Reconciliation!

(2Corinthians 5:17) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…”

Of all the perfect and beautiful gifts we have received from God, which would you say is most helpful? Which of the five senses is the most needful? I have often thought about this and yet never really concluded my reasoning. But this morning I am persuaded that the greatest ability is the tongue, our voice, the ability to speak. Without an audible command from God creation would not exists, neither would we.

“And God said… let there be light; let us created man in our own image and it was so!” God spoke the creation into existence. It was his voice (the Word) that started the ball rolling. I have no doubt that God in His brilliance would have thought everything through, He would have mapped out his plan if you like, prior to the actual unfolding of it. There was obviously some form of planning, but it wasn’t until God said “let there be light” that light appeared. His voice ever powerful, praise the name of Jesus! What came first the chicken or the egg? That is a no brainer the chicken and yet people ask the question as if it deserves some amount of reasoning; God spoke the animals into being and so they appeared; “And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds--livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds." And it was so.” (Genesis 1:24)

It was only after creation that God used His sight to look upon His creation and only then was He able to enjoy what He saw; “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:31)

So what then is the greatest gift God has given us? It is obviously His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour! But now that we have Him, it is our voice that will be most helpful to those who are lost and dying; in other words to preach life to a lost and dying generation is what we have been given; we hold the keys to eternal life in the smallest of members, our tongues. It is important we understand the significance of this. It is only God who has the ability to create new life and yet we have the words to eternal life on the tips of our tongues.

Do we understand the gravity, this now our responsibility to preach Christ and Him crucified. I am not sure we do! But God has chosen to use us as vessels to save others, what a privilege. How does this actual work. Those who have Christ Spirit, those who are born again, the sons and daughters of God have if you like an extra ability to that of the world and that is the ministry of reconciliation; “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;” (2Corinthians 5:17-18)

The world does not have this new found ability if you like; you will not hear an unbeliever speaking about life in and through the person of Jesus Christ. It is foreign to their understanding as they are still dead in their trespasses and sins. But to all who have His Spirit, we all have a measure of the “ministry of reconciliation”. This is a wonderful privilege; think about the power we now wield in our hand, or rather with our tongue. Our voice could trigger God the Holy Spirit to bring life into someone who was dead. We cannot save, it is God who saves! And yet God has chosen through the foolishness of preaching, the use of our tongues, to save some. It is imperative we understand the gravity of our responsibility, to speak about Christ and Him Crucified. It may just be that your words could be chosen by God to save someone from the clutches of hell and it may get then believing in their hearts that God raised Christ from the dead and then with their mouths they will begin to confess Jesus Christ as Lord.

Here then the scripture to back up my understanding; “because, 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. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.": - (But here is the call for our role in reconciliation). How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" (Romans 10:9-15)

So then before we are capable of enjoying the beauty of creation, just as God spoke the creation into being, may we also follow His example and open our mouths and preach Christ and Him crucified. It is the Word of God that brings forth life and we have a measure of that life in the gift He has given us, the gift of reconciliation. What will we do with it I wonder? God give us new found strength to preach Christ and Him crucified. When we are used by God to bring forth new life, it is beautiful to behold and just as He look upon His creation and concluded that it was “very good”. We also may look upon those we were involved with who now confess Jesus Christ as Lord and also say it is “very good”.

However, let me be very clear, so that I am not misunderstood; it is God and God alone who gives life, we cannot in ourselves now manipulate or wield His hand, but He has chosen by the foolishness of preaching to save some. If we are the ones then preaching, Christ and Him crucified and nothing else, God may very well chose our words to lead a man to repentance. Think on this and the privilege He has afforded us. It is the only true God, the creator of heaven and earth, allowing us a portion in the creation of new life. We know that once a person is save they become new creatures; “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2Corinthians 5:17)

Father God, help us to understand our measure and the importance of the ministry of reconciliation. Praise and honour belongs to our King, the Lord Jesus Christ, now and forever more, Amen!

But always remember to keep the message about Christ and Him Crucified and nothing else. It has always been about the Lord Jesus from the beginning and it will also end with Him. He is the alpha and the Omega, move away from Him and we move away from the power of God.   

  

Signing off

Tyrone 

   

   

   

The end will come!

(Matthew 24:14) “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

We have been called to serve and to lay down our lives for one another; to put the needs of other before ourselves; not to sit in the seat of the scornful because bad morals corrupts good company. How will we appropriated Christ’s example in our lives if we hang out with the enemy on a social level? It is obvious that we have not been called to withdraw in a cultish fashion, but we must pick our relationships with Christ in the forefront of our minds. Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers! That is on a collective level.

We have all been given a measure of reconciliation; we must declare the gospel to all and sundry. Examine your heart, if you find you send a lot of time with the enemies of the cross and the reason for it is to present the gospel and the second coming of our Lord and Saviour, then all is well but if not...

Most if not all have heard the gospel in one form or another, one would have to venture very far from civilization to possibly find those who have not heard about the Lord Jesus Christ. If we still hanker after our old lives and their patterns, it will hinder us in our objection and that is to become more Christ minded.

Think of someone on a diet and yet they eat a slab of chocolate every night, all the good work done throughout the day, brought to nothing by a single bad choice. Time is short and we have a responsibility to preach Christ and Him crucified. I personally do not know anyone who has not heard the gospel in one form or another. Everyone I know has made a decision about Christ’s sacrifice. They are either for Him or against Him, the fence sitter are against Him! They say they are neutral but when the war breaks out they will not stand in the trenches with the true believer.

This then is my concern this morning; the time of the Lord’s second return to redeem His church is at hand, or at least the hour is eminent. How do we know this and what should we be on the lookout for? This is what the Lord taught on the subject and this is how the Apostle Matthew recorded it; “And Jesus answered them, "See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”” (Matthew 24:4-13)

Ask yourself this question, has the Gospel been preach throughout the whole world? Are there any unreached parts of the World where the gospel has not been preached? I personally doubt it! I may be wrong! But even the primitive bushman have been reached and some even confess Jesus as Lord. I know this to be true as I was part of a group that travelled to Botswana to present the gospel to them. I am thankful to my Lord and Saviour for opportunities like these. I miss them! Time wasted with the mundane chores of life, what a tragedy! But when we move from the realm of “with food and raiment therewith be content” into a realm of loving money with the intent of becoming rich as our goal, beware! This type of reasoning will be our demise!

“Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1Timothy 6:6-12)

Whatever our predicament, wherever we find ourselves, whatever our struggle may be, let us put aside the weight of sin that so easily beset us, let us remember that our God cares for us. Call out to Him even if you situation seems hopeless, Christ has overcome! Call on Him and find life!

Last night my Siberian husky at around 1 am was howling and making such a noise that she woke me up, and possibly half of the neighbourhood. I was up and out of bed with the intention to scold her, only to find that she had somehow ended up with a hindquarter in the pool and she was unable to free herself. She knew that her only chance of escape was to call out with urgency. It was her call that assisted in her being freed. So too must we call out with urgency to our Lord and saviour, but call we must! Remain silent and we will remain trapped.

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)

 Time is short; how serious do we take these warning?

Wherever you may find yourself today, God is able to free you; there is nothing or no one the Lord Jesus has not defeated.

Signing off

Tyrone

   

To walk by Faith!

(2Corinthians 5:7) “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

How many times do I say to myself it is time to get meritorious for the Lord, it is time for the rubber to hit the road and the tires on my life to grip into the tar. But how does one actually get serious for the Lord? There are many opinionated opinions on how to achieve that. I do not wish to be added to the number but I am desperate to lay my life down for my Saviour’s sake. And yet to be truthful my sake also plays its part, with the hope of heaven and to be in the presents of God almighty forever and ever.

How do I become more obedient to God’s call in my life is my question?

I am the kind of guy that loves the option of black or white, not grey! And I assume that is where God has exactly left each of us as believers. We are no longer under the law as we once were with the "dos and don’ts" ruling our lives. We have been free from that type of slavery; “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:9-14)   

If we are struggling with the application to these truths, where then do we go wrong is my next question? What would cause a man to leave his life behind, without any plan for the future, to be so captivated by the voice of God and His instruction that this is what the scripture records and requires; “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.” (Hebrews 11:8-10)

I am convinced or rather settled on this one fact we have not understood “faith”! Or at least I haven’t as I should have, some 24 years into my Christian journey. What hinders my understanding on faith, is it not unbelief? This in turn leads to disobedience!

This is a massive consideration, in today’s consumer packed way of life. “Instant”, a constant on life’s menu! “Instant” - coffee, internet, porridge, cash withdrawals, electricity and water on tap; life has become a lot easier, yet it has come with a cost and that price is detrimental to our faith. Self-sufficiency keeps us from living under the banner of faith, this is where I have gone wrong and there are so many others that seem to have followed suit. May God help us realise this!

Let me look to prove this from God’s Word. It is typology, or the pattern of scripture that must speak to us. But first let us ask ourselves the question, how had God chosen to manifest Himself and who has He used, and final how has He chosen to use them to proclaim His message, the message of the gospel and to glorify His own name?

God has chosen to manifest Himself to the earth’s population in this fashion; “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." (1Corinthians 1:26-31)

The Lord Jesus Christ chose twelve men to start the most prominent movement of all time and only one of them had a serious qualification and that was Dr Luke, the rest were simple men, fishermen were singled out and even a tax collector. No scientists or Albert Einstein’s were amongst the number. This was God’s choice! Paul gives us inkling into God’s reasoning; “so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” There can be no confusion on who is responsible for the salvation of mankind; the Lord Jesus is the only answer! And yet “without faith it is impossible to please God!” Faith is then the pivot between man and God.

But for us to act in faith, we must have a need. If we are self-sufficient why will we ever call out to God in faith? Here is a great example to illustrate my point; the Egyptian army bearing down on the children of Israel with a blockade hindering their escape, the Red Sea! A hopeless situation outside of the realms of faith! Death imminent!

BUT GOD…

“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.” (Exodus 14:21-22): - This great manifestation of God miraculously saving His people left then singing a song; “Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying, "I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.” (Exodus 15:1)

It will take actual events of God’s intervention in our lives to walk in faith. If we have Christ’s Spirit living within us then we have had a similar experience.

The concern I have is that we look to avoid such experiences when we should actually be looking out for them. How so? Self-sufficiency an enemy!

What instruction did the Lord Jesus give his disciples to confirm this truth? “And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them."” (Luke 9:1-5)

This no doubt would have taught the Apostles to walk by faith and not a self-sufficient type of mentality (sight). There need would have been great and it was God who would assist them. Faith in practice! Although this may not be the call for all, the principle must be applicable to all! We must then look for more of these types of experiences if we are to find obedience in our lives, without them we will be no more than clanging cymbals without any melody. God be merciful to all His children and help us in our actions to walk by faith and not by sight. Forgive me Father God for my lack of faith.

Signing off

Tyrone

Gifts and Calling!

(Romans 11:29) “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

Life is full of gifts from God, our senses; taste, touch, sight, hearing and smell. Most of society has received these gifts from God. We also have the ability to reason, the list could go on and on, but let’s call these communal or common gifts. The world as a rule has received the same God given abilities with slightly different measures as we move from person to person. Line up a bunch of children and ask them to kick a soccer ball and some will be more prominent than others, all had no problem kicking the ball, but it will be clear that some would never make it professionally, while others if nurtured and if they begin to exercise their gift, can go far. Life then is about finding out what we do best and then pursuing it, or as adults helping our children discover their gifts, then to lead and encourage them in that direction.

Let me hone in on the concept of gifts; do we give gifts to reward? Sometime that is what we use to motivate the individual to achieve. Receiving a gift then can be performance based. I remember for passing my final matric year my mom gave me a car, that was the deal. Does God reason like this? I believe we must conclude that He does? But let me be careful to explain my reasoning on this subject.

We understand that we can never earn salvation, or do we? The gift of God, that is eternal life cannot be bought with money, it cannot be earned! The Apostle Paul is clear on the subject and teachers this without any wiggle room; “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:4-9)   

It is then very clear that salvation is a gift that can never be earned; God gives it as an act of mercy. We are born we sight, we had nothing to do with earning it. In like manner salvation is a gift of God. However not all find salvation, but that is another topic for another day. But once we have realized our gift what do we then do with it? Does a blind man who receives his sight, run into a dark room and remain there or does he run around shouting, “I can see, I can see”? If we disobey God does He remove our sight? We know he disciplines those who he loves. How does he do that? “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.” (1Corinthians 11:28-31)

So then, self-examination is an intricate part to our lives and God does reward those who seek out His will in faith; “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)   

Although we can never earn salvation, we must live out our lives in faith believing God for every provision He promises us in His word and that He will reward those who live by this rule.

Back to the gift we received at salvation; this then is not a common gift but a special gift that the world cannot receive. When we were born again God gave me and you a particular talent of gift if you like. Now we are responsible for what we do with it, we will have to account for it. Do you remember the parable of the talents? Those who receive them and where faithful with them receive even more but the one who buried his talent had a dismal end; “He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'” (Matthew 25:24-30)

We all received some special gift at salvation and it is up to the individual to seek out God’s face in faith so that we may nurture that which we have received and it is for the sake of the church, the body of Christ, with the intention of finding unity in love. It is up to us to supply and not only to receive. How then should we supply?

“But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men."  (In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” (Ephesians 4:7-14)

One may say, but that specifically relates to ministering brethren and not everyone. Let me then use another scripture to remove any wiggle room; "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:4-10)

Although we can never earn salvation as it is a gift from God, the gift we receive at salvation, whatever that may be, we will have to account for. This is a serious consideration!

“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable (permanent).” Or as the "KJV" Bible puts it; “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”

Therefore this gift could never be earned, but it is imperative that we nurture it for we will give an account of what we have done with it!

Signing off

Tyrone

The Canon of Scripture!

This morning would be time to real in my own thoughts and to consider some history.

The Cannon of scripture is complete and we have it at our fingertips, but that was not always the case. Back in the days of King Henry the VIII, it was a time where priests, cardinals and the pope dictated the supposed truths of God to men. Yet what they had to say and teach was full of lies. Obviously we owe all our thanks to God our Father and Jesus Christ our Saviour; yet, men like John Wycliffe were well-known throughout Europe for his opposition to the teaching of the organized Church, which he believed to be contrary to the Bible, which it was! With the help of his followers, called the Lollards, and his assistant Purvey, and many other faithful scribes, back in 1380 Wycliffe began his endeavour to produce dozens of English language manuscript copies of the scriptures.

“Johann Gutenburg invented the printing press in 1450 and the first Bible ever printed was in Latin. Then the man William Tyndale was the Captain of the Army of Reformers, and was their spiritual leader. Tyndale holds the distinction of being the first man to ever print the New Testament in the English language. “Tyndale was a true scholar and a genius, so fluent in eight languages that it was said one would think any one of them to be his native tongue. He is frequently referred to as the “Architect of the English Language”, (even more so than William Shakespeare) as so many of the phrases Tyndale coined are still in our language today.”

“Martin Luther had a small head-start on Tyndale, as Luther declared his intolerance for the Roman Church’s corruption on Halloween in 1517, by nailing his 95 Theses of Contention to the Wittenberg Church door. Luther, who would be exiled in the months following the Diet of Worms Council in 1521 that was designed to martyr him, would translate the New Testament into German for the first time from the 1516 Greek-Latin New Testament of Erasmus, and publish it in September of 1522. Luther also published a German Pentateuch in 1523, and another edition of the German New Testament in 1529. In the 1530’s he would go on to publish the entire Bible in German.”

“William Tyndale wanted to use the same 1516 Erasmus text as a source to translate and print the New Testament in English for the first time in history. Tyndale showed up on Luther's doorstep in Germany in 1525, and by year's end had translated the New Testament into English. Tyndale had been forced to flee England, because of the wide-spread rumour that his English New Testament project was underway, causing inquisitors and bounty hunters to be constantly on Tyndale's trail to arrest him and prevent his project. God foiled their plans, and in 1525-1526 the Tyndale New Testament became the first printed edition of the scripture in the English language. Subsequent printings of the Tyndale New Testament in the 1530's were often elaborately illustrated.” (www.greatsite.com)

It was at this time in history that men once again began to seek out the truth of God’s Word for themselves. No longer could cultish organisations like the Roman Catholic Church dictate to the masses as the spokesmen of God, God had heard the cries of some but now all had an opportunity to seek out God’s truth for themselves. This was a time of much opposition and many Martyrs died because of their voice and stand for Christ. They are in heaven even now waiting for Christ’s return for the second time, eagerly awaiting their glorified bodies; “If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.” (Revelation 13:10): - It happened back then and it may well happen in our life time once again, God knows the outcome for all!  

It is an easy objective to walk into any book shop and buy a bible, in most democratic countries anyway. Last weekend I went with my 14 year old nephew to buy him a bible. We have the Word of God at our fingertips, but let us never take this for granted as it cost many their lives.

The warfare now has the same objective and that is to keep us from the truth, which is; “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”” (John 14:6)   

Now that we have the bible in front of us what the enemy now seeks to do is to raise up false teachers, those who misrepresent the truth of God’s Word. Those who use what we have in front of us and to twist the truth so that we would believe a lie. However those who have been truly born again and who have received Christ’s Spirit, even if they are hoodwinked for a time, will once again find the true road to the Celestial City. God had set up watchmen to expose those who preach and teach lies. Men like Charles Spurgeon, Matthew Henry, John mac Arthur and John Piper. Then there are blogs like Pyromaniacs that capably challenge the error. There are many more that stand for the truth and it is these voices we must seek out.

We must be like the early Berean Church and examine what is taught. If we look to God the Holy Spirit with a pure motive, “God’s will be done” and not our own agenda’s we will be kept on the right path. God is for us and not against us! What a hope we have in Him!

I will leave us with this thought; “("Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!")”

God help us to take this consideration seriously! All honour, praise, power and dominion belongs to our great King, Jehovah God, now and forever more, Amen.

Signing off

Tyrone

Forgetting what lies behind!

(Philippians 3:13) “…forgetting what lies behind…”

There is much talk in today’s society amongst the general population about the importance of counseling, a therapist or psychiatrist is thought by many to be an important part of one’s life, especially when times are tough. They have had some amazing results or so it would seem. I will not look to debate whether or not we as Christians should seek out the world's counsel, the answer should be rather obvious. If we are new creatures in Christ, then we need to seek those things which come from above. We need to find direction from like-minded people.

Let us go back in time; would the Zulu king, “Shaka” have gone to the white man when seeking counsel knowing that they were the enemy? Never! They were at war!  I have realized that true Christianity opposed to nominal Christianity is worlds apart. This is where the war will be most ferocious. Close quarter battle in the dark of night with some uncertainty of who is in front of us. Tough times are on their way. So then let us be sure to use God’s armory and not the worlds.

When we seek out counsel on any given subject, let us make sure we go to those of the household of God and not to the world’s counselors. Why Not? Their agenda is for the here and now, but we seek a heavenly kingdom, an eternity in the presence of the only true God. Ultimately all counsel from the enemy will never be advantageous but detrimental. That may sound a little cultish or extreme, but here is the principle left us by the Apostle Paul; “When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?” (1Corinthians 6:1-7)

I am aware that this portion of scripture specifically pertains to disputes amongst one another, but it is the principle I look to establish and I hope that is seen. If we make any decisions in life and we do it without God’s counsel, no matter how wise we may seem in our own eyes, we will suffer loss!

Why do people seek out trained counsellors? They obviously have a need and want it secured. No one likes unnecessary hardship! But because of client therapist privileges, for these sessions to be successful, there has to be brutal honesty. This is then my thought and concern this morning; am I openly honest with my Father in every area of my life or do I look to pull one over? Is there some form of denial in my life to accommodate my sin? God forbid I settle here if that be the case; this then a very serious consideration. Paul tells us; “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.” (Philippians 3:13-15)

I am instructed to forget my blunders as I have already suffered loss though many bad choices in life. I must now press on and do the right thing; I must find obedience to God’s Word for my life as time is short. But do I pretend that all is well when I still harbour parts of my old life? You see, we can say we have forgotten those things behind us only if they are truly behind us. If not we lie to ourselves!

Here then is my question; are we brutally honest with our God even if it hurts us to think about certain parts in our lives that are so far from God’s character that we harbour it, pretending to ourselves? We can hide nothing from our heavenly Father, in fact He know what we think before we even think it. Let us therefore resolve from this day forth to be totally honest about every though and every intention. God help us to be more like Jesus Christ our Lord in every area of our lives. Only then will we be able with Paul to say, “forgetting what lies behind”, then only will we be free to press forward to what lies ahead with true vigour.

This then is the encouragement; “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1Peter 5:6-11) 

   

Signing off

Tyrone

The Spirit will lead us!

(1Timothy 6:6) “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment.”

This morning is probably the first time or at least that I can remember when I have had to think about what to pen. I have been pondering the topic for about 20 minutes. Do I stop to listen to that small still voice; do I make time for His direction? My immediate answer would be yes. But then on second thought do I set a specific time aside to listen for it? I know each morning when I write I am mostly lead to pen on any given topic without much premeditated thought, it normally just flows. But do I stop and listen for God the Holy Spirit’s voice with earnest intent?

We could never manipulate our great God, as some suppose! As they chant with their particular formula’s hoping for some miracle, all that type of false reasoning is conceited and puffed up claiming a gift they have never received. Claiming to be healers and yet no one is truly miraculously healed. If one claims to have a healing gift will those he prays for be healed? Did the Lord Jesus ever heal? We know he did! Was it ever a mystery in that sense, no never! When God moves there will be no mistaking His presence and He will ensure that all know that He is behind it. No ifs and buts!

With that said I do not speak about vain imaginations, but do we put time aside to hear God’s voice? We must purpose to listen out for Him. How? “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment.” The excellency of contentment but not as some account Christianity an advantageous profession for this world. Not as a means of material gain, yet it is undoubtedly true that, though Christianity is the worst trade, it is the best calling in the world. Those that make a trade of it, merely to serve their turn for this world, will be disappointed, and find it a sorry trade; but those that mind it as their calling, and make a business of it, will find it a gainful calling, for it has the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come.

It is with this mind-set that I now again asks the question, do we stop to listen for clear direction from God the Holy Spirit? Is He my guide, teacher, and am I always looking for truth from Him? I would have to conclude that God has ordained that God the Holy spirit will play this role and so it is happening, whether we are aware of it or not. If we have Christ’s Spirit God the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives, that is a given!

I am looking to explore this topic not only on the surface per say but let us take this thought a lot deeper. The prophets of old received their gifts from God, and yet they never took then for granted, they mostly seemed to be about God’s business. Do we use what God has truly given us as we should? They looked for an opportunity to glorify God’s name, power and supreme authority. Remember Elijah and how he mocked those who opposed his God. He was so certain of who he was and what God had given him, that it left no room for doubt. The Apostle James has this to say about him; “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” (James 5:17-20) 

I am amazed on how James concludes this chapter; he speaks of this mighty man of God as a prayer warrior and then he tells us to play our part in leading the wandering sinner from death to life. Not many may have received the true gift of healing, but we all have our part to play in reconciliation, preaching the message of hope, the gospel of Jesus Christ, Paul’s gospel, that is the true gospel and not a conversion, to turn a sinner from the error of his ways, and not to turn him from one party to another, or merely from one notion and way of thinking to another. “Let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” This then must be our focus; this then is what our great God the Holy Spirit is now saying to us as believers; “And he said, "See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is at hand!' Do not go after them.”” (Luke 21:8): - There will be a lot of what is false now making headway, but God will move amongst the chaos and He will pluck those out of the fire, those whom He has called and chosen from before the foundation of time. And we most certainly have our part to play; God help us to be more diligent as that day approaches.

Where then should we start? There must be many people you have come across in life that seem to be wandering in the wilderness who once walked with us, but now seemed to have lost sight our this great hope; Jesus is soon to return, praise His glorious name! Let us make a concerted effort to call out to them and with God’s help bring them home. What then is our first responsibility in this process? Look how James speaks about this man who prayed for something and it happened, that then is where we must start, we must pray earnestly! Take time to make a list, then set specific time aside and pray and then wait for opportunities to unfold as God grants us the prayers of our hearts.

I did set time aside this morning in listening to God’s direction in and through our great God the Holy Spirit and I truly believe He has spoken.

Although there is much warning about what is false in scripture we must not lose sight of this truth and I will let C.H.Spurgeon teach us…

“Grieve not the Holy Spirit.”

- Eph_4:30

“All that the believer has must come from Christ, but it comes solely through the channel of the Spirit of grace. Moreover, as all blessings thus flow to you through the Holy Spirit, so also no good thing can come out of you in holy thought, devout worship, or gracious act, apart from the sanctifying operation of the same Spirit. Even if the good seed be sown in you, yet it lies dormant except he worketh in you to will and to do of his own good pleasure. Do you desire to speak for Jesus-how can you unless the Holy Ghost touch your tongue? Do you desire to pray? Alas! what dull work it is unless the Spirit maketh intercession for you! Do you desire to subdue sin? Would you be holy? Would you imitate your Master? Do you desire to rise to superlative heights of spirituality? Are you wanting to be made like the angels of God, full of zeal and ardour for the Master’s cause? You cannot without the Spirit-”Without me ye can do nothing.” O branch of the vine, thou canst have no fruit without the sap! O child of God, thou hast no life within thee apart from the life which God gives thee through his Spirit! Then let us not grieve him or provoke him to anger by our sin. Let us not quench him in one of his faintest motions in our soul; let us foster every suggestion, and be ready to obey every prompting. If the Holy Spirit be indeed so mighty, let us attempt nothing without him; let us begin no project, and carry on no enterprise, and conclude no transaction, without imploring his blessing. Let us do him the due homage of feeling our entire weakness apart from him, and then depending alone upon him, having this for our prayer, “Open thou my heart and my whole being to thine incoming, and uphold me with thy free Spirit when I shall have received that Spirit in my inward parts.” (C.H.Spurgeon)

Signing off

Tyrone

Christ an amazing Saviour!

So then if Christ has put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself once and for all, why do we so easily fall into the traps of sin? The short answer to that is we are carnally sold under sin, but we must understand that the old man has been put to death, according to God’s reckoning, we are no longer alive in the flesh (sinful creatures); we are new creatures in Christ! Where this gets a little hazy is when we try to rationalize our actions, and we find justification at either accusing ourselves as failures or excusing ourselves as children of God. Life is like a yo-yo and some days better than others. But where the mistake can be made is we base it on what we do instead of what Christ has already done. It seems such an easy, peaceable walk when we do not condemn our own actions. Yet if we act as we once did in any areas of our life prior to salvation we automatically want to question our salvation. It is back to what we achieve instead of what Christ achieved on Calvary. We do not only reason like this with ourselves but with others also. In fact, especially with others when we see them falling!

What I have now just said may be somewhat contentious so let us look for confirmation from God’s Word, otherwise what I have had to say is just another opinion not worth the cost of the ink used to pen it.

From what understanding do we start and from where should we launch? I believe a good place to start would be; “What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged." (Romans 3:3-4)

God then is the only one who always speaks the truth and men no matter how honest their intentions may be, if what they say does not confirm God’s Word they are but liars. If I look for justification while I sin as acceptable then I will be barking up the wrong tree, sin will never be acceptable as practise in our lives, that type of reasoning is a lie. We must endeavour to find repentance in every area of our lives where needed; “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man--you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself--that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:1-4)   

    

Having established that truth we must always be striving to put away sin in our lives, I have not arrived, and no matter how often I struggle in any particular area of my life I will by God’s grace strive to get there.

But for God to accept His children as they approach the throne of grace, we must be covered by the blood of the Lamb. He chose to make a way through His Son; we must then be covered by His righteousness. We must have His Spirit to belong to God’s family, if not we cannot approach the throne of grace, we do not qualify! Here is what Paul teachers; “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” (Romans 8:8-10)

Therefore on God’s reckoning although we still live in our earthly bodies, we eat, sleep and live life, our bodies are “dead because of sin”. We are now alive because of what Christ achieved on our behalf, “the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” This must then be the spring-board we approach life from. Will we make mistakes alone the way, I most certainly have and at time still do, but it is the only hope I have to cling too. It is not about my achievement but Christ’s! If we choose to reason any differently we then make the work of the cross but a small thing, and that it was not! It was the most glorious event of all time! Without it all would be lost to sin!

God has such an interest in our lives if we belong to Him that He will bless and discipline where and when it is needed for us to walk in the Spirit.

“For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives."

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.” (Hebrews 12:6-8)

Our confidence then must lie in God our Father and our Saviour’s finished work and not our own accomplishments. We must remember that He is at the helm!

Why do some seem to be more diligent than others to God’s call upon their lives? I look around me and at times want to say what chance do I have when I see so many living as better examples? Woe is me I sometimes cry! But then I am reminded that He who has begun a good work will complete it on that day, even when I so often get in the way. Thank you Father for your mercy and how I long to finally put off this body of death that so often looks to oppose your will in my life, forgive me Lord!

Paul brings a balance to help us understand the mechanics of how we differ one from another; “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.” (Romans 14:4-5)   

    

May we never excuse our sin as acceptable and may we always look to find repentance where and when needed. Although we are dead because of sin and we are saints because of Christ’s victory, let us remember Paul’s stern warning; “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:1-4)

Signing off

Tyrone   

     

To put away sin by the sacrifice of himself!

(Hebrews 9:26) “…to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself…”

It is only God who can give us true repentance and all that relates to sincerity. I have sadness upon my heart this morning, I don’t believe I could conjure it up from my own emotions; it must be God the Holy Spirit who leads the way and prompts me to such cheerlessness. It is not a hopeless sorrow but rather a concern, why? I am troubled for the faces that I see flash before me; my memory has kicked into gear with concerns, without any premeditated planning I see faces from my past that once “were amongst the number” and are no longer fighting the good fight of faith, or so it would appear. But God knows what goes on in the heart of a man, nevertheless I am concern for the well-being of people that somewhere crossed my path and now seem to have forgotten that they once confessed Jesus as Lord. It will never be enough to believe one thing in our hearts and then to act on that which is contrary to what we say our hearts believe. We must believe in our hearts that our Saviour the Lord Jesus was raised from the dead, this is only half of the equation, we must also confess (speak, act, and prove) that Jesus is Lord not only as lip-service but it must be obvious to our lives. Those around us must be able to witness this as a fact and not with others as our voice. Salvation is personal and it must begin with the individual! It is up to each individual to confess Jesus as Lord!

I will not be ignorant whilst considering the enemy and his ploys to trip up the believer. He is a roaring lion on the prowl looking to devourer. But my Jesus is far greater, in fact it is no longer a contest, if it ever was one, as Jesus conquered him once and for all, mission accomplished! It was such a brilliant victory that Satan didn’t see it coming for if he had of he would not have crucified Christ on Calvary. God our Father the greatest of all strategists and His brilliance on display, praise His name! And I am able to call Him my Father, which tickles my soul and brings a smile to my face; all because of Christ’s obedience!

One may say the Roman ruler Pontius Pilate and the leaders of the Jews were the catalysts who had Christ crucified. They did play their part, but there was much influence from Satan and his demonic forces. The unseen driving force behind Christ crucifixion was so fierce that the Psalmist David explains it like this; “Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet-- I can count all my bones-- they stare and gloat over me;” (Psalms 22:12-17)

Thank you Lord Jesus for your selfless act on Calvary, there was much you endure on our behalf, on my behalf and for this I am thankful. I will publicly acknowledge you for your sacrifice and recognize that you laid down your life for me, someone who most certainly deserved death and hell as my final destination. While I was yet a sinner you paid the price for my sin, a wretch like me, who would make so many mistakes along the way, and you knew it and yet you were still willing to die for me. Amazing! Having understood this, I will now confess you as Lord, my Lord! Thank you for this opportunity! My prayer would be that forgetting those things that are now behind, may I press forward with vigour and end well, bringing glory to God my Father.

Having said that; be certain of this fact that in effect Satan’s hands are tied. What do I mean by this? Not that he is already chained in the bottomless pit as some may suggest, but that he has been defeated. Christ had this to say while He still hung upon that cruel Roman cross; “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30): - the writer of Hebrews teachers us this; “For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:24-28)

Why will sin not have to be dealt with for a second time? All who believe on Him, and confess Him as Lord is free from sins judgment. There was a time where Satan could accuse sinners of sin, but now if a man was to sin as a believer he no longer in that sense can be accused of sin, because Christ has paid the price for sin, once and for all. Satan’s accusations no longer holds any merit, even though he may have cause to accuse a saint who sins, Jesus is able to turn to him and say I have already paid his debt on Calvary. Past, present and futures sins all taken care of, praise the glorious name of Jesus. We all stand on the mercies of God; “But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.” (1Corinthians 11:32): - We are place into a new family with new rules; God our Father now personally pulls the reins on our lives. He blesses and disciplines us as He chooses and it has nothing to do with Satan’s bind.

Satan’s objective is to get us to forget this truth; this is all he is now able to do, as he has been defeated. He looks to get us to walk in unbelief or to disobeyed God, His Son and His Word. He will do his utmost to darken our hope, but if we believe God and His Word he is rendered useless. God help us to write this truth upon our hearts and inspire us to embrace Christ and His promises with all our might. May we learn to have the faith of Joshua and Caleb come what may!

Signing off

Tyrone   

   

 

       

Understanding Salvation!

(Luke 23:43) “And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."”

A very common question amongst the unbeliever is this; ”so are you telling me that a man can be a terrible person all his life, a thief, murderer or worst and before death if He confesses Jesus as Lord he will go to heaven? And then someone who lays down his life for someone else, let’s say, they purposefully jumps in front of a bullet and lose their life for a stranger but they do not confess Jesus as Lord, won’t go to heaven?” That is exactly what will happen in principle. Obviously it is only God who sees into the hearts of every man, nothing is hidden from him, and all will soon be revealed! But the message of the gospel is a simple one and you will stand in one of two courts, but you must choose and if you remain undecided then you have already chosen and do not believe.

Let us simplify the gospel as it is a very simple message with pronounced magnitude. It differs from any other religion, how so? Religion is all about self-worth and our own ability to better ourselves, we earn the right to make it to heaven is the thinking.

We (mankind) were in such desperate trouble that no matter how much we tried and still try within ourselves with all the self-help seminars you may want to attend, the problem we have is that the “Knowledge of Good and Evil” and it was unlocked to man’s understanding prematurely. This took place in the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, resulting with sin entering through one man, Adam. The curse was now alive and that curse was sin! It would not only affect Adam and Eve but all of mankind would be affected by its curse, which is separation from God. This is the reason we run from God in principle instead of to Him. We lie and cover up sin wherever possible; no one needs to teach a child to lie when he is caught out for doing something he shouldn’t of.

What then constitutes a sinner, someone who breaks God’s law? Let’s say a group of people attend some institution and the pass mark is 85%. Anything below that mark is a fail with no diploma. One student is so bad that he ends up with 3% and then another scores 84%. Where does that leave them? There is no degree of failure in that sense. They will both have to re-write in order to qualify. I think back on the world cup rugby where by all rights we should have beaten Australia, and yet we didn’t! The record reflects a defeat and so it will be recorded through time. The difference is that with sin no one qualifies, no matter how hard one may try, except the one exception, the Lord Jesus Christ! He lived as a man without ever transgressing one of God’s commandments. This then is what has qualified Him as an acceptable sacrifice. In other words He alone could pay the price for sin, He alone could unlock the door to heaven and until we understand that, we will be blind men leading the blind with many suppositions and opinions but all will fall into the ditch. A bottomless pit that will forever engulf those who reject this wonderful offer of salvation, hell will be their destination with no possibility of a re-write!     

“For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes." (Romans 3:10-18)

No matter what you may have done in life, regardless of your own self-opinionated deduction on how good you may be, the truth be told in God’s eyes you are a sinner and in need of a Saviour. Repentance is the catalyst required to find grace and only then will one find forgiveness in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. No other religion or false god will be recognized by the only true God, Jehovah God the Father; this then is what you will have to consider and decide where you stand on this deliberation; “But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) or "'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, 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. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." (Romans 10:6-11)

I will leave you with an actual account of two dying men and how they were guilty of the same crime and yet one went to heaven whilst the other was doomed for all eternity to hell, why and what was the difference in their attitudes? They both deserved hell; in fact we all deserve it because of our sin, BUT GOD!

“There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."” (Luke 23:38-43)

(1.) Here was one of these malefactors that was hardened to the last. Near to the cross of Christ, he railed on him, as others did (Luk_23:39): he said, If thou be the Christ, as they say thou art, save thyself and us. Though he was now in pain and agony, and in the valley of the shadow of death, yet this did not humble his proud spirit, nor teach him to give good language, no, not to his fellow-sufferer. Though thou bray a fool in a mortar, yet will not his foolishness depart from him. No troubles will of themselves work a change in a wicked heart, but sometimes they irritate the corruption which one would think they should mortify. He challenges Christ to save both himself and them. Note, There are some that have the impudence to rail at Christ, and yet the confidence to expect to be saved by him; nay, and to conclude that, if he do not save them, he is not to be looked upon as the Saviour.

(2.) Here was the other of them that was softened at the last. It as said in Matthew and Mark that the thieves, even they that were crucified with him, reviled him, which some think is by a figure put for one of them, but others think that they both reviled him at first, till the heart of one of them was wonderfully changed, and with it his language on a sudden. This malefactor, when just ready to fall into the hands of Satan, was snatched as a brand out of the burning, and made a monument of divine mercy and grace, and Satan was left to roar as a lion disappointed of his prey. This gives no encouragement to any to put off their repentance to their death-bed, or to hope that then they shall find mercy; for, though it is certain that true repentance is never too late, it is as certain that late repentance is seldom true. None can be sure that they shall have time to repent at death, but every man may be sure that he cannot have the advantages that this penitent thief had, whose case was altogether extraordinary. He never had any offer of Christ, nor day of grace, before how: he was designed to be made a singular instance of the power of Christ's grace now at a time when he was crucified in weakness. Christ, having conquered Satan in the destruction of Judas and the preservation of Peter, erects this further trophy of his victory over him in the conversion of this malefactor, as a specimen of what he would do.” (Matthew Henry)

Signing off

Tyrone