From the Chaplain

We Shall All Be Changed!

Paul had instructed the Corinthian believers on both the reality (I Corinthians 15:4) and the necessity (I Corinthians 15:14) of Christ’s bodily resurrection from the dead. He also confirmed the inevitability of the believer’s resurrection (I Corinthians 15:20) and the nature of that resurrected body (I Corinthians 15:42-44). But what about those believers still alive at Christ’s return? Resurrection is by definition a “post-mortem” event. One cannot be raised from the dead if he or she has not died first. How would these ones share in the glories of the resurrection body to which Paul spoke so promisingly?

The answer is quite simple and rests in the mighty power of God. “Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed” (I Corinthians 15:51-52; emphasis added). The word “sleep” is a reference to death for the Christian. Those who have believed in Christ and have died are counted as “asleep” in the Lord. Their spirits are at “home” with the Lord in heaven and their bodies await resurrection.

In his first epistle to the Thessalonians, Paul provides some insight to this marvelous event. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep” (I Thessalonians 4:14-15). Christ will return for all those who “believe that Jesus died and rose again”, i.e. have put their trust in his sacrifice on Calvary for their sin (Romans 10:9-10), whether they have died or are still living. Those that are living shall not precede (prevent, old English) those that are asleep. Those that are asleep shall be raised and all shall be changed!

Paul tells us that this will happen “in the twinkling of an eye,” about as near to instantaneous as one might guess. He goes on to say (speaking of our bodies) “when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then…Death is swallowed up in victory” (I Corinthians 15:54). There is no death for the Christian! Rather, we are “fashioned like unto his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21).

Christ is indeed coming again. When he ascended into heaven in the presence of his disciples after his resurrection, Luke records for us that “a cloud received him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). Those watching his ascension received the promise “this same Jesus…shall so come [again] in like manner” (Acts 1:11). To this Paul adds “then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds…and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (I Thessalonians 4:17). Are you ready for his coming?

Grace for Living

What a frustrating and disappointing life most Americans live and, sad to say, many believers as well. We are constantly seeking and pursuing ease, comfort, and convenience only to find that such a “quality of life” is fleeting and elusive at best. We deceive ourselves about the enduring nature of these longings. They prove time and again that they are momentary in nature while the predominant nature of life is difficult, challenging, and marked by setbacks and disappointments. I am not trying to paint a despairing picture, but one that is accurate and realistic with the hope of shaping a right attitude to daily living.

Consider these observations. Making a living is just plain hard work. Adam’s transgression in the garden of Eden guaranteed that. As a result of his disobedience, God told Adam, “cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life…in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread” (Genesis 3:17-19). Nothing has changed since that time. Work may be different in kind, but not in character. We may sit at a desk instead of standing in a field, but we still go to bed tired every night.

Raising a family is hard work, too. The fact that we are all sinners gives that endeavor more than its share of difficulty and disappointments. We struggle to manage competing interests, schedules, and pursuits in the midst of uncooperative externalities. We find it hard to come together and easy to grow apart.

We find our lives are lived in a moment of time marked by tiring labor, frustrating endeavors, and too many disappointments. There are no do-overs. Our only option is to just pick up where we left off and move forward. All of this is carried out in bodies that increasingly reveal their mortality. We battle the threat of sickness from birth to death.

Sin has made life hard. That is reality. The fact that sin is universal means we all share in the struggles of living. That, too, is reality. Our relentless pursuit for ease, comfort, and convenience inevitably proves ultimately futile and leaves us disappointed, discouraged and discontent. Yet, God has given us a refuge.

The Apostle Paul wrote of a “thorn in the flesh” that he had “besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me”. But God answered him, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). The grace of God is the power that enables EVERY right response to ALL of life’s hardships, difficulties, and disappointments. His grace renews our dissipated strength to face each new labor. His grace gives wisdom to address the otherwise insurmountable complexities of raising a family. His grace gives power to live victoriously in the midst of sickness and declining health. This grace is in God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

Instead of chasing after that which we cannot obtain, let us draw upon the inexhaustible grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and live joyfully and victoriously in the midst of life’s hardships. This is the believer’s portion until Christ returns. Are you living by this grace?

Saving Our Souls

James teaches us in his epistle that God uses His word to impart spiritual life. We read that “of his [God’s] own will begat he us with the word of truth” (James 1:18). James goes on to say to these born-again ones that this same word “is able to save your souls” (James 1:21), i.e. make your lives genuinely profitable to the One who gave you life. God gives life to men and women who are spiritually dead that they might know God, serve God, and enjoy God. None of this can occur independent of His word and without His working. As you can see, Christianity is necessarily a God-centered religion. By that we mean that the very aim of Christianity is the glory of God.

It is true – man needs a Savior. His sin is thorough and enslaves him to selfish and deceitful lusts. This is true of every man and woman born into this world. Do not mistake the occasional kind word or good deed as signs of spiritual life. Everyone in a cemetery is dead. Some may be more corrupt than others, but I assure you they are all equally dead. So it is with mankind apart from the grace of God. We are born spiritually separated from God because of our sin. The most refined gentleman is no closer to God than the most hardened criminal. Yet God through the word of His gospel imparts life and saves our souls redeeming them from the destructive influence and effect of sin.

But James takes it further. As dear children of God, in order for this word to have its transforming effect, we must obey it. Listen to James exhort his audience, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22). If we are to know victory over sinful thoughts, words and deeds, we must obey His word. The Psalmist understood the necessity of God’s word in his battle with sin. He wrote “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed there to according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9). Later in that same Psalm he wrote “Order my steps in thy word and let not any iniquity have dominion over me” (Psalm 119:133, emphasis added). Obedience to God’s word pleases him and glorifies his holy character, the very essence of what James means when tells us the word it able to “save our souls”.

You see then that Christianity entails much more than simply “going to heaven”. It is about a life that is transformed by the gospel unto obedience to his word for his glory. Christianity is all about God. Is your soul profitable to God? He can make it to be so.

Avoiding Sexual Sin

After reminding the Corinthian believers of their deliverance from the sins that previously characterized their lives and the lives of those among whom they now lived, Paul gave a stern warning to depart from sexual sin. He wrote to them, “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against the body” (I Corinthians 6:18).

Fornication includes all forms of sexual sin and deviancy. The warning is to flee rather than fight. This sin is too powerful. It is best for us that we keep ourselves rightly distanced from its presence and power. A good example in the Scriptures is Joseph who served as the steward of Potiphar’s household. Potiphar’s wife sought frequently to entice Joseph to commit adultery as he necessarily went about doing the business under his care. As the invitations became more frequent and bold “she caught him by the garment, saying, lie with me” and the Scriptures tell us that “he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out” (Genesis 39:12). We overcome some sins by running from them. Paul understood that sexual sins are just this type.

Having shared this admonition with his audience, Paul explained why it was necessary. He asked, “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (I Corinthians 6:19-20). The “price” Paul refers to is the blood of Jesus Christ by which we have been redeemed. Peter reminds us that as Christians, we “were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold…, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (I Peter 1:18-19).

Paul declares unto these believers that the third Person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit, dwells in them and this is true of every child of God! Paul wrote to the believers in Galatia, “God sent forth his Son…to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons and because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:4-6, emphasis added). Because the Spirit dwells in us, we are His temple.

Finally, because we have been redeemed and the Spirit of God dwells in us, we are not our own. We belong to God. Consequently, we are to glorify God in our body (and in our spirit) because He goes where we go! Paul’s warning to flee fornication has this truth behind it – we are God’s, purchased at great price, for his glory.

A Prayer That Avails Much

James closes his epistle with a simple declarative statement followed by a supporting illustration. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth her fruit” (James 5:16-18).

The statement has a promise rooted in two conditions. The promise is prayer avails, i.e., helps or benefits, much. We might recognize it as the familiar “prayer changes things.” In those two words, “avails much”, the most despairing heart finds hope. Seldom have two words offered so much. “Avails much” is for any and every circumstance no matter how bitter and hopeless it may be. No matter how unchangeable the situation may seem, these two words stand with an unchanging invitation. Prayer changes things because prayer brings us to the God of hope.

But there are conditions that make this prayer availing. The first is this prayer is the prayer of a righteous man. He is a righteous man because his sins have been forgiven. Consequently, he has a standing before God that is not of his own merit, but his righteousness has been purchased by the blood of Christ Jesus. This righteous standing with God leads to a walk of righteousness before men. The righteous man is a man that knows God through faith in Christ and seeks to please God through obedience to his word. God is neither obligated nor compelled to hear the prayers of those who do not know him or disregard his will. He is eager, however, to hear the prayers of his obedient children!

The second condition describes the prayer whereas the first condition described the man. James speaks of an “effectual fervent prayer.” Prayers that are effectual are prayers that produce or are aimed at producing a desired effect. There is purpose to them, i.e. a purpose that is rooted in the will of God. Elijah is set forth here as one whose prayers were effectual. He prayed that it would not rain and “it rained not”; he prayed again for it to rain and “the heaven gave rain.” His prayer was not whimsical, but consistent with God’s purpose in dealing with Israel. In Deuteronomy 28:24, God had promised to withhold rain when his people disobeyed his covenant. Elijah’s prayers were intended to show his people their departure from God.

Fervent prayers are heartfelt. They are sincere in how they are offered up and just as sincere in their expectation of finding an audience with God. These prayers are passionate in seeking the God of heaven’s action. Again, James points to Elijah whose passions are like our own. That is, we have the same opportunity to enjoin God in this kind of prayer. The prayer of a righteous man avails much. What a challenge! What an opportunity! What a privilege!

Be Dependable

It has been conjectured “The greatest ability is depend-ability.” Over the years I’ve come to agree with that simple maxim. We are often tempted to think that what we do is not that important and, therefore, does not matter. We begin to question its significance altogether. Eventually, we see our daily duties become drudgery and our investment in performing them wanes.

For the believer, there is no duty so inconsequential that it is lost to the Lord’s observation. We are reminded that “even a cup of cold water” given in the name of a disciple shall be rewarded (Matthew 10:42). You see, when it comes to serving Christ, there is no small or inconsequential duties. Paul exhorted the Colossian believers “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24).

The challenge then lies not in seeking for some great thing to accomplish, but rather accomplishing the common things well. Solomon accomplished many great things yet came to understood that life was a series of small events strung together over a brief existence. This brevity of opportunity lends its own importance to what we do. He charged his readers, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, wither thou goest” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Let’s not wait for that one great task to define us as individuals. Rather, let us be like the Savior for it was simply said of him, “He hath done all things well” (Mark 7:37). Let us be dependable in the small duties of life performing them to the best of our ability for there are those who are depending on us!

No Respecter of Persons

James, the Apostle and the Lord’s half-brother, makes this simple yet binding command to his fellow believers. “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons” (James 2:1). This seems straightforward enough – as a Christian we are not to show favoritism and, consequently, treat men differently for any cause. In the context he sets forth an illustration of a rich man who received better seating in their assembly than a poor man. He rebukes them for their partiality and calls them “judges of evil thoughts” (James 2:4).

The Scriptures declare that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, emphasis added). It is before Christ, the very Lord of Glory, as James refers to him, that we all fall short. Differences between us are meaningless before him “with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13). Hence, there is no basis for preferential treatment since a man’s education, wealth, or position makes him no better or worse in the eyes of God.

Rather, all men are made in the image of God which makes each man worthy of honor and respect. That image is indeed marred by sin, but it remains indelibly imprinted on every man. It is God’s desire to restore this image. To that end he “gave his only begotten Son that whosever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). We call this the gospel of Jesus Christ and it is through this gospel that God deals with the problem of sin. Through this gospel, the image of God can be restored in the chief (pinnacle-foremost) of God’s creation, mankind.

As followers of Christ we are then to view each and every man as one for whom Christ died; each one as bearing that divine image though marred; each one standing no further from the cross than we ourselves. We must see men in the context of their relationship to God their Creator and not how they compare to one another. This is the message James writes to these scattered believers.

We lose sight of this truth all too readily. We compare ourselves among ourselves as Paul writes to the Corinthians, but in so doing we “are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12). We continue to frame our judgements of one another on the basis of what we see and know of men rather than what we know from God. James would have us to know this one thing. I am equal to every other man and every other man is equal to me in this most important regard – we are all sinners before a holy God and need his grace!

Walk as Dear Children

In James’ epistle he relates that God caused us to be born again according to his own will by the word of God. He includes in that revelation the purpose of the new birth, i.e. that those born-again ones “should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures” (James 1:18). What does James mean by this statement? In the creation account we read “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so” (Genesis 1:11; emphasis added). Simply stated, an apple tree bears apples and only apples – and the seed to make more apple trees and apples is in itself.

God, wanting to restore the divine image in man marred by sin, needed to create a new nature in his creation – a nature that would bear fruit that glorified God. This fruit is the very life of God Himself manifest in the believer. Paul speaks of such qualities as “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” and calls them the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23). We see then that it is the Spirit of God acting in the child of God that produces this fruit in him – a fruit that is “after his kind”.

As our parents gave birth to each of us and we resemble them, in like fashion God through His Spirit causes us to be born again and we take on His image. James goes on to explain how the heavenly Father accomplishes this. He exhorts “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20). In the context, the admonition is to give heed to the word of God and resist the natural leading of the old life, which cannot please God. It is through the word of God, i.e. listening to it and obeying it that we take on that “family” resemblance.

James then urges his readers to “lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). The word of God properly rooted in our lives through actively yielding to it makes our lives profitable unto the glory of God. It is in this sense that James speaks of the word as being “able to save your souls”. Having been born again we are called upon to depart from wickedness and, as Paul calls it, “be followers (imitators) of God, as dear children” (Ephesians 5:1; emphasis added).

Summarizing, those who have been born into the family of God through the new birth are being conformed into the image of His dear Son by the ministry of His Spirit through the work of His word. When we reflect on this, we must declare with John, the Apostle, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (I John 3:1).

The Gospel

The Apostle Paul writes to the church at Corinth “I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand” (I Corinthians 15:1; emphasis added). The word “gospel” is mentioned 101 times in the New Testament. Yet for all its repetition and teaching, it has come to take on many meanings in the two thousand years since Christ walked on the earth. We would do well to remind ourselves exactly what Paul meant when he referred to the “gospel”. After all, the gospel is “the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16).

Paul reminds his audience of “what I preached unto you” (I Corinthians 15:2) and in so doing unpacks for us exactly what is the gospel. “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (I Corinthians 15:3-4). This is the gospel according to the scriptures, i.e. Jesus Christ died for our sins; he was buried; and, he rose again the third day. Nothing more, nothing less.

Note that he died for our sins. He did not die as a martyr. His death was not merely a miscarriage of justice. Nor did he give his life as some kind of example of self-sacrifice. Christ died for our sins. He willingly laid down his life as a sacrifice on our behalf to satisfy the wrath of God. The scriptures teach that we have all sinned, “as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Romans 3:10-12). What an indictment of humanity! We think so wonderfully of ourselves when we compare ourselves to others, but before a holy God, who can stand?

God is righteous to be offended by our sin and his wrath is just. Before the court of heaven there is but one judgment for each of us – guilty. Sin’s punishment is death (Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 6:23) and Jesus Christ suffered on the cross to pay that penalty. He died for you and he died for me. In fact, the scriptures tell us that his blood paid the sins for the entire world (I John 2:2). This is the “good news” of the gospel for the word “gospel” means “good news”.

This is the “good news” that we actually celebrate, perhaps many unwittingly, at Christmas. To the shepherds abiding in the field, the angel declared “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings (the “good news”) of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). Christ is the Savior! He died in my place to pay sin’s penalty. With sin’s debt paid, God is free to forgive any and all who accept Christ’s payment on their behalf. The opportunity to have my sins forgiven is good news indeed! Have you received God’s good news?

The Day of Death

Solomon wrote “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth” (Ecclesiastes 7:1). What an odd pairing it might seem at first glance of these two statements. Yet the author has a clear truth he intends on communicating if we take the time to reflect on his assertion in the context he gives. He follows up this statement with “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to heart” (Ecc. 7:2).

A good name speaks of reputation earned by the consistent pursuit of that which is wholesome, good, and virtuous. Precious ointment was indicative of affluence or wealth in his culture. Simply speaking, Solomon declares that character is more important than wealth. But the opportunity to cultivate a good name is limited to this life for it is only at death that a good name is no longer at risk.

We all know how easily a reputation is tarnished by some momentary indiscretion. Solomon wrote “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor; so does a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor” (Ecc. 10:1). Recognizing the brevity of life and the certainty of death, Solomon is challenging his audience to number their days and with deliberation choose those paths that make for a good name. This we learn by going to the house of mourning.

When we go to the funeral of a friend or family member, we are confronted with death’s certainty and a wise man will learn from that experience. We see the frailty of life and sense our own mortality. It is a teachable moment as Solomon calls it. We are confronted with the opportunity to weigh our own pursuits in the context of eternity and note their worth.

Are we following after the things that make for a good name? Do we value character over wealth and material gain? For the Christian, the choice is simple. But the pursuit is hard! Yet, by the grace of God and with the light of his word to guide us, we can craft lives that are pleasing in his sight. We can make choices that impact eternity in our otherwise brief and transient walk here on earth.

This one life will soon be past;

Only what’s done for Christ will last!