Writer isn't going to go back over those things that the Hebrews should have already learned. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. In other words, "Look, if you haven't understood the most basic things, you aren't gonna understand the deeper things of God; go back and learn them and get back to me. Repentance, the uselessness of works, the resurrection--you know these things. And if you don't, you should. But I'm moving on."

And now, we get to the heart of the discussion. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. What is the first word in this section? "FOR." What does the word "For" signify? Well, it means that Writer is using the previous thought as a springboard into his next thought. And if we read this in its full context, this is what we get: Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. So, what is The Writer saying?

What he's saying is this: if a person has heard the most basic principles of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, if they have been taught that we are not saved by works or by baptism or by anything else but the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ--and after having heard and been taught all those things, if they "fall away" or "turn away" from these things (literally, "fall beside, slip aside, deviate from the right path, turn aside, wander, fall away from the true faith") and if they deny these things--then it is impossible for that person who has once learned these things, and has rejected them, to awaken themselves to their need for repentance.

This is a person who has given final, definite proof that he will not accept the truth. The phrase translated "once enlightened" is the Greek άπαξ φωτισθέντας (hapax photisthentas), and literally means "once for all enlightened." They have heard the truth more than once, and in fact they have heard it for the last time that God will let them hear it. They have been adamantly stiff-necked toward God, and should they hear the truth 1000 more times, it will make no impression on their heart.

The Writer is not talking about a person who has been saved--he is talking about a person who was never saved to begin with. He is not talking about a person who at one time accepted these truths and is now rejecting them--he is talking about the person who never accepted the most basic truths of salvation in the first place. The one who is "falling away" heard the truth of Christ but never accepted that truth. They took in the truth of the Living Water, and it produced nothing but a barren tree, which is why he goes on to say, For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. Here he compares the one who accepts the truth with a tree that bears good herbs that are fit for use in the kingdom of God. But the one who rejects the most basic truths of the gospel is a tree that doesn't produce anything but thorns and briers, and is only good for kindling.

"But," the Arminian will say, "what does Writer mean when he talks about those who have become partakers of the Holy Spirit? Doesn't that refer to someone who is saved?" The answer to that question is "No." For there are many who may have claimed to have been saved, but were only fooling themselves and others. Those are the ones that the apostle John says went out from us but...were not of us. For if they were of us, they would have continued with us (1st John 2:19). There were many who went out, who even performed miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, yet who were not truly regenerate. Or what else would our Lord be speaking of when he warns us that "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness'"? (Matthew 7:22-23). Or why does Paul tell us that you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him (Romans 8:9). Many there are who have had truths revealed to them by the Spirit of God, but who were never truly indwelt by Him and quickened by Him. Thus, they were 'partakers' of the Holy Spirit, but never children of God.

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God...For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened...to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated...but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

I hope this has enlightened (no pun intended) those who think that we can lose what God has given us. Because we did nothing to save ourselves, and we can do nothing to keep ourselves saved, how could we ever do anything to lose what we have been given? John 10:27-29--"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand."

Jesus IS Lord in the gospels

Part 1 of a new series, going through the Scriptures and showing that Jesus is not waiting for us to call Him Lord--"HE ALREADY IS!!"

Over the last few years, a growing heresy has crept into the church. It is the belief that you can get saved today, call upon Jesus as your Savior, and then, when you feel up to it, sometime down the road, you can give Him the privilege of confessing Him as Lord. Or not—it doesn’t matter! Whatever you want—it’s all about you! You may hear, in many churches, an appeal for the people to “Make Jesus Lord today!” That is about as heretical a statement as you will ever hear.

The people who teach this atrocious doctrine accuse us of linking salvation with works—as if confessing Jesus as Lord is a “work.” Whenever I hear these accusations I often wonder—“Why would they want to deny Jesus His rightful glory as Lord? Do they not want people to think that He is Lord?” What I hope you will take away from this series is the fact that if you want to be saved, you MUST confess that Jesus is Lord.

The overarching Scripture for this series is Romans 10:9 (ESV)—IF you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. What is the opposite of this statement? That if you don’t confess that Jesus is Lord, you will not be saved. It’s really that simple. Remember, these are not my words—this is what is clear from the Scriptures (unless you don’t want to believe the Scriptures).

The best place to start is in the Gospels themselves. We’re going to see that in the gospels that Jesus is declared to be Lord. In fact, Jesus is called “Lord” 124 times in the gospels alone Granted, many of these are simply repeated in more than one gospel. But since it is the Holy Spirit who spoke to the writers, don't you think that maybe God thinks this is a wee bit important?).

So let’s begin, and see who it is that calls Jesus “Lord.”

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Jesus referred to Himself as “Lord”

• Matthew 12:8, Mark 2:28, Luke 6:5—“For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
• Matthew 21:2-3, Mark 11:3, Luke 19:30-31—“Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her…And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them…”
• John 13:13—“You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for I am.”

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His apostles called Him "Lord"

• Matthew 8:24-25—And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
• Peter
  • Matthew 14:28, 30—And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water”…he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
  • Matthew 16:22—Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”
  • Matthew 17:3-4—And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here."
  • Matthew 18:21—Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
  • Luke 5:6-8—They caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking…When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
  • Luke 12:41—Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?”
  • Luke 22:33—But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”
  • John 6:68—But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
  • John 13:6, 9—And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”…“Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”
  • John 13:36-37—Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?”…“Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”
  • John 21:15-17, 21—Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You”…He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You”…He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You”…Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”
• James and John
  • Luke 9:54—And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”
• Thomas
  • John 14:5—Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
  • John 20:28—“My Lord and my God!”
• Philip
  • John 14:8—Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
• Judas (not Iscariot)
  • John 14:22—Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”

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His other disciples called Him "Lord"

• Matthew 8:21, 2; Luke 9:57-61—Someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go”…Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father”…And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”
• Matthew 26:21-22—Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?”
• Luke 10:17—Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
• Luke 11:1—One of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
• Luke 13:22-23—And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”
• Luke 19:33-34—But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of him.”
• Luke 22:38—So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.”
• Luke 22:49—When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?”
• John 6:33-34—"For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
• John 12:12-13—Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” However, Jesus spoke of his death.
• John 20:24-25—Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

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The Gospel writers called Him "Lord"

• Matthew
  • Matthew 3:1-3—John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness…and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; make His paths straight.’”
• Luke
  • Luke 7:13—When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”
  • Luke 7:31—And the Lord said, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like?"
  • Luke 10:1—After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also.
  • Luke 11:39—Then the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean..."
  • Luke 12:42—And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward…”
  • Luke 13:15—The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?”
  • Luke 17:5-6—And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed…”
  • Luke 18:6—Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.”
  • Luke 19:8—Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord…
  • Luke 22:61—And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord.
  • Luke 24:3—Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
• John
  • John 4:1—The Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John.
  • John 6:23—However, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks.
  • John 11:2—It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet.
  • John 13:25—Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”
  • John 20:18, 20—Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord…He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
  • John 21:7—Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.
  • John 21:12—Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord.
  • John 21:20—Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”

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Those who received healing and forgiveness from Him called Him "Lord"

• The centurion
  • Matthew 8:5-6—Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
  • Luke 7:6—Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof.”
• Lepers
  • Matthew 8:2—And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
  • Luke 5:12—And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
• A Canaanite woman
  • Matthew 15:22, 25, 27; Mark 7:28—And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed”…Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”…And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
• The father of an epileptic boy
  • Matthew 17:14-15—And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water."
  • Mark 9:23-24—Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
• Zacchaeus
  • Luke 19:8—Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor…”
• The thief on the cross
  • Luke 23:42—Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
• The strangers from Emmaus
  • Luke 24:33-34—So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”
• The woman caught in adultery
  • John 8:10-11—He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.”
• The man with a withered hand
  • John 9:36-38—He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.

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The people closest to Jesus called Him "Lord"

• Mary, His mother
  • John 20:11-13—But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping…she saw two angels in white…they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
• Mary Magdalene
  • John 20:1-2—Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early…Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple…and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
• Elizabeth
  • Luke 1:43—“But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
• Angels
  • Matthew 28:5-6—But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
  • Luke 2:11—“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
• King David
  • Matthew 22:43-45; Mark 12:36-37; Luke 20:42-44—He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying: ‘YHVH said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool”’? If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?”

• John the Baptist
  • John 1:22-23—Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the LORD,”’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

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Everyone will, eventually, call Jesus “Lord”

• Matthew 7:21-22—“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven…Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name…”
• Matthew 25:36-37, 43-44—“‘I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?’...‘I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty…?’”

And this is just the beginning. We will see next week that Jesus is Lord in the Book of Acts.

The roots Mormonism shares with Rome (part 3)

Finishing up our look at how Mormonism and Roman Catholicism are, basically, theological cousins. Maybe not first cousins, more like third cousins twice removed. But they both spring from the same tree, and they both have the same father (small-'f').

They both teach that the blood of Christ is not the only way to pay for our sins

--Catholicism teaches that the person must pay for some sins themselves in Purgatory.

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), paragraphs 1030-1031--1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. 1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent...we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come."

--Mormonism teaches forgiveness beyond the grave

Gospel Principles (GP), 1997 ed., chapter 45, p. 292-293--"In the spirit prison are the spirits of those who have not yet received the gospel of Jesus Christ. These spirits have agency and may be enticed by both good and evil. If they accept the gospel and the ordinances performed for them in the temples, they may prepare themselves to leave the spirit prison and dwell in paradise. Also in the spirit prison are those who rejected the gospel after it was preached to them on earth or in the spirit prison...After suffering in full for their sins, they will be allowed to inherit the lowest degree of glory, which is the telestial kingdom."

--Early Mormon leaders also taught the doctrine of "Blood Atonement", which means that a person can commit a sin that can only be forgiven by them shedding their own blood. (PSSTT--Remember last week, we saw that in the Mormon church and the Roman Catholic church there are things that aren't "official doctrine" even though they are taught over and over and over again? This is one of them!)

Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses Volume 3 Page 247 (1856)--"Suppose you found your brother in bed with your wife, and put a javelin through both of them, you would be justified, and they would atone for their sins and be received into the kingdom of God."

Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Volume 1 Page 133--"But man may commit certain grievous sins...that will place him beyond the reach of the atoning blood of Christ. If then he would be saved he must make sacrifice of his own life to atone—so far as in his power lies—for that sin, for the blood of Christ alone under certain circumstances will not avail."

Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, Pages 92-93, 1966 edition--"But under certain circumstances there are some serious sins for which the cleansing of Christ does not [pay for], and the law of God is that men then have their own blood shed to atone for their sins."

You can read more words of Mormon leaders on "Blood Atonement" here.

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They both teach that one must honor their leader

--Catholicism teaches that one must honor the Pope.

CCC, paragraph 882, 889--"For the Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered...the People of God, under the guidance of the Church's living magisterium, unfailingly adheres to this faith."

Pope Boniface VIII, Unam Sanctam, 468, [quoted in Apostolic Digest, by Michael Malone, Book 4, Chapter 4]--"If, therefore, the Greeks or others say that they are not committed to Peter and to his successors, they necessarily say that they are not of the sheep of Christ, since the Lord says that there is only one fold and one shepherd (Jn.10:16). Whoever, therefore, resists this authority, resists the command of God Himself."

Dogmatic Constitution on the Church of Christ July 18, 1870 Chapter 3--"[I]f anyone says that the Roman pontiff has merely an office of supervision and guidance, and not the full and supreme power of jurisdiction over the whole church...or that this power of his is not ordinary and immediate both over all and each of the churches and over all and each of the pastors and faithful let him he anathema."

Pope Leo XIII, Acts of Leo XIII, Satis Cognitum, Rome, Vatican Press, 1896--"[T]hose who refuse to asso­ciate in communion with the Chair of Peter belong to Antichrist, not to Christ. He who would separate himself from the Roman Pontiff has no further bond with Christ."

Fifth Lateran Council, session 11, On the abrogation of the Pragmatic Sanction, December 19, 1516--"[S]ubjection to the Roman pontiff is necessary for salvation for all Christ's faithful..."

Pope Pius XI Papal Teachings – The Church, Mystici Corporis, St Paul Editions 1962 para 1040-1041--"To be Christian, one must be Roman, governed by Christ's Vicar on earth. The Church does not rest on Christ alone, but also on Peter. That Christ and His Vicar constitute only one single Head is solemn teaching. Therefore, those who think they can ac­cept Christ as the Head of the Church without ad­hering faithfully to His Vicar on earth are in dan­gerous error."

To read more about the Roman Catholic teaching that if one does not honor the Pope they are Anathema, see here.

--Mormonism teaches that one must honor Joseph Smith in the same way they honor Christ.

Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses (7:289)--"From the day that the Priesthood was taken from the earth to the winding-up scene of all things, every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are--I with you and you with me. I cannot go there without his consent."

1988 Melchizedek Priesthood Study Guide, p.142--"If we get our salvation, we shall have to pass by him [Joseph Smith]; if we enter our glory, it will be through the authority he has received. We cannot get around him [Joseph Smith]."

Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, p.190--"[There is] no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith. If Joseph Smith was verily a prophet, and if he told the truth...no man can reject that testimony without incurring the most dreadful consequences, for he cannot enter the kingdom of God."

Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed., p.134; quoted in “Joseph Smith: Restorer of Truth,” Ensign, Dec 2003, 17--“The day will come – and it is not far distance, either – when the name of the Prophet Joseph Smith will be coupled with the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth…”

James E. Faust, “Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon,” Ensign, Jan 1996, p. 2--"A person will never be truly on the road to conversion until he has at least a beginning witness that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Christ. Further, members of this Church must accept, and its missionaries must teach, some absolutes. These absolutes are: (1) That Jesus is the Christ, the Savior and the Redeemer of all mankind through his atonement; (2) That through Joseph Smith, a prophet of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored in its fulness."

A. Theodore Tuttle, Joseph Smith re-established fullness of true gospel, Church, Church News, March 17, 2001, p.14--"Every man who has lived since the days of Joseph Smith is subject to accepting him as a prophet of God in order to enter into our Heavenly father’s presence."

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They both teach that their leader (Pope, Prophet/President) is still giving new, authoritative revelations today.

--The Catholic Pope speaks ex cathedra

CCC, paragraph 891--"The Roman Pontiff, head of the college of bishops, enjoys this infallibility in virtue of his office, when, as supreme pastor and teacher of all the faithful - who confirms his brethren in the faith he proclaims by a definitive act a doctrine pertaining to faith or morals...'The infallibility promised to the Church is also present in the body of bishops when, together with Peter's successor, they exercise the supreme Magisterium', above all in an Ecumenical Council. When the Church through its supreme Magisterium proposes a doctrine "for belief as being divinely revealed," and as the teaching of Christ, the definitions "must be adhered to with the obedience of faith." This infallibility extends as far as the deposit of divine Revelation itself."

Vatican I, Session 4, chapter 4, paragraph 9--"Therefore, faithfully adhering to the tradition received from the beginning of the Christian religion, for the glory of God our Savior, for the exaltation of the Catholic faith and the salvation of the Christian people, with the approval of the sacred council, we teach and define that it is a divinely revealed dogma that the Roman Pontiff, when he speaks "ex cathedra," i.e., when exercising his office as pastor and teacher of all Christians he defines, by his supreme apostolic authority, a doctrine of faith or morals which must be held by the universal Church, enjoys, through the divine assistance, that infallibility promised to him in blessed Peter...So then, should anyone have the temerity to reject this definition of ours: let him be anathema."

--Mormonism teaches strict adherence to the word of the Prophet/President

Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) 132:54--"And I command mine handmaid, Emma Smith, to abide and cleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else. But if she will not abide this commandment she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord; for I am the Lord thy God, and will destroy her if she abide not in my law."

Elaine Cannon, If We Want to Go Up, We Have to Get On, Ensign, Nov 1978, p.107--"Personal opinions may vary. Eternal principles never do. When the prophet speaks, sisters, the debate is over."

Elder Eldon Tanner references this quote in an later article (N. Eldon Tanner, 'The Debate Is Over', Ensign, Aug 1979, p.2)--Recently, at the Churchwide fireside meeting held for the women of the Church, Young Women President Elaine Cannon made the following statement: "When the Prophet speaks, sisters, the debate is over." I was impressed by that simple statement, which carries such deep spiritual meaning for all of us. Wherever I go, my message to the people is: Follow the prophet."

President Henry D. Moyle, “Beware of Temptation,” as quoted in Teachings of the Living Prophets, Religion 333 Student Manual, p. 19--“The older I get and the closer the contact I have with the President of the church, the more I realize that the greatest of all scriptures which we have in the world today is current scripture. What the mouthpiece of god says to His children is scripture. It is intended for all the children of god upon the earth. It is His word and His will and His law made manifest through His ordained and anointed servant to the world. What the President says is scripture, and I love it more than all other. It applies to me today specifically, and to you all.”

Teachings of the Living Prophets: Religion 333 Student Manual, p. 20--"Occasionally misinformed members of the Church will maintain that, although they accept the standard works as divinely inspired, they are reluctant to give equal credence to pronouncements of the living prophet. Such individuals are pursuing an inconsistent course and 'err, not knowing the scriptures' (Matthew 22:29), for the scriptures themselves plainly testify of the fact that we must give heed to the living prophets (see D&C 1:14, 38; 21:1, 4-5)."

For more quotes concerning the need to follow the living "Prophet" see here.

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So, in conclusion, we see that--
Catholics believe that indulgences can be made for the dead. Mormons believe that one can be baptized for the dead.
Catholics believe that the Pope and the Magisterium hold the "Keys of the Kingdom" and speak for God. Mormons believe their Prophet/President holds the "Keys of the Priesthood" and speaks for God.
Catholics believe that the Bible alone is not sufficiently authoritative--you need the Bible AND Tradition AND the Catechism to know the truth. Mormons believe that the Bible alone is not sufficiently authoritative--you need the Bible (so far as it is correctly translated) AND the Book of Mormon AND the Doctrine and Covenants AND the Pearl of Great Price AND the words of the living "Prophet" to know the truth.
Catholics believe we are saved by grace AND "good works". Mormons believe we are saved by grace "after all that we can do."
Catholics believe their church alone is the continuation of the church founded by Christ. Mormons believe that their church alone has restored the church founded by Christ.
Catholics believe wrongly about Mary (that she was born sinless, that we must believe rightly about her to be saved). Mormons believe wrongly about Mary (that she was impregnated by God the Father).
Catholics and Mormons both believe that some sins cannot be paid for by the blood of Christ, but may be (or may need to be) paid for by the person themselves (or by someone else on their behalf) after they die.
Catholics believe that if one does not honor the Pope properly, they are not saved. Mormons believe that if one does not honor Joseph Smith (as well as the living "Prophet") properly, they may not be saved.
Catholics believe that one must dogmatically accept the teachings of the Pope. Mormons believe that one must dogmatically accept the teachings of the living "Prophet."

So, as you can see, as much as the early Mormon leaders decried the Romish church, they have more in common with Rome than they do with (small-'o') orthodox Christianity. And hopefully you can see, now, how deeply the roots of Mormonism and Catholicism are intertwined. After all, they grow from the same family tree.