Father Abraham; October 29, 2023

Posted on October 30, 2023 by jgarrott

Romans 4:11-12 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

As I read this, the children’s Sunday School song of “Father Abraham” came to mind: “Father Abraham had many sons. Many sons had Father Abraham. I am one of them, and so are you, so let’s just praise the Lord.” Abraham’s genetic sons were certainly limited. We immediately think of Isaac and Ishmael, but he also had five more by Keturah after the death of Sarah, as recorded in Genesis 25. However, these verses, and the song, aren’t talking about biology, but about spiritual reality. Most Gentiles have little to no idea what a big deal circumcision is, for Jews and for Moslems. Jewish boys are circumcised a few days after birth and Moslem boys are circumcised at 13, because that was the age at which Ishmael was circumcised (and Abraham was 99). (Genesis 17:24-25) If circumcision were the way to salvation, then the terrorists who just horribly murdered over 1400 Israelis would be just as saved as, say, Billy Graham was! Paul is making the point that salvation, being put right with God, is by faith and not by some physical action. It is a choice of the will, which cannot be said about babies who are circumcised before they can do much of anything at all. Thinking about it, Abraham didn’t have a very developed theology, either. It’s a little difficult to imagine what and how he thought of God when God first reached out to him in Ur, as recorded in Genesis 12. He didn’t have theology, but he had a relationship, built on experience. Far too many people today try to build their faith on “code words,” on philosophy, rather than on a living, active relationship with their Creator. That’s not faith, that’s intellectual assent, or even superstition, and it won’t save you. Evangelicals today tend to pin everything on “The Sinner’s Prayer,” when sometimes there has been no actual heart change. Genuine, saving faith results in action, in a changed life brought on by a growing relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord. Anything less is a mirage.

Ouch! I hadn’t expected this to go this way, but it is certainly true. I am to be working for initial commitment, certainly, but more than that I am to be working for active discipleship. After all, the Great Commission doesn’t say, “go and make converts,” it says, “go and make disciples.” (Matthew 28:18-20) We become children of Abraham, and of God, by faith, but that is an active, growing faith. That’s why Paul, after making his magnificent statement of salvation by grace through faith in Ephesians 2:8-9, followed it up with verse 10, that talks about doing the things God has prepared for us to do. Saving faith is obedient. I’ve got to remember that for myself as well as for the people to whom I minister. The message God is growing in me is about knowing Him. That’s exactly the sort of faith Abraham had, with no theological trappings at all. Theology and philosophy aren’t bad in themselves, but I must not let them distract me from a personal relationship with my Creator.

Father, thank You for this strong reminder. Help me not just agree with it but live it out, as Your agent for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Antisemitism; October 28, 2023

Posted on October 29, 2023 by jgarrott

Romans 3:22-24 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Verse 23 is often quoted, but rarely in context, and depending on the translation, that generally divides sentences, not to mention thoughts. The principle that everyone has sinned is certainly important, but the Bible is generally very careful to present that reality in the context of God’s grace. That is certainly true of the equally famous verse from a little later in this letter: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) Some people like to stress the negative stuff about our guilt, and some like to make everything all “sweetness and light,” but the Bible itself is very balanced. The most important factor in this particular passage is the fact that everyone is on the same footing. The issue of Jews and Gentiles was big in the early Church and it still is today. (Actually, Paul deals with it extensively in Romans.) Where the NIV says “there is no difference,” the Japanese says, “there is no discrimination.” The blessing of being born into the covenant people of Israel does not obviate the requirement for personal faith and obedience. Antisemitism ignores this out of a jealousy toward the covenant, thereby placing antisemitism firmly on the side of sin. The war that is going on even as I write is certainly a demonstration of that. As Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:4, it is only in Christ that the dividing wall of hostility is torn down. There is plenty of hostility on both sides, but in Christ that evaporates. There are plenty of testimonies of Jews who hated Arabs and Arabs who hated Jews who, when they encountered Jesus as the Savior of all mankind, discovered they loved their brothers and sisters in Christ of whatever background. Organizations like Hamas indeed need to be dealt with very firmly, but the ultimate solution is and can only be Christ in individual hearts.

I am very blessed that I don’t think there was ever an iota of antisemitism in my family. My father got his Master degree in Hebrew, and from the time I became aware of it, I have always been proud of the fact that I was born in the same year, 1948, as the current State of Israel. Frankly, antisemitism has always been something of a mystery to me, because I couldn’t imagine how it could exist. I now have the intellectual understanding of its mechanics, but no emotional connection to it at all. At the same time, I have to concede that I have irrational responses to some racial groups in general, but even there that rarely intrudes on a personal level with individuals. “The ground is level at the foot of the cross” is a truism I learned a long time ago, but I still need to apply it consistently in my own life.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I do pray for the peace of Jerusalem – a far more pointed and practical prayer at this point than sometimes! As much as I pray for political and military solutions, I know that only the Lordship of Jesus Christ will solve the situation, in Israel, in Ukraine, and everywhere else. May indeed Your rule and reign be established as Your will is done, as perfectly on earth as it is in heaven, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Laws; October 27, 2023

Posted on October 28, 2023 by jgarrott

Romans 3:20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

I have read that America, and indeed most countries, has such a tangle of laws that everyone in the country is in violation of something. That is due to human failure, politicians deciding what behavior they wanted and thinking they could legislate it. By the time of the New Testament, Judaism had descended into the same morass, with all sorts of human interpretations and additions to the actual Law of Moses. Even today, in Israel on the Sabbath elevators will only move one floor at a time, to avoid their “doing work.” That is why Israel’s enemies have consistently attacked them on the Sabbath, or even High Holy days, as they did this year, to force them to break their own religious laws. They have not accepted the truth that Jesus spoke, that “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27) Paul’s point here is that we cannot be perfectly obedient to a written code; it only serves to let us know that we are out of line. The following verses (tomorrow’s reading) begin the process of explaining God’s solution to this problem, but Paul needed to start by expressing the problem clearly, which he has done here. He himself, as well as various other people in the Bible, are said to be “as for legalistic righteousness, faultless,” (Philippians 3:6) but he called himself “the worst of sinners.” (1 Timothy 1:16) Laws are very important, because our “internal compass” isn’t very accurate, but laws by themselves will not get us to God.

Of course this applies to me. In terms of human law I have gotten one speeding ticket in the US (after Nixon dropped the national speed limit to 55) and one parking ticket in Japan, but I have done various things for which I never got caught. I’m not necessarily proud of them, but they certainly prove that I’m at heart as lawless as the next guy. I need to remember that at all times as I look at those around me, realizing that we are all equally in need of the grace and mercy of God. I have long tended to be sensitive to legalism in the Church, but that doesn’t mean I’m less of a Pharisee in ways that I may not recognize. In need of grace myself, I need to extend it to others.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the book I’m reading by Frank Viola that points out the dangers of being judgmental, among other things. May I indeed be blameless, not by my own power or righteousness but by Your grace, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Spiritual Warfare; October 26, 2023

Posted on October 27, 2023 by jgarrott

Romans 1:32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

This second half of the chapter is such an accurate description of a major part of society today that it ought to give anyone pause. However, this verse specifically is so accurate that even a former president, reliably reported as having indulged in such things, explicitly called out “some obscure verses in Romans” as teaching that should be ignored today. What is different about perversion today, as compared to a few generations back, is not the nature of the perversion itself, but of the strong, vocal insistence that such perversion be accepted as normal, even normative, and the vigorous push into elementary and even preschool school systems. It has been slow coming, but thankfully there is now strong and growing pushback against that, and society is in turmoil because of it. When you add that battle to the military battles that are occurring in Ukraine and Israel, it’s no surprise that an increasing number of Christians are convinced that these are the Last Days, with Christ’s return for judgment just around the corner. I can’t say that I disagree with that assessment, but the danger for believers is in thinking there is nothing we can do or should do to correct the current situation. That thinking is a lie of the devil! We are to stand for righteousness on behalf of our children and neighbors, countering the devil’s lies with the truth of God. Nothing happening now is actually new; a knowledge of history is vital for perspective. After all, Paul was writing to the situation in the world as it was 2000 years ago! We need to remember and apply the words of James: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) That doesn’t mean we won’t have trouble, as Jesus explicitly told us, (John 16:33) or that we might even be martyred, as Paul himself experienced. However, it does mean that the end result of it all will be glorious for us, as Paul noted. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17) The devil tries to block us with fear of temporal troubles, but we need to push forward with anticipation of eternal glory.

This of course applies to me as it does to every believer, but the devil’s pressures aren’t equally distributed in the earth. The devil figures he has Japan in his pocket, so he hasn’t attacked here in the same way he has in the US. However, I can certainly see that “He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” (Revelation 12:12) I’m not to let my feeling of End Times distract me from daily, active faithfulness toward my Lord. I’ve had friends who were so concerned about where we might be on this timeline or that, that they couldn’t see or apply themselves to the tasks the Lord had set before them. That again is a deception of the devil, and I’m to be aware of it and stand against it. The world is indeed a mess, but as the song based on Revelation 2 and 3 says, “He who overcomes will stand.” I am to be so familiar with God and His Word that I immediately recognize and resist everything that is not of Him, and leave the consequences up to Him.

Father, thank You for this powerful reminder. It is stronger than I expected, though I knew what this chapter held. Help me indeed listen accurately and obediently to You in all things, so that Your will may be done in and through me for the blessing of many, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Personal Faith; October 25, 2023

Posted on October 26, 2023 by jgarrott

Romans 1:5 Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.

Two differences in translation between the NIV and the Japanese strike me. The first is that where the NIV says “received grace and apostleship,” the Japanese says, “received the work of an apostle of grace.” The NIV seems to place emphasis on “apostleship” as an office, whereas the Japanese emphasizes that it’s a job to do. Likewise, the Japanese brings out the meaning of “apostle,” which is, “one who is sent, a messenger.” The second difference is that where the NIV says, “among all the Gentiles,” the Japanese says, “among the people of all nations.” That may be a quibble on my part, because as a Jew Paul was used to thinking and speaking in terms of “the Jews and everyone else,” but on the face of it the Japanese includes the Jews on an equal basis, along with everyone else. All of that aside, the biggest thing that hits me from this verse is “the obedience that comes from faith.” (The Japanese agrees with many English translations and says, “the obedience of faith.”) Whereas some people might take this as “obedience to the tenets of our faith,” to me it is much more the simple reality that if we really believe Jesus is the Son of God, we will be obedient to Him. (That’s the feeling of the NIV.) When we view Christianity as an organized religion we get into all sorts of mess. It is indeed a religion, as we define religion, but at its heart it is a relationship with the Lord, and we lose sight of that to our peril. That is what sets Christianity apart from every other religion, because no other religion posits a very personal Lord and Savior like Jesus. Jesus Himself defined it in terms of love and obedience: “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15) Again, Jesus said that the greatest of the Old Testament commandments was to love God. “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38) You can’t love someone you don’t believe is real, and if you really love Him, you will be obedient to Him.

I’m reminded of something I read not long ago from an interview with Jim Baker, who had a spectacular fall from being a “televangelist” into adultery and all sorts of mess. The interviewer asked him “When did you stop loving Jesus, that you got into all that.” Baker replied, “I loved Him, I just didn’t fear Him.” I think Jim Baker didn’t know what genuine love was. I too have disobeyed God because of failing to fear Him, all the while thinking I loved Him, but Jesus’ words are very clear. My disobedience put the lie to my claims of love. My faith is inseparable from my love for Jesus which is inseparable from my obedience to Him. James pointed out that even demons believe in Jesus, but they certainly don’t love Him or want to obey him. (James 2:19) I must not let my “faith” stray from my personal relationship with the Lord of Glory, who loved me enough to die for me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all that You have taught me over the years about love, faith, and obedience. May I continue to grow in that and lead others to do likewise, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Choosing to Believe; October 24, 2023

Posted on October 25, 2023 by jgarrott

Acts 28:24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.

We are responsible to share the Gospel, but we cannot control how it will be received. As Paul shared the truth of God, some believed but some “would not believe.” The Japanese puts that as, “made no attempt to believe.” Faith is a gift, but it is also a choice. It is true that the Gospel can seem “too good to be true,” but it is only when we choose to receive it that we experience all of its goodness. The thing is, the choice to believe isn’t just at the moment of salvation. Each one of us faces challenges to our faith. If that weren’t the case, how could our faith grow? God isn’t being mean to us when He gives us such challenges, He wants us to be strong, mature disciples who recognize and appropriate the incredible abundance He has for us. My wife once had a vision of a stairway to heaven, with angels coming and going on it, bringing gifts to believers. Every gift must be received for it to be effective, and that starts with faith.

I have certainly experienced this. After I was introduced to the Charismatic Movement in 1973 (in a Baptist church!) I started seeking the baptism in the Holy Spirit, but experienced nothing. It wasn’t until about a year later that someone told me, “How do you receive anything from God? By grace through faith, right? If you believe that God has promised you His Spirit, then ask Him to baptize you, believe that He is true to His Word, and thank Him for it, without placing any conditions on how it happens.” (I had quoted Luke 11:13 to him when he asked if I believed God had provided His Spirit for me.) That night I tried it, exactly as he had recommended, and felt nothing. However, two days later I abruptly realized I was talking to a total stranger about Jesus, Acts 1:8 came to mind, and I knew God had been true to His Word. In the years since then I have been challenged many times as to whether I was going to believe God, or believe anything else. Every time I have chosen to believe God, I have been blessed. (I wish I could say that was 100% of the time, but I’m certainly not perfect.) As I minister to others, whether they are Christians or not, I am to speak the truth in love and pray that they receive it in faith, but not feel guilty if they fail to do so. I’m also not to accuse myself if I feel bad about their failing to receive, because even Jesus wept over Jerusalem. (Matthew 23:37)

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the privilege of sharing Your truth, whether it is received or not. I do pray that more and more would receive, to rise up as a mighty army for You, breaking the chains of the enemy on this nation  for the salvation of multitudes, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Sharing Faith; October 23, 2023

Posted on October 24, 2023 by jgarrott

Acts 27:25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.

It’s amazing the impact the faith of one person can have. Enough had happened already on this trip for everyone, and not just Paul’s companions, to feel like he was some sort of holy man or guru, and that prompted them to pay attention to what he said. By this time they were ready for any good news! Those around us may not have such an impression of us, but we still have the opportunity to impart faith by our words, however many or few might receive them. It is interesting to me that where the NIV says, “I have faith in God,” the Japanese says, “I have faith because of God.” Faith is a gift, (Ephesians 2:8-9) and like all gifts from God we are accountable for how we use it. We might believe and receive the benefits of that faith, but how much better if we share our faith so that more people will be blessed by God? We don’t know who will receive and believe for themselves, but if we don’t share, they won’t have the chance to believe. As Paul had written sometime previous to this, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14) We tend to think of “preaching” in a formal and/or negative sense, but this isn’t that at all. Rather, it is proclaiming God’s truth, whatever the circumstances. A popular saying goes, “Love isn’t love until you give it away.” Faith isn’t quite like that, but it is demonstrably true that the more you share faith, the stronger your own faith becomes.

This is something I have experienced for myself and I have observed in others as well, sometimes to my amusement. I’ll never forget one man who hadn’t yet been baptized, even though he had been coming to church for several years because of his wife. We were in a restaurant after going Christmas caroling as a church, and he vigorously presented the Gospel to a young man who was only peripherally connected to the church. Needless to say, it wasn’t long before the first man was baptized, and he has recently completed seminary studies, after retiring from his previous job! As a teacher, I’ve also experienced the reality that one of the most effective ways to learn something is to teach it to someone else. If we want our faith to grow, and we should, we need to share it!

Father, thank You for this reminder. This could easily be another message, but this coming Sunday being a 5th Sunday it will be just music and testimonies. Show me when, where, what, and how to share, so that the abundance of Your grace to me may have the full effect that You intend, for the blessing of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Holy Boldness; October 22, 2023

Posted on October 23, 2023 by jgarrott

Acts 26:29 Paul replied, “Short time or long–I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

Since yesterday I’ve known I would be writing on this verse. I almost read the whole chapter in anticipation, but I restrained myself. This is such a magnificent statement! Paul is talking to a king here, and is totally unintimidated, despite the fact that he is a chained prisoner. The level of courage, of boldness, is off the charts, and it is abso­lutely typical of Paul. His personality certainly had a lot to do with it, but I think that his going to heaven from being stoned and then being sent back (Acts 14:19-20, 2 Corinthians 12:2-5) had perhaps even more to do with it. Paul knew that he was a representative of Christ Jesus, (2 Corinthians 5:20) and as such had more real power and authority than any earthly king. The thing is, that is true of every genuine believer. We are never to let that puff us up, but we should also never back down. We didn’t earn that status, but God granted it to us in His love and grace, and as John said, His perfect love casts out all fear. (1 John 4:18) To the degree we take our eyes off of ourselves and our circumstances and fix them on Jesus, (Hebrews 12:2) we will be filled with His supernatural peace and assurance, and nothing will shake us.

Excitement has risen in me even as I have written this. I have tasted this boldness, and I want to walk in it continuously. I know that requires humility and holiness, which I will be speaking on this morning, but I have been convinced for many years that when God’s children wake up to whom they are in Christ, the world will be transformed faster than we would believe. We must not forget that all of this doesn’t insulate us from trials and suffering, as Paul’s own life demonstrated, and Jesus Himself stated, (John 16:33) but God wants us all to walk in the assurance of the ultimate outcome, which will be glorious beyond words. We are not to let this assurance make us rude or obnoxious, but we are never to hesitate to speak the truth in love. (1 Peter 3:15-16, Ephesians 4:15)

Father, thank You for this strong reminder. There’s a lot on the schedule today. Help me live out Your truth every moment so that everyone may be touched by Your Spirit, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Giving Testimony; October 21, 2023

Posted on October 22, 2023 by jgarrott

Acts 26:17-18 “‘I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'”

What a beautiful, succinct yet complete, exposition of an absolutely magnificent commission! It’s no wonder that King Agrippa was nearly won over, and actually may have been, considering the rest of the chapter. Paul had no trouble expressing this because this was how God had said it to him in the first place, and he had probably shared it countless times. I think this is an excellent example of what Peter was talking about when he said, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15) After all, in verse six he has just said, “And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today.” Many Christians are oddly hesitant to share their personal testimony, whether it’s from a feeling they can’t do it well, or that it’s just too mundane, or from shyness or a heightened desire for privacy, or whatever. No excuse holds water before God, because we are commanded to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, and that requires sharing what we know of the saving grace of God. However, practice indeed makes perfect. It is wise to practice, if that’s the right word, by expressing our experience of God with brothers and sisters in Christ. If they are sensitive to Holy Spirit, they will encourage us and ask questions that will make it easier to bring out the important points. We don’t need to express it in theological terms, and indeed, doing that will make it less effective in winning people to faith. We just need to be open, sharing what God has done for us, in awe of His love for us and for the person to whom we are talking.

I’m not a “gifted evangelist,” but I am certainly a talker, and as I have written recently, as an MK/TCK I tend to try to explain myself to people. That gives me a tendency to drown people in words, and that’s not a good idea! I need to keep working on my sensitive obedience to Holy Spirit, so that I will say what He wants me to but no more. That “no more” part can be hard for me! I think I’m growing there though, and that’s a comfort. However, I still tend to preach at the drop of a hat! I am to be fully humble, allowing God to use me if He so chooses, but not demanding that He do so. I want to meet His appointments and not go barging in on my own.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the gift for words that You’ve given me. May that always be used as You intend and in no other way, as it has too often in the past, so that Your purposes for me may be accomplished on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Repentance; October 20, 2023

Posted on October 21, 2023 by jgarrott

Acts 24:25 As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”

Honest evangelism is always risky, at least to some extent, because it requires a call to repentance, and people don’t want to acknowledge that they are guilty. We have no idea what Felix was guilty of, but it’s clear from his actions that he didn’t have a clear conscience. It was actually wise of him to feel afraid, but what he did in response to his fear was not at all wise. Avoidance doesn’t change reality! His actions showed that he was not righteous or self-controlled, and had every reason to fear the coming judgment. Some preachers avoid talking about sin because they don’t want to “drive people away,” but that shows that they are more interested in numbers than in leading people to salvation. The Gospel is good news not because it says we are innocent, but because it says that repentance is possible. Far too many church members have never faced the fact that they are sinners, and have no hope apart from the atoning work of Jesus Christ. The only real risk in that is in people thinking that because they are sinners whose sins have been covered by the blood of Jesus, it doesn’t matter what they do now. Even Paul had to face that distortion directly: “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:1-2) If we don’t talk about sin because we want people to feel “comfortable,” then we have abandoned the true Gospel. That’s not at all to say that sin is all we are to talk about. God’s promises are absolutely glorious and they are very real, but we must never forget that repentance is a firm requirement, for ourselves or for anyone else.

As I have written before, I was liberated from a habitual sin by something Peter wrote. “But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.” (2 Peter 1:9) I have learned that if I dwell on what I have done, I’m far more likely to do it again. God’s forgiveness and cleansing are real, but the devil lies to us and insists on dragging up things that have already been dealt with. It isn’t “Into bliss and out of blister,” as my grandfather used to put it, because it is a living out of the holiness that we have in Christ. As Paul said, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) In my efforts to win people I am never to gloss over the reality of sin or the need for repentance.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me be always fully responsive to what You want to say and do through me, so that Your truth may go forth undistorted, shattering the lies of the enemy and setting people free, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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