Most of us, I am sure, have at one time thought about what it is like to die. Many try not to think about it, but we cannot really avoid the thought completely. Those who have said that they died and came back, really didn’t, because if they really had died, they would not have come back! Once the soul returns to God who gave it, this life is all over and no one is revived from that. The accounts we hear are not reliable, and differ from one another, showing that they cannot be depended upon.

But, thankfully, God has given us a brief, but dependable account. Since the Son of God himself spoke it, we know it is reliable. It is not about someone who died and came back, but rather about two people who died and could not come back. The account is, of course, that of the rich man and Lazarus which we find in Luke 16:19-31:

19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house– 28 for I have five brothers–so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'”

This account is different from the parables because of the details given and the amount of conversation recorded. It is also different because the name of a person is used. None of the parables that Jesus spoke ever mentioned the name of a person. This account is a study in contrast, because the life and situation of the two were extremely different. One living in remarkable luxury, able to enjoy all the material things he had, and the other in abject poverty and suffering from illness that made it impossible for him to provide for himself. It is hard to imagine two people so different. Not only are they different materially and in their physical health, but they are also totally different in their spiritual condition.

But, they did have something in common. Being human, both were subject to physical death, and died. But, here again we see contrasts, but they are reversed. The one who was suffering is now comforted and he that had live comfortably is now tormented. This illustrates well the fact that things are often very different from what they appear to be. We generally think that having things in this life is synonymous with being “well off,” and that being poor, materially speaking, and sick would be the opposite. But, this account teaches us very clearly, that to think that way is to be totally wrong. Jesus said in Luke 12:15:

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Could there be a better illustration of this truth than what we have in the account of these two individuals? Whatever the rich man had acquired is of no use to him now to obtain what he needs most, the salvation of his soul. Is it any surprise, then, that Jesus has told us in Matthew 6:19-21:

19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Someone has said, you cannot take it with you, but you can send it on ahead. This seems to agree with the sentiment of what Jesus said. At least Lazarus had some crumbs from the rich man’s table, but the “rich” man now has nothing, not even a drop of water to cool his tongue. He now desires mercy, a characteristic that had been so noticeably absent in his behavior toward Lazarus. He requests comfort, but none can be given to him.

Many might think that the “rich” man was condemned because he was rich and that the “poor” man was accepted by God because he had been poor and suffered so much. But, they would be wrong! A man’s spiritual condition is not based on how rich or poor he is, but on whether the person’s heart has been changed to be like God’s. It is very obvious that the “rich” man did not love, he did not care about spiritual things, about his soul, or about the souls around him. His heart was not like God’s. Evidently, the “poor” sick man had, during in his life, learned to love, to care, to change his heart to be in harmony with God’s heart through giving attention to God’s word. Coming to be like God does not require money, position, or influence, but only a heart that seeks God and obeys His word. What a blessing lay at the gate of the rich man, if he only had taken the time to get to know this righteous man! The rich man might have received of Lazarus more than he would have ever given to this poor sick man.

Realizing that his situation had no solution, he turned his thoughts to his five brothers. He seems to realize that their situation is not any better than his and that they needed to change in order not to suffer the same fate as he. How sad that all the days of his life, he did not pay attention to his spiritual needs, nor to those of his brothers. All his life he had attended to material things. He had never thought seriously enough about the reality of spiritual things.

The solution he suggests to the situation of his brothers, like the request he made for himself, involves a request for Lazarus’ assistance. But, Abraham tells him that provision has already been made to warn his brothers. The expression, “They have Moses and the prophets….” refers not to the Moses and the prophets, personally, but rather to the Scripture that Moses and the prophets had delivered to the people by the inspiration the Spirit. The “rich” man counters that if someone would appear to them from the dead, that surely would impress them more effectively. Abraham answers that if the word of God does not change them, even a resurrection from the dead would not do so. Here God reveals to us that His word is the only power needed to change the heart of a person. For this reason, we have recorded in Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” People today often think that some “miracle” is required to change the heart of a person. They are mistaken. There is no other power as Paul, the apostle, explains to us in Romans 1:16:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

If people are to be saved, it will not be by the power of modern-day signs, wonders, or miracles done by men’s hands. It will be because they listened to God’s word and applied their life by obeying it. That is the only hope!

The account ends here. But, it is obvious that we have learned much from it. First, that the spiritual is just as real, and is indeed more important than the material, because this life is for a short time, and eternity is forever. Secondly, the time to prepare is now! After death, there is no way to prepare or change our situation before God. No amount of prayers, donations, or rituals will ever change anything after our death. We have also learned that what is most important in life is not bought with money. It is available even to the poorest among us. God has given it to us freely. No amount of money can save our soul. Only the precious blood of Christ can do that! That is available if we learn God’s word, the only power to change the heart, and if we obey it. It is clear too that if we are to do anything for our family, friends, and the people we live with day by day, if we are to show God’s love in our life, we must do it now. Someday, that opportunity will be gone.

Finally, we can say that this account has shown us what is really important in life, and that if we miss this chance to become like God and do his will, we have missed it completely, no matter what we may have enjoyed here. As God tells us in Mark 8:36, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” Are you winning or loosing in life? When it is all said and done, what will your eternal destination be? In the light of what we have studied, how should you change your life to really consider yourself successful? In conclusion, we can say that if we live our whole life and never come to be like God in our thoughts, our words, and our actions, it would, indeed, have been better for us if we had never lived!

1. It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere.

John 8:31
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in 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.”

2 John 1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

2. Baptism is the external sign of an inward grace, but not necessary to be saved.

Mark 16:15-16
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

2 Thessalonians 1:8
in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Acts 22:16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

3. Baptism can be by immersion, pouring, or sprinkling.

Romans 6:4
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Colossians 2:12
having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Baptism that is not by immersion is not baptism as God has commanded.

4. It doesn’t matter what church you go to as long as you are sincere.

Matthew 16:18 Jesus said “…I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

5. All you have to do to be saved is believe and say the sinners prayer.

Campus Crusade for Christ:

Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.

The Bible doesn’t teach us to say any prayer for salvation. However it does tell us how one asks for salvation:

1 Peter 3:21
Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

6. Don’t be too concerned with your salvation, Jesus died, God has saved us, and everything is okay.

Philippians 2:12
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

Our salvation is the most important matter we will ever be concerned with in life. It can never be taken lightly. It has to do with where we will spend eternity. We must take it seriously. Many of the decisions in life are not easy!

Introduction:

There are those who would say that there is no difference between one who is a follower of Christ and those who are not, except that the disciple has have received Christ in their heart and accepted salvation through the grace of God. They say that we are all sinners and all make mistakes. When those who call themselves followers of Christ live much as everyone else in the world, they often excuse themselves and say, “Well we are not perfect, but we are saved.”

Those around us who see the lives of those who profess to be followers of Christ often are very skeptical and say, “In what way are they different, they do the same things I do. They cheat a little to get by, they lie once in a while when that’s what it takes. They come out with a dirty joke or blurt out a curse word when they get mad or something hurts them.” From this they conclude that Christians are a bunch of hypocrites. This makes it very hard for anyone attempting to teach others about Christ to get people to take them seriously. The non-Christian already thinks it is impossible to really live the Christian life, and the lives of those who claim to be Christians seems to them to be the best proof of that.

So, it is important to analyze and see. Is the only difference in the life of the follower of Christ the fact that he trusts in Christ to forgive his sins through grace and the non-Christian does not? Does the Scripture indicate that there is a difference in the life that the Christian lives? Let us see what God says about this.

It is not necessary to spend much time discussing whether the follower of Christ is saved by grace. We know that is true. Nor would it be correct to say that the Christian doesn’t ever sin. We know that all sin. Then in what way is the follower of Christ different?

In this lesson we will prove from what we see in the Bible that there is a real and substantial difference in the life of a true follower of Christ. The reasons why this must be so will be stated one by one throughout this lesson.

Reason 1: True disciples of Christ have made a choice.

Notice what we find in Galatians 5:24 “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Those who are not followers of Christ have not made this decision yet. Crucified means to put it to death. God’s Spirit revealed through Paul the inspired apostle that it was that fact that made it impossible for the Christian to live as he did before. Romans 6:1-4 says:

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

There are two points that are especially important here. First, we see the reason stated why the one who is baptized (immersed in water) cannot continue to accept sin as a way of life. The believer has “died to sin.” Notice also, that the words here say “live in it (sin).” This is not talking about fall, a mistake as the result of a momentary weakness. It is talking about continuing to practice disobedience as a way of life. This verse says that such is an impossibility. That type of life that the person lived before has come to an abrupt end because of a change in the person’s way of thinking. When one hears what Christ did to save him, when he sees the price Christ paid, it so impacts his thinking that he now hates sin. Living that way anymore is something he can no longer tolerate. That way of life is dead! This change is what the New Testament calls repentance. Because this change has taken place the person’s life, he will never be the same again unless he denies his choice to serve God and decides to return to the former way of living. In this case he would no longer be considered a follower of Christ. That is a real possibility, and the nature of that turning back is described in 2 Peter 2:20-22:

20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

Reason 2: The difference is commanded by God and no one can be called a follower of Christ if he does not show that difference in his life.

First we see 2 Timothy 2:19:

But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

The change is not an option. It is a mandatory change. It is a requirement in order for God to accept the person as 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 shows clearly. As he writes concerning the necessity of separating themselves from idolatrous practices Paul writes this:

17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

Not touching the unclean thing refers to leaving sin and all false religion. That is a necessary for us to be “sons and daughters.”

Also in Romans 12:2:

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Followers of Christ, live differently because their minds have been changed or transformed by learning God’s word. The change is visible to people around them. Indeed, there is a real contrast. Philippians 2:12-15 points this out:

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

In order for them to be lights in the world, there had to be a noticeably different behavior. This is far beyond simply “going to church” or reading the Bible, or giving money to a religious institution. It was a real change in life. This is spoken of in 1 Peter 4:1-4:

1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;

Notice that there was so much difference between their life and the life of those in the world around them that the people who had known them before they came to be followers of Christ were disturbed by the difference. The difference was such that it gave rise to criticism.

Reason 3: The difference in the way of life is necessary in order for God to be glorified and to provoke others to take the Christian way of living seriously enough to make a change in their own life.

This is clear from what we find in 1 Peter 2:12-16:

12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

The difference in the way of living would cause people to glorify God. This could only be true if there were substantial positive changes in the character of the people who’s lives they were observing. Christians should always be aware that there are always those who observe them and that their lives in all aspects either glorify God or cause the name of God to be spoken against.

Even the behavior of slaves that were followers of Christ was to have that same effect as we see in Titus 2:9-12:

Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

Adorn here means to make more attractive, more beautiful. They were to adorn the teaching of Christ so that those who were unbelievers would want to listen to it. It was unlikely that the slave master would want to hear anything from an untrustworthy slave who was always arguing and giving him problems.

1 Peter 3:1-5 teaches that the ladies who were Christ’s followers were to exhibit changed lives so that if their husbands had not obeyed Christ yet, they would be attracted to do so.

1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external–the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear– 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands,

We see that being a follower of Christ was to affect the behavior of the wives, causing them to be respectful, pure and showing an excellent character and creating in them a gentile and quiet spirit. It even influenced them to dress themselves modestly, putting emphasis on the spiritual, not the physical or outward beauty. These changes that were created in her by God’s word were impressive enough to potentially change their husbands and cause them to obey Christ.

Reason 4: The difference is necessary so that the follower of God may be partakers of the divine nature.

This is the reason for all that God has done with mankind. Unless that change has taken place, nothing has been accomplished. The change of heart (repentance) that God has produced though his goodness produces a change in what the person desires. As he turns away from sin and turns to doing right, we begin to see a person who has God’s nature. That simply means that the person begins to think, speak, and act as God does.

That is what 2 Peter 1:4 says:

by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

2 Corinthians 3:18 is also important to notice in this respect:

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

It is a process, as we see from the words “are being transformed.” But, no true follower of Christ will exempt himself from this change. This change is not automatic! It requires study, prayer and obedience. 1 Peter 1:14-19 also instructs us:

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

God requires that we be like Him. This effects all our conduct in everything we do. We mirror in our words and deeds the One who’s image we wear.

Reason 5: The follower of Christ must be holy in order to carry out His work that is required of all who are his followers.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

This verse says that followers of Christ are a special people selected by God and made holy and able to carry out the work of causing others to see how great and wonderful God is. How difficult, yes even impossible it would be for people who are not a holy people to carry out such a work. Holiness is necessary to have a relationship with God. A relationship with God is necessary to be able to do his work. John 15:3-5 is clear:

3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Without that purity and that relationship with God that it makes possible, we could not cause people in this world to see the glory of God.

Conclusion:

There are many, many other parts of the Scripture that we could mention here. But, what has been presented shows that there is a great difference between the life of the follower of Christ and those who have not yet made the determination to serve Him. The difference is not just some vague belief in God and Christ. The difference exists because there has been a change of heart, a decision that the true Christian has made to leave sin and change his life in response to the commands of God so that he can show a good example and glorify God in all he does. His ability to carry out the work that God has given him depends upon that!

We must refuse the shallow and unproductive teaching that one is saved by the grace of God simply by believing, without the change of heart and life that Christ requires of his followers. There is no joy and no victory in continuing in a life of sin, never becoming like God or equipping ourselves to carry out his work of showing forth his glory to others in this dark world. The wicked people of this world will not be motivated to change if we, ourselves, are not changed by that which we profess!

The grace of God, far from making us comfortable in our error and disobedience, calls for repentance and change in the way one lives. God says in Romans 2:4-6

4 Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, and the forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But according to your hardness and your impenitent heart, do you treasure up wrath for yourself in a day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who will render to each according to his works;

Also in Titus 2:11-14 He says,

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that having denied ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live discreetly, righteously and godly, in this present world, 13 looking for the blessed hope, and the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify to Himself a special people, zealous of good works.

Paul, by inspiration of God said in Romans 6:1-4:

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound? 2 Let it not be! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father; even so we also should walk in newness of life.

The grace of God must not be used as like a rag to wipe up the filth of a life too dedicated to its own desires and selfish ends. Rather, it offers the possiblity of a new life dedicated to God’s purposes. In Hebrews 10:26-29 we find the following:

Heb 10:26-29 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful looking for judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He who despised Moses’ Law died without mercy on the word of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy of punishment, the one who has trampled the Son of God, and who has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

Keep on living in sin is as described in verse 29 above as:

– Trampling the Son of God
– treating the blood of the covenant as an unholy thing
– insulting the Spirit of grace

Christ did not die on the cross for us to stay the same, but so that we might live through Him. God’s grace makes it possible to grow to be more and more like Him. And let us hate sin and turn away from it, because our sin is the reason Christ had to die.

We must remember that worship is not something to please us, but something in which we seek to please God. He does not have to specify everything he doesn’t want us to do. When he specifies what he wants us to do, we show our respect for God by doing that and nothing else.

Colossians 3:16-17

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

The singing that God commands is done with the voice. Although the practice of using various instruments other than the voice can be found in the Old Testament, it was not authorized nor taught for the worship of Christians in the New Testament. We should avoid adding practices that are not established by God in the New Testament, which is the law for the church that Christ established.

God will not tolerate men adding or taking away from what He has commanded. Although other instruments that are not the human voice may please people, we have no indication that they please God. To the contrary, since He has established what is best for us, we cannot presume to add what He has not established.

God’s purpose has been made clear in Colossians 3:16-17 – that by the words we sing we should teach and exhort one another. Other instruments invented by people do not do that. Actually, looking closely we see that there are two instruments mentioned in these verses: the heart and the voice. One serves to express ourselves to God and the other to help one another. They are sufficient for everything that God desires. Anything more than these will only serve as to obstruct and distract from the purpose that God has planned for our well-being, and the use of such things shows our lack of respect for what God has commanded and a lack of confidence that what God has commanded is really sufficient. Let us do then what our Lord has commanded, because in that we can have complete confidence!

Unity among Christians can only be reached by obeying what God commands. To introduce other practices that the Lord has not commanded destroys unity, because there cannot be any conviction in such things. As God says in Colossians 3:17, we must do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. We cannot do in his name that which He never commanded.

For those who love God and want do do His will, what has been said here will be sufficient. For those who want what they prefer and have determined that they will do what they like, volumes of information would not be adequate to change their opinion.

Preaching has been dishonored by many things over the centuries since the church began with that well-known sermon recorded in Acts 2. It has been used as a political tool. It has been used to “show off” the intelligence and skill of preachers looking for notoriety or sometimes to teach any preposterous theory of religion that one might dream up. Some have used it to simply criticize and condemn or to control others. It has also been used as a highly honored position and a highly paid profession that does done more to honor a man than to do the Lord’s work. And, how can we fail to mention the problem of the immoral lives of some of those who preach. Is it any surprise then that preaching is often not respected in the eyes of man? The devil has used these perversions of preaching to deaden the influence of the very instrument that God chose to save the world.

1 Corinthians 1:21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe.

Also we see in Romans 1:16-17:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is revealed the righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith.

Yes, the Devil through all these centuries has been chipping away at the credibility of that which God chose to get the saving message out to those for whom Christ shed his blood and died. He knows that if he can destroy the credibility of preaching, he can do much to interfere with the communication of the saving message and prevent people from making the necessary changes in their lives to have a relationship with God and become like God. (See 2 Peter 1:4 “…partakers of the divine nature.”)

The Devil has also been working on another front to obscure the saving message. This method of the Devil is really very old, but is very evident today. Some are emphasizing the “toning down” of preaching. It is said that if we deemphasize certain parts of God’s word that might bother some people, that we can attract more people. Even in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 30:10 we see this tendency:

who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions,

In contrast to this, the Spirit revealed to Paul the following:

preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

While we should never use preaching to only criticize and condemn, neither should we eliminate parts of the message to avoid offending those who are practicing things that are hurtful to them and to others. A message that doesn’t disturb sinful individuals will not change them either! Not speaking specifically about the sin and evil that is destroying peoples lives, makes preaching irrelevant to daily life, and renders it unable to change people in a way that would make it possible for them to become like God and have a relationship with Him. Preach the “the whole counsel of God!” Acts 20:26-27

The life of Abraham is a very interesting subject of study. His life history is found in the Old Testament book of Genesis, and he is mentioned in in many New Testament books. One of the most impressive events of his life is that of his attempted sacrifice of his son, at the command of God, that is found in Genesis 22.

Sometimes things happen in our life that we never expect. I am sure that when God spoke to him, he was not expecting what God would require of him. We find in Genesis 22:2:

He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

It is important that we read this account, not as just a story or fable, but as an actual occurrence! This was the son that Abraham had wanted so much and waited for so long. He was the son that God had promised, who would continue his lineage. If he were to kill him, then how would that be fulfilled? Hebrews 11:17 makes reference to that, saying the following:

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”

What is the reaction of Abraham to this commandment of God that he should sacrifice his son? The interesting thing about the reaction is that, according to what we have written, there appears to be no questioning, no “How could this be?” No, “How can you, a just God ask this of me?” The following is what we have recorded in Genesis 22:3:

So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

This is all that is recorded about it here in the Genesis account. The Scripture does not even say if he told his wife what he intended to do, and he certainly did not say anything to his son. We know this because his son, as they make the final walk to the place of sacrifice, asks him where the sacrifice is. Abraham simply replied that God would provide. Nor does the Scripture explain what went on in the mind of Isaac when his father tied him up and put him on the altar. There are so many things that are not revealed concerning this dramatic occurrence in the life of Abraham, things that we as human beings like to think about, but they are certainly not what is really important about this unusual occasion.

Abraham took in hand the knife to kill his son, and an angel spoke to him from heaven and said:

“Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

What went though the mind of Abraham? What was his thought process? We might not have clearly understood if we only had the account in Genesis, but in the New Testament in Heb 11:17-19 we find this important key:

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

Notice that when he left the young men some distance away from the place of sacrifice, he told them:

…”Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” Genesis 22:5

Notice his words. “I AND the boy will go…and come again to you.” His words were not idle words, nor was he just lying to cover up what he intended to do. He believed God completely, and that became the key. He knew that his descendants would come from this son. That is what God had promised him. So he concluded that even if he sacrificed his son, God would raise him up again to perform what He, who cannot lie, had promised. Therefore, he said that he AND the boy would come back. We cannot but be amazed at how Abraham’s confidence in God and His promises provided the key and made it possible for Abraham to endure this seemingly unbearable experience.

As we consider seriously this event, it makes us understand something very important about our existence. If the purpose of life is to live a comfortable, peaceful existence, avoiding suffering and enjoying the rich blessing of God, why was Abraham put through all this? The answer is that such is NOT the purpose of life. God wanted Abraham to see that he could not love anything else more than God nor depend on anything else but God. That is the lesson Abraham’s experience has to teach us. Life is not just an opportunity to accomplish our goals, impress others with our ability, make a good life for ourself, have a good time, avoid suffering, or leave a great legacy, as many would think. It is about becoming like God. That is impossible without totally and completely depending on Him and doing what He says.

Another aspect of this event is that we discover that a man was willing to do for God what God was later to do for man—give his son. As terrible as it is that God should have to make such a sacrifice, at least it is strikingly appropriate that there was a man of faith was willing to give his son to obey God.

Also, this paragraph in the history of Abraham’s life shows us what is absolutely necessary in order for us to be followers of God today—an ability to give everything to God, to pay the ultimate price. Jesus said to the great crowds that followed him when he was here on the earth in Luke 14:26-28:

26 If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?

The price that we must pay is EVERYTHING. Everything must be given to God. Anything less is inappropriate, because everything belongs to Him. God has given His Son for us. He will accept from us nothing less than total dedication and obedience. Only in this way can we become like Him.

So we can see that this experience in Abraham’s life surprises us with its riches of understanding concerning God, about life, and about what God is trying to accomplish in us. Those who claim to follow Abraham and his faith should take a lesson from Abraham’s example: true faith always trusts God enough to do what He says (no faith WITHOUT the price of obedience here)!