Faith, Hope, And Love

(Kent Heaton)

 

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). Throughout scripture the Lord uses various combinations of words to establish a pattern of unity in thought. The sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) is a wonderful dissertation on many principles of God’s relationship with man and man’s needed relationship with his fellow man and with the Lord. Peter enumerates on the graces of the Christian in 2 Peter 1:5-11. Paul outlines the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:16-26. The conclusion of that great chapter of love in 1 Corinthians 13 is not less important in the design of its message.

 

What is the relationship between faith, hope and love? Faith sees the unseen, hope measures the promises and love expresses the unseen promises. The Hebrew writer penned, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). We understand the world was “framed by the word of God” (Hebrews 11:3) but only through the eye of faith. Without that faith we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6). Paul told the Romans God had been revealed to all men “for since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). Faith sees the invisible as clearly as the visible.

 

Hope measures the promises of God. What has God promised? “In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began” (Titus 1:2). Faith gives the vision for the promise of eternal life and hope gives us character (Romans 5:1-5). As we walk by faith we measure each day with the promise of something beyond this life. We are not tied to the trappings of this world but live with the expectation of a greater place to be. Abram measured his hope with each step he took in obedience to the Father. “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise” (Hebrews 11:8-9).

 

Faith and hope alone are not enough. Love is the expression of our faith (that which is unseen) and our hope (that which is promised). The manner we serve the Lord is through our love for Him for what He has done for us and what He has promised us. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). The way we define love toward God says more about our relationship with God than the meaning of love. Our actions and motives define our love. Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). The beloved apostle writes, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). Our love for God is based upon the knowledge of faith we have in the unseen measured by the secure promises of God expressed in our hope of eternal life.

 

Love is the greatest because from its character is the evidence of our faith and hope. The evidence of our faith is found in our love. The measure of love is found in our hope of eternal life. To live without faith, hope and love is to live without the only peace man can know (John 14:6). Faith brings you to Christ; hope convinces you of Christ; and love brings obedience to Christ.

 

Terrorism Surfaces In Local Churches

(Selected)

 

Latest news reports are that five terrorist cell groups have been operating in many of our churches. They have been identified as Bin Sleepin, Bin Arguin, Bin Fightin, Bin Complainin, and Bin Missin. Their leader, Satan Bin Workin, trained these groups to destroy the Body of Christ. Their plan is to come into the church disguised as Christians and to work within the church to discourage, disrupt, and destroy.

 

However, there have been reports of a sixth group. A tiny cell known by the name Bin Prayin is actually the only effective counter-terrorism force in the church. Unlike other terrorist cells, the Bin Prayin team does not blend in with whoever and whatever comes along. Bin Prayin does whatever is needed to uplift and encourage the Body of Christ. We have noticed that the Bin Prayin cell group has different characteristics than the others. They have Bin Watchin, Bin Waitin, Bin Fastin, Bin Longin for their Master, Jesus Christ, to return. No Church Is Exempt! (However, you can spot them — if you bin lookin and bin goin).

 

Absalom, My Son!

(Archie E. Proctor)

 

"And David the king was much moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept; and as he went, thus he said, ‘O my son Absalom! Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son’” (2 Samuel 18:33).

 

Nothing in this world can tear at the heart of a parent who is a faithful Christian more than the spiritual death of a child. It is even more tragic when that child trapped in sin is caught into eternity by death in that condition. All the years of careful, patient teaching, nurturing in the Lord, the many times the precious soul was taken to the assembly of the church to hear the gospel preached and the Bible taught seem to be as nothing. Those patient faithful lives of mother and father lived as best they could, giving an example of how one should be a Christian, seem to have no meaning or effect.

 

David knew that feeling many times in his life. The death of Absalom was one occasion. Going into that upper chamber, he must have recalled the prophet's words, "behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house...," spoken to him by Nathan after David had confessed to the sin of adultery with Bathsheba. Now the consequences of that awful sin had come fully home. The death of an infant son, the murder of his son Amnon by Absalom, and finally, the slaying of Absalom by his general, Joab, all resulted as a consequence of his fall into sin.

 

Too often, however, parents of wayward children have done nothing to bring about such a loss of a child, either in sinning themselves or failing properly to teach the child how he should live his life. Yet many times, the guilt that David felt seems to come crashing down on the shoulders of godly parents who have seen that child go astray. To add to the burden, it seems Christians and friends, who should know better, assume that it must have been some failure of character or teaching that let the child go off, and that there surely was something that could have been done if the parents had done this or that.

 

Parents in this situation spend many hours in fervent prayer asking for strength, help, and the opportunity to say or do that one more thing that might reach the child before it is eternally too late. Night after night, sleep fades as the parents play the "what if" game in their minds. (What if I did or said this or that instead of what I did say?) Tears are shed without measure in regret and remorse. The sinning child can never know the burden he places on the heart of that loving mother and father by his actions.

 

What words of comfort can we bring to parents in this condition? First of all, we need to recognize that Proverbs 22:6 is a proverb, not an absolute. Children can be properly trained and still go astray. The Bible gives many examples of this. Perhaps the best known is Solomon. He was faithful in his youth; he asked the Lord for wisdom over wealth or fame or other things. But in his maturity, he let his wives turn his heart away from God. Faithful Abraham had two sons, Isaac and Ishmael, yet only one was the son of promise and followed the Lord. Lot is called a righteous and vexed man, yet he lost all of his household to sin, even though he kept himself to serve the Lord. We need to realize that all men must stand before God and make their choice to obey Him. Being raised in the church is a tremendous advantage, but only if the opportunity is used and not wasted.

 

When parents have a child gone into error, rather than waste effort and time in regret, they should ask themselves the following questions:

 

1)    Did he understand the terms of the gospel while he was under our care?

 

2)    Was he exposed to sound gospel preaching, or did he get "sermonettes" while he was under our care?

 

3)    Did we have caring, thoughtful Bible study at home on a regular basis while he was under our care?

 

4)    Was he disciplined when it was needful?

 

5)    Regardless of how much he did or did not want to come, did we insist on his attendance at every service of the Lord's church?

 

6)    Did I attend myself at all times possible?

 

7)    If the elders applied discipline to the case of my child's unfaithfulness, did I approve and do what I could to reinforce the lesson in my child's mind? Did this child know beyond a doubt that I would do so if his behavior required such discipline?

 

8)    Do I continue to try to talk to my child about his unfaithfulness, and continue to encourage him to serve the Lord, and pray for him always?

 

Parents who can answer in the affirmative to these questions may take some comfort in knowing that they did all that was possible to teach this child, and must accept the fact that when he is an adult, he must stand before God and give account of his life. Nothing we do or fail to do at that point will cause him to save or lose his soul; it is between him and his God. (Condensed and reprinted from Guardian of Truth Magazine, June 16, 1994)

 

The Rulable Spirit

(Dan S. Shipley)

 

Nothing is more fundamental or needful in serving the Lord than possessing a rulable spirit. Basically, Christians are people who have willingly placed themselves under the rule of their Lord, Jesus Christ. They are the citizens over which He reigns as King; body-members over which He is the Head; sheep over which He is the Good Shepherd. As the one with all authority (Matthew 28:18), Christ alone has the right to rule. This is among the very first lessons to be learned by His disciples — and one never to be forgotten. The ruled must recognize the authority of the ruler! As Bernard Ramm has put it, "A properly constituted authority assumes an authoritative importance to a person only as that person subjectively recognizes it." (The Pattern_ of Religious Authority, p.13) Not, of course, that one's accepting or rejecting is grounds for determining authority, but, as Ramm points out, the Scriptures can function as an authority only to the believer.

 

In Bible terms, recognition of divine authority is perhaps best expressed in the terms "love", "fear", and "faith". To love the Lord with all the heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37) guarantees submission of my will to Him in all things. That's why Jesus says, "If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). As John writes, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments..." (1 John 5:3). Nothing demonstrates the rulable spirit more than faithful obedience. In fact, John says this is how we can really know if we know Him (i.e., know Him effectively and not just intellectually. 1 John 2:3).

 

In like manner, fear also characterizes the rulable spirit. This is the fear of reverence, awe and respect toward God that carries with it "a wholesome dread of displeasing Him" (Vine). As the apostle Peter puts it, he that fears God and works righteousness is acceptable to Him (Acts 10: 34). A similar statement is found in Ecclesiastes 12:13: "Fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man".

 

Such fear is really an attitude of life in which one sees his own humble submission to God's will as the greatest compliment to be paid Him. The God-fearing man is a God ruled man, but God cannot rule where He is not respected.

 

We have said that faith also has a place in the rulable spirit. And it is most likely the preeminent place, especially if love and fear be considered as effects of faith. And why not? What is more fundamental than faith in the scheme of redemption? "He that cometh to God must believe that He is" (Hebrews 11:6) — and not only that He exists, but that He has existence in the way set forth in His word. That is, that He exists with all power, all knowledge; that He is righteous, just, sovereign, absolute truth and immutable. Many conceive of a God beset with all kinds of limitations. No wonder they are reluctant to be ruled by such a God! True faith sees God as He is and trusts in Him to do what He says; to "reward them that diligently seek Him". Nothing more influences one's rulability than His concept of God; his faith. When some seem more rebellious than rulable, it is likely the age-old problem of unbelief (Hebrews 3).

 

v  Kindness is a hard thing to give away; it always comes back.

v  Excuses are so small that we can be seen every time we try to hide behind them.

v  Defending our faults shows that we have no intention of quitting them.

v  Almost any system will work if the people behind it will.

v  Well behaved children learn from well behaved parents.

 

But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (Ephesians 5:3-5)