Identity Shift

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Romans 8:12-17

 

Romans 8:13

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

(ESV)

 

When driving to work this week, the topic of conversation on the Christian station I listen to was having people call in to share how they manage stress in their lives. Many callers shared finding comfort from stress through God’s Word, but one caller said they did not read the Bible. I found this alarming for I am among those finding comfort in the Word of God and prayed for this person. When one accepts Jesus as his or her Savior, they become part of the family of God (Romans 8:15). As part of God’s family we must communicate with our Heavenly Father like Christ did through the study of the Bible, God speaking to us, and prayer, us speaking to God (Mark 6:46; Matthew 14:23). Even though Jesus did not have the completed Canon of Scripture as we do, he had a hunger for the Word, even at a young age (Luke 2:41-52). The disciplines of study of the Bible, prayer, and regular Church attendance are crucial in the identity shift from one living according to the flesh to life in the Spirit.

 

The heading for Romans 8:12-17 in the English Standard Version (ESV) is “Heirs with Christ.” An heir is someone having a claim to the inheritance of someone who has passed away. When Jesus died on the cross, he gave us access to an inheritance of eternal life (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:16) and resurrected from the dead to enforce His will. However, to claim this inheritance, one must decide to quit living by the flesh and sin, leading to death (Romans 3:23, 6:23; 8:12-13), and living in the Spirit leading to life (Romans 8:13). Through acceptance of the will of God by the public profession of faith, one is adopted into the family of God (Romans 8:14-15). The Holy Spirit serves as a witness to one’s new identity as a child of God upon accepting Jesus as Savior (Romans 8:16). While it would be nice to believe accepting Jesus as Savior eliminates all struggle and suffering, we must realize that even the Son of God suffered with us sharing in His sufferings but also sharing in His glorification (Romans 8:17). Accepting Jesus as Savior does not guarantee a life without suffering but guarantees eternal life with Christ, free from condemnation (John 3:16-17).

 

An identity shift occurs when one accepts Jesus as his or her Savior. Before one’s profession of faith in Jesus as Savior (Romans 10:9-10), one lives in slavery to sin leading to death (Romans 8:12-13). However, after a profession of faith in Jesus as Savior, one receives the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9) and can put to death the deeds of the flesh and live (Romans 8:13). While one receives the Holy Spirit at salvation, the process of putting to death the deeds of the flesh and experiencing life in the Spirit is an ongoing renewing of the mind through the study of God’s Word and fellowship with other believers (Hebrews 10:24-25; Philippians 4:8; Romans 12;1-2). This process is known as sanctification or the setting aside of a believer to find God’s purpose for his or her life and service to God. This is the purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, empowering one to serve God (Acts 1:8).

 

Unfortunately, Covid and the shutdown of Churches have led to many becoming comfortable with attending Church conveniently online, leading to them not returning to Church after they reopened, and losing fellowship with other believers. Others have a fear of being around others who may be sick. While serious health issues may require one limiting their exposure to disease, fear of being around other people is not mentally healthy (Genesis 2:18). Since God has not given us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7), fear of being around others without an underlying health precaution based upon one’s health history is unfounded. For those staying away from Church out of fear, I encourage them to be strong and courageous in the Lord (Joshua 1:9), going back to Church this week.

 

If you are reading this post and have never prayed to accept Jesus as your Savior, I encourage you to do so by praying with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I encourage everyone reading this post to continue working on their identity shift from a slave to sin to liberty in the Spirit of God (2 Corinthians 3:17). The challenge for each of us is the development of the disciplines of regular reading and study of God’s Word, prayer, and fellowship with other believers through regular Church attendance. I pray for God to challenge and bless everyone reading this post.

A False Sense of Security

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Jeremiah 37:1-21

 

Psalm 20:7

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

 (ESV)

 

Some have said that trust is earned. While there may be some truth in this, the truth is we all trust in something with the object of our trust being what we treasure in our heart (Luke 12:34; Matthew 6:21). It is, therefore, possible for one to place their trust in something that has not earned it in their lives because it is something they treasure in their lives. In Jeremiah 37:1-21 we observe king Zedekiah placing his trust in the Egyptian army for deliverance instead of in God.

 

The text begins with the appointment of king Zedekiah by king Nebuchadnezzar as king of Judah replacing Coniah the son of Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 37:1). The text then lets us know that neither Zedekiah nor his servants listen to the words of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 37:2). However, even though Zedekiah does not believe the words of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, we see him summon Jeremiah twice in this text (Jeremiah 37:3, 17). The text is broken down into three sections,

 

1)      Zedekiah’s first summon of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 37:3-10) – Zedekiah sends Jehucal and Zephaniah to Jeremiah, asking Jeremiah to pray for them to the Lord God (Jeremiah 37:3). The context of this request is Jeremiah remaining free to roam among the people and the withdrawal of the Chaldeans from Jerusalem because the Egyptian army had come out from Egypt (Jeremiah 37:4-5). Due to his unbelief in the words of the Lord coming from Jeremiah, one could conclude that the withdrawal of the Chaldeans causes king Zedekiah to believe the Chaldeans will not invade Jerusalem. He may also have believed Jeremiah would change his mind and stop saying the Chaldeans would invade Jerusalem. However, Jeremiah remains true to the Lord and speaks the words the Lord has given him (Jeremiah 37:6-10).

2)      Jeremiah imprisoned (Jeremiah 37:11-15) – After the withdrawal of the Chaldean army, Jeremiah leaves Jerusalem for the land of Benjamin to receive his portion there from among the people (Jeremiah 37:11-12). At the Benjamin gate, Jeremiah is falsely accused of deserting to the Chaldeans (Jeremiah 37:13). Jeremiah then confronts his accusers, calling them liars (Jeremiah 37:14). This enrages Jeremiah’s accusers, leading to them beating Jeremiah and imprisoning him at the house of Jonathan the secretary (Jeremiah 37:15).

3)      Jeremiah summoned a second time (Jeremiah 37:16-21) – King Zedekiah summons Jeremiah a second time, asking for any word from the Lord. Jeremiah once again remains true to the Word of the Lord given to him, telling Zedekiah he will be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon (Jeremiah 37:16-17). Jeremiah then confronts king Zedekiah, asking what wrong he has done that justifies imprisonment (Jeremiah 37:18). Jeremiah then asks the king where are his prophets who prophesied that the king of Babylon would not come against Judah (Jeremiah 37:19). Jeremiah then asks the king not to send him back to the house of Jonathan where he would surely die to which the king commits Jeremiah to the court of the guard with a daily provision of bread (Jeremiah 37:20-21).

 

After he is appointed king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar, king Zedekiah seeks counsel from Jeremiah (Jeremiah 37:1-3). While it is possible he seeks counsel from Jeremiah to hear from the Lord, Jeremiah 37:2 tells us that king Zedekiah does not listen to the words of the Lord from Jeremiah. It is more likely king Zedekiah seeks counsel from Jeremiah, believing he may change his prophecy about the pending Babylonian invasion and seventy years of exile (Jeremiah 37:15-21 after the withdrawal of the Chaldean army (Jeremiah 37:5). If king Zedekiah believed he would receive a different prophecy from Jeremiah, he was wrong for the word from the Lord is that the Chaldean army will return after the armies of Egypt withdraw (Jeremiah 37: 6-10). After Jeremiah’s imprisonment, Zedekiah may have believed Jeremiah would change his mind, but Jeremiah tells him he will be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon (Jeremiah 37:16-17). King Zedekiah and the people of Judah and Jerusalem have a false sense of security, believing the army of Egypt will protect them from the Chaldeans instead of repentance and returning to God.

 

The application of this passage in our lives today is a warning not to have false security in the created things of this world but to place our trust in God. While it is not typical today for one to place trust in horses and chariots (Psalm 20:7), we can seek false security in our career, job, education, our wealth, physical strength, or mental acuity. While these things are not bad, primarily placing one’s trust in them will lead to disappointment. King Zedekiah will be disappointed when delivered into exile by the very king who appointed him as king of Judah. Not only will Zedekiah suffer disappointment, but he also takes the entire nation of Judah with him. The situation for Judah and us will change when we learn to place our trust in the Lord and not our own understanding, allowing the Lord to guide us (Proverbs 3:5-6).

 

The foundation of trusting in God is our trusting in the shed blood of Jesus on the cross to forgive our sins. If you are reading this and have not prayed to accept Jesus as your savior, I encourage you to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I encourage everyone reading this to search their hearts and ask God to reveal anything in their lives that they trust in more than God. Then pray and study the Word of God, allowing the Holy Spirit to increase your trust in God, replacing what you are currently trusting in. I pray God will challenge and bless everyone reading this post. 

Becoming the Gospel Church

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Romans 8:1-11

 

Romans 8:11

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

(ESV)

 

The Church has a mission to spread the message of the Gospel and make disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). To facilitate the spreading of the Gospel, Jesus reminds us to lift Him up so He can draw all men unto Him (John 12:32). Unfortunately, as we witness the awakening of evil in the world, many Churches have fallen asleep. Romans 8:1-11 teaches about life in the Spirit and serves to remind the Church of its need to awaken through living life in the Spirit of God, tapping into the power of the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead (Romans 8:11).

 

Romans 8:1-11 begins with a declaration that there is no condemnation for those in Christ because the law of the Spirit has set those in Christ free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1-2). However, this is not a blanket declaration declaring that all humanity is free from condemnation because of the work of Jesus on the cross but it is conditional and reserved for those dedicating their lives to living for Christ. It also does not imply perfection for those living in Christ as evidenced by Paul alluding to his internal struggle with the flesh in Romans 7:21-25. Instead, the lack of condemnation is in alignment with the purpose of Christ coming into the world to save it and not condemn it (John 3:17; Romans 8:3-4). Condemnation is not God-inflicted but self-inflicted due to one continuing to live in sin and not for Christ (John 3:18).

 

Whether one lives in condemnation, or the freedom of the Spirit depends on their mindset. Jesus taught that our hearts will be in what we treasure (Matthew 6:19-21). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus equated thoughts of lust and murder with actually sinning, indicating that what dominates one’s thoughts indicates where their heart is (Matthew 5:21-30). In Romans 8:5-8 Paul contrasts a life treasuring the flesh through thoughts dominated by the flesh as a life leading to death whereas a life dominated by thoughts in the Spirit, is a life of peace (Romans 8:6). The text continues by teaching that a life of fleshly thoughts is hostile to God and cannot please Him (Romans 8:7-8).

 

The text continues by offering encouragement to those in Christ, reminding them that they do not live life in the flesh but in the Spirit if the Spirit of God lives in them. This indwelling of the Spirit occurs at salvation (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9). However, confusion exists between the indwelling of the Spirit occurring at salvation and the filling, or baptism, of the Holy Spirit, empowering one for ministry and living for Christ (Acts 1:8). Therefore, a believer has the Spirit of God dwelling within them when they accept Jesus as their savior with life in the Spirit being one seeking to be filled with the Spirit of God for empowerment to minister and live for Christ (Romans 8:10-11). Unfortunately, Churches have focused on the signs of the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4) instead of the fruits of the Spirit demonstrated in the life of one filled with the Spirit, living a Spirit-filled life (Galatians 5:22-23). The Church must focus on the fruits and not the signs.

 

In Romans 7:14-25, Paul wrote about his internal struggle with the flesh. Romans 8:1-11 continues this discussion by teaching about life in the Spirit of God. The Gospel is good news with the establishment of a pathway to life in the Spirit that is not dependent on one's efforts to live in obedience to the law but on the work of the sinless one, Jesus Christ on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8-9). To live in the Spirit, one must experience a shift in their mindset from minds conformed to the world to minds transformed by the Word of God and the Spirit of God (Romans 12:1-2). This passage contrasts a mindset on the world with a mindset on the Spirit of God by teaching that a mind set on the flesh is death whereas a mind set on the Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:6). A life in the Spirit is also a life connected to the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, bringing power into the life of a believer (Romans 8:11).

 

In our chaotic world, we are witnessing an awakening of evil in the world. Mass shootings are becoming common in our society to the point that they no longer dominate the media and if they do, with little attention given to the reason an individual would commit such violence, instead focusing on the weapon they used. Instead of the media focusing on mass shootings, the media focuses on maintaining the legal murder of the unborn and threatening violence against justices that reversed Roe v. Wade. The traditional family is under attack with the world and media condoning gay marriage and transgenderism.

 

Unfortunately, while evil awakens in the world, the Church has fallen asleep. Some Churches no longer speak out against sin out of fear of losing members or financial contributions and instead entertain congregants and deliver self-help feel-good messages, the liberal Church. Other Churches speak out against the evils in our society but do so in a pharisaical holier than thou manner instead of pointing people to Christ, the legalistic Church. What is needed to combat evil in our chaotic world is the Gospel Church that speaks out against sin through the Word of God in a manner pointing people to Christ, the source of salvation and eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 6:23).

 

The Church is not the building but the gathering of believers in the building. Therefore, for the Church to become the Gospel Church the believers comprising the Church must live life in the Spirit of God. This requires a transformation from a mindset of conformity to the world by focusing on entertaining congregants and giving them a feel-good message to a transformative mindset of worship of God and preaching the Word of God, challenging congregants to live like Christ. Instead of judging sin in the world, the mindset of the Church must point people to Christ and forgiveness from sin through the Word of God, lifting up Christ so He can draw people in through the Holy Spirit (John 12:32). I invite anyone reading this who has not prayed to accept Jesus as his or her savior, to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I challenge those reading this to become students of the Word of God and ask the Holy Spirit to guide their lives instead of the desires of the flesh. As evil in the world continues to awaken and increase, it is time for the Church to allow the Spirit of God to awaken in their lives, pointing people to Christ, and bringing revival to our world. May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.

Handling the Truth

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Jeremiah 36:1-32

 

John 8:31-32

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

(ESV)

 

The famous line from the movie, An Officer and a Gentleman is “you can’t handle the truth.” While this makes a good line for a movie, when confronted with the truth, we all must handle it. It is how we handle it that determines what will happen in one’s life. One can reject the truth and suffer the consequences of this rejection or accept the truth and enjoy the benefits of obedience. In Jeremiah 36, we observe the consequences of the rejection of truth.

 

Destroying the text of the truth does not mitigate the consequences of rebelling against it, but this appears to be what Jehoiakim believed he could do by burning the scroll. In this text, we see the process of the revealing of truth, the denial of truth, and truth enduring.

 

1)      Truth revealed (Jeremiah 36:1-19) – The text occurs during the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah (Jeremiah 36:1). Jehoiakim did not abdicate to the throne but was appointed to the throne by Pharoah Necho due to the evil of Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:31-35). The Lord instructs Jeremiah to take a scroll and write all the words He has spoken to him since the days of Josiah because there is still a possibility Judah will repent (Jeremiah 36:2-3). Jeremiah then calls Baruch possibly due to his imprisonment for previously declaring that Judah would be invaded by the armies of Babylon leading to 70 years of exile forbidding him from going to the Temple (Jeremiah 32:1-5; 36:4-6). Jeremiah tells Baruch that they are doing this because there remains a possibility the people of Judah could repent to which Baruch responds in obedience to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 36:7-8). During the fifth year of Jehoiakim’s reign in the ninth month, a fast is proclaimed in Jerusalem at which time Baruch reads the words of the scroll in the house of the Lord (Jeremiah 36:9-10). Micaiah the son of Gemariah then reads the scroll in the presence of the officials at the king's house (Jeremiah 36:11-13). The officials then send Jehudi to Baruch and ask Baruch to read the scroll to them (Jeremiah 36:14-15). Upon hearing Baruch’s reading of the scroll, the officials become fearful and declare they must report these words to the king (Jeremiah 36:16). Before going to the king, the officials ask Baruch how he wrote these words and if it is a dictation from Jeremiah to which Baruch responds by telling them Jeremiah dictated the words to him (Jeremiah 36:17-18). The officials then instruct Jeremiah and Baruch to hide (Jeremiah 36:19).

2)      Truth denied (Jeremiah 36:20-26) – The officials then go into the court of the king after having put the scroll in the chamber of Elishama the secretary and report the words to the king (Jeremiah 36:20). Upon hearing about the scroll, the king orders Jehudi to retrieve the scroll and read the words to him (Jeremiah 36:21). During the reading of the scroll, the king would stop Jehudi after reading three of four columns, cutting them with a knife, and throwing them into the fire until the entire scroll was burned in the fire (Jeremiah 36:22-23). Neither the king nor his servants had any fear of burning the scroll despite the urgings of Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah not to burn it (Jeremiah 36:24-25). The king then asks for the seizure of Jeremiah and Baruch but cannot find them since they are in hiding.

3)      Truth endures (Jeremiah 36:27-32) – After the burning of the scroll, the Lord instructs Jeremiah to take another scroll and write all the words that were on the scroll Jehoiakim burned (Jeremiah 36:27-28). Jeremiah then tells Jehoiakim that since he has denied the truth by burning the scroll, he will not have a descendant on the throne of David and that his dead body will be cast out into the head of the day and frost of the night (Jeremiah 36:29-30). Because of this rejection of the truth, God will bring upon king Jehoiakim, his offspring, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the people of Judah all the disaster pronounced against them (Jeremiah 36:31). Jeremiah then took another scroll and gives it to Baruch who writes upon it all the words of the previous scroll, adding many similar words (Jeremiah 36:32).

 

The truth can be hard to take, especially when it is the truth revealing sin in one’s life. When confronted with the truth, one has two choices, accept the truth and repent like David did when confronted with his sin with Bathsheba (Psalm 51; 2 Samuel 12:1-14), or reject it and burn the words of truth like Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 36:22-25). The best choice is repentance for while Jehoiakim was promised no descendants sitting on the throne of David (Jeremiah 36:30), David is promised to always have a descendant on the throne (2 Samuel 7:16). David has an eternal descendant on the throne in Jesus Christ because of his repentance (Psalm 51), whereas Judah and Israel will suffer 70 years of exile from the land promised them by God, due to their rebellion

 

The truth of the Gospel message is simple, we have all sinned (Romans 3:23) and live under the death penalty for our sins (Romans 6:23). However, Romans 6:23 also promises eternal life to those accepting the gift of salvation from God through the work of Jesus on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 5:8). To receive this gift, one must make a public profession of belief in the death burial and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 10:9-10). If you have never done this, I encourage you to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

You can make your profession of faith public by replying to this post or letting someone know, especially if it is someone that has been praying for you. May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.

Paul’s Internal Civil War

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Romans 7:7-25

Romans 7:19

For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

(ESV)

 

Civil wars are deadly for any country for they pit citizens against each other, separating families, and ending friendships. Civil wars also cause a nation to lose sight of why it became a nation in the first place. Take the U.S. Civil War as an example. Even though the North won the war, leading to the abolishment of slavery in the nation, there is still racial strife in the nation. To end racial or any other type of strife in society requires the love of God. The Apostle Paul, like all people, struggled with an internal spiritual civil war between his spirit and flesh, but found victory through allowing the love of God to rule in his heart.

 

Romans 7:7-25 begins with Paul asking if the law is a sin since it has the role of revealing sin in one's life (Romans 7:7). Paul quickly answers his question with an emphatic no. The lessons observed in Romans 7:7-25 are,

 

1)      The law reveals sin in one’s life (Romans 7:7-12) – Without the law teaching us God’s standard, we would not know what constitutes sin for sin is humanity falling short of God’s standard (Romans 7:7). Paul uses the example of the commandment not to covet to show how the law reveals sin (Exodus 20:17; Romans 7:7). Knowledge of the commandment not to covet revealed covetousness in the life of Paul, causing Paul to die spiritually with knowledge of the sin in his life (Romans 7:8-10). However, it is not the law that spiritually killed Paul but the sin of covetousness revealed by the law (Romans 7:11). Therefore the law is holy and the commandment holy and righteous, serving the role of revealing sin in one's life (Romans 7:12).

2)      The Law is holy, righteous, and good revealing the evil of sin (Romans 7:13-20) – Paul then asks the question of whether the law which is good brings spiritual death (Romans 7:13). Once again, Paul answers his question with an emphatic no, reminding his readers that it was sin and not the law that separates him from God, leading to spiritual death. The law is spiritual but we are of the flesh and under the penalty of sin (Romans 6:23; 7:14). Paul then mentions the internal civil war in his life lacking understanding of his actions, doing what he does not want and not doing what he wants to do (Romans 7:15). However, the fact that Paul realizes his sinful actions are wrong, indicates agreement with the law which is good (Romans 7:16). Therefore, Paul can say it is no longer him who does wrong for he knows it is wrong but sin in his life causes him to sin (Romans 7:17). Paul then confesses that the civil war in his life is the result of knowing about sin in his life but struggling with the flesh within him because he has the desire to do good but because of his flesh, cannot carry out good in his life (Romans 7:18-20).

3)      Jesus Christ bridges the gap between the law and sin (Romans 7:21-25) – Paul admits to feeling wretched because of his inability to do the good he intends to do with his life (Romans 7:21-24). However, Paul ends this text with thanks to God for sending Jesus to forgive his sin making it possible for him to serve the law of God with his mind but with his flesh serves the law of sin. Paul has found the bridge between the law and sin through Jesus Christ (Romans 7:25).  

 

The Apostle Paul struggled with the desires of his flesh like all of humanity since all humanity has sinned (Romans 3:23). In this passage we see Paul using this internal struggle to illustrate the role of the law in revealing sin in the life of an individual. In Romans 7:9 Paul speaks of being alive until the commandment not to covet made the sin of covetousness come alive in his life, bringing death. The Law points out the problem of sin in the lives of humanity but is powerless to save humanity for the fallen state of humanity prevents total adherence to the law because humanity’s default position is sin. In Genesis 3:15, before evicting Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, God promised a savior. We now know this Messiah is Jesus, the sinless one who took on the sins of humanity as the spotless lamb, dying for humanity’s sins.

 

The law does not save us but points out our need for a savior. This makes the law holy for it points one to Christ and their need for a Savior. The good news of the Gospel is its availability to all through God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:16). Therefore, salvation is not a matter of our efforts to live up to God’s standard but instead a call to accept Jesus as Savior through confession of belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Romans 10:9-10). I invite anyone reading this that has not accepted Jesus as their Savior to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

Even though obedience to the law does not save us, we should, out of love for what God has done for us, strive to lose conformity to the world and allow our minds to be transformed by connecting with God through his Word and prayer (Romans 12:1-2). These are spiritual disciplines every believer in Christ should practice for spiritual growth in their relationship with God. It is also crucial to find a Church teaching the Bible to learn more and associate with other believers. I pray God will bless and challenge everyone reading this post.

The Reward of Obedience, the Consequences of Disobedience.

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Jeremiah 35:1-19

 

Jeremiah 35:18-19

But to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the command of Jonadab your father and kept all his precepts and done all that he commanded you, 19 therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab the son of Rechab shall never lack a man to stand before me.”

(ESV)

 

Today is July 4^th, which in the United States, is a day set aside to celebrate the birth of the nation. What makes the United States unique among the nations is that its founding is based on Godly principles, as seen in the Declaration of Independence, the document declaring the nation’s independence from British rule. (1) While the nation had a Godly founding, it has strayed from the principles of its founding and is currently in danger. The United States and the rest of the world need a revival or return to Godliness through people accepting Jesus Christ as the Savior and Messiah. Please continue to pray for revival to sweep across the world.

 

The Rechabites are not one of the most popular families mentioned in the Bible with this being their only mention in Scripture. Their mention in Jeremiah 35 is to provide a contrast of their obedience to their father with the disobedience of Judah and the people of Israel towards their God. This passage has three sections.

 

1)      Obedience (Jeremiah 35:1-11) – The passage begins with the Lord commanding Jeremiah to go to the house of the Rechabites, speak to them, and bring them to one of the chambers in the house of the Lord to offer them a drink of wine (Jeremiah 35:1-2). The passage then gives details about the specific chamber in the House of the Lord that Jeremiah took the Rechabites to (Jeremiah 35:3-4). These specifics mean little to us reading the passage today since the Temple was destroyed but do lend credibility to the occurrence of this event as there would have been eyewitnesses and a documented record of the visit. Jeremiah then sets pitchers of wine in front of the Rechabites telling them to drink (Jeremiah 35:5). It is unknown if Jeremiah was aware of the oath taken by the Rechabites not to drink wine so we cannot be certain if Jeremiah was aware he was tempting the Rechabites to disobey their father. As an example of obedience, the Rechabites resist temptation and inform Jeremiah that they are resisting based upon the words of their father not to drink wine, not build a house, not sow seed, not plant or have a vineyard, and live in tents where ever they live (Jeremiah 35:6-10). Even the invasion of the land by Nebuchadnezzar did not cause them to give in to temptation (Jeremiah 35:11).

2)      Disobedience and its consequences (Jeremiah 35:12-17) – In light of the example of obedience seen in the Rechabites, Jeremiah once again mentions the continued disobedience of Judah and the people of Israel (Jeremiah 35:12-15). Using the contrasting example of the obedience of the Rechabites, Jeremiah reminds Judah and the people of Israel of the consequences of their continued disobedience by not listening to the word of the Lord to repent (Jeremiah 35:16-17).

3)      Reward (Jeremiah 35:18-19) – Jeremiah then tells the house of the Rechabites about their reward for obedience to their household promising they will always have a man standing before God to represent them (Jeremiah 35:18-19). This reward is the exact opposite of the consequences Judah, and the people of Israel will experience with 70 years of exile ending the generation of disobedience to God.

 

The Rechabites are an example of obedience by not giving in to the temptation to drink wine even when offered to them in the House of the Lord (Jeremiah 35:5-6). This obedience comes with the reward of always having a man from their family standing before God (Jeremiah 35:19). In contrast, Judah and the people of Jerusalem are an example of disobedience for God commanded them not to have any gods other than the one true God (Deuteronomy 20:1-7; Jeremiah 35:15-17). Instead of a reward, Judah and the people of Jerusalem will experience the consequences of 70 years of exile per Deuteronomy 28:15-68.

 

All humanity has sinned and fallen short of God’s standard of obedience (Romans 3:23) and live under the death penalty for their sins (Romans 6:23). However, the second half of Romans 6:23 tells us that Jesus Christ has provided a free gift of eternal life. To receive the free gift of eternal life, one must confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart that God raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 10:9-10). If you have never made this profession of faith, I encourage you to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

However, obedience is not a one-time event, but a process of losing conformity to the world and sin by having our minds renewed through the Word of God (Romans 12:1-2). Even though we have made Jesus the Lord of our lives, temptation will come for even Jesus endured temptation (Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus used the Word of God to resist temptation, something we can all do as we renew our minds through the study of the Word of God. I challenge everyone reading this to be like the Rechabites by allowing the Word of God to renew their minds, empowering them to resist the temptation to disobey God. May God bless and challenge everyone reading this post.

 

1. National Archives. The Declaration of Independence. archives.gov. [Online] The National Archives. [Cited: November 21, 2020.] https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration.