BiblicalInsights.net

Caleb was a member of the tribe of Judah.  He was selected at the age of forty to help eleven other men spy out the land of Canaan.  The children of Israel had just fled Egypt, crossed the Red Sea, encamped at Sinai and were now poised to enter the promised land.  Twelve spies were sent to investigate the land.  Ten of the spies brought back an evil report saying that the Israelites were too weak to conquer the inhabitants of the land.  They balked in unbelief.  Joshua and Caleb spoke of Israel’s capability to conquer the land.  They spoke by faith in God.  They desired to be obedient to God’s command (Deut. 7:1-4).  The unbelief of the ten spies infected the rest of the people and they feared and refused to go up and conquer the land.  For this rebellion, God punished them.  Those twenty years old and up were sentenced to die in the wilderness before entering into Canaan.  Two exceptions were made to this decree by God.  Joshua and Caleb would be rewarded for their faith and they would possess the land (Num. 13:6,8; 17-20).  Clearly, they had a different spirit within them.  They were motivated by faith in the one, true, and living God.
God promised Caleb, “Him will I bring into the land whereinto he went: and his seed shall possess it” (Num. 14:24).  Caleb was preserved by God.  He endured forty years of wildnerness wanderings with God’s people.  He spent five years with Joshua in the conquest of Canaan.  His strength was not abated at the age of eighty-five when he made a special request of Joshua.
Caleb’s request was made during the time that Joshua was dividing the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel.  It is recorded in Joshua 14:6-12.  “And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.  Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said” (Joshua 14:10-12).
Caleb’s inheritance was located in the the middle of the land given to the tribe of Judah.  Joshua heeded Caleb’s request and gave him Hebron and the surrounding area for his possession.  Thus God’s promise to him was fulfilled.
Even though Caleb was advanced in years, he challenged himself to accomplish great things.  His words not only speak of his physical strength and ability, but they resonate with confidence in God.
Will you take up the challenge?  Challenge yourself in some new way in 2014.  Consider some of these suggestions to help motivate you.
–Challenge yourself to learn something new.  It is possible to continue learning even though one is advancing in years.  Why develop a new skill or ability?  There are many areas of work in the Lord’s kingdom that we can apply this principle to.  Have you ever taught a Bible class?  Have you lead the singing?  Have you written a book?  Have you ever attempted to write a hymn?  Why not explore your potential?
–Challenge yourself to overcome a weakness.  Must we continually perpetuate our weaknesses?  Have we become dependent upon them for excuses for our failures?  What about overcoming procrastination, lateness, absenteeism from the worship assemblies, lukewarmness and other weaknesses that become besetting sins?
–Challenge yourself to grow in the knowledge of God’s Word.  Have you read through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation?  Why not set this as a personal goal in 2014?  It takes less than nine hours to read through the New Testament!  You could read through the New Testament many times in the New Year.
–Challenge yourself to love deeper.  We need to grow in love.  We need to work to master love.  Love for God is the greatest commandment.  Love for neighbor is next (Matt. 22:36-39).  Pettiness, selfishness, pride and arrogance need to be slain in us and replaced with virtues that honor God.  In I Cor. 13:4-8, Paul lists the virtues of love.  Read this passage and master the characteristics that will enrich the human heart.
–Challenge yourself to follow God in all things.  Caleb did this even when the command of God was demanding.  We often shrink back and hold back from obeying God when what He commands is difficult.  God’s commands are not grievous, but they can be demanding of courage and sacrifice.  We cannot pick and choose what commands we will obey.  We must do all of the will of God.
–Challenge yourself to forgive.  Is there anything more demanding than forgiving your enemies?  Often times when we are injured, we desire to get even.  We seek revenge rather than reconciliation.  Jesus is the epitome of the forgiving spirit (Luke 23:34).  Forgiveness was on His lips in the final moments of His life.
When Caleb was eighty-five years old, he still had a vision for what he wanted to accomplish with his life.  He had a different spirit within him.  He was driven by faith.  What about your faith?  What’s your vision?

We have mastered impatience!  Have you ever been behind a car at a stoplight when it turns green and the car in front of you fails to go forward and just sets still? Have you ever been in a check-out line when the cashier makes a mistake and it takes ten minutes to correct it?  Have you ever attempted to order food at a fast-food restaurant and the person waiting on you is new and doesn’t know what to do first?  In each of these scenarios, do you wait patiently?  Most of us have been in these situations and were upset because we had to wait.  We know the feelings of irritation, frustration, and anger when someone else fails to do his/her job and we pay the price in lost time and incovenience.  Yes, we have mastered impatience.
There are three reasons that impatience comes to characterize our hearts.  First, we are overscheduled.  We are like a glass of water that is full to the brim.  Anytime we are jostled, we spill over.  We are so overscheduled in life that we have no flexibility.  Second, we hold to unrealistic expectations of others.  We actually have developed a double-standard.  We expect other people to always get it right and not make mistakes that will cost us personally.  However, when we mess up, we have many excuses as to why we failed and we want others to cut us some slack.  Third, we have an oversized ego and are arrogant.  We have feelings of superiority to others whom we think are inferior to us.  We are impatient with others when we feel that we are better than they are and we can work faster, think smarter, and accomplish more than them.
If we are impatient with people, we are probably impatient with God too!  Remember Abram and Sarah?  In Gen. 16, they ran ahead of God in the matter of having an heir and Sarah permitted Abram to be with Hagar and together they produced a son, Ishmael.  Ishmael was not the promised son.  Abram and Sarah grew impatient.  Twenty-five years passed from the time God promised Abram a son until Isaac was born.  Twenty-five years is a long time to wait for a promise to be fulfilled.  We must learn to “wait upon the Lord.” Faith in God produces patience with God.  God works all things out according to His own timetable. Trust Him!
God is longsuffering toward us (II Pet. 3:9).  The word longsuffering means “long-tempered.”  It is the opposite of being “short-tempered.”  Why is God patient with us?  The answer is given in this verse, He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  God is merciful.  His mercy produces longsuffering.  Mercy is the antidote to impatience.
If you want to become more patient, you must become more merciful!  If you want to be more patient with God, you must trust Him implicitly.

“And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect” (Gen. 17:1).  This is the first time, the name, Almighty God, appears in Scripture.  This is the tenth name for God in the Old Testament (beginning with Genesis 1:1).  This name means, the Strong One. God is all-powerful.  No power is as great as God’s.  Every force under, in, or above, the earth must therefore be dependent upon, subservient to, and by the permission of, Him who told Abram, I am God Almighty.
Creative Power.
God created the entire universe from that which did not exist before (Heb. 11:3). “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”  God spoke the universe into existence.  “He spake and it was done, he commanded and it stood fast” (Psa. 33:9).  Gen. 1:3, “And God said, Let there be light, and there was light….”  The word of God is powerful.
Punitive Power.
Due to the extreme wickedness of man, God determined to destroy the earth by a universal flood (Gen. 6:5 and 7).  Noah was commanded to build an ark to the saving of his house.  Noah did all that God commanded.  The time came for the windows of heaven to be opened and the fountains of the deep to be broken up and God caused the entire earth to be flooded 15 cubits above the mountains (Gen. 7:20).  This was a miracle.  It demonstrates the punitive power of Almighty God.  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb. 10:31).
Providential Power.
Several times in the book of Genesis God demonstrates His providential power.  In Gen. 14:19,20, the king of Salem, Melchizedek,  recognizes the providential hand of God in helping Abraham secure a victory over Chedorlaomer and those kings allied with him.  He states, “And blessed be the most high God,which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand…”  In Gen. 20:18, God intervenes to protect the purity of Sarah, Abraham’s wife, and to protect the promise He had made to Abraham and Sarah concerning the son of promise, Isaac.  The sacred text reads, “For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.” Many times in the book of Genesis, God’s providential power is manifested.
Miraculous Power.
God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah concerning having a son took twenty-five years to fulfill.  The time period alone was a test of Abraham and Sarah’s faith.  Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 years old when Isaac was born.  Both were old.  Sarah was past the time of child bearing.  She had been barren all of her life.  Yet, God blessed them with a baby son.  Isaac was the son of promise and God miraculously intervened in order for Abraham and Sarah to become parents.
Saving Power.
The first Messianic promise is recorded by Moses in Genesis 3:15.  The seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent (Satan) and Satan would bruise his heel.  The seed promise continues with Abraham.  Gen. 12:3, God told Abram, “in thee shall all nations of the earth be blessed.”  Later, in Gen. 22:18, God said, “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”  This passage is referenced by the apostle Paul in Galatians 3:16, “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.  He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.”  Jesus Christ is the promised seed (Messiah) of Abraham.  Jesus brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.  The Gospel is God’s power to save men from the consequences of sin (Rom. 1:16, 6:23).  To be saved means to be delivered from the eternal consequences of sin which is everlasting punishment by God.  God has the power to save and He has the power to condemn.  God can save to the uttermost them that come to Him in faith and loving obedience to His Will.
Almighty God is a name for God that all of us must remember.  God is all-powerful.  God is over all.  We must be subject unto Him, fear Him, and surrender our lives in humble service to Him.

“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love” (Gal. 5:6).  The apostle Paul wrote this passage to churches in Galatia (Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe-south Galatia). The churches in this region were being challenged by Judaizing teachers who claimed that Christians, including Gentile Christians, must keep the law of Moses and be circumcised.  These teachers had succeeded in infiltrating these churches and perverting them with their doctrine (Gal. 1:6 and 3:1).  Paul writes the book of Galatians to refute their doctrines and vindicate the Gospel.  He emphasizes that “circumcision or uncircumcision” avails nothing in Christ.  Circumcision was a sign of the covenant between God and Israel.  It helped define the people of God from those who were not considered to be among the people of God.  The distinction between Jew and Gentile was established by this sign.  Paul affirms that the “circumcised” were to keep the whole law (Gal. 5:3).  But, the Jews could not keep the law perfectly (Rom. 2:25, 3:9).  Consequently, circumcision could not justify them.  In Christ, neither circumcision nor uncircumcison availeth anything.  This distinction was no longer valid.  A significant change occurred when Jesus died on the cross.  At that time, the new testament (covenant) went into force (Col. 2:14, II Cor. 3:7-17; Heb. 9:15-17).  The law of Moses was fulfilled and taken out of the way.  Jeremiah the prophet, some 600 years before Christ, had predicted this change in covenants (Jer. 31:31-34, Heb. 8:6-13).  Christians are not under the law of Moses, but they are under (accountable to, bound by the terms and conditions of the covenant) the law of Christ.  To be “in Christ” is to be in the spiritual sphere where redemption and salvation are found (Gal. 5:1).  How does one get “into Christ?”  Paul gives the answer:  “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:26-27).  The consequence of this spiritual transformation is that “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28).
Paul affirms that the grace of God is appropriated through faith and love.  Faith and love are born in the hearts of men when they hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Knowledge of the truth begets faith.  “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God” Rom. 10:17.  Knowledge of God’s love for us begets love in our hearts for Him.  “We love him, because he first loved us.”  Our love for God which involves adoration, devotion, submission and respect or reverence, is a reciprocal love.  It is a love that responds to God’s unspeakable gift of His Son–Jesus Christ–who died for us upon the cross.
Faith is operational by love.  Faith is absolute trust in God.  Faith is active (Heb. 11:8, Abraham’s faith was an obedient faith).  Love is active.  Jesus said, “if ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).  The test of faith is obedience to God’s commands.  The test of love is obedience to God’s commands.  Faith performs its work in the sphere of love.  Love envelops and permeates faith.  Faith without love is imperfect (I Cor. 13:1-3) and love without faith is imperfect (Heb. 11:6).  You cannot be saved by faith alone.  You cannot be saved by love alone.  As Paul affirms, we are saved by faith which worketh by love!
Love is the greatest virtue! (I Cor. 13:13).  It outranks faith.  No person can be saved without love for God.  Love for God is the greatest commandment (Matt. 22:36-40).
Faith and love are both virtues of the human heart that are necessary for salvation.  We must believe in Jesus Christ and love Him above all else.  When we believe and love the Lord Jesus Christ, we will obey Him (Luke 6:46).  Faith and love define the children of God today.

This past week I have had the privilege of serving on jury duty.  I have been away from my desk as a result and have not had the opportunity to keep up with my blog.  I am returning today to that task and would like to share some of the observations that come from my experience.
First, I learned what is reasonable is important to a jurist.  Here is an example of what is reasonable.  We know that some people run red lights.  In our area around Columbus, Ohio, several red-light cameras have been installed at specific intersections in order to record people running red lights and, later, a ticket is sent to their address for the violation.  This has been publicized in many different media forms.  We also know that some traffic accidents are the result of people running red lights.  Why, then, do we not stop at all green lights in order to avoid collisions with those people who run red lights?  It would not be reasonable to do so.  Green means go not stop.  If we stopped at green lights, more accidents would follow.  Also, it would be very disruptive.  Consequently, we deem it would be irresponsible and unreasonable to stop at green lights.  To be reasonable means that “it makes good sense.”
Second, what does the phrase, “beyond reasonable doubt” mean?  No prosecutor could prove his case 100%.  But, he could present sufficient evidence to convince an individual juror “beyond a reasonable doubt.”  Consider this scenario.  A person enters a bank and robs it at gun point.  Later, the following evidence is presented to convict him or her.  There is an clear image of the suspect on a video camera.  A witness places the suspect at the scene at the same time as the crime.  A gun with the suspect’s finger prints on it is presented as material evidence.  But, another witness fails to recall the color of his shirt and mistakes his red shirt for some other color.  Would there be enough evidence to convict the suspect “beyond a reasonable doubt?”
Third, which is more convincing, description or recognition?  If you were asked to describe the president of the United States at the present time you could give a description like this:  he is a male, middle aged, tall, thin, moderately brown skin, with graying hair.  But, how many other men in America would fit that same description?  Yet, if he walked through the door of your house, you would be able to recognize him immediately.  Recognition is stronger than description.
Let’s apply what we have learned.  In order to have faith in Jesus Christ, we must consider the evidence that He is the Messiah and the Son of God.  John writes his Gospel with this purpose in mind (John 20:30-31).
First, could we prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God?  The evidence given in the gospels is sufficient for such proof.  We have: (1) Prophecy and its fulfillment.  For instance, Isaiah prophesied specifically what the Messiah would accomplish in Isa. 61:1-2.  This prophecy was applied by Jesus to himself in Luke 4:16-21.  Then, Jesus accomplished the specific factors that were prophesied.  The prophecy is confirmed by historical reality.  (2) Miracles.  Jesus performed a wide range of miracles including raising the dead (John 11).  The miracles were not denied even by Jesus’ enemies.  They may have attempted to attribute His power to the devil (Matt. 12) but, Jesus was able to refute this attack on His person.  (3) the Scriptures.  Many times the Gospel writers indicate that something that Jesus did or that was happening to Him was the fulfillment of the Scriptures.  The Scriptures have their own authority and their veracity is supported by their correspondence to historical details.  Truth is that which conforms to reality.  (4) Eyewitnesses.  Eyewitnesses, those who recognized Jesus, give testimony that they saw, heard and experienced life with the Lord before and after His death on the cross.  The post-resurrection appearances of Jesus to many people, including His disciples, is strong evidence of His resurrection from the dead. Of special mention in this class is the prophet Moses.  Moses’ credibility as a witness is unimpeachable.   (5) Jesus Himself.  Jesus bears witness to His identity and His mission.  What Jesus says perfectly agrees with what He did.  There are no discrepancies.  His own testimony is believable.  (6)  God.  At least three times during Jesus earthly ministry, a voice out of heaven speaks and declares Him to be the Son of God (Jesus’ baptism, Luke 3:21-22; Jesus’ Transfiguration, Luke 9:34-35; Before Jesus’ Death, John 12:28-32).
Second, unbelief is irrational and unreasonable.  Truth is that which conforms to reality as God defines reality.  To deny reality is to deny truth.  To deny reality is irrational and unreasonable.  Those who deny that Jesus Christ is the Son of God are irrational.  There is sufficient evidence to prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World and the Son of God.

The question before us is certainly a crucial one.  It spawns even more questions.  Are all believers the same?  Can you believe on Jesus and refuse to obey His commands?  Can you go to heaven as a foolish rather than wise man?  Can a dead faith save?  What is the source of the command to be baptized?  Is the command to be baptized from heaven or from men?  What is the relationship between faith and baptism?  Let’s consider some of the answers to these questions.
Are All believers the Same?
Faith without works is dead being alone!  (James 2:14-26).  There are inactive believers and active believers.  The devils believe and tremble but they are not saved!  All believers in God will not be saved.  No one can be saved with a dead faith.  There are active believers like Abraham whose faith motivated him to obey God’s commands (James 2:21).  He shows his faith in God by his obedience to God.  His faith was living and active.
Some believed on Christ but would not confess Him (John 12:42).  “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him, but because of the Pharisees they would not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue.”  Here are individuals that believed but are not saved.  Faith only will not save!  A faith claim is unverifiable without obedience.  “But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22).
Can You Believe on Jesus and Refuse to Obey His Commands?
Many people attempt to do this very thing.  Jesus said, “Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).  A foolish man hears the sayings of Jesus and disobeys them (Matt. 7:24-28).  A wise man hears the sayings of Jesus and doeth them.  Can a foolish man go to heaven in disobedience to Jesus?  Remember, the words of Jesus will judge us in the last day (John 12:48).
The Command to Be Baptized–Is it From Heaven or From Men?
Jesus gave this command as a part of the great commission:  “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16).  The recognition of the lordship of Christ demands that we submit to the teachings of Jesus.  Christ does not know (in a spiritual, covenantal relationship) those who refuse to submit to His will (Matt. 7:21-23).  Only those who are baptized into Christ belong to Christ (Gal. 3:16-29).  The command to be baptized originates from heaven.  To reject it is to disbelieve it.  Baptism is an act of faith whereby we trust God to forgive us of our sins and so manifest His grace in us to the saving of our soul.  Thus, baptism is not a work of merit.  New Testament baptism is not a part of the Mosaical Law.  It is a command of the law of Christ.
Are Unbaptized Believers Lost?
Here is a summary of what we have taught in the New Testament:
1.  An unbaptized believer has an inactive faith–a dead faith–and a dead faith cannot save.
2.  An unbaptized believer has rejected the command of Jesus to be baptized and thereby rejects His Lordship.
3.  An unbaptized believer has proved himself foolish by only hearing the words of Jesus but not obeying them.
4.  An unbaptized believer is self-deceived (James 1:22).  He is a hearer only of the word and not a doer of the word.
5.  An unbaptized believer is outside of Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).  Those outside of Christ are lost.  To be lost means that one is not forgiven.  Baptism is for the remission (forgiveness) of sins (Acts 2:38).
Efforts are being made today to circumvent the teachings of Jesus.  Many pay lip service to the Lord without obeying Him.  Remember the words of Jesus, “Why call ye me Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say?”

Astrology is a type of divination based on the construction of a horoscope for an exact moment such as a person’s birth.  A horoscope is a chart or diagram representing the positions of the sun, moon and planets and sensitive angles at the time of an event such as the moment of one’s birth.  The word horoscope means, “a look at the hours.”
An interesting observation was made by Belinda Luscombe in an article that appeared in Time magazine January 31, 2011.  It was titled, “Zodiac Switcheroo.”  The article stated that Parke Kunkle of the Minnesota Planetarium Society rocked the world of astrology on January 13, 2011, when he revealed that the traditional “star signs” used to determine horoscopes are wrong for most people.  It seems that the astrogogical signs codified by Ptolemy in the second century have changed since then, shifting most people to another sign.  This means that the 25% of Americans who believe in astrology have been reading the wrong horoscopes all of their lives.  Some professional astrologers claim they have always known this, but their followers certainly have not (Belinda Luscombe, “Zodiac Switcheroo,” Time, January 31, 2011 as quoted by Bob Prichard, Oxford, Alabama, House to House, vol. 31, March 24, 2011).
In Job 31:24-28, Job remarks, “If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much; If I beheld the sun when it shined or the moon walking in brightness; And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.”
First, Job refused to trust in gold.  Riches are uncertain and temporal.  Second, he refused to trust in false gods.  False gods are worse than gold.  False gods are nothing whereas, with gold, at least you have the power to purchase something.  Job refuses to trust in either because that misplaced trust would amount to a denial of the one, true, and living God.  Job affirms an uncompromising monotheism.
The sun, moon and stars are not to be worshipped.  They do not shape one’s personality or determine any aspect of one’s life.  But, trust in God relies upon God’s wisdom to guide and lead us to become all that God desires for us to be.  God can and will shape our character and our future.