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God's children can get confused regarding the difference between faith and faithfulness. They know they have faith—knowledge of God's salvation in Christ, assent to that glorious truth, and a hearty trust in Christ their Savior—but they may also worry about whether they are being faithful—true to God, a devoted follower of Christ. What are we to make of Jesus' words, "But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matt. 24:13), and do we need a certain amount of faithfulness to endure to the end?
We can't truly rest in Christ if our eternal hope depends on our own personal faithfulness.
Some people think that God saves us by his grace in Christ, but we must be obedient—faithful—to get and keep God's grace fully. In other words, we need to do something in addition to Jesus' finished work on our behalf to be saved and have eternal life. Yet, if this were true, no one could truly have peace in Christ in this life because the final outcome for them would depend on their own personal faithfulness, and these words below that Jesus spoke wouldn't make sense:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28)
Mercifully, the Bible teaches that that salvation comes from outside of us through the work of Christ, not from anything we do (for some examples, see Rom. 5:1; 6–8; 15–17; Rom. 8:1–11; 2 Cor. 3:4–5; 5:17; Eph. 2:8–9; Titus 3:4–7).
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is evidence of a person's adoption into God's family in Christ.
When James writes about the relationship between faith and works in the second chapter of his epistle, he is referring to the fruit of the Holy Spirit's work in the lives of believers:
But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (James 2:18)
These works that show faith do nothing to save a person; rather, they are evidence of a person's adoption into God's family in Christ. All believers bear the fruit of the Spirit because they are branches attached to the vine of Christ (John 15:4–5; Gal. 5:22–23; Col. 1:10).
A true believer will have sorrow over his or her sin and want to live a life that is honoring to God.
Believers will experience true sorrow over their sin because they have the Spirit indwelling them (Rom. 7:14–25). If a professing Christian consistently excuses his or her sin and is living the unrepentant lifestyle of an unbeliever, then there exists the possibility that the person has not actually been regenerated to new life by the Spirit. The apostle Paul states:
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! (2 Cor. 13:5)
Two evidences that believers are growing in holiness are an increasing awareness of their own sin and a corresponding desire to stay away from all ungodliness. Christians show gratitude to and love for God by keeping his commandments (John 14:15; Heb. 13:15; 1 John 2:3; 5:3). This obedience is a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving the believer offers up to God; it is never a means to keep—or earn—God's grace.
All Christians are called to live faithfully, but our faithfulness does not save us; rather, salvation is completely the work of God alone.
Just as sometimes children disobey their parents and are disciplined accordingly, God disciplines us because we are his beloved children in Christ, and he will use our failures to teach us through the work of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.
The faith we have in Christ our Savior is God's unfathomably precious gift to us (Eph. 2:8-9). Dear Christian, as you strive to honor and obey God in your daily comportment, remember that your faithfulness isn’t what causes you to endure to the end. Rather, you are saved by God's grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone—nothing of yourself. And it is God’s faithfulness—not your own—that keeps you safe and secure in Christ now and forevermore.
Psalms 1:4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
We should refuse to live ungodly
Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
We should not listen to ungodly teachers
Jude 1:17-19 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
The ungodly can be saved
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
If the ungodly do not repent they will not inherit the kingdom of God
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
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Psalms 1:4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
We should refuse to live ungodly
Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
We should not listen to ungodly teachers
Jude 1:17-19 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
The ungodly can be saved
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
If the ungodly do not repent they will not inherit the kingdom of God
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
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“Because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.” Ephesians 6:8
At times, it can be disheartening when you and I serve and things do not go in the way we expect.
There are very hard workers, respectful and sincere, who may feel they are not receiving a good return for their work.
Whatever we do, no matter the field, we’re not serving only humans but our Master. Even when you and I may believe we’re not receiving our fair share here, we can find comfort in remembering that God is watching and he rewards those who obey him.
Hard work with low rewards can be difficult. It’s easy to complain. Although it’s hard, Scripture tells us to work with enthusiasm (Colossians 3:23). Scripture guides us to do the will of God, and to do it with all our hearts. We may also need to work with others where possible.
When we are grateful for the opportunities God gives us to serve, this helps us to serve with enthusiasm. When we know that we are already loved and accepted by Jesus, our motivation changes. Pleasing God becomes our reward!
We are called to do what our leaders and those who have authority over us ask us to do, as long as it is not sinful. Sometimes, we may be treated unfairly but by the grace of God we can find strength to do what we need to do.
You may not feel recognized enough where you serve. But remember, the Lord himself will reward those who do good.
Father God, help me to serve with enthusiasm and respect where you have placed me in Jesus’ name.
Find a creative way to show enthusiasm in your world today.
“And anyone who gives up his home, brothers, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, or property, to follow Me, shall receive a hundred times as much in return [in this life], and shall have eternal life” Matthew 19:29
I can tell you on the authority of God’s Word and from personal experience and observation that this promise is true. From my own commitment – made more than 30 years ago – and after having spoken with hundreds of Christian leaders and humble servants of God around the world, and observed thousands who I have counselled, I do not know of anyone whom God is using in any significant way who would say that this spiritual law has not been true in his life.
The time to invest your time, talent and treasure for Christ and His kingdom is now. The powerful tide of secular humanism, atheism, materialism, communism and other anti-God forces us threatening to engulf the world. From the human perspective, on the basis of what I see and hear, I could be very pessimistic about the future freedom of mankind.
On the contrary, I am very optimistic, not on the basis of what I see and hear, but on the basis of what I believe God is saying to my heart and of what I am observing that He is doing throughout the world. I am constantly reminded and assured,
“Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4, KJV).
Satan and his demonic forces were defeated 2,000 years ago.
Do you want a safe formula for success? Then recognize and practice the following:
First, remember that everything entrusted to our care actually belongs to God. We are His stewards here on earth.
Second, God does not want us to hoard His blessings.
Third, “As you sow, you reap.”
Fourth, invest generously – above the tithe in time, talent and treasure.
Fifth, invest supernaturally – by faith.
Bible Reading: Matthew 25:35-40
Recognizing myself as God’s steward, I will prayerfully seek to learn what He would have me to do to maximize my life for His glory through the investment of my time, talent and treasure.
Ferdinand Pauwels [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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1. Martin Luther was concerned with reform, not breaking away from Rome.
October 31, 1517, is the day Protestants celebrate each year as “Reformation Day.” Yet, when Martin Luther mailed his 95 Theses to the archbishop of Mainz, Albert of Brandenburg, (no, he probably did not actually nail them to the door!) he did not consider himself a Protestant, but rather a Roman Catholic seeking conversation and reform concerning the abusive selling of indulgences.
2. The Reformation was traditional.
Luther hoped Rome would agree with the 95 Theses, repent for the selling and commercialization of grace (indulgences), and make correction. As Luther wrote in Thesis 62, “The true treasure of the church is the most holy Gospel of the glory and grace of God,” which had traditionally been held by the church as indisputable.
3. At the heart of the Reformation was the belief that the Word alone is authoritative.
In 1518, the pope declared Luther’s theses in conflict with the teaching of the church—why? In part because of the content concerning indulgences and the church’s treasury of merit, but also because the theses were seen as questioning the Pope’s authority. Was the Pope authoritative alongside the Word of God, or was Scripture the sole authority over the tradition of the church? Luther chose to stand on the sole authority of the Word of God, and for this he was eventually excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Leo X and outlawed as a heretic by Charles V at the Diet of Worms (1521).
4. The Reformation was not individualistic, nor was it the achievement of one man.
Even at the Diet of Worms, Luther’s hope was not separation from Rome, but repentance. Luther argued that Rome had broken from the historic and traditional beliefs held by the church. In this, Luther did not stand alone but on the shoulders of believers who came before him in the history of the church who proclaimed the same truths of the gospel—that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Likewise, the Reformation was not Luther’s personal achievement but rather the product of the Word. As Luther said, “I simply taught, preached, and wrote God’s Word; otherwise I did nothing. And while I slept [cf. Mark 4:26-29], or drank Wittenberg beer with my friends Philip and Amsdorf, the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that no prince or emperor ever inflicted such losses upon it. I did nothing; the Word did everything.”
5. The Reformation was the product of the word preached, taught, read—and sung!
Ever hear the hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God?” It’s one of Luther’s most popular hymns today, based on Psalm 46 and written in German instead of Latin, which was the language of the Roman church. Writing hymns in the language of the people gave worship back to the people so they could lift their voices in song and praise. The Reformation was a reformation of worship—and was literally sung into being! If you sing today in your churches, rather than simply hearing polyphonic Latin, you have the Reformation to thank.
6. Luther claimed the “cloaca” was the site of his Reformation discovery.
“The Spiritus Sanctus gave me this realization in the cloaca,” Luther declared; however, he probably did not mean in the toilet, as some suggest. Historians argue that it is unlikely he actually had the Reformation discovery at that very moment in the cloaca and point to several stages of breakthrough in Luther’s life rather than one ultimate breakthrough. This being so, we should not miss Luther’s point, which he meant to be theological rather than a historical statement. Even for us today, but especially in medieval times, the cloaca is a place of filth, degradation, and fleshly humiliation. Luther associated it with the devil. Yet here, into the filth of sin, Christ came, taking on man’s flesh, and thus there is no place unholy for his presence. It is in the darkest, lowest, and most degrading places that Christ is present and powerful. Yet, the devil cannot become flesh, and thus even the cloaca reveals his powerlessness. Only Christ is victorious over sin and darkness.
7. Luther taught us to “sin boldy”—or did he?
This may not mean what you think. In a letter to Melanchthon, Luther wrote,
If you are a preacher of mercy, do not preach an imaginary but the true mercy. If the mercy is true, you must therefore bear the true, not an imaginary sin. God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world.
In other words, Luther taught us to be bold when we confess our sins to God, for Christ’s sacrifice is greater than our sin, and made only for sinners.
8. The doctrine of justification was central to the Reformation.
Rome prioritized sanctification and taught that justification comes through sanctification, making the two indistinguishable. This conception of soteriology can be seen particularly in the Roman Catholic view that salvation is by both grace and cooperation with grace. Only with both is salvation possible. By contrast, the Reformers stated that salvation is by grace alone, and thus it is an alien righteousness—Christ’s righteousness alone imputed to us, declaring us justified once and for all in the sight of God. Christ lived and died for his people, his sacrifice sufficient to atone for our sins, his righteousness now our righteousness. In this, salvation is not merely possible, but actual; the work we could not do was finished already by Christ and given freely to us. This doctrine of justification has been called by many the doctrine by which the Church stands or falls.
9. The Reformation teaches us to look outward, rather than inward, for truth.
Rome was all about looking inward. But if justification is by an alien righteousness—that is, extra nos—our salvation does not come from within ourselves, but from without—from God. Do you want to know what is true about yourself, dear Christian? Look outward—look to Christ. Christ is the truest picture of your identity, and his righteousness is what God sees every time he looks at you. Luther himself would not even trust his own conscience but looked outward to the “alien Word,” the gospel preached to him from outside.
10. The Reformation was a reformation of prayer.
You are probably familiar with the quote attributed to Luther in which he says, “I have so much to do today that I shall spend three hours in prayer to get it all done.” While it is debated whether Luther really said this, he certainly exhibited it, and he helped many others learn to pray by pointing them to the Lord’s Prayer. As in everything else, the Word of God was the authority for how to pray. The whole point of the Reformation was that humans cannot save themselves, but must depend entirely upon God for deliverance. The Reformers exhibited this dependence on God in their prayer lives where they sought the Lord through his Word for daily help.
Michelle Reedholds a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Westminster Seminary California. Her interests include theology, poetry, and philosophy, of which she has studied both academically and spontaneously.
This article has been updated since its original publication on October 27, 2017.
The Bible instructs us to bear one another’s burdens.
Many problems are too heavy for us to bear alone.
Faced with extreme hardship, Paul wrote that he counted on the prayers of his friends for victory (2 Corinthians 1:8-11, Philippians 1:19, Romans 15:30-32)
1. Pray that their love for others will grow. 1 Corinthians. 13:4-7, Philippians 1:9-11.
2. Pray for unity, agreement, unselfishness, humility, and oneness in Christ. Philippians 2:1-5, John 17:11, 21.
3. Pray that they will have the mind of Christ and acknowledge the Lord daily to direct their lives. 1 Corinthians 2:11-16, Proverbs 3:5-6.
4. Pray that they will present themselves as living sacrifices to God. Romans 12:1-2.
5. Pray that they will know who they are in Christ. Colossians 1:28, 2:10, Ephesians 1:3-4, 7-8.
6. Pray that they will hunger daily for the word of God and grow daily in Christlike maturity. Matthew. 4:4, Ephesians 4:11-16, Philippians 2:12-13.
7. Pray that they will put on the full armor of God and be alert to Satan’s strategies. Ephesians 6:10-18.
8. Pray that they will not love the world system but set their mind on Christ. 1 John 2:15-17, Philippians 4:8.
9. Pray that they will have a servant’s heart with a spirit of brokenness and humility. Mark 10:44-45, Psalm 51:17.
10. Pray that they will develop a praying heart, worshiping, praising, and thanking God as they see His hand of blessing extended to them. Psalm 103:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18.
Holy Spirit, enable me to pray for my family and friends according to the mind of God. Thank You, God, for answering my prayers according to Your will as I plead Your promises.
“Trust the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5 & 6
Trusting God means putting your life into His hands, even when you don’t know the outcome!
Janice couldn’t believe her 21-year-old son had cancer. She’d always told Jeremy to trust God. But this was tough! Wonderfully, his surgery was a complete success. They got all the cancerous tissue.
It was a year later when the doctor’s examined Jeremy and found more cancer. Janice could hear God’s voice speaking to her. “Will you trust Me in ALL things? Will you give it ALL to Me?”
It took some time, but Janice was finally able to say to the Lord, “Jeremy is Your child, he is Yours in life and in death.”
The Bible says emphatically: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” With ALL your heart. Rest in Him today, my friend!
We taught our kids the Bible, but they have left God. What happened? We thought if we trained them in God’s Word, they would not depart from him. Isn’t that what the Bible says?
“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)
Be careful with this verse. Don’t interpret it to mean “If I put my kids on the right path, they’ll never leave it. If I fill them full of Scripture and Bible lessons and sermons, they may rebel, but they’ll eventually return.”
The proverb makes no such promise. Salvation is a work of God. Godly parents can prepare the soil and sow the seed, but God gives the growth (1 Corinthians. 3:6). Moms and dads soften hearts but can’t control them.
Show them the path? Yes.
Force them to take it? No.
At moments in my own life I stood at the crossroads of the path and even took a few steps down the wrong one. One thing always brought me back—that inner compass shown to me by my Christ-loving parents.
No child ever leaves God’s sight. A child may turn his back on God or try to hide from his sight. But leave God’s view? Impossible. God has his eye on every child of his.
The Holy Spirit will follow your child down every back road, every dark alley, every dead end and always remind him of the foundation of belief you showed him—the road back home.
My wife shares this verse with the parents of prodigals. It is a good one for you:
“The Lord says, ‘This is my agreement with these people: My Spirit and my words that I give you will never leave you or your children or your grandchildren, now and forever’” Isaiah 59:21 (NCV).
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I have great admiration for non-Christians who have contributed to the improvement of society through their inventions, production, leadership, literature, and art. My wife and I were recently reflecting on the remarkable ways in which Steve Jobs's labors helped change the world in which we live. I love so many of the beautiful works of art and music that have been the product of secular artists; and I do not, for one second, believe that we should sequester ourselves from the use and enjoyment of the contributions of self-avowed unbelievers in the world around us. Otherwise, as the apostle Paul wrote, "you would need to go out of the world" (1 Cor. 5:10). There is a common grace principle at work in the world by which God allows men to benefit their neighbors, making life in this fallen world a little less painful than it would otherwise be.
That being said, I've noticed something of a concerning trend over the past several years. It is the way in which believers speak about culture-impacting individuals at their deaths. Instead of simply expressing appreciation for their life and achievements, it has become commonplace for Christians to use the shorthand “R.I.P.” (rest in peace) on social media when speaking of individuals in whose lives there was no evidence of saving grace at their death. At the risk of sounding ill-tempered, I wish to set out several reasons why I am troubled by this occurrence.
1. R.I.P. refers to the afterlife.
First, when we employ the abbreviation R.I.P., we are inevitably admitting a state or condition inseparably linked to the idea of the afterlife. We are not speaking of something indifferent to the truth of the hereafter. Someone might push back at this point, suggesting that R.I.P. is nothing other than a way of expressing appreciation for an individual's life and achievements.
However, while certain words and phrases can be fluid in their meaning (e.g., "goodbye" has taken on a different meaning than its Old English sense, "God be with you"), "rest in peace" gives the sense that the deceased are "in a better place"—a place of rest and peace. If we care about the eternal salvation of people, and whether or not they are trusting in Christ alone for eternal life, then we should painstakingly avoid giving the sense that we believe in any form of universalism whatsoever.
2. Christians should not pray for the dead.
Second, as Christians we should revolt at the idea of "praying for the dead," since there is not a single ounce of biblical support for such an idea. By saying "rest in peace," we necessarily run the risk of giving the impression that we are saying a prayer for the deceased—whether for self-professed unbelievers or self-professed believers. This alone ought to give us pause as to whether we should seek to abandon using the expression.
3. The Bible clearly teaches the costly nature of both rest and peace.
Third, the Scriptures teach very clearly the costly nature of both rest and peace. The biblical narrative is one of the redemptive rest that God has promised to provide through the life, death, resurrection, ascension, intercession, and return of Christ (Matt. 11:28-30; Heb. 4:1-10). The eschatological rest that Jesus has purchased for believers comes at the costly price of his blood (1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Pet. 1:19). Additionally, the Scriptures are clear that there is "no peace for the wicked" (Isa. 48:22; 57:21). The Lord warned, through the prophets, of the false prophets' message of "Peace, Peace!" when there was no peace (Jer. 6:14; 8:11).
The Scriptures make it abundantly clear that God has purchased peace only "through the blood of the cross" (Col. 1:20). The rest and peace for which we should long—both for ourselves and for those around us—is grounded on the nature of the person and atoning death of Jesus. If men have spent their lives rejecting the gospel and have not professed faith in Jesus, we should not be offering them posthumous well-wishes. It puts the nature of the exclusivity of Jesus and the gospel in jeopardy, even if that is not our intention.
None of us knows whether the regenerating grace of God has come at the final moment of someone’s life.
This does not mean that believers are to be hasty or uncharitable in the way in which we speak of the death of those who most likely died in unbelief, or that we are to speak in such a way as to indicate that we know with certainty where someone has gone when they have died. Surely, we have comfort and joy when someone who has professed faith in Christ—and in whose life there was fruit that they are in Christ (Matt. 7:16, 20)—departs from this life. It is the great comfort of believers to know that their fellow believers are now "resting in peace," as they "rest in Jesus" (1 Thess. 4:14).
The Old Testament speaks of believers as being "gathered to their people" at their death (Gen. 25:8, 17; 35:29; 49:29, 33). This is reserved only for believers. It is set in contrast with how the Scriptures speak of unbelievers at their deaths. However, when asked about those who never professed faith in Christ—someone who has spent the better part of his or her life adhering to some particular false religion—we should remember that none of us knows what God the Holy Spirit has done in the hearts of men and women moments prior to their death. None of us knows whether the regenerating grace of God has come at the final moment; and, therefore, we should only now be seeking to warn the living of the wrath to come in order to hold out the hope of redeeming grace in Christ.
We should weigh the implications of our speech, both in verbal and written form.
In a day when the biblical doctrine of hell has virtually disappeared from pulpits across the land, and the social conventions of the time demand more seemingly congenial speech than the Scriptures exemplify and require, we should give great personal examination to what we are saying and why we are saying what we are saying.
We should weigh the implications of our speech, both in verbal and written form, remembering that the same Jesus who said, "Come to me, all 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” (Matt. 11:28-29), also said, "I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” (Matt. 12:36).
soul prosperitysoul prosperity comes as a result of being planted by the rivers of water
Psalms 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
soul prosperity comes as a result of God’s mercy
Psalms 52:8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
soul prosperity comes as a result of having faith in God’s promises
2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
soul prosperity helps heal the body
3 John 1:2-4 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
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soul prosperitysoul prosperity comes as a result of being planted by the rivers of water
Psalms 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
soul prosperity comes as a result of God’s mercy
Psalms 52:8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
soul prosperity comes as a result of having faith in God’s promises
2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
soul prosperity helps heal the body
3 John 1:2-4 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
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Have you ever been so tired that you felt you couldn’t take another step?
That life has wrung you out and hung you up to dry? Have you ever wanted to just give up and throw in the towel?
Where is God?
Where is God when there is a thirst in our soul that cannot be quenched? Where is God when the darkness invades our spirit, when we’re in a dry and barren land? Where is God when there is a longing for wholeness where only brokenness is found? Where is the hope? Where is our God?
I wonder if Elijah felt like this when he ran away . . .
After defeating the prophets of Baal and experiencing God’s mighty answer to prayer for rain after a three year drought, Elijah was given a death threat from the wicked queen of the land. “Most Wanted” posters for Elijah went up in Israel overnight and he fled for his life. . .
MOST WANTED: Elijah
Just a few hours earlier, Elijah had witnessed the mighty power of God and watched as the people of Israel turned to God in repentance. But discouragement invaded his soul like a mighty army and Elijah ran . . .
Elijah ran . . .
He ran far out into the wilderness, found a solitary tree to sit under and begged God to let him die. He’d had enough and he wanted out!
What happens next is so surprising. He falls asleep and God lets him. When he awakes the angel of God feeds him and he falls back asleep. There is no condemnation, no scolding. There is just food and rest.
Once Elijah is rested and filled, God has him travel 40 days out into the vast wilderness. While Elijah is holding out in a cave God reveals Himself to him. Not once does God reprimand Elijah or scold him for being so self-focused, for desiring to dropout. God asks Elijah a simple question: What are you doing here? And he listens to Elijah’s reply. And then God gives him another job to do.
God’s unfailing love and care.
As I reflect on this beautiful story of God’s love and care for His faithful servant Elijah, I am reminded of God’s love and care for us. In the midst of the brokenness God is there. When we are tempted to dropout from what He has called us to do we are reminded that God sees all – He knows all. He is a witness to our pain and frustration, our heartache and sorrow and every tear we cry. He promises to care for us in the same way He did for Elijah. Our job is to trust Him and to keep our eyes fixed on Him and nothing else.
God promises in Isaiah 41:10 (NLV), “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
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You may have seen the phrases on t-shirts and tattoos, heard pastors mention them when preaching, or come across them in your readings: the five “alones” (or most commonly “the five solas” in Latin) of Protestant Christianity: “Scripture alone” (Latin: Sola Scriptura), “grace alone” (Sola Gratia), “Christ alone” (Solus Christus), “faith alone” (Sola Fide), and “to the glory of God alone” (Soli Deo Gloria).
If you haven’t heard of them yet, this introduction to the five “alones” will give you the opportunity to discover truths that will make your heart sing with joy, because they are some of the most important foundational beliefs in all of Christianity. These five phrases are distinguishing marks of the Protestant Reformation, setting all Protestants apart from the Roman Catholic Church. How did these five basic Christian beliefs originate, and what do they mean?
Background of the Five "Alones"
By the 1500s, the church in Rome had reached a tremendous level of corruption, having departed in many ways from both the Bible and teachings of earlier Christians. Rome elevated the Pope, bishops, and a long line of “saints” and created a system without any true hope for sinners. People were wrongly led to depend upon the merits of the "saints” and an unspecified number of their own works to earn them a place in eternity with God.
The Protestant Reformation was a movement led by pastor-teachers (including Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Calvin) who were remarkably gifted, highly educated, and well-read in the writings of the early church. They realized that Rome had been adding and altering important beliefs as recently as fifty years before the Reformation, and that these changes were departures from earlier Christianity. Using the five "alones," the Protestant leaders led the people back to the Bible and restored and reformed the Christian church. What do these five phrases mean, and what makes them rank among the most important basic truths that all Christians should know?
1. Scripture Alone: Scripture alone is the sole authority in the life and doctrine of the church.
Protestants believe that the Holy Spirit moved men of God to write down the very words of God in the Holy Scriptures, giving us the Bible as the onlyinfallible source of knowledge about God, salvation, and how to live. While the early Protestants diligently studied church history, tradition, and the creeds, they knew these important aids were imperfect and were never meant to be elevated above the authority of Scripture. Protestants reject any view that elevates the church or tradition over the Bible (Deut. 31-32; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
What it means for us today and tomorrow: “Scripture alone” does not mean that Christians are to rely upon their Bibles alone—this is a serious but common misunderstanding today. We ought to humbly value the imperfect work of well-studied pastors and teachers, church history, tradition, and the creeds and confessions (e.g., Apostles’ Creed, Nicene Creed, Westminster Confession of Faith, Canons of Dort)—resources that aid biblical interpretation and guard important truths. While respecting these other aids, “Scripture alone” means we can trust the Bible fully and completely as the onlyinfallibleauthority and source of truth, because it is the Word of God (1 Thess. 2:13; WCF 1.4; Second Helvetic Confession 1.3 and 2.2.1-5).
Although we may have difficulty understanding some parts of the Bible and may struggle with many diverse interpretations, we can trust that the fault lies with our understanding and not God’s trustworthy Word. When we humbly and diligently pray for understanding and discernment; diligently study the Scriptures, church history, creeds and confessions, and the interpretations offered by others; and research the pros and cons of these various interpretations carefully, we will usually discover one interpretation stands above the others. We can rest easy in dependence upon God and his perfect Word as our ultimate source of authority and truth.
2. Grace Alone: Because of God’s grace alone we are forgiven and declared righteous.
Protestants believe that all humans are born with sinful natures and are enemies of God due to Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the garden of Eden. No one deserves a place in heaven or to be forgiven of their sins. “Grace alone” tells us that the reason Christians are reconciled with God in Christ alone is because of God’s grace alone. Our human wills, sin-stained works, and the works of “the saints” contribute nothing toward our being justified. We are forgiven and declared righteous because of Christ’s work, not anything of our own doing (Deut. 7:6-8; 9:1-6; Eph. 2:1-10; Westminster Larger Catechism 66).
What it means for us today and tomorrow: Those who have suffered the most under the torments of depraved humans such as mass murderers Stalin and Hitler especially know that evil people must be punished—not set free—in order that justice may be served. While humans tend to demand justice for the really bad sins and overlook the minor sins, there are no minor sins before a perfectly holy and just God. Even the smallest sin is the ultimate slap in the face of God and deserving of eternal punishment. Remember, it was not murder but Adam and Eve’s act of rebellion in eating the forbidden fruit that brought sin upon the entire human race (Rom. 5:12).
The Bible tells us, “There is none good, no, not one” (Rom. 3:10). We commit sin all day long, every single day we live. Since we don’t deserve heaven with God, let us especially express our gratitude to God for his gift of eternal life because our salvation came by God’s grace only—not our wills, our works, or the works of some “saint.” Let us never lose sight of this expression of God’s love—the grace of God shows us his mercy in keeping us from foolishly running headlong straight into eternal fire.
3. Christ Alone: We are pardoned and made righteous by the merits of Jesus Christ alone.
Protestants believe that because of our sins, rebellion, and hatred of God, we owe an immeasurable debt of obedience to God that we can never pay. The only way for us to be reconciled to God was for our debt to be paid by the atoning sacrifice of the one and only mediator between God and man—Christ alone—the sinless Lamb of God. Jesus paid our debt, satisfied the justice of God, and merited eternal life for us. Protestants reject the claims that the righteousness of Mary and the “saints” contribute to our forgiveness or that there is any other mediator besides Christ only (Isa. 53:1-12; 1 John 2:1-2; Second Helvetic Confession 5, 11, 23; Belgic Confession 26).
What it means for us today and tomorrow: Some may wonder why Christ had to suffer and die in order to pay the penalty for our sins—why couldn’t God simply forgive us? Since God is righteous and holy, our sins must be punished to uphold God’s justice. In order to pay this immeasurable penalty for us, the Son of God was born in the flesh (the incarnate Christ: truly God and truly man), lived a sinless life on earth, and suffered and died to atone (pay) for our sins. Christ freed us from the guilt of sin by justifying us and removing our guilt. At that moment, he also freed us from slavery to sin, enabling us through sanctification to live godly and selfless lives for him and his people. Let us remember to be thankful for the great payment of Christ only—his sinless life and atoning death for us.
4. Faith alone: Faith alone (in Jesus Christ) is the instrument through which we are justified.
Protestants believe that we are “justified” (pardoned and declared righteous) through God’s gift of faith alone in Jesus Christ. This saving faith consists of a firm and sure knowledge of God’s favor toward us, affirmation (or agreement), and trust (or dependence) which embraces Jesus Christ alone. Saving faith receives and rests on Jesus Christ and his perfect righteousness and atoning sacrifice alone. Protestants reject any view that claims “justification by faith” while also crediting human works for helping to pay for our sins. We also reject any view that attempts to redefine saving faith to include good deeds, works of holiness, or ongoing submission which are all fruits of the Christian life from the moment believers are born again until we die (Ps. 32:1-11; Rom. 3:21-26; WCF 11.2; Heidelberg Catechism 60; Second Helvetic Confession 15).
What it means for us today and tomorrow: We may sometimes hear that “faith” is simply believing or trusting. Humans have faith that when we board an airplane, it will not fall out of the sky in mid-flight. This is not saving faith. Saving faith is not simply a mental decision of the will—a human work we do in order to save ourselves. Saving faith is a gift God gives to us by regenerating us and making us alive in Christ (Eph. 2:4-9). Through this gift of faith, we assent and trust in the truth of the Gospel and receive and rest on Christ and his righteousness alone for our justification. We will bear fruit, because we are branches receiving life from Christ our true Vine.
5. To the Glory of God Alone: Our salvation and our lives are ultimately for the glory of God alone.
Protestants believe that we owe our salvation completely and entirely to God alone. God deserves all of our gratitude not just for saving us but also for creating us and the whole universe. We reject the view that believers owe gratitude and glory to Mary, “the saints,” or our own efforts for our salvation (Ps. 19:1-2; Isa. 48:11; Rom. 11:33-36; 2nd Helvetic Confession 6.1; WLC 18; Canons of Dort 1.18).
What it means for us today and tomorrow: What does it mean to say we were created and saved for God’s glory? It means God deserves praise, honor, and worship from all his creation and creatures (WCF 2.2). God didn’t set a world into motion, not knowing how things would turn out. God logically had a purpose in creating the world. All things were made and ordained for God’s ultimate glory.
Consider the beauty and value of a world where the highest and ultimate love is displayed—where you can see and appreciate good in contrast to evil; great love in contrast to intense hate; life in contrast to death; and in the end, the great selfless sacrifice of the Son of God for those who hated him. Imagine at the end of it all, the praise you will express and the immense love you will have for your Creator and Savior. These are all acts that should prompt humans and angels to praise, admire, and worship God, for he is the one who created you, loved you despite your sinfulness and wickedness, and made the ultimate sacrifice to spend an incomprehensibly joyous and beautiful eternity with you.
Summary
The Protestant Reformation was a recovery of the Christian faith and the throwing off of Rome’s additions and changes. These five basic points are at the heart of the Christian faith and are essential to leading a beautiful Christian life and increasing our faith, hope, and joy. I want to encourage you to familiarize yourself with these five basic points of Christianity by studying and committing to memory the following sentence:
Scripture alone is infallible, and this highest authority teaches that we are saved because of God’s grace alone (not because we are deserving); on the basis of the righteousness of Christ alone (not our works or the works of other saints); through the means or instrument of faith alone (not faith and works); and all things (including our salvation and Christian lives) are for and the glory of God alone.
What do you do when you lack clarity in the midst of a trial?
Oftentimes we are tempted to do something, anything. But the wisest approach is to pray and wait on the Lord for direction. But how do we begin?
Prayer starts with transitioning our thoughts from the situation at hand to the Lord. What we need is His perspective on the difficulty we’re facing. Then we can ask Him to do what He’s purposed to accomplish through the challenging circumstance—whatever that may be. When we pray God-centered prayers according to His will, we can be certain that He will give us what we have requested (1 John 5:14-15).
In addition, the prayer pattern that Jesus Christ taught His disciples in Matthew 6:11-13 reveals the type of needs our Father wants us to bring before Him. As He provides for us, we will learn to trust Him more and more. Keeping a prayer list is helpful because it becomes a record of our interactions with the Lord. When we see a direct correlation between our requests and His answers, it will become increasingly evident that God has worked in our life. Specific prayers are even better than general requests because God’s faithfulness is even more undeniable.
One request God promises to answer with a “yes” is the desire for wisdom. Whenever we need understanding, particularly in trials, we are to petition our heavenly Father, and He will give it generously as we fill our minds with scriptural truths. And as our wisdom increases, joy and trust in the Lord will too.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning Beautiful Christian Life LLC may get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through its links, at no cost to you.
Do you think you’re seeing a fierce competition during an SEC college football game, a WWE wrestling event, or even the last presidential election?
These are all just sissy stuff when compared to Jesus’ fight against Satan in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1–11). Here are six things Jesus teaches us about the devil in this epic encounter:
1. The devil is real.
The Bible tells us that "Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil" (Matt: 4:1) People should not doubt the existence of Satan. He is indeed real and tried to destroy Jesus in the wilderness to thwart his redemptive work.
2. The devil tries to make us doubt God’s provision.
Jesus had been fasting for forty days and forty nights, and Satan seized upon this opportunity to take advantage of Jesus in his weakened physical state. The devil told him:
“If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” (Matt: 4:3)
Notice the first word the devil used: “if.” Satan knew Jesus was the Son of God. The devil hoped his taunts, combined with Jesus’ physical hunger, would cause Jesus to buckle, but that wasn’t going to happen. Jesus had confidence that his Father would provide for all his needs. He came right back at Satan with a Scripture text:
“It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (4:4; see also Deut. 8:3)
Christians also face circumstances in life in which they are weakened and more vulnerable to Satan’s schemes. We must trust God’s word and not allow our doubts, fears, and fleshly desires to lead us into sin. We also need to attend church regularly and be in regular fellowship with the saints so that we may stand strong together against the devil.
3. The devil knows Scripture.
Next, the devil cites Psalm 91:11–12 to entice Jesus to jump off the roof of the temple to test God’s love for his Son (Matt. 4:5–6). Jesus answers Satan right back with Scripture:
“Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Matt. 4:7; see also Deut. 6:16)
If you think Scripture can’t be twisted for evil purposes, you need look no further than this passage to realize this is one of the major ways Satan attacks Christians. Just as the devil twists God’s command to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden (Gen. 3:1–5), he repeats the same drill with Jesus in the wilderness. Christians must be equipped with God’s Word like Jesus was so they can stand strong against the devil. Yet, knowing Scripture is not enough; Christians also need to know how to interpret Bible verses in their proper context to employ them effectively against all the devil’s schemes.
4. The devil has great power.
After the devil’s first two failed attempts to get Jesus to obey him rather than God, Satan tempts Jesus to choose worldly power over obedience to his Father.
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” (Matt. 4:8–9)
Satan shows his great power by first taking Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and then to a mountaintop. If Satan can do such things, we should never underestimate his power here on earth. Furthermore, we should not be surprised by the evil we see all around us. Still, the devil can only do what God allows him to do (Job 1:12).
5. Jesus has authority over the devil.
We can be confident in the midst of any trial that God is in control and has ultimate power over Satan in all things.
Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'" (Matt. 4:10; see also Deut. 6:13)
Jesus had to pass the test that Adam failed in the garden of Eden (Gen 2:16–17; 3:1–6). He refused to believe the devil’s lies and instead obeyed his Father in all things. Jesus was tempted but did not sin (Heb. 4:15). Satan has power, but Jesus has ultimate power over all creation. When Jesus said, “Be gone, Satan!” the devil had to obey him (Matt. 4:11).
6. The devil is doomed.
Although it may have appeared that the devil triumphed over God at the cross, it was actually the other way around. In that greatest act of evil ever perpetrated against God and man, Jesus conquered sin, death, and the devil with the greatest victory of all time, winning salvation for all who trust in him.
Satan hates God, and he hates you and me. If the devil tried repeatedly to destroy God’s Son, we can be certain he seeks our demise as well. He tries to frighten and tempt Christians and make them think the world can satisfy their needs, when only God can.
If you are in Christ, the devil can never rob you of your right standing before God. He can cause believers to experience great struggles in this life, but only as God allows in his perfect will. Just as the angels rushed in to care for Jesus after he defeated the devil in the wilderness (Matt. 4:11), God cares for his children in ways we cannot always see, but are still real and present all around us (Prov. 5:21; 1 Pet. 5:7).
The devil’s time is short, and his doom is sure. In this time before Jesus’ return, God is patient, "not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (1 Pet. 3:9). Take comfort, because Jesus Christ—your captain, your champion, your advocate, your hero—shall never waver in his love for you. He “will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:8).
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