We all know that people can live in a country and not be a citizen. They could either be an illegal immigrant or a legal immigrant. For the most part you can’t tell by just looking at someone whether they are a citizen or not. The only way you can tell if someone is a citizen of a certain country is to provide documentation. No, this is not a political article. The fact is that this concept of citizenship is taught in God’s word concerning the kingdom of Christ.

When someone becomes a Christian they then have the status required to gain citizenship into the spiritual kingdom, the church (Col. 1:13; Acts 2:47). The apostle Paul, in writing to the church at Ephesus, spent some time pointing out this aspect of citizenship and what it ought to mean to the brethren there. We will look at the text of Ephesians 2:19-22, to see the lessons that the apostle was pointing out.

“No longer strangers and foreigners” (vr. 19)

When someone dwells in a country without citizenship, he is considered by those who live it that country to be a stranger or foreigner. This isn’t meant to be rude, it’s just a fact. Paul knows this to be true spiritually. People can worship with Christians and pretty much do everything that other Christians do; however, if they have not become a Christian, they will be considered strangers and foreigners. This isn’t a minor technicality. You are either a citizen or you are not.

“fellow citizens with the saints” (vr. 19)

It matters not to the Lord if you are a 3^rd generation of Christians or a 1^st generation Christian. It’s not my place to look down on someone who is a new Christian just because his parents and grandparents were not part of the kingdom. Nor should a new convert feel like less of a citizen. The concept of being a fellow citizen means equal rights. We are all one in Christ (Gal. 3:27-28).

“built on the foundation of apostles and prophets and Jesus Christ” (vr. 20)

For a recent child of God, he or she can talk about the forefathers as their forefathers. It might seem odd for me and for those who hear me, when I become a citizen of the United States, to speak about “our” founding fathers of this nation. Those who have been citizens their whole life might deep down think, “Wait, they aren’t your founding fathers!” But, in truth, they are. Spiritually, the apostles, prophets, and Christ Jesus are not more of a foundation to older Christians as they are to recent one.

“the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord” (vr. 21)

The idea of every citizen working together following the same laws and having the same care for one another is appealing indeed. Not only that, we are talking about that which belongs to the Lord. Remember, we are in a kingdom that has a King. We have no problem being loyal subjects because of all the spiritual blessings that come with being in the household of God (Eph. 1:3-4). Therefore, being a holy nation will be the natural outcome. It’s no wonder that physical kingdoms in the world will never achieve this because they aren’t the kingdom of the Lord.

“built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (vr. 22)

When we stop and consider that way we act as citizens, would our God be pleased dwelling in our midst? The fact is, if He wouldn’t, then we are being disloyal and will be held accountable for our actions. May we all, as Christians, be proud to be a citizen and not take it for granted.

Chuck

I was asked the other day: How do you convince someone, who doesn’t believe in Jesus, but believes in God? I guess the quickest way would be to say, “They do believe in Jesus, because He is God” (Jn. 1:1). However, it will be a little more complicated than that. So where does one begin in a situation like that?

It seems the most logical place to start would be to find out why the individual believes in God in the first place. Then to inquire all that he/she knows about our Creator. You may have already picked up on the fact that I would be trying to get them to turn to their Bible. Once you get someone to use the scriptures to support just one thing that they believe, then possible success is on the horizon. The reason is that the inspired words were given so people would believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing, they may have life in His name (Jn. 20:31).

To help anyone see the truth is to help them realize the source of divine truth: the scriptures (II Tim. 3:16). So often people ask me a religious question even when they don’t believe the Bible is from God. Thus, it is futile to answer without first taking them through some studies proving the Bible is God’s word. Once that is accomplished, I will show you how easy it is to convince someone that Jesus is who He says He is, by looking at some straightforward verses in the Bible.

“I the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (Jn. 1:1).

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (Jn. 3:16).

“And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” (Jn. 5:37-39)

“Then they said to Him, ‘Where is Your Father?’ Jesus answered, ‘You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known me, you would have known My Father also.” (Jn. 8:19).

“Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.” (Jn. 8:42).

“I and My Father are one” (Jn. 10:30).

“Philip said to Him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father?” (Jn. 14:8-9)

“But to the Son He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.” (Heb. 1:8).

The fact is, the Bible is full of passages that not only assert that Jesus  is Christ the Son of God, but also God. When Christ walked on the earth, He spent His time proving who He was with signs and wonders. The only person that would reject who Jesus is would be a person that rejects the Bible as being inspired. The Bible is either 100% correct, or it is a fake. The evidence easily proves it is genuine.

Chuck

A couple of weeks ago, a TV viewer wanted to know what the Bible tells us about Satan. In the interest of letting the Bible speak for itself, I will keep the points brief:

1. Satan would be one of those spirit beings who did not keep his proper domain (Jude 6).

2. He is considered the god of this world (II Cor. 4:4).

3. He is called the tempter (Matt. 4:34).

4. He is limited in his abilities to tempt mankind (I Cor. 10:13).

5. His goal is to devour anyone and everyone (I Pet. 5:8). That is why he is called man’s adversary.

6. He transforms himself into an angel of light (II Cor. 11:14).

7. He is the only option for man to serve, other than God (I Tim. 5:15).

8. He can be resisted (Jas. 4:7).

9. He is indirectly connected with every sin that is committed (I Jn. 3:8).

10. He is known for his many wiles, to try and ensnare people (Eph. 6:11; II Tim. 2:26).

11. He will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10).

12. His power of death was destroyed through Christ’s death and resurrection (Heb. 2:14).

Chuck

When we read the story of Job, perhaps what can get overlooked is the brief commentary of his life prior to the devil tempting him. In Job 1:5, it states, “So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, ‘It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’ Thus Job did regularly.”

Parents today want the best for their children. They want to make sure they are clothed and have food and shelter. Then there is the desire for them to be healthy and to enjoy their youth. Yet Job demonstrated to the Father in Heaven what was important to him. His children’s spiritual well-being was on his mind continually. Notice Job’s concerns centered around what he couldn’t know. Outwardly they could convey to Job they were okay spiritually, but what was truly in their heart?

Children, like all people, can put on a front and pretend to be something they are not. Please understand it wasn’t so much a lesson about a parent not trusting in their kids as it is a parent’s relationship to his Creator. Job didn’t want his children to have done anything against the Father in heaven. When a parent has this attitude, the children will soon learn what their parent really wants from them – to be godly.

It wasn’t that Job thought about this once in a while; we are told he did this regularly. Hopefully this made an impression upon his children and they didn’t curse God in their hearts. After all, we read in Job 1:18-19, all of his sons and daughters were killed when a great wind came up and caused the house to collapse. Life is uncertain and we all need to be prepared for when death comes. For those of us who have children, let’s make sure we instill the need for them to be faithful to the Lord. They will see this in the way you live for Him.

Chuck

During the meeting in Mattoon last week, while visiting with some of the brethren I was asked a question. The sister said that in their ladies’ class a question came up concerning Ephesians 4:8. They wanted to know what Paul meant when he said, “There He says, When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” Let take a closer look.

In the first seven verses the apostle was teaching about the unity that achieved because of the seven “ones”: one body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism and Father (vrs. 4-6). From such each is given a measure of Christ’s gift (vr. 7). This is where Paul quotes from Psalm 68:18 (Eph. 4:8). But why did he say this?

To answer to our question we need to focus on Christ’s ascension. When did Jesus ascend on high? This was after His resurrection (Acts 1:9-11). In verse 9 of Ephesians 4, we are told where Christ went prior to his ascension. He went first to the lower parts of the earth when He died. We know this place as Hades, and part of it is called Paradise (Lk. 23:43; Acts 2:27).  When Jesus conquered death, He ascended far above all heavens, that He might fill all things (Eph. 4:10).

We are now getting a pretty clear picture concerning the statement about leading captivity captive and giving gifts to men. Think about the condition or state of mankind prior to Christ resurrecting from the dead and ascending back to heaven. There was no way of getting to Heaven.  When the Lord said He was the way, truth and the life, no one was getting to the Father except through Him (Jn. 14:6). But, if Jesus doesn’t die and resurrect, there is no way to the Father.

The phrase, captivity captive, seems a little odd. However, when we stop and think of Satan and his supposed powers, Christ removed them by His resurrection. Also, with Jesus ascending to the right hand of God, He is ruling and reigning and it position to help mankind. I think a good parallel passage would be Colossians 2:15, where it reads, “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

Let’s now talk about the words following captivity captive, in Ephesians 4:8. This should shed even more light on the wording. It says, “and gave gifts to men.” We need to ask, what gifts were given to men when Jesus went back to heaven?  Think about the following verses in Ephesians 4. The brethren were told that apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers were given to edify the body of Christ (vrs. 11-12). Remember the promise Christ gave to His apostles, that after He leaves He would send the Holy Spirit to guide them into all truth (Jn. 16:13). Also, they would be equipped to confirm the word spoken with signs and wonders (Mk. 16:19-20). This was all done when Jesus ascended. Whether we are talking about Satan’s powers being destroyed or that all the faithful, past and present and future, now have access to Heaven by the gifts given to men, the lesson is the same.

There is one more great lesson we can learn from studying this question. Let’s make sure when studying the word of God that we don’t make the scriptures teach things that contradict other Bible verses. Peter gave the warning concerning those who are unskilled in the word, how they twist the scriptures to their own destruction (II Pet. 3:16).  This is easily avoided if we consider the context. To take a verse and have it teaching something that has nothing to do with the text is to mishandle the word of God. Let’s not stop asking questions and seeking answers. But let’s not seek answers that are just not there!

Chuck