by HARVEYOPP | Jul 24, 2015 | Scott Henry
“Nor is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name given under heaven among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
The truth of the Gospel is that salvation is in Jesus Christ alone and outside of Him there is only damnation. John 3:36: “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” This is not popular teaching in a society that thinks there are many saviors and many ways to obtain peace with God. But the question is never, “What does our society think?” The question is ALWAYS and ONLY, “What does Scripture teach?” And Jesus said in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.” In other words, Jesus Christ is the ONLY Savior of sinners.
Listen to our text: “…for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” God the Father, in mercy, gave His Son as THE ONLY WAY of salvation through the cross, and the cross of Christ was not a tragic mistake. The cross was eternally planned of God … that His Son would take the place of all those whom the Father gave to Him (John 6:37; 1 Peter 1:20). Christ would deliver them and pay their debt by taking their place and suffering their condemnation so that they may say, “Jesus paid it all! All to Him I owe. He has washed me white as snow.” And by His Word and Spirit, Jesus works in the heart of those for whom He died causing them to become burdened and weary of their sin. And by His love, grace, mercy and Holy Spirit, Jesus draws them to Himself where He washes them in His blood and makes them white as snow. This is the good news of God’s Word. There is salvation in no other name save the name of Jesus Christ.
How do you get to heaven? Only in Jesus Christ! Are you weary and heavy laden from your sin? Are you looking for spiritual rest? Run to Jesus! He will pardon all who trust in Him! Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” What can wash away our sins? According to God’s holy Word, there’s only ONE answer: Nothing but the blood of Jesus! In Him ALONE is perfect peace and rest! “Nor is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name given under heaven among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Trust Jesus this day and live!
by HARVEYOPP | Jul 17, 2015 | Scott Henry
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels…” (Matthew 25:41).
Scripture tells us in many places that all who trust in the Savior Jesus Christ receive all His benefits and one of the benefits of believing on the Lord Jesus Christ is everlasting life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus said in John 5:24 that everyone who believes in Him has passed from eternal death into eternal life. You see, the only people who go to Heaven are those who are washed from the filth of their sins by the blood of Jesus Christ, and this only happens when you are united to Christ by true faith. The Apostle John, writing to the seven churches in Asia Minor, said in Revelation 1:5-6 that “Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler over the kings of the earth, who has loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood…” Heaven is where believers have perfect communion with God. It’s a place of everlasting rest for the saints where sin, sorrow, suffering, and death no longer exist.
But in Matthew 25, Jesus not only speaks about Heaven, but He also speaks about Hell. And if you read the Bible you will soon find out that Jesus spoke more about Hell then He did Heaven. Jesus said that Hell is a place of everlasting torment of both body and soul in the lake of fire prepared for the devil, his demons, and all unbelievers … “where the worm does not die and neither is the fire quenched” (Mark 9:46). “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8). What a sobering thought! Does your heart tremble over the sobering truth of Hell? The world just laughs about Hell and speaks of it as a myth. Others say Hell is something in this life, and they refer to the suffering and miseries they go through in this life as Hell; they call it “Hell on earth.” But when you come to God’s Word you find out that Hell is a real place and it’s not on earth, and it’s certainly not something to joke about.
Hell is a place of eternal torment for every man, woman, and child who would not trust Jesus Christ for the salvation of their soul. Hell is a truth from Scripture that ought to awaken everyone who reads the Word of God, the Holy Bible. Where will you awaken after you die; Heaven or Hell? “But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie” (Rev. 22:15). The ONLY way you can escape the eternal torment of Hell and be ushered into the Kingdom of Heaven is by trusting Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of your sins. So, the question is, are you trusting Jesus? “Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:29-31).
by HARVEYOPP | Jul 13, 2015 | Scott Henry
“For the living know that they will die…” (Ecclesiastes 9:5).
The death of a loved one, a friend, or a relative ought to cause each of us to stop and reflect upon our own mortality. “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). The death of a fellow human being ought to cause each of us to cry out to God like the tax collector in the temple: “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!” (Luke 18:13). When we experience the death of a friend or family member it is not the time for the stiff upper lip. It’s not the time to be angry and lament, “Why did this happen?” It is not the time to bury your head in a bottle and try to forget all about the corpse in the coffin. It is not the time to screw up false courage and say, “I am not afraid to die!” When we attend the funeral of a loved one it is time to face our own mortality. It’s a time to reflect on the meaning of life. It’s a time to ask yourself the hard questions regarding your sin and guilt before a thrice holy God. It’s a time to be honest with yourself and confess that your conscience continually accuses you of breaking all of God’s commandments. What then will happen to you as a law breaker when you stand before the judgment seat of God? How will you escape the penalty that your lawless deeds have merited, which God says is eternal Hell?
For the living, the graveside of a loved one is a time of God’s longsuffering and patience toward you as you are forced to face the questions of mortality, eternity, sin, forgiveness, judgment, mercy, grace, repentance, and the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, it’s a time to look into the face of Jesus and ask yourself what you have done with God’s Beloved Son, the Savior of sinners. Death is a time when self-deception is exposed and the mask of hypocrisy is ripped from your face and you are laid open and bare before the God of heaven and earth, who holds your very breath in His hands.
We all need God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness because we are all sinners (Romans 3:23) who have broken God’s Law and we all know we will soon die and face our Creator. “For the living know they will die…” (Ecclesiastes 9:5). “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13). “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment…” (Hebrews 9:27). Denying these truths is simply an act of self-deception. As it is written: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them” (Romans 1:18-19).
Did you notice the words in Hebrews 9:27, “…but after this the judgment”? How are you planning to escape the judgment of God against your sins? The Bible is clear regarding the forgiveness of sins … Jesus Christ is the ONLY way of forgiveness with God (John 14:6). “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). “Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many” (Heb. 9:28), and all who trust in His perfect law-abiding life and sin-atoning death have the full forgiveness of sins and are reconciled to our Holy God through the perfect satisfaction, holiness, and righteousness of Christ. As it is written, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).
Don’t be deceived … death and judgment are a breath away for all the living. Solomon, a man who was granted by God the greatest wisdom a sinful man has ever possessed, wrote the following words concerning death: “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them” … “Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:1, 6-7). It’s for this very reason that the psalmist prayed in Psalm 90:10-12: “The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Therefore, dear ones, I “implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21). Run to Jesus while there’s still time, while you still have breath and time to repent of your sins and cry out to the Lord for forgiveness. “Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:6-7). Jesus said, “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” (Mark 1:15). The Apostle Paul declared, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved…” (Acts 16:31) Call out to Jesus for grace, mercy, and forgiveness for He has promised rest, righteousness, and forgiveness to all who come to Him by faith. As Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).
by HARVEYOPP | Jul 13, 2015 | Tim Challies
There are times in the Christian’s life where we wait upon God, where we wait for relief from some kind of affliction, and where we wait for a long time for God to answer prayer. I am certain that you have experienced times like these, and know that the temptation in such times is to despair and to demand, to grow angry and impatient. But in The Mystery of Providence John Flavel warns: Though God means to give you the comfort or mercy you long for, he usually first exercises your patience by making you wait. He does that for these 3 reasons:
- Because this is not the right time for you to receive that mercy. Simply stated, God does not judge time as you do. You are in a hurry, but God is not, and he knows the perfect time to dispense his mercy. “For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him” (Isaiah 30:18). Will you wait for his timing?
- These difficult circumstances have not accomplished in your heart what God means for them to accomplish. Though you may be earnest and impatient in your desire for what you believe are better circumstances, God will wait until the trial has accomplished his purposes.
- The more you pray and the more you search your heart, the sweeter the relief will be when it comes. God means to overwhelm you with his grace, and it may take fervent prayer and humble patience for you to respond to his mercy in the right way. “It will be said on that day, ‘Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation’ (Isaiah 25:9 ESV).”
As a sinful human being you are prone to judge your circumstances by your senses and observations. Always consider that God’s heart can be toward you even while his hand appears to be against you. If your circumstances continue unabated you may be tempted to think that your prayers have been useless and that you are without hope in the world. You may even go so far as to conclude that God is angry with you and has closed his ears to your prayers. But the God who has saved you will never turn his back on you.
Instead of believing such lies, consider these 6 things:
- God is delaying his mercy for your benefit. God is waiting so that he may extend grace to you at the perfect moment. Right now you are in the time of preparation where God is readying the comfort he means to give you. A foolish child plucks an apple while it is green. But when that apple is ripe, it drops off of its own accord and is far more delicious and wholesome. Wait with wisdom and patience. It will be worth the wait.
- A heart that trusts in God is far more precious than any comfort. It is a greater mercy to have a heart that trusts in God than to enjoy the comfort you are sure you need. Flavel says, “A frame is better than a fruition.” A heart oriented toward God is much more precious and enduring than any peaceful or comfortable circumstance.
- Mercy is never nearer than when your heart and hope is lowest. Light shines the brightest when you are sure that only darkness remains. God’s mercy will be all the brighter when your heart is in its darkest state.
- God delays his mercy because you are unfit to receive it. God’s mercy may be waiting for you to become ready to receive it. God may holding it back for your own good, even while you grumble and complain about his lack of haste.
- Remember that any mercy you desire is only and entirely a gift of grace. You do not deserve God’s mercy and have no claim to it. Because of this, the only proper way to wait for it is with patience and gratitude. You are waiting for a gift, not for your just reward.
Consider how many people are forever cut off from all hope of mercy. Consider those who are perishing without grace and how for them all that remains is the further expectation of wrath. This might have been you if not for the grace of God. So wait for God’s mercy with patient humility.
by HARVEYOPP | Jul 13, 2015 | RC Sproul
Some years ago, I attended an interesting wedding. I was especially struck by the creativity of the ceremony. The bride and the groom had brainstormed with the pastor in order to insert new and exciting elements into the service, and I enjoyed those elements. However, in the middle of the ceremony, they included portions of the traditional, classic wedding ceremony. When I began to hear the words from the traditional ceremony, my attention perked up and I was moved. I remember thinking, “There is no way to improve on this because the words are so beautiful and meaningful.” A great deal of thought and care had been put into those old, familiar words.
Today, of course, many young people not only are saying no to the traditional wedding ceremony, they are rejecting the concept of marriage itself. More and more young people are coming from broken homes, and as a result, they have a fear and suspicion about the value of marriage. So we see couples living together rather than marrying for fear that the cost of that commitment may be too much. They fear it may make them too vulnerable. This means that one of the most stable and, as we once thought, permanent traditions of our culture is being challenged.
One of the things I like most about the traditional wedding ceremony is that it includes an explanation as to why there is such a thing as marriage. We are told in that ceremony that marriage is ordained and instituted by God—that is to say, marriage did not just spring up arbitrarily out of social conventions or human taboos. Marriage was not invented by men but by God.
We see this in the earliest chapters of the Old Testament, where we find the creation account. We find that God creates in stages, beginning with the light (Gen. 1:3) and capping the process with the creation of man (v. 27). At every stage, He utters a benediction, a “good word.” God repeatedly looks at what He has made and says, “That’s good” (vv. 4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31).
But then God notices something that provokes not a benediction but what we call a malediction, that is, a “bad word.” What was this thing that God saw in His creation that He judged to be “not good”? We find it in Genesis 2:18, where God declares, “It is not good that the man should be alone.” That prompts Him to create Eve and bring her to Adam. God instituted marriage, and He did it, in the first instance, as an answer to human loneliness. For this reason, God inspired Moses to write, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (v. 24).
But while I like and appreciate the words of the traditional wedding ceremony, I believe the form of the ceremony is even more important. This is because the traditional ceremony involves the making of a covenant. The whole idea of covenant is deeply rooted in biblical Christianity. The Bible teaches that our very redemption is based on a covenant. Much could be said here about the character of the biblical covenants, but one vital facet is that none of them is a private matter. Every covenant is undertaken in the presence of witnesses. This is why we invite guests to our weddings. It is so they will witness our vows—and hold us accountable to keep them. It is one thing for a man to whisper expressions of love to a woman when no one will hear, but it is quite another thing for him to stand up in a church, in front of parents, friends, ecclesiastical or civil authorities, and God Himself, and there make promises to love and cherish her. Wedding vows are sacred promises made in the presence of witnesses who will remember them.
I believe marriage is the most precious of all human institutions. It’s also the most dangerous. Into our marriages we pour our greatest and deepest expectations. We put our emotions on the line. There we can achieve the greatest happiness, but we also can experience the greatest disappointment, the most frustration, and the most pain. With that much at stake, we need something more solemn than a casual promise.
Even with formal wedding ceremonies, even with the involvement of authority structures, roughly fifty percent of marriages fail. Sadly, among the men and women who stay together as husband and wife, many would not marry the same spouse again, but they stay together for various reasons. Something has been lost regarding the sacred and holy character of the marriage covenant. In order to strengthen the institution of marriage, we might want to consider strengthening the wedding ceremony, with a clear, biblical reminder that marriage is instituted by God and forged in His sight.
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