Only Four Possibilities

The Bible never spends much time defending the thesis of God. It is presented as a self evident fact that God exists. The writers of scripture declared that creation itself was evidence of God. David wrote in Psalm 19:1-3:


"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard."

Again Paul writes in Romans 1:19,20

"Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse"

Existence itself is a powerful argument for the reality of God. It trumpets His power and Godhead to all men on earth. And the testimony of existence leaves us all without excuse before Him.

Most every side of the God debate can agree on one thing. There are only a limited number of options to explain the existence of everything. In fact, there are only four possibilities to explain the existence of everything.

1. It is only an illusion.

2. It created itself out of nothing.

3. It is self existent and eternal.

4. It was made by one who is self existent and eternal.

Those are your only options. Which is most reasonable? Lets briefly look at each option.

1. It is only an illusion.

Is this reasonable? A few would argue that it is, but most of us will never buy into this. Creation is obviously not an illusion. The fact that you are conscious is evidence that your existence is real. As Descartes said, "I think, therefore, I am. If you still have any doubts, just stick your hand into an open flame and hold it there for a couple of minutes. It will cure all your doubts.

2. It created itself out of nothing.

That is certainly the most popular thesis of our current age. But is it reasonable? It is an established fact of science that energy cannot be created or destroyed. And no one has ever observed matter and energy appearing from nothing.

3. It is self existent and eternal.

This was the most popular explanation a few decades ago. But, few hold to this view today. It is beset by problems. The Second law of Thermodynamics tells us that if the universe had always existed, it would have long ago turned to mush. Entropy simply leaves no room for an eternal, self existent universe. So we are only left with number 4. It was made by one who is self existent and eternal.

Four and only four options. It leaves one with a lot to think about........

New Birth, not Religion

John 3

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Surely, everyone was curious about this upstart preacher. He had appeared suddenly out of nowhere when John was baptizing beyond Jordan. John had greeted him with a startling appellation: " Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Obviously this revivalist had a high opinion of the young man.

If this were not enough, the young preacher arrived at the wedding of Cana with his disciples and turned six waterpots of water into wine. Not your typical religious charlatan.

Jesus then proceeded to Jerusalem to keep the passover. This was where he really grabbed the attention of the establishment. He drove the money changers out of the Temple. He referred to the Temple as his Father's house. Jesus challenged the religious leaders to destroy the temple; and he said he would raise it up in three days. It sounded like the rantings of a fanatic. But then again, there was that miracle in Cana........

Nicodemus was one of Judaism's religious elite, and he was going to get to the bottom of who this upstart preacher was. He approached Jesus, apparently hoping to find out more about those miracles, and was greeted with a confusing and startling statement. "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Though he was one of Israel's religious leaders, he was thoroughly confused when Jesus began to discuss the essential spiritual issues of life.

Many today, even those with a background in the Church, are just as confused about the issue of salvation as was Nicodemus. What is salvation? To define what salvation is, it might be wise to clarify what it is not.

Salvation is not religion. Nicodemus was not short on religion. John tells us that he was one of the Pharisees. Thus, he was one of the religious authorities that the nation looked to for guidance in the spiritual realm. If anyone should have known what salvation is, it should have been Nicodemus. Nicodemus belonged to an order of men whose history went back centuries. Centuries earlier, the Pharisees  had been a 'revival' movement in Judaism which stressed faithfulness to the Law of God. Paul referred to them as the strictest sect in Judaism. Acts 26:5 " after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee." So Nicodemus and his compatriots were not at all lacking when it came to religion. These 'lily white' church folks did not drink beer, did not chew tobacco, did not curse, and they did not neglect the duties imposed on them by their faith. Yet still, something was lacking. Jesus told Nicodemus that he still needed a new birth if he was to enter the Kingdom of God.

Salvation is not good works. Many folks today are tired of the outward trappings of religion. And in many ways I am with them in this. We often mistake the ritual and singing and sermons for the real substance. So many folks want to reduce religion to simply doing good by others. Many believe if they live a fairly decent life, do not harm anyone else by their actions, and have a social conscience, that they will find God's approval for their lives. Yet, neither is this enough to enter the Kingdom of God.

Paul tells us that our salvation is not by our good deeds. Paul tells us that out salvation is not of our works in Ephesians 2:8,9.  "by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:Not of works, lest any man should boast."

You see, no matter how many good deeds you do, you are still a breaker of God's laws. Paul tells us in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Good works cannot save you. Because no matter how many good deeds you have, you are still a violator of God's commandments. James tells us that we are accountable to all of God's laws. James 2:10 "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." A man may commit a serious crime and live many years after as a model citizen; yet when the law catches up with him, they will not congratulate him on the model life he lived after committing the crime. They will hold him accountable for his breaking the law, no matter how upright his life was after breaking it. It is the same with God. Nothing we do can undo the sin we have committed in His sight.

What then, is salvation?

Salvation is purchased by blood.  Jesus pointed Nicodemus to his upcoming death. John 3:14 "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up". In the cross, Jesus bore our sins in his own body for us. Hebrews 9:28 tells us, "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Christ took our sins on himself, and thus satisfied the requirements of God's laws against the sinner. His death purged our sins. Hebrews 1:3 "when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."

Salvation is a new birth. Jesus drew Nicodemus' attention to the fact that just as one enters this world by birth, one must also be born into God's Kingdom. In your first birth, you were born into sin. Your birth was no good. So, you must be born again to meet the qualification to enter God's Kingdom. The new birth produces a new man. Paul tells us in II Corinthians 5, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." This new man may enter God's Kingdom.

Salvation is received by faith. Jesus went on to tell Nicodemus, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Salvation is not earned by our religion, or our works. It is simply by faith. I do not have to continually labor and wonder if I have done enough to please God. I do not have to live with uncertainty regarding my future. My salvation is given to me of God simply by faith. Romans 5:1,2 says, " Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God".  How much faith is required? Only enough to call upon Christ for salvation. Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Again, John 1:12 says, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name". Friend, have you received Christ?

The Christian and Judging

It always bothers me that people always run to Matthew 7:1 to justify any sin that they happen to be committing. Many people flout the Bible's teachings on morality, and then defend their actions from correction by repeating 'Judge not, lest ye be judged'. Did Jesus intend this verse to be a cover for people to hide sin behind? What does the Bible teach about the Christian and judging?

Any discussion of this topic should begin with a definition of what judging is. The definition of judging can vary slightly depending on the context that the word is used in.

Definitions of the word 'judge'.

1. To compare facts or ideas, and perceive their agreement or disagreement, and thus to distinguish truth from falsehood.

2. To form an opinion.

3. to pass sentence.

4. To discern; to distinguish, to consider accurately for the purpose of forming an opinion or conclusion.

The most popular (and abused) passage in the NT on judging is Matt. 7:1-5.

1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

According to Noah Webster(a Christian and a Bible translator), judging in the context of Matthew 7:1 means, 'To censure rashly; to pass severe sentence'. Obviously this is different than the above definitions. This puts things in a different perspective. Jesus is not telling anyone not to subject a doctrine or a lifestyle to examination and discern it's rightness; he is telling us not to rashly pass sentence on another person. Especially not in a context of hypocrisy.

An example of this would be Shakespeare's play, Measure for Measure, where a ruler sentences a man to death for committing fornication, while that same ruler is trying to lure the guilty man's sister into bed. Romans 2:1 speaks of this kind of judgment.

1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

Again Jesus is not telling us not to correct a fault in others, but rather to make sure we are not guilty in that area before we do.

5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Thus we see that we are allowed to help a brother to clear his eyesight, if we make sure our eyesight is clear in that matter first.

As the passage is usually interpreted, no one should ever correct any false doctrine, or condemn any behaviour as being wrong. This passage is one of fallen man's favorite Bible passages to provide a justification for his sins. If you tell someone to stop committing fornication or to stop getting drunk (just a couple of examples), you are greeted with 'Judge not lest ye be judged'. This is clearly not the sense that Jesus intended this passage to be took. For we read further down in verses 15-20:

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

It is clear from this passage that we ARE to judge in the sense of having discernment. This is common sense. This kind of judging is necessary in every day life.

How else are we not to judge?

Romans 14:1, 3, 13

1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

We are not to judge believers over legitimate areas of disagreement where there is not an express command from scripture. In this instance it is about observing days or eating certain foods. In non essential matters such as these we are not to pass judgement on a brother who has a different practice than we.

But as Christians, we have an obligation to judge when it comes to discerning.

I Cor. 2:14,15

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

We see here that Christians are to judge in spiritual matters. This is necessary if we are to avoid false doctrines and practices.

We have an obligation to judge and discipline sinful behavior in the Church, while we leave those outside the church to God's judgment.

I Cor. 5:11-13

11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Also, the Church has an obligation to judge and settle disputes between believers. This does not hardly ever occur today; and it should.

I Cor. 6:1-5

1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren

And as Christians we should practice self judgment.

I Cor. 11:31,32

31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

If we judge ourselves when we sin, then God does not have to judge us. When we refuse to acknowledge our sins, then God must chasten us for our own good.

The Two Natures of the Believer

The Christian has a dual nature. This is revealed here by Paul.

Romans 7

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

The doctrine of the believer's two natures is a very important doctrine for the believer to grasp. If a Christian does not understand this, then he will at some point reach the place of being unsure of his salvation. Understanding this doctrine is also important to living right. Once this doctrine is applied and understood, it will be easier to live a Christian life.

I wish to draw you attention to four points concerning the believer's two natures.

I. The Christian has been born twice.

This is the origin of the believer's two natures.

John 3

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

The Christian therefore, has a flesh nature and a spiritual nature. The spiritual man is born of God at his salvation. The fleshly part comes from his human birth. The Christian is a Jekyll and Hyde persona. There are two natures existing in one person. A Christian has a natural man and a spiritual man. A Christian has two personalities, two wills, two allegiances, and two minds.

This is the source of the conflict that Paul describes. There were two 'I's' in Paul that were competing for dominance.

II. The Natural or Carnal Man

This is that part of the believer that we are born with from our parents.

Several attributes of the Natural Man:

1. Born of Adam

Gen. 5:3

And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness

Romans 5

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

The Natural Man is by nature a child of disobedience and wrath.

Ephesians 2

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

2. Cannot Keep the Law of God

Rom. 8

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

James 2

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

This is why a man cannot save himself by the works of the law. The flesh is too weak to live up to the Law's requirements.

3. His mind is at enmity with God

Rom. 8:7

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

His understanding is darkened. Eph. 4:18

18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

The natural man cannot understand the things of the spirit. I Cor. 2:11,14

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

This is why the Bible is hard to understand. It is spiritual in nature and we are still in our carnal flesh. Therefore an unsaved man cannot understand it, and a Christian can misinterpret it because he is still in the flesh. A person's spiritual condition is a factor on how well he understands the Book.

4. He is born to die

Rom.6:23

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

It is a body of death. Rom. 7:24

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

5. His works

Gal. 5:19-21

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

These works will predominate in a man controlled by the carnal nature.

III. The Spiritual Man

1. The spiritual man is born of God. John 3:6

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

2. The spiritual man is sinless. I John 5:18

18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

That spiritual nature of the believer does not sin. A Christian may commit sins because he is in the flesh as yet, but the spiritual nature within him that is born of God does not partake of this sin. It is the Christians fleshly nature that sins. A Christian can commit any sin an unsaved man can commit because the Christian still has his sinful flesh. But, the new nature within him does not. A Christian in his flesh can commit murder. But, he is not a murderer, because the new man inside him that is born of God is sinless. Hence a Christian can commit sins in the flesh and face judgement of God, loss of reward, ect., but in the eyes of God he is sinless. He has not beheld iniquity in Jacob. (Even though Jacob in the flesh is quite sinful.)

The spiritual man delights in the law of God. Rom. 7:22

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

3. The spiritual man's works.

Gal. 5:22,23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

IV. The War

Paul found a conflict between the spiritual and carnal man raging within him.

16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

The Natural man sins and the Spiritual man hates it.

Gal.5:17

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Though he is saved, the Christian can be controlled by the carnal nature.

I Cor. 3:3

3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

If you do not control the flesh nature it will control you.

How do we win the war against the flesh?

First we must realize that the flesh is already a dead enemy.

Rom.8:10-12

10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

Realizing it is dead, we must mortify it and treat it as dead. We must crucify it.

Gal.5:24

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

We are crucified with Christ when we are saved. But yet, there is a daily crucifixion which must take place for us to walk in the spirit.

We must not feed the flesh and make provision for it. If we do not, then it will grow stronger and will take control.

Romans 13:14

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

We must deny self if we are to walk victoriously.

Matt. 16:24

24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

We must be led of the spirit to be victorious.

Gal. 5:16

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

A Christian can commit any kind of Sin without being led of the Spirit. The key is to follow the leadership of God's Spirit in our lives. That means laying aside all, and making Jesus King of every aspect of our lives.