THE LORD’S LAMP & LIGHT by Pastor Scott Henry

by HARVEYOPP | Oct 17, 2014 | Scott Henry

“THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET, AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH” (PSALM 119:105).

Scripture functions as a guide by giving us principles to govern our life.  You see, the Word of God doesn’t tell us specifically what kind of job to pursue, who to marry, what kind of house to buy, or in what city to live, but Scripture does give us principles.  We are called to labor at a vocation, but not on the Lord’s Day!  “Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God” (Ex. 20:8-10).  There are, however, works of necessity and acts of mercy: nurses, policemen, doctors, firemen, nursing homes, hospitals, even feeding livestock on the Lord’s Day are merciful and necessary activities.  However, shopping malls, Walmart, grocery stores, restaurants, hardware stores, gas stations, and plowing the fields are not acts of necessity nor works of mercy on the Lord’s Day.  Therefore such activities should be avoided as violations of the Fourth Commandment.

Scripture also teaches us the principle of marriage … that a believer is ONLY to marry another believer and that of the opposite gender (1 Cor. 7; 2 Cor. 6:14).  The Scripture also gives us principles of Christian stewardship.  We know we are to give to the work of the church by tithes and offerings, but Scripture doesn’t specifically say, “You may buy this or you must not buy that.”  However, we do know God has given us money to use for His glory so we must not spend it on anything that is contrary to the Law of God.  And since these principles are not spelled out in every detail, every believer must know the Scriptures accurately in order to use these principles for God’s glory (1 Cor. 10:31).  This only happens by a continual study of the Scriptures.  The more we know the Bible the more we know what God requires of us and how best to serve and glorify Him.  And so the question is … how much time do you spend studying Scripture?  Let me ask you this: How do you make decisions … by the Word of God or by some other standard?  If you confess the words of our text, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”, then you ought to be one who diligently searches God’s Word as a daily habit of your life.  Acts 17:11: “These (Bereans) were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”  Would people rank you among the Bereans?

ARE YOU TRUSTING IN JESUS? by Pastor Scott Henry

by HARVEYOPP | Sep 30, 2014 | Scott Henry

“This is the will of the Father who sent Me that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day” (John 6:39).

In the days of Noah there was ONLY one place of safety when the flood came and it was the Ark.  In the same way, there is ONLY one place of salvation from the storm of God’s furious wrath against sin, and that place of safety is the person and work of Jesus Christ.  As Noah and his family were completely saved from the flood through the Ark … in the same manner … there is full salvation for every sinner who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ.  “He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).  Jesus is our hiding place and refuge from the guilt and consequences of our sins, and Jesus promises spiritual rest (Matthew 11:28) and eternal reconciliation with God to all who come to Him by faith (2 Cor. 5:20).  As it is written, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).  His name is Jesus, which means Jehovah is salvation, and He was sent to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

Jesus said in John 6:39: “This is the will of the Father who sent Me that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.”  God’s Word promises that if you come to Christ you will never be cast out because you were given to Christ by the Father.  And the will of the Father is that all whom He gave to Christ should be saved and raised up on the last day.  Therefore, it is impossible for Christ to lose any for whom He died since He always does the will of His Father.  As Jesus said in John 10:27-28:  “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”  And again in John 17:12:  “While I was with them, I kept them in thy name which thou hast given me: and I guarded them, and not one of them perished, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.”

Have you come to Christ?  Are you trusting Him ALONE for redemption from the guilt and consequences of your sin?  If so, then rest confident in the promise of Jesus when He said, “This is the will of the Father who sent Me that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day” (John 6:39).

GOD’S GRACE & PEACE by Pastor Scott Henry

by HARVEYOPP | Sep 26, 2014 | Scott Henry

“Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age…” (Galatians 1:3-4).

“Grace and peace” are two of the most precious words in the Christian’s vocabulary, and these two words logically flow from the Gospel.  Grace is something that changes our relationship with God.  Grace moves us out of the sphere of darkness, death, rebellion and curse, and into the realm of light, life, righteousness and blessing.  We read in Ephesians 1:7: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”  Grace sums up everything that makes it possible to be in a saving relationship with God.  And true grace and peace can only come from God since grace implies that all men are dead in trespasses and sins, and nothing can possibly make us acceptable to a holy God except His mercy, which comes only by way of grace through the cross of Jesus Christ.  And it’s important that we understand that grace is not a substance, but a person.  God’s grace, mercy, love, goodness, and favor towards His elect people is, in fact, the person and work of Jesus Christ.

God’s grace is the only reason any man is saved from the guilt, penalty, and consequences of sin.  Because God is gracious, loving, and merciful, He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into this world to take upon Himself the nature of man and “give himself for our sins.”  Jesus was well pleased to obey His Father by laying down His life in order to redeem sinners and “deliver them from this present evil age.”  And this Gospel is something fallen, unregenerate men stumble over and consider foolishness.  “But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness…” (1 Cor. 1:23). Nevertheless, the Apostle Paul teaches in our text that Jesus Christ gave himself to save sinners from the penalty and dominion of sin.

Have you received the grace of God?  Has Christ translated you out of the sphere of darkness into the sphere of His marvelous light?  If so, your words and works will be very different from the unbelieving world around you.  You will think differently and consequently you will live differently since out of the heart are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23).  When your heart is cleansed your life will follow.  Jesus said when the inside of the cup and dish is clean then the outside will become clean also (Matthew 23:26).  So I say once again, has the grace of God transformed your soul?  If so, it must be reflected in your life so that God might be glorified in and through redeemed sinners!  Praise God today for His wondrous grace in Christ Jesus!

ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN? by Pastor Scott Henry

by HARVEYOPP | Sep 16, 2014 | Scott Henry

“IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION: OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW” (2 CORINTHIANS 5:17).

What is the Biblical definition of a Christian?  Is it someone who has been baptized?  Is it someone who has taken the Lord’s Supper?  Is it someone who has their name written in a church membership role?  The answer to these questions is emphatically NO!  A Christian participates in all these things, but these are not the definition of a Christian.  Undoubtedly, there will be numerous people in Hell who have done all these things. (Read the parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25)  A Christian is a person who has been brought into a spiritual, saving union with Jesus Christ.; and because of this union there’s a change not only in the sinner’s status before God, but there’s also a change of the sinner’s nature.  If any man be in Christ then an inward change has occurred, which necessarily produces new outward actions.  The passing from old to new is in the perfect tense in the Greek, which means a past action with continuing results, and the action is God working in us.  Philippians 2:13: “…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”  Moment by moment, the Lord is conforming His redeemed people into the image of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:29).  In other words, this radical change is not temporary, but permanent, unchangeable, and progressive.  The Gospel that was once foolishness is now seen as precious and beautiful.  Our old focus and love was upon the ways of this world … the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life … but now those things are passed away and the Christian, as a new creature in Christ, has a new love for things that please the Lord.  The new creature has a new mind (thinking), new will (desires), and new affections (emotions).  He is now being transformed by the renewing of his mind by the Word and Spirit of God (Rom. 12:2).

2 Corinthians 5:15 says “…that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”  The old that is passed away is that life centered in our sinful pride, which seeks to please ourselves.  The new has come … we now live unto God and look out for the interests of others.  And the old is continually passing away and the new is continually coming throughout this pilgrim’s journey.  That’s the definition of a Christian.  He’s a new creature in Christ, he believes God’s promises in God’s Word, and he bows his neck to the yoke of Jesus Christ.  A Christian is one who trusts that Jesus is his forgiveness, righteousness, and reconciliation before God.  Are you a Christian?  Are you a new creation in Him?  Do you trust Christ as your Priest?  Do you trust that He has atoned for all your sins?  Do you hear His Word as your Prophet?  Is it manifest in the way you live?  Do you obey Christ as your King?  Do you think biblically?  Do you love, serve, and forgive other believers?  Do you confess and repent of your sins?  Is your life different from the ways of this fallen, rebellious, God-hating world?

“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”  Is this a living and growing reality in your life?  Are old ways of living, thinking, and speaking passing away, and all things becoming new?  If so, then you are eternally blessed in Christ!  The Holy Spirit has regenerated your soul, created faith in your heart, and has made you a new creation in Christ.  Give God the praise and glorify Him by faithfully living the new life in Christ.  But if this is not a reality in your life – if you still think, speak, and live like the ungodly culture then your only hope is to RUN to JESUS!  Call upon Him!  Flee to Him!  Seek refuge in Him!  “For there is salvation in none other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).  Look to Christ today and be saved from the wrath of God against your sins!