Question of the Week

A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – January 22nd, 2021

Question of the Week: How do we understand pride biblically?

In order to understand pride, we first need to recognize that there is a concerted effort within pride itself to prevent that from happening. Recovery circles have a saying that “your pride doesn’t want you to know how proud you are.” The most basic definitions of pride available to us are the following;
A self-centered, rather than God-centered, worldview.
A dishonest perspective of yourself and others.
The anti-God mindset.

Pride has been described as the sin above all others. It was pride that made the Devil the Devil as C.S. Lewis once observed. If given full reign to accomplish its purposes in your heart, you will have adopted the mindset of those in Hell. No Jesus. Only me. If the impact it has on us is so severe, the question remains. Where do we find this established for us in scripture? The first example will be the King of Babylon;

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.
Isaiah 14:12-15 (NKJV)

If there is ever a word of advice worth following, it’s to make sure you have the least in common with Satan as possible. In Isaiah’s prophecy, the chapter begins by establishing this statement from God as directed towards the future king of Babylon who would have a very direct and dramatic series of interactions with the people of Israel. Hindsight clarifies for us that this was referring to Nebuchadnezzar. In order to properly illustrate the degree to which their pride was going to end up destroying them, a direct comparison is made between their self-centered worldview and Lucifer, who we know today as the Adversary, Accuser, or Satan. In their hearts, they built themselves up to be higher than God, and reality caught up with them. This was modeled by Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:30. The greatest condemnation against his behavior isn’t just the end result, but the fact that Jesus modeled the exact opposite. And as was stated before, if you have more in common with Satan in your attitude than Jesus, that’s the definition of a problem.

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of other. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:3-11 (NKJV)

Other examples of pride can be found in Ezekiel 28:1-4 where the King of Tyre was similarly compared to Lucifer by allowing his worldly success to go to his head and allowed himself to believe he was a god. This dishonest view of himself was going to be corrected verbally and historically. Yet in light of all of these examples of what not to do, the focus always needs to go back to the person of Jesus Christ. He didn’t model this. He didn’t react to compliments by putting Himself down. That would be just as self-centered and self-focused because it would have just as many personal pronouns in it if you were bragging on yourself. When we saw Jesus, we saw someone who received worship as God and at the same time always sought the glory of the Father. We saw someone Who was higher than us all and voluntarily chose to stand at our side as our Advocate. We saw someone who was exempt from all suffering, and voluntarily chose to become a part of it. That is the model we should follow. Not the opposite.

And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”
John 8:29 (NKJV)

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

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A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – January 15th, 2021

Question of the Week: What is the purpose of spiritual warfare?

Whenever the topic of spiritual warfare comes up, the focus goes entirely to the topic of warfare. In warfare, the focus is on understanding the nature of your enemy with the long term goal of victory against them. In the Bible, the focus of spiritual warfare is the complete opposite. Instead of fighting for victory, we fight from victory. Instead of focusing on the nature of our enemy, our attention should be focused entirely on the nature of our commander and chief. With these two proper perspectives in mind, we will avoid getting caught up in sensational and misleading doctrines about the unbiblical rituals we apparently have to fulfill in order to take a power away from the enemy he never had to begin with.

And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
Colossians 2:13-15 (NKJV)

This is the first key principal to grasp if we are to have a proper understanding of spiritual warfare. A disarmed foe is no longer a threat. If we treat the enemy of our souls as if he still has the power and authority taken away from him, then his goal in distracting us has been achieved. The Apostle Peter described the enemy as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8-9) With a further exhortation to resist him, he immediately clarifies what’s actually being resisted. Persecution, Hatred of the Gospel, and the suffering we experience in this world are all examples of the impact the enemy has on the hearts of those who don’t know the Lord. A state we were all once in according to Ephesians 2:1-3. If we base our understanding of the enemy on more information rather than less, and the best possible information rather than second hand experiences, we won’t buy into the enemy’s greatest tool. Don’t be deceived. He can’t possess you. 1 John 4:4. He can’t separate you from the love of God. Romans 8:38-39. He can’t even touch you. 1 John 5:18. It is from these facts about our enemy that the real goal of spiritual warfare becomes clear.

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James 4:7-8 (NKJV)

The question isn’t whether or not we sin. It’s what we do with it that matters. 1 John 1:8-10 is our combat zone. The question isn’t whether or not we will experience opposition. The question is what is actually being opposed. Matthew 11:28-30 is our responsibility in this battle. The question isn’t if we’re in this fight. The question is how do we fight. 2 Corinthians 10:4-6, Hebrews 4:12, and Ephesians 6:14-18 are the weapons we fight with. Not kinetic tools, but a working and practical knowledge of the truth. That is how you respond to a liar. Not by acknowledging or focusing on the lie, but bringing it face to face with the truth. Any confrontation of the enemy on our end is pointless. That is why James gives as simple an explanation as possible concerning how we resist the devil. Draw near to God. If you want to destroy darkness, walk towards the light.

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:5-7 (NKJV)

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

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A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – January 8th, 2021

Question of the Week: What is the purpose of predictive prophecy?

People that read prophecy often focus on one of three topics. The end of the world, the world coming to an end, or the things that will cause these things to happen. While the things told to us in scripture were for a reason, and certainly include these things, they are not the focus. Hysteria, the state of the world, and how it impacts us are not the reasons why God has told us what will take place in the future. The purpose of predictive prophecy is to point us to the power, person, and purposes of Jesus Christ.

Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
Revelation 19:9-10 (NKJV)

“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me, Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come, Let them show these to them. Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.’ ”
Isaiah 44:6-8 (NKJV)

In the Old and New Testament, prophecy is meant to bring the focus towards God. The Apostle John is shown a revelation of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and his focus goes to the Angel showing him these things. He is immediately corrected and told to worship God because of the purpose of everything he sees. Likewise, the prophet Isaiah speaks of the future concerning the rising and falling of Syria, Assyria, Babylon, and Perisa before any of them had actually taken place. This isn’t to inform Israel about future military opposition so they could prepare their armies. They are being told about things before they take place to show the God who is talking to them is aware of and above these things.

Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’ Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it. “Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, Who are far from righteousness: I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, For Israel My glory.
Isaiah 46:9-13 (NKJV)

Notice how Isaiah concludes this prophecy. God makes a direct and literal statement about salvation being placed in Zion/Jerusalem. The purpose was for His glory. The recipients were those who were far from righteousness. The audience was those who weren’t listening to what He had to say. The point was to prove that God isn’t like anyone or anything else. He declares the end from the beginning. Ancient things in history that people have forgotten, He remembers. Things that haven’t yet happened, He knows about. What He decides will take place. This is the one in charge of Israel, and our, future. If He’s in control, then even predictions of destruction and chaos will produce hope and peace. Why? The one allowing these things to happen is the same one who provides salvation. That is the purpose of prophecy. The focus isn’t on Antichrist anymore than it was on Cyrus, Nebuchadnezzar, or Sennacherib. God predicted all of these kings would reign to show He is worth trusting when He reminds us all that He will one day reign as well. That is our comfort and peace. God got those predictions of disaster right. Therefore, He can be that much more trusted when He says His reign is coming. And that is reign worth looking forward to.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

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A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – December 11th, 2020

Question of the Week: What is the Christian attitude towards persecution?

In order to understand how we as Christians should respond towards persecution, we first need to understand what persecution is. Persecution is any negative treatment in response or reaction to a certain kind of behavior. There are good forms of persecution. When a criminal faces legal penalties for their behavior, their actions are being persecuted. When a child misbehaves and is disciplined by their parents, their actions are being persecuted. When a student gives an incorrect answer to a question and the teacher corrects them, their actions are being persecuted. When Christians refer to persecution, they are talking about facing negative treatment in a verbal or physical sense because they are acting like Jesus Christ.

With a proper understanding of persecution defined, the question remains how we should react to it. Like anything else in Christianity, our first and ultimate example for anything goes to the commands and example of Jesus Christ. Jesus gave His answer to this question in the Sermon on the Mount.

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:11-12 (NKJV)

Blessed, or supremely happy, was the reaction Christians should have when they receive negative treatment for His sake. This does not mean that being treated in a negative way in any sense is persecution. People who act obnoxious or aggressive with people shouldn’t consider the persecution that naturally follows to be because they are Christians. Jesus uses the example of the prophets before us who were treated cruelly for being prophets. Someone who spoke for God and faced opposition from the world were dealing with that persecution for talking like God. Likewise, someone who is reviled, persecuted, and has all kinds of evil said against them for Jesus’ sake would have to be acting like Jesus for His point to apply to them. In later conversations with His disciples, Jesus further clarified this.

“These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.
John 16:1-3 (NKJV)

The answer to the question is “blessed.” The question that should follow is why. Why should we be supremely happy when we face social consequences for doing the right thing? To ask the question is almost to answer it. If you are doing what is right in God’s eyes, people may not like it. God always will. If He is the one whose opinion of and reaction to your behavior ultimately matters, then having a right relationship with Him will be your reason to be happy. We don’t enjoy being treated poorly. We shouldn’t try to develop a sense of masochism or look for opportunities for people to hate us. We simply need to remember that the one whose opinion of our lives ultimately matters needs to be God rather than men. That is the Christian response to persecution.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:10 (NKJV)

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

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A Reason for Hope Question of the Week, December 4th, 2020

Question of the Week: Is it wrong for Christians to celebrate holidays that aren’t mentioned in the Bible?

In order to determine if anything is right or wrong for a Christian to do, there are three criteria we need to judge it by in order to conclude whether it is Christ-like behavior. Did Jesus condemn it? Did Jesus model it? And did the followers of Jesus follow through on the matter in light of His life and Old Testament Scriptures?

Follow me as I follow Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1 (NKJV)

Did Jesus condemn the celebration of certain holidays? No. The only time He ever addressed the celebration of certain days above others were regarding the Sabbath day. In a situation where tradition had taken over the intent that holiday was first given to man, Jesus clarified the purpose of that holiday on the authority that could only come from the one who founded it to begin with. He didn’t condemn the celebration of a holiday, but how it was being celebrated. The attitude in which we approach certain celebrations or observances are what matter most to Him given what we actually have Him speaking about regarding the celebration of holidays.

Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” But He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”
Mark 2:23-28 (NKJV)

Did Jesus ever model the celebration of holidays that aren’t mentioned in the Bible? Yes. The Feast of Dedication, also known as the Festival of Lights or Hanukkah, was something Jesus personally celebrated despite the fact it was not an event recorded in scripture. The book of 1 Maccabees details for us the revolt led by Judas Maccabeus and the miracle that followed during the reign of Antiocus Ephiphanes during the Hellenistic occupation of Jerusalem. The Jewish nation chose to remember a moment where God miraculously made a day’s worth of oil last over a week as they prepared more in order to obey the Temple Laws after driving out the Greeks that were persecuting them for it. In a demonstration of God being faithful to His promises as they were faithful to His commands, neither Judas Maccabeus nor the Jews who preserved his legacy claimed he was a prophet of God. Yet Jesus celebrated this holiday outside of the Bible’s commands. This was either a sinful action on Jesus’ part, or merely another opportunity He took advantage of to talk to people about the things God had done and was doing in their history. It’s fair to assume it’s the latter.

Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.
John 10:22-23 (NKJV)

The final test we could hold the behavior of celebrating non-biblical holidays to are the teachings of Jesus’ followers that bore witness to His example first-hand. And regarding the celebration of any kind of holiday, they have no words of condemnation for that kind of behavior. The only thing they address was the same thing Jesus modeled. It doesn’t matter when you celebrate something, but why and how you are celebrating it.

One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
Romans 14:5-13 (NKJV)

Notice that Paul the Apostle equates the decision to celebrate or not to celebrate on particular days as good things under the condition that it is with the Lord as the focus. If you are uncomfortable celebrating a holiday because of supposed historical controversies or modern distortions, then spend that day focusing on God instead. If you are fine with focusing on God during that holiday, you are just as Christian in doing so as you would if you chose not to. The only word of condemnation is the attitude of looking down on and condemning each other for acting against your own convictions. If Jesus is made the focus of that holiday, then it’s not sinful to focus on Jesus on a particular day. If Jesus is the focus regardless of that holiday, it is not sinful to forego celebrating that holiday with higher priorities in mind.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

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A Reason for Hope Question of the Week, November 25th, 2020

Question of the Week: Will it be impossible for people to get saved during the Tribulation Period?

The common dodge for people who know enough about the gospel to come to a decision, but are still unwilling to commit their lives to Christ often say that they will receive Jesus later. The “later” is usually referring to their deathbeds, or during the Tribulation when all doubt has been removed in their minds. The appropriate response to the first option is the reminder that they aren’t promised a deathbed. There may be an accident, outbreak, or incident that doesn’t leave them enough time to come to a decision.

There is also the issue of assuming that if you spent your entire life putting off Jesus, what makes them think that they’ll suddenly make Him a priority then when they’ve spent their entire lives making Him secondary? This is the appropriate response to the first dismissal of the gospel. Hebrews 3:15 confirms this and it is in no way conflicting with other areas of scripture.

Where things become inappropriate is the reactionary doctrine that has been formed to the second option the non-believer has made available to themselves. A very loose interpretation of 2 Thessalonians 2:6-12 is presented as evidence that people will not be able to receive salvation during the Tribulation Period. Although well intended, this response isn’t biblically supported. The assumptions behind it are all true. You shouldn’t put off getting saved if God is calling you right now. (Hebrews 3:15) You can’t get saved if the Holy Spirit doesn’t draw you. (John 6:44) And the Holy Spirit will be taken away from this world in a sense during the Tribulation. The question is in what sense will the Holy Spirit withdraw Himself and will it include giving mankind a capacity to be saved during this time?

The first obstacle to this position being biblically supported is that we have biblical evidence against it. We have direct citation and reference to people being saved during the Tribulation in the book of Revelation and ending up in Heaven as a result. If people will be saved during the Tribulation, then interpreting 2 Thessalonians in a way that contradicts that statement is an improper handling of scripture.

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Revelation 7:9-17 (NKJV)

The second problem with this view of 2 Thessalonians is that if the Holy Spirit is being withdrawn in His entirety from this world, the result would be more catastrophic to mankind then handing them over to believe the enemy’s lies. According to the book of Job, the removal of the Holy Spirit would cause all life to return to the dust. This ability to create and maintain life in all creation is not only one of many reasons we consider the Holy Spirit to be divine, but also removes the possibility of the Holy Spirit being removed from the earth in this sense during the Tribulation.

If He should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath, All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.
Job 34:14-15 (NKJV)

The question remains, in what sense will the Holy Spirit withdraw Himself from this world during the Tribulation? Given the process of elimination, we have concluded the following; It isn’t in His entirety or life would cease to exist. It isn’t in His drawing people to Himself for salvation or Revelation 7 wouldn’t mention unenumerable people from every culture coming out of the Tribulation and going to Heaven. It is only mentioned that His restraining of the rise of the Antichrist will be removed to allow the rising of the Antichrist. Therefore, that should be all we conclude from the passage. It in no way invalidates anyone for salvation during the Tribulation.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

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A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – November 20th, 2020

Question of the Week: Does God ever use things like sickness, mental disorders, or pain to strengthen our relationship with Him?

When discussing the reasons why pain takes place in the life of a Christian, we need to tread carefully lest we come to conclusions that the Bible simply doesn’t support. For example, God using pain doesn’t mean God caused the pain. God allowing pain doesn’t mean He is the reason the pain is there in the first place. God not taking pain away doesn’t mean that He’s to blame for your suffering. These are conclusions that our emotions can lead us or others into if we try to explain too much. The reality is that there is pain. The question is who God is and what He’s doing in the midst of that pain.

Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.
Psalm 119:67 (NKJV)

This first example of how God works through pain was an observation made by King David in relation to his love for the word of God. In the text, we need to recognize what is said and what isn’t being said. David only acknowledges an affliction took place. His response to that affliction was to now keep God’s word. The only time God is mentioned as a part of David’s affliction was who he turned to after the affliction ended. God allowed David to experience affliction. This hard lesson taught David that keeping God’s word was a better option than the things that caused his affliction. He bears responsibility for the affliction in this context. Then he goes on to share what he learned from the experience. A lack of keeping God’s word caused affliction. Now that he’s keeping God’s word, he’s no longer being afflicted in the way he was. That was the conclusion he came to and should be the same we should as well. To read into the passage a precedent that God inflicts pain to teach us to keep His word is inaccurate. The only conclusion he comes to and the only statements he makes are a contrast between him living life according to the world’s word and living life according to God’s word.

You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your word.Teach me good judgment and knowledge, For I believe Your commandments.Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.You are good, and do good; Teach me Your statutes.The proud have forged a lie against me, But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart. Their heart is as fat as grease, But I delight in Your law. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.
Psalm 119:65-72 (NKJV)

The second example of how God works through pain is taken from Paul the Apostle’s observation about an affliction he was dealing with that God did not take away. Just like David’s observation before him, it is important to note that God isn’t given credit for giving him the thorn in the flesh. If anything, the credit is given to the enemy since this thorn in the flesh is only described as a messenger of Satan. Instead of removing the pain, Paul is comforted and strengthened with the ability to endure it and see it as a reminder of God’s grace. God was seen as his greatest comfort in the midst of his pain. Not the reason for it.

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NKJV)

The third and key example of how God works through pain is also an observation from Paul in the same book he describes his response to his own pain.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NKJV)

Notice that God is never credited for those tribulations. His only participation in that process is one of comfort. The reason for that comfort is explained. We are comforted so we can comfort others. It is also noted that the sufferings of Christ are the kind of pain we are enduring. Jesus is the model for how we handle pain. The reason the pain is happening is never mentioned, and therefore shouldn’t be assumed.

These passages and others form the framework for a biblical understanding of pain. To blame God for the text is an assumption made outside the text rather than within in. The examples given of Jeremiah, Job, and others being afflicted by God ignore the context of each historical example.
Jeremiah voices his feelings about his circumstances and blames God for deceiving him into believing something He never actually said. Jeremiah 20:7-18 details the poor response on the part of Israel to the things God was telling him to say. The people causing his suffering had many names, but none of them were God. People rejecting the truth and hating him for sharing God’s word was something Jesus warned us would happen. Not because He would cause it, but because people don’t like to hear things they don’t want to. John 15:18-25 details the proper perspective we are to have in that context.
Job is also a poor example of God causing someone to experience pain because Job 1-2 both detail that every loss and hardship Job endures in that book came from Satan, his wife, and his friends. None of those people were God. God allowed the suffering to take place, but his only action in this book was the restoration of everything Job lost at the end of the book once Job’s character had been fully demonstrated.

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:15-16 (NKJV)

The point is hopefully clear. If I assume something about God that the text doesn’t say, I’m either attributing motive or making a false accusation. The Bible doesn’t say that God causes those who love Him to suffer. The world does. The enemy does. Our sinful nature does. God is only explained in the midst of these things to be our place of refuge, comfort, and hope. Blaming the solution for the problem isn’t productive.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

Listen: Monday – Friday 5-6pm, on 106.3FM Reach Radio

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A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – November 13th, 2020

Question of the Week: Why is the Deity of Christ an Essential belief in Christianity?

There are certain things we can disagree agreeably about among fellow Christians because those positions don’t undermine what it actually means to be a Christian. If a fundamental doctrine of Christianity is disagreed upon, then it’s not a disagreement among Christians. The person who rejects that core doctrine has demonstrated their opposition to the definition of Christianity itself. The nature of Jesus is one of those non-negotiables. Jesus of Nazareth made claims about Himself and acted in ways that were exclusive traits of the God of the Old Testament. This is what sets Him apart from any prophet in Israel’s history. This is also what elevates Him in the eyes of those who take His claims seriously to the level of the True and Living God. To reject Jesus’ claims and how He supported those claims is to reject the reason we consider Him worth following in the first place. The only thing that remains in making this case legitimate is where and how Jesus made claims and performed deeds that could only rightly apply to the True and Living God.

The first and clearest example of Jesus’ claims to divinity was His ability to forgive sins. When speaking to the Jewish audience that determined their understanding of who God was through the Old Testament, He claimed the right to forgive sins. This is something that anyone can say, but only God could rightfully do.

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
Mark 2:5-12 (NKJV)

The audience that witnessed this miracle rightly concluded that God alone could forgive sins. This understanding of God’s nature came from a Psalm of David where he acknowledged that his adultery and murder were ultimately violations of God’s standards. Therefore, ultimate forgiveness needed to come from Him.

Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.
Psalm 51:4 (NKJV)

Jesus went on to verify His words with an observable miracle. If Jesus was blaspheming, then God wasn’t going to work through Him. If Jesus was telling the truth, then the God of Israel was verified to be the One working and speaking. He is the only one with the right to forgive sins in the Jewish mind, and demonstrated that ability to a Jewish audience. Not as an agent, but the one acting in His own name.

Another example of Jesus making the sort of claims that only God could rightly say is taking a divine title for Himself used exclusively of God in the Old Testament.

“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel,
And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
‘I am the First and I am the Last;
Besides Me there is no God.
Isaiah 44:6 (NKJV)

And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys ofHades and of Death.
Revelation 1:17-18 (NKJV)

The prophecies of Isaiah mention an exclusive trait and title for God as “The First and the Last.” His eternal nature is unique to Him apart from anything else and could only be rightly spoken about the One who existed before time itself. Jesus claims this title for Himself as he is speaking to the Apostle John, who knew this Old Testament reference as an ethnic Jew. This title is applied to the individual who was dead and is now alive forevermore.

A very significant example of Jesus’ exclusive claims to divinity was the nature of the miracles He performed in the sight of His disciples.

He alone spreads out the heavens,
And treads on the waves of the sea;
Job 9:8 (NKJV)

Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.
Mark 6:47-52 (NKJV)

It is worth noting in this passage that the translation of “It is I” spoken by Jesus as He’s doing something only God can can do is the phrase “I AM.” This is the same way God introduced Himself to Moses in Exodus.

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’“
Exodus 3:14 (NKJV)

These are only a small handful of examples that are found throughout Jesus’ entire earthly ministry. With a working knowledge of the Old Testament, there is no room for doubt concerning the sort of claims Jesus is making about Himself. If you are saying the sort of things only God can rightly say, and doing the sort of things only God can rightly do, then you’re either God or lying. If you disregard the claims of Jesus and don’t consider Him a reliable source of truth, then it doesn’t matter how highly you regard Him. You aren’t a Christian. This is why the divinity of Christ is so essential. It is the natural conclusion of the things He did and said. If you reject those statements and actions, then you’re rejecting Him as a fraud and a liar. That doesn’t sound like the sort of claims that a believer in Jesus Christ should be making.

Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:3 (NKJV)

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

Listen: Monday – Friday 5-6pm, on 106.3FM Reach Radio

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A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – November 11th, 2020

Question of the Week: How should Christians respond to corruption going unchecked or celebrated in politics?

The short and honest answer is not much. When evil people prosper and people who try to do things honestly end up suffering, the temptation is to turn to God and ask why He is allowing these things to take place unanswered. Asaph made the same observation in Psalm 73, where in Psalm 73:1-28, he makes the following observations;
1. Evil people tend to get away with what they do.
2. Evil people tend to live longer and happier.
3. Evil people brag that God doesn’t see or care about what they are doing.
4. Evil people will answer for everything they have done before God.
5. Evil people are shown the same mercy and patience that we are.

When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me— Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end.
Psalm 73:16-17 (NKJV)

It isn’t wrong to be angry when you see evil people seem to get away with it. The consolation we all need to remember as Christians is the reality check Asaph went through as he made these observations. God is the judge of all the Earth and He will do what is right. Everything they got away with in this life will be answered for. The attitude we need to take is understanding we are one of those evil people too. If God is showing mercy and patience towards those who brazenly reject Him, that also means He’s going to be just as patient and merciful with us when we stumble into areas of sin ourselves. The consolation is that no crime will go unpunished. The reality check is that no justice done in this world will hold a candle to what God will ultimately see done when everything they have done is answered for. The fact is that we all need mercy and grace. Some people show their need for it more than others, but we need to recognize that we have been called to forgive like we have been forgiven. The impact these decisions have on the people around them will not be forgotten or be censored from the attention of God. However, our calling as Christians is to pray for our leaders regardless of how they got there or what they are doing while they are there. If the cross of Christ remains our standard for how we view ourselves and others, then we’ll understand just how much we have been forgiven and be capable of showing grace accordingly.

Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
Luke 7:47 (NKJV)

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:17-21 (NKJV)

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

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A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – October 30th, 2020

Question of the Week: What is Biblical Inerrancy and is it a non-negotiable?

The Bible is the primary way Christians believe that God has revealed Himself to mankind. Every non-negotiable belief of Christianity that sets us apart from cults and non-Christian religions; There is one God, God is Triune, and Salvation is through God’s grace alone, are all things we find in scripture. If the source of these three foundational truths of Christianity is faulty, then the very definition of Christianity itself is in question. Without the belief of Biblical Inerrancy, our understanding of God and His ability to reveal Himself to mankind is meaningless. Therefore, the belief in the Bible as Inerrant is a necessary belief for anyone who claims to take Christianity seriously. Biblical Inerrancy is the belief that God inspired, preserved, and communicated factually true statements about Himself and His interactions in human history. Biblical Inerrancy does not mean that textual variants can’t exist, that it will always agree with what’s popular in culture, or that it can’t be misrepresented by critics.

And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:19-21 (NKJV)

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

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A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – October 23rd, 2020

Question of the Week: When is the line crossed from temptation into sin?

The difference between temptation and sin is the difference between desire and decision. Temptation naturally produces sin, but there is an intentional distinction between the two. In order to establish an informed understanding of the difference between the two, we will look at how scripture defines both in their own context. We will also then apply those definitions consistently to Jesus of Nazareth and how scripture presents Him as our example.

Beginning with the definitions of Temptation and Sin, Temptation is defined biblically by the Apostle James in his epistle. And fortunately for the sake of the question being asked, he also explains how it relates to sin without necessarily being sinful.

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
James 1:12-15 (NKJV)

James defines temptation as being drawn away by desires and enticed. What you’re being drawn away from and enticed into were explained in the verses that led up to when he provided his definition. The claim that God is the one tempting you is impossible because God by nature can’t be tempted and is incapable of being tempted. This is also true of sin, but we’ll establish that in a separate context. Temptation is drawing us away from God’s nature because it naturally follows that God’s nature wouldn’t be to draw something away from Himself. James then goes on to explain the transition from temptation into sin, showing there is a distinction between the two. Illustrating the conception of a human child, the desire he defined as temptation can produce sin if given time and nourishment. The desire that draws you away from God puts you in a state that is sin by definition.

Sin is an archery term that literally means “to miss.” In the context of biblical morality, to sin means to miss God’s nature. Temptation would be the desire to miss this standard, but not the missing in of itself. A desire isn’t an action, but rather a call to action. The reason a Bible-believing Christian needs to clarify the difference is because Jesus demonstrated this first hand. He was tempted, but did not sin. Therefore, it is not a sin to be tempted.

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV)

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
1 Peter 2:21-22 (NKJV)

Peter’s quotation of Isaiah 53:9 in reference to Jesus as well as the author of Hebrew’s point about Jesus being tempted in all ways as we are makes the Christian incapable of concluding that temptation is sinful. Having a desire is something Jesus experienced without sin because it did not draw Him away from the Father’s nature in action or attitude. The desire was there because of His adopting of human nature, but the follow up action of sin those desires were leading Him to were never acted upon because of His nature as God. This is the same premise that James establishes when calling Christians to endure temptation like our Lord did. Through the Holy Spirit, we have the capability of choosing God’s nature above our own.

In conclusion, the differences between Temptation and Sin are as follows;
1. Temptation isn’t sinful. Sin is.
2. Temptation is a desire for separation from God’s nature. Sin is actual separation from God’s nature in action or attitude.
3. Temptation was something Jesus experienced and endured. Sin was something Jesus never committed.

“You can’t stop the birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them from making a nest in your hair.” -Martin Luther

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

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A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – October 16th, 2020

Question of the Week: Is the Bible vague on the topic of Abortion?

The simple answer is no. The only mindset that would allow this kind of conclusion is one that doesn’t want to hear the answer. Or at least, wants to avoid a conclusion that is unpopular or uncomfortable. If the Bible is going to be clear or vague about anything, we need to first clarify how the Bible presents information. Once our standard for a proper handling of scripture has been set, we can use it to determine whether the Bible’s stance on abortion is vague or clear.

If our standard for something being clear is for it to be spoken in a yes or no format in plain English, we’re reading the wrong books. The Bible is a collection of books originally written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic in order to record history, present the character of the God of Israel, and verify His authority through predictive prophecy. If we were looking for a rulebook, we’d need to limit ourselves to the laws of ancient Israel given in Exodus 20-24. Obviously there’s more to the Bible then a list of ethics. A Christian isn’t using to Bible to determine what set of rules will make God bless them. We establish our understanding of His character through the witness He’s left of Himself throughout history. From that understanding of who He is, we are given more reasons to trust Him and recognize He will do right by us. The relationship is based on knowing who you love. It’s not about memorizing a list of His likes and dislikes.

All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge.
Proverbs 8:9-10 (NKJV)

Now that the Bible has been properly defined, how do we recognize its position about certain issues like abortion? Looking for modern terms like Abortion, Pro-Life, or Pro-Choice are non-starters. They didn’t exist at the time scripture was revealed. We shouldn’t expect them to be used. In order to address an issue based on a Biblical worldview, we have to clarify what the issue actually is. The dividing line for those on either side of the Abortion issue is what defines a human life. Those on the side of abortion do not recognize an unborn child as a human life. Thus the accusation of murder is unfounded based on this worldview. Those against abortion believe that life begins at a point within their mother’s womb, rather than at an undefined point outside of it. If Christian scripture makes truth statements that exclude or promote one of these positions over another, then we can come to a clear conclusion about whether the Bible is vague or not.

For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
Psalm 139:13-16 (NKJV)

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:5 (NKJV)

“Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar! The Lord has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name.
Isaiah 49:1 (NKJV)

These passages form the foundation of a Christian’s understanding of abortion. In the Old Testament, we have statements made by David, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, where in their contexts we have them being known by God in their mother’s womb. Thus having identities. They are all given spiritual callings while still in their mother’s womb, thus having agencies. And they are speaking these words both in and outside of a poetic context. If an observation is made in exclusively a poetic setting, one could claim these aren’t necessarily doctrines. Symbolism could be an alternative. However, Isaiah and Jeremiah are speaking in the context of prophecy. If God’s perspective of human life includes the ability to know, speak to, and identify people while they are still in their mother’s womb, then the premise of a pro-abortion worldview is something God disagrees with.

And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
Luke 1:41-44 (NKJV)

Moving on to the New Testament, we have the plainest opposition to the truth claims a pro-abortion argument puts forward. The mothers of John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth are both pregnant with their future children. If they were not yet human, then the only individuals that should be interacting or reacting are the conscious women involved in this situation. Yet this passage claims that a fetus developing within the first trimester was in fact the same Jesus who was recognized as God outside of Mary’s womb. And to verify this, John the Baptist was the one reacting to the presence of his Lord while still in the second trimester of his mother’s womb. There is no room for this passage to be reconciled with the presumptions made by those in favor of abortion.

Is the Bible clear on the topic of abortion? That depends what you mean by clear. If what you mean by clear is that there is a yes or no statement that denounces or promotes abortion in a modern sense, you’re setting up a standard that most legal documents won’t pass. If what you mean by clear is that there are truth statements made in scripture that recognize the life and agency of a child before they are physically born, then it is absolutely clear. The willful ending of a life is murder. If a Christian justifies murder by redefining life in direct contradiction to scripture, they’re not in line with a biblical worldview and would have a hard time applying the same standards to the very things they believe that make them Christian.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

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A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – October 9th, 2020

Question of the Week: Is Isaiah 53:5 talking about physical healing from the effects of disease or spiritual healing from the effects of sin?

Sherlock Holmes had an interesting method of coming to the truth. Once you have ruled out the impossible, whatever is left must be the truth no matter how improbable. In order to understand the true interpretation of this passage, we are going to take a page from Sherlock Holmes and apply the three rules of reading and understanding the Bible. Context, Context, and Context. Does God heal physical diseases? Is this passage quoted anywhere in scripture as the reason someone’s physical disease was healed? And if not, what did the people who witnessed its fulfillment take it to mean?

Does God heal physical diseases? Yes. We have direct reference to Jesus doing exactly that in His earthly ministry. We have further affirmation that the Holy Spirit does this in the church following the Resurrection. And we have celebration of the Father’s goodness including physical healing. This isn’t an area of controversy at all.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
Psalm 103:2-3 (NKJV)

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.
Matthew 4:23 (NKJV)

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
James 5:14-16 (NKJV)

Is Isaiah 53:5 quoted anywhere in scripture as the reason why someone was healed? Old and New Testament examples of people who were allowed to experience physical infirmities for a purpose beyond human understanding wouldn’t apply here, since they took place before Jesus received the stripes that produced access to this kind of healing. (If the text is in fact saying that) We will allow the man born blind in John 9:3 and Job’s physical affliction from Satan in Job 2:8-9 to not apply to this interpretation. The problem is we have people after Jesus’ resurrection that were allowed to remain sick despite this promise being in effect. This leaves us only two possibilities; They were unaware of this promise, or they understood this wasn’t the meaning of that promise. Paul the Apostle was allowed to suffer a physical affliction of the eyes and Jesus allowed him to remain in that state. Paul’s disciple Timothy was encouraged to take advantage of Roman medicine to deal with his frequent stomach problems. And at the end of Paul’s life, he mentions one of his closest companions wasn’t with him due to the fact he was still physically sick. These passages either suggest God failed to keep His promise (the impossible), or that God was promising something else entirely.

No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.
1 Timothy 5:23 (NKJV)

Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.
2 Timothy 4:20 (NKJV)

Since we have ruled out the impossible, where is Isaiah 53:5 actually quoted in the context of healing?

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps. “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 2:21-25 (NKJV)

The Apostle Peter quotes Isaiah 53:5 in the context of our dying to sins and living for righteousness. This is made possible by the fact that He had bourn our sins on the tree He was nailed to, and died for them. Thus the healing we have before God. The fancy seminary term for this is substitutionary atonement. Jesus was our legal substitute before the Father on our behalf. If God’s justice understands the penalty for sin is death, (Romans 6:23), the mercy of God complimented this further by fulfilling the just penalty of death to the letter. Anyone who trusts in Jesus shares in His bodily death to sin, and thus will also benefit from what followed three days later. He rose from the death free from the power of sin and death forever. An ultimate and permanent healing took place on Jesus’ physical body through the Resurrection. This is something we also participate in through the spiritual healing that redemption has made available to us. That is what the entirety of Isaiah 53 was talking about and we have further quotation from the eyewitness of their fulfillment to confirm it.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

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A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – October 2nd, 2020

Question of the Week: Are miscarriages judgement from God?

The answer is no. Whenever anyone goes through any form of suffering or endures some kind of loss, the first and easiest question we ask ourselves is if we are to blame. Without a solid understanding of the character of God and a sound understanding of how God judges anyone will keep you from this form of self-deception. This will not only keep us from a false view of God, but also prevent us from making an already tragic situation worse.

It is natural to seek solace in the face of something as devastating as a miscarriage. The question we need to avoid asking is the same question Job’s friends asked of him when his suffering didn’t fit their understanding of God. The mindset that God owes a trouble-free life to those who diligently seek Him is an unbiblical assumption to make. Our first foundation to avoid this mindset is the life of Jesus Himself. He died young, was abandoned by His family and friends, was subjected to torture on account of the false accusations of a mob, and endured all of this having lived a perfect life. While Jesus’ death was offered as a ransom for our sins, the things He endured in His earthly ministry had nothing to do with what He deserved or didn’t deserve. People were evil to Him because people are evil. This world was cruel to Him because this world is cruel. It was no more judgement from God for Jesus to endure a difficult life then it would be for us. Since Jesus deserved no judgement from God on account of the ways He lived His life, we can’t informatively conclude the same about us.

When getting into specifics, God’s method of judging sin in scripture is very specific. When the nation of Israel and others were judged in the Old Testament, it followed a specific pattern;
1. A Prophetic Warning is given.
2. A Means of Escape is provided.
3. Judgement Falls on those who reject that means of escape.

Example: Noah’s Flood – Genesis 6:13-22, Genesis 7:1-16
1. Noah is warned of the flood and spends 120 years telling everyone it is going to happen.
2. Noah is told to build an ark available to anyone who wanted to get on.
3. God closes the door of the Ark and only then does the Flood begin.

We can also look at the Judgement of Sodom and Gomorrah, Nineveh, Israel, Judah, Babylon, and dozens of other examples. Without an established covenant that includes an explicit description of the consequences when they violate that covenant, you couldn’t biblically support your circumstances as judgement from God. Even Solomon observed that poor circumstances are a constant regardless of whether you’re righteous or wicked. In fact, Solomon concludes the opposite. The people who actually deserve judgement the most see the least amount of consequences for it this side of eternity.

Then I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of holiness, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done. This also is vanity. Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God.
Ecclesiastes 8:10-13 (NKJV)

Likewise, it was common for people who were following Jesus to face persecution for doing the right thing. It wasn’t judgement from God anymore than receiving Jesus as our Lord warrants punishment. The world simply doesn’t like those who go against its programs. Paul the Apostle, for reasons he immediately goes on to give, reminds the Roman Church that while they are persecuted, it doesn’t mean God doesn’t love them.

As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:36-39 (NKJV)

He makes the same point to the church in Corinth.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.
2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (NKJV)

If it can be soundly established that the things we go through in this life aren’t necessarily or even possible to come from God as a form of judgement for the way we lived our lives, the real question is how to properly respond to them. The answer is to grieve. Recognize something horrible has happened and that Jesus will see you through it every step of the way. Take advantage of the people around you, especially in the church, who have gone through similar heartache and receive the necessary comfort. And most importantly, make yourself available to be one of those people for someone else someday.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NKJV)

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

Listen: Monday – Friday 5-6pm, on 106.3FM Reach Radio

Email your questions:

questionsforhope@gmail.com

Follow Twitter: @ScottR4H

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Watch our Frequently Asked Questions on YouTube.

A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – September 25th, 2020

Question of the Week: Why do some people get saved in church after hearing certain messages over others?

It’s important to remember that the primary goal of church gatherings is not for evangelism. It can include that, but the primary focus of hearing sermons and ministering to each other in fellowship is equipping the saints for evangelism. The pastor’s job is to explain what you have to share. It’s the job of church members to take that information and share it with people who haven’t heard it before.

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:11-16 (NKJV)

The reason some people get saved at certain times over others is because people aren’t robots. People are all individually having, growing, or even developing a relationship with God. This isn’t necessarily happening at a universal rate. Some things may be happening in their lives or have happened in their past that causes them to resonate with or dismiss the information they are hearing about God. It is between that individual and the Lord when they have personally changed their mind about Him and are willing to trust His promises. We can’t assume that people have heard, understand, and are willing to make the same kind of decisions that we have in life. God reaches out to every person individually. If they find themselves coming to a decision in or outside of a church service, the result is what matters. As long as they know salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, where and when they came to that decision is a secondary detail.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

Listen: Monday – Friday 5-6pm, on 106.3FM Reach Radio

Email your questions:

questionsforhope@gmail.com

Follow Twitter: @ScottR4H

Follow on CCF Facebook: facebook.com/ccftucson
Watch our Frequently Asked Questions on YouTube.

Follow us on our social media platforms!

A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – January 22nd, 2021

A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – January 15th, 2021

A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – January 8th, 2021

A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – December 11th, 2020

A Reason for Hope Question of the Week, December 4th, 2020

A Reason for Hope Question of the Week, November 25th, 2020

A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – November 20th, 2020

A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – November 13th, 2020

A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – November 11th, 2020

A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – October 30th, 2020

A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – October 23rd, 2020

A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – October 16th, 2020

A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – October 9th, 2020

A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – October 2nd, 2020

A Reason for Hope Question of the Week – September 25th, 2020

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