BiblicalInsights.net

In a recent article by Jeff Miller, titled, “Should Christians Accept Evolution and an Old Earth To Win Converts?” Part 2, Reason and Revelation, May, 2022, Miller stated, “We would not suggest that every person must necessarily passionately believe in a young Earth and a literal Creation to be saved.”  This statement was made in the context of reason #6, “Teaching Error is sinful.”  Miller was affirming that if a person held a wrong view of literal creation, it would be okay, but if he taught that personal belief to others, it would be a sin.  The complete article can be accessed from Apologetics Press at www.apologeticspress.org. The statement by Miller brings up the question, “can a person believe a lie and not be damned?” Another question that might be asked is, “can a person sin in his/her mind or heart?”
Let’s consider some passages of scripture that will help answer these questions.
First, in II Thess. 2:10-12, the Holy Spirit through Paul declares, “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish: because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”  Paul states that it is possible to believe a lie and be damned.  Notice that he does not say that the person must teach the lie that he believes personally.  The sin is unbelief of the truth!  Unbelief leads to disobedience.  What is the lie that is held personally by the person who rejects a literal creation?  The lie is organic evolution or perhaps theistic evolution.  If I do not believe in a literal creation, I would have to believe in some form of evolution.  Organic or macroevolution denies the very existence of God!  It denies the spiritual aspect (the soul) of every human being.  It denies that there is any difference between animals and humans.  The implications of the lie of evolution are enormous.  Theistic evolutionists have varying views among themselves.  Many, such  as C. S. Lewis, believe in “common ancestry” or “common descent.”  This concept affirms that man evolved from some lower life form and then changed into the form of a monkey, and continued to evolve into a Neanderthal, and eventually several thousand Neanderthals were infused with a soul and became human beings about 120,000 years ago.  Such a concept denies the creation account given by God through Moses in Genesis 1 and 2.  This results in tampering with the lexical and grammatical aspects of Genesis 1 and 2 to make these passages figurative and mythological instead of literal and historical.  Such tampering with the sacred text is itself a sin.  Many theistic evolutionists also hold to an old Earth view and accept the evolutionary estimates that the universe is 14 billion years old and the Earth is 4-5 billion years old (John Lennox, Seven Days That Divide the World is an example and, so is Nobie Stone’s book: Genesis 1 and Lessons in Space).  The age of the Earth can be determined through the chronology given to us in Scripture.  An old Earth view denies Scriptural chronology.  The chronology of the Bible is interwoven with the genealogy of the Bible.  If you attempt to destroy the chronology, you will destroy the genealogy and the genealogy is Christological.  You cannot believe a lie and believe the truth at the same time!  If you believe a lie, you reject the truth and if you believe the truth, you reject lies.  Believing lies will not save a person’s soul.  “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God” (Heb. 3:12).
Second, Eph. 2:2-3, Sins of the Heart/Mind
The apostle Paul writes by the Holy Spirit, “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: 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.” The phrase lusts of the flesh is a reference to sinful desires–the desires of the flesh and of the mind.  Jesus was very clear about the fact that we can sin with our heart/mind.  “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery.  But I say unto you, That whosoever lookest on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”  Jesus also said, “…That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.  For from within out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, and evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (Mark 7:20-23).  What are “evil thoughts?”  Are they not sinful thoughts and demisings?  Deceit (dolos) is a reference to lies.  Lies originate in the heart and then, they are spoken or acted upon.  All unbelief is deceit.  Unbelief is the rejection of the truth. Rejection of the truth is not innocent or innocuous.  Lust precedes adultery and fornication.  The sin is in the heart. Consider a New Testament example.  In Acts 8, Philip the evangelist goes down to Samaria and preached Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God.  A man by the name of Simon who was a sorcerer was converted.  Later, Simon coveted the power of Peter and John that enabled them to convey miraculous gifts through the laying on of their hands.  Simon thought that he could purchase this power.  Peter rebuked him saying, “…Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee” (Acts 8:20-22).  Peter’s rebuke of the sin in the heart of Simon would be the appropriate response to the person who rejected the truth about the doctrine of creation revealed in Genesis 1 and 2.
The Doctrine of Creation
The doctrine of creation is part of the doctrine of Christ (II John 9-11).  If we do not abide in the doctrine of Christ, we do not have fellowship with God.  The doctrine of creation has a direct bearing on who Jesus is.  Jesus is the Creator of all things (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16-18).  This fact is an important aspect of Jesus’ deity.  To deny the account of creation as given in God’s Word is to deny the deity of Jesus Christ.  Jesus is not only the Creator, He has told us exactly when He created all things (Genesis 1, 2; Exodus 20:11) and what He created and how He created it.  To reject this truth is to call God a liar and believe a lie.  Those who believe a lie will be damned.

Baptism is an immersion in water (mode) for the remission of sins (purpose) of a penitent believer (subject).  Baptism is commanded by Jesus in the Great Commission as a means of making disciples.  “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matt. 28:28-20).  The only passage where Jesus connects baptism with salvation is Mark 16:16.  “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”  With these passages in mind, let’s consider the blessings of baptism.
Salvation
In Mark 16:16, Jesus taught that faith and baptism were essential to salvation.  The salvation gained is deliverance from sin and its consequences.  Unbelief condemns the human soul and, if not corrected by repentance, will bring one to damnation (eternal punishment).  Faith in Jesus involves complete trust in Him and His word.  But, notice, faith is not standing alone nor acting alone.  Faith must be accompanied by baptism.  Faith and baptism are aorist participles and the action described by them must be completed before the action of the main verb (shall be saved).  Most believe faith is essential to salvation, but deny that baptism plays any role in our salvation.  This belief is a contradiction of what Jesus taught.  We must not call Jesus Lord and, then, disobey His commands (Luke 6:46).
Discipleship
In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus teaches that we make disciples by teaching individuals the Word of God and baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  You cannot be a disciple of Jesus without knowing His truth and being baptized.  Disciples of Jesus were called Christians first in Antioch (Acts 11:26).  You cannot be a New Testament Christian without baptism.  A disciple is a learner or a follower of a significant leader.  A disciple becomes like the leader by obedience to the teachings of the leader as well as following the example of the leader.  Christians follow Jesus Christ in both respects.  This is transformational and is the result of self-denial (Matt. 16:24) whereby we take up our cross and follow Him.
Forgiveness
The apostle Peter answers the question posed by the multitudes on the Day of Pentecost, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).  “Then, Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).  Peter gave two commands:  repent and be baptized.  Both commands are necessary in order to obtain the remission of sins.  Forgiveness is a promise/blessing that is realized when we obey the commands given.  Forgiveness is the result of the redemptive work of Jesus when He died upon the cross and shed His blood for the atonement of sins (Eph. 1:7).  We come into contact with the blood of Jesus when we are baptized into His death (Rom. 6:3-4).  The unforgiven will die in their sins.  “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24).
A New Name–Christian
Peter taught the household of Cornelius the gospel of Christ and baptized them into Christ (Acts 10:47-48).  Once the Gentiles were granted repentance unto life (Acts 11:18), a new name was called upon those who were disciples of Jesus.  That new name was the name Christian (Acts 11:26).  In this name, Christians glorify Jesus Christ who is the Messiah and the Son of God.  Both Jews and Gentiles who obeyed the gospel wore this name and so it unified them and gave them a new identity.  Baptism results in spiritual union with Christ and gives us a new identity.
Membership in the Kingdom of God
Baptism is the means of entrance into the spiritual kingdom of God or the church of Christ.  In John 3:3-5, John records these words of Jesus, “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.  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? 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.”  “Born of water and of the Spirit” is one birth with two elements–water, and the Spirit.  The water is a reference to baptism and at the time of one’s baptism, the believer is regenerated (given new life) by the Spirit.  Before baptism, one is spiritually dead in trespasses and sins.  At the time of baptism, a new life is begotten (I Pet. 1:21; Eph. 2:1; Rom. 6:4).  The church of Christ is the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 16:18-19).  Jesus built the church and bought it with His own blood (Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28).  Paul declares, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (I Cor. 12:13).
Name Written in the Book of Life
Those who belong to God are known by name to Him!  “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.  And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (II Tim. 2:19).  “To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect” (Heb. 12:23).  “And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life” (Phil. 4:3).
Heir of God and Joint-Heir With Christ
When we are baptized into Christ, we put on Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).  This is how we become a child of God and stop being a child of the devil.  If we are a son, then, we are an heir of God.  “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ (Gal. 4:7).  “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (Rom. 8:16-17).  Baptism puts us into the spiritual sphere where all spiritual blessings are located (Eph. 1:3).  This makes every Christian spiritually rich.
Loved By God and Jesus
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (John 14:21).  Those who obey the commandments of Jesus enter into fellowship with Him and with God.  The bond that holds this relationship together is love.  We show our love for God and Christ when we obey them (John 14:15).  In turn, they will love us with a divine love that brings their presence and power into our lives.  God will never fail nor forsake those whom He loves (Heb. 13:5).  Our love for God and His love for us makes us inseparable (Rom. 8:35-39).
The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
In Acts 2:38, Peter gives two commands and two promises.  When we obey the commands to repent and baptized, then, we receive the promises of forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The “gift of the Holy Spirit” is the spiritual, non-mirculous, indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our lives as Christians.  “And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him” (Acts 5:32).  “Hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit” (I John 4:13).
If we eliminate these blessings of baptism, then, we are spiritually impoverished, beleaguered, and dead.  We are still living in our sins and fulfilling the lusts of flesh.  We are living without God which is the very definition of doom, despair, and hopelessness (Eph. 2:12).

The following information has been gleaned from several sources.  The Bible itself is the main source.
The Bible Library
The Bible is The Book.  It is inspired (God-breathed) II Tim. 3:16-17 and thus it is the revelation of the Will of God to the heart of man.  The Bible is the Word of God (John 17:17).  The Word of God is the truth (John 17:17).  Any ideology or doctrine that contradicts the Bible is false.  The Bible is comprised of sixty-six books.  The Old Testament contains thirty-nine books and are divided into five categories:  The Law: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy; History: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I and II Samuel, I and II Kings, I and II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther; Poetry: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon; Prophecy: Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel and Minor Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.  The New Testament is comprised of twenty-seven books.  They are divided into five categories:  Gospels: Matthew, Mark. Luke and John; History: Acts; Epistles of Paul: Romans, I and II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I and II Thessalonians, I and II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews; General Epistles: James, I and II Peter, I, II, and III John, Jude and Prophecy: Revelation.
The Writers of the Bible
There are approximately forty writers of the Bible.  There are eight writers of the New Testament including: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, James and Jude.  The writers were from many different backgrounds: prophets, fishermen, kings, scholars, poets, shepherds, tax collectors, doctors, farmers, and others. They lived in ten different countries on three continents–Asia, Africa, and Europe.  They wrote about God’s interactions with 2,930 different characters, from more than 1,550 places.
The Chronology of the Bible
The Bible was written over a period of 1600 years.  From Moses to Christ is 1500 years.  From Christ to the end of the first century was 100 years.
Languages of the Bible
The Bible was written in three languages:  Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.
Translation of the Bible
Worldwide, there are about 80,000+ different versions of the Bible with full Bibles in 530+ languages and portions of the Bible in about 2,900 languages.  A full Bible translation is now available in a person’s native language in 70% of the world’s population.  In whole or in part, the Bible is accessible to 98% of the world’s population.
The Printing of the Bible
The first book to be printed using movable type was the Bible.  More specifically, it was the Gutenberg Bible which took three years to print in the Latin language.  One hundred and eighty copies were printed, but only 48 exist today.  It was printed in 1454 A.D.
There are about 900 printed English versions of the Bible (complete and incomplete).  The first hand-written manuscripts of the English Bible were written by John Wycliffe who translated from the Latin Vulgate into English in 1380 A.D. The Tyndall Version (1525-1526) was the first printed English edition of the Scriptures.  The first English translation of the entire Bible was published by Miles Coverdale in 1535.  The King James Version was first published in 1611.  It is the most important English version.  More copies of the KJV have been printed worldwide than any other version of the Bible.  The largest Bible factory in the world is the Amity Bible printing company located in Nanjing, China.
Reading the Bible 
It takes seventy hours to read the Bible aloud at pulpit rate.  Reading the Bible silently with an average reading speed of 250-300 words per minute takes fifty-four hours.  People who can read 800 words per minute can read the Bible in a day.  If you are short on time, read the book of Philemon, it takes only one minute.
Smallest and Largest Bibles
The smallest Bible in the world is the New Testament (Jerusalem Nano Bible) a chip measuring 4.76 mm.  It can only be read with a microscope because each letter is 18 millionths of a meter wide.  The largest Bible in the world is the 1930 Waynai Bible.  It weighs 496 kg or 1094 lbs.  It is 43.5 inches tall and 98 in. wide.  For moving purposes, it disassembles into 31 sections.
There Are Many Fascinating details in the Bible.  A man who walked around naked for three years (Isa. 20:2-3); A bed that was 13.5 feet long and 6 feet wide (Deut. 3:11); a man’s hair that weighed 6.25 lbs. when it was cut each year; there is no mention of the domestic cat in the Bible; and sheep are the most frequently mentioned animal in the Bible.
The Nature of the Bible (Ps. 19:7-11)
The Law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul.
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
The statues of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart.
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever.
The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold. Sweeter than the honeycomb.
By them thy servant is warned.
In keeping of them there is great reward.
The Word of God is the only body of sacred knowledge that instructs us on how to be saved (James 1:21)!  We affirm as David, “Oh, how love I thy law.”  (Ps. 119:97)

The Word of God declares, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (II Cor. 3:18).
God made us in His image (Gen. 1:26-27) and this image is marred by our sin.  Christians are redeemed by the blood of Christ and undergo a new birth making them new creatures (Rom. 6:3-4).  This new life in Christ is characterized by imitation of His character and obedience to His teachings.  We behold His glory and bear His image as we become like Him.
Open Face
When Moses spoke with God on Mt. Sinai, He spoke with God without a vail and his countenance was affected by the glory of the LORD and his face did shine.  He spoke with God face to face and his countenance was transformed.  We approach Jesus with an “open face.”  Beholding the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the image of Christ.
The Glory of the Lord
Jesus’ glory is the glory of deity enveloped in humanity (Col. 2:9).  The glory of His nature, His character, His wisdom, His power, His sacrifice, and His redemptive work. It is the sum total of all that Jesus is and that He revealed to the world.  In particular, it is His deity, His humility, His obedience to the Father, His love, grace, and mercy, His perfect life and his authoritative teaching. Disciples of Jesus Christ follow His teaching and imitate His character.  This transformation begins at conversion and continues throughout life.
Our Glory
The word beholding indicates much more than a passing glance.  It is a stedfast stare.  A constant gaze.  Our glory is a reflection of His glory.  This is accomplished through His redemptive work and our imitation of Him and obedience to His teachings.  This produces our salvation and sanctification.  Our personal identity is derived not from exertion of self, but by self-denial that is intentional so that Christ can live in us (Gal. 2:20).  God works in us to accomplish His purposes for His pleasure (Phil. 2:13).
From Glory to Glory
The transformation begins from His glory to our glory.  It continues as we advance in progress toward becoming like Him.  It is step by step (incremental).  It is sometimes painful (difficult and challenging).  But, it is always progressive (spiritual growth toward perfection).  The process involves His Word in us and His life modeled by us through our love for Him and our faith in Him.  In this way, His Spirit works in us to produce fruit.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Gal. 5:22-23).  Character development is connected to discipleship.
The Christian life is a beautiful life reflecting the beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ in all of His communicable perfections.  It is a transformed life–transformed by the beauty of the Lord.  As we begin a new year, may each of resolve to be more like Jesus.  This begins by becoming a disciple of Jesus through obedience to the gospel (Mark 16:16 and Acts 2:38).  It continues as we deny self and permit the beauty of Jesus to be seen in us.

What is the word, that if we knew its answer, would make us know as much as God?  What is the word that righteous souls who believe in God and in God’s government of the world have spoken as they looked out over the world and saw the reign of injustice and wickedness?  What is the word that believing and afflicted souls have pronounced when God’s hand lay heavy upon them? What is the word that mothers have spoken over the lifeless bodies of their children?  What is the word that Gideon spoke when he saw Israel devastated by the Midianites?  What is the word that Job spoke when he was stripped of his possessions, his wealth, his health and was left desolate?
That word is “why”.  The word why is a symbol of the unknown and unknowable.  It is the cry of the human heart when calamity strikes.  It is associated with why me and why now.  The word is often asked of people who are in despair and who feel powerless in the face of difficult circumstances.  The word was asked by Gideon and also by Job.  Let’s consider each of their circumstances and see if we can discover the answer to this haunting question.

Gideon’s Why?
In Judges 6:11-13, a verbal exchange takes place between an angel of the Lord and Gideon.  “And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Oprah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon thrashed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.  And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, whey then is all this befallen us?  and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.”  Israel was oppressed by the Midianites.  They raided the crops every year and so none dared to thresh his grain openly.  In a hidden glen under the oak of Oprah, Gideon was secretly threshing out the grain of his father’s farm.  An angel stood by him and said, “The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.”  Gideon’s response indicated his keen sense that God had abandoned them and left them in despair.  He felt that God had forsaken His people.  However, on Gideon’s father’s farm, there was an altar to Baal– a clear indication of apostasy in Israel and even in Gideon’s own house.  God’s people had forsaken Him!  God is not to blame for Israel’s problems.  When Gideon asked, why?, he failed to see his own culpability.  Sin separates us from God.  The worship of Baal was prominent in Israel.  The sense that God had forsaken Israel was strong, but God was still where He always is and His power was the same as at anytime in Israel’s past.  The problem was not God.  The problem was sin in the hearts of the people.  Still, the question, why? remains.  The human soul often cries out why? The question probes what is unknown to us.  God does not answer the question.  He commissions Gideon.  God’s answer to Gideon is a command to action–a test of faith.  When faith in God is restored, then, God will fight for His people.  God told Gideon to destroy his father’s altar to Baal and build an altar to the LORD God.  Gideon did this proving his faith in God.  Then, God used Gideon to destroy the Midianites–120,000 of them (Judges 8:10).  This victory manifested God’s presence and power among His people.  Gideon’s question, “why then is all of this befallen us?” is answered.  God has not abandoned them, but they had abandoned God.  But, when faith in God is restored and the sin barrier removed, God will fight for His people and victory is assured.

Job’s Why?
In Job 3:11, Job says, “Why died I not from the womb?” Why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of my mother’s belly?  Job is an eternal symbol of the mystery of human life.  Job was a man of Uz who feared God  and lived an upright and righteous life.  He had seven sons and three daughters.  His substance was great–seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred donkeys. Job was a great man.  He was blessed.
Job was put to a severe test of his faith in God.  Satan believed that Job served God because God had blessed Job so abundantly.  Satan reasoned that if all this prosperity were taken away from Job that he would turn away from God.  Swift calamities befell Job.  The Sabeans drove off his livestock.  His servants were slain with the sword.  Fire fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the shepherds watching them.  The Chaldeans drove of the camels and slew their drivers with the sword.  A whirlwind struck Job’s eldest son’s house and killed all of his children and their families.  In a single day, Job lost his possessions and his family.  Job’s response was, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb and naked shall I return thither.  The LORD gave, the LORD taketh away, blessed be the name of the LORD.”
Another test came.  Satan believed that if Job was afflicted personally, he would turn away from God.  “Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life” (Job 2:4).  God permitted Satan to afflict Job but restricted him from taking Job’s life.  Job’s body was covered with boils from head to toe.  Job’s wife told him to, “curse God and die.”  Job said, “What? shall receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil?  Job maintained his integrity.  Job’s three friends come to visit him–Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar.  They sat in silence for seven days.  Then, Job lamented the day he was born.  “Why died I not from the womb?” (Job 3:11).  Job’s three friends could not answer the why?  Neither Elihu nor Job could answer the question why.  Then, God speaks to Job and God does not directly answer the question why.  But, God does affirm His sovereignty.  God extolled His glory and asked Job a series of questions Job could not answer.  The answer to Job’s why was twofold.  There is a sovereign God and He is worthy of our trust no matter how difficult the circumstances of life may be.  God’s promise to us is: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”  God will never fail nor forsake His beloved people.  In the end, the mercy and grace of God was shown to Job and all of his possessions and his family were restored (James 5:11).

Our Why?
We may find ourselves in difficult circumstances that test our faith in God.  This world is a vale of soul-making.  God is working and satan is working.  God works to help us develop the qualities that will glorify Him.  Satan works to bring us to condemnation before God.  Every test must be met with faith in God!  God will never forsake those who love Him and are committed to His Will.  Let us permit God to be God and let us put our trust in Him in all things.  We may not know the answer to every why question.  But, we can answer every why question with faith in God: “I will trust in Him!”

The Fall of the year brings a new season for football.  People are excited to see their favorite team play and compete to be number one.  Teams are formed through a selection process involving potential players and coaches.  The best players are actively recruited by coaches.  Why?  Coaches want to win and they know that they can win if they have the best players on their team.  The best players generally choose teams with winning records.  How many really good football players do you know who want to play for losing teams?  How many good players want to be losers?  I don’t know of any.
Broaden the concept to include the “game of life.”  How many people do you know who strive to be unsuccessful in life?  If someone said, “My goal in life is to fail at everything I do,” we would be shocked.  Yet, many people have spiritual aims that will lead them to fail spiritually.  They have teamed up with satan to be on the losing team.
Satan has been:  judged, defeated, brought to ruin, and resigned to the lake of fire.  If you join up with him, you will lose your soul and be eternally separated from God.
Satan Has Been Judged
God knows that satan is real and has revealed such in His Holy Word (Gen. 3, Job 1, Matt. 4 (Jesus’ own encounter with satan).  In John 16:7-1, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to His disciples.  The Holy Spirit would: (1) Be involved in a teaching ministry, John 14:26); (2) Be involved in a reminding ministry, John 16:26; (3) Be involved in a testifying ministry, John 14:26; (4) Be involved in a convicting ministry, John 16:8; (5) Be involved in a convincing ministry, John 16:8,10; and (6) Be involved in a judging ministry, John 16:11.  “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will. not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”  Satan is the prince of this world.  He is the master deceiver.  But, the truth revealed by the Holy Spirit will counter every lie and provide the means of setting people free from the servitude to sin (John 8:32).   Truth provides the righteous standard for all judgment by God.  The Word of God is truth (John 17:17). Judgment is God’s justice administered to each person and is based upon their words and works and how they compare to His righteous standard.  The judgment of God against satan is utter condemnation.
Satan Has Been Defeated
Jesus declared in John 12:31, “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” When Jesus died upon the cross, He provided the means of removing the sting of death which is sin.  He provides for atonement for sin thereby making it possible for sin to be forgiven.  This effectively overcomes the power of sin (Heb. 2:14).  Jesus destroys him who had the power of death.  Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day after His crucifixion.  He conquers both sin and death.  He destroys him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.  Satan cannot win over the power of God.  Christians are more than conquerors through Him that loved us (Rom. 8:37).  With God on our side, we cannot lose.
Satan Has Been Brought To Ruin
In I John 3:8, we read, “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.  For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”  Those who sin join satan’s team.  However, satan’s works have been brought to ruin.  His works, such as temptations through lies, have been exposed through the example, teaching and the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.  Those who name the name of Christ and depart from iniquity enter into oneness with Christ and will succeed in obtaining the crown of righteousness.
Satan Has Been Resigned to the Lake of Fire
In Rev. 20:10, the sacred text says, “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”  The lake of fire and brimstone is another description for hell.  Satan’s destiny is an eternal hell.  In Rev. 20:15 we find out the fate of those who team up with satan, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”  Those who team up with satan will be punished eternally along with him.  Why would anyone team up with satan only to join a losing team and be utterly damned to an eternal hell?  Don’t join a losing team!

In Matthew 21:23, Jesus was asked, “By what authority doest thou these things?”  Jesus had cleansed the temple of money changers and those that sold animals (v. 12) and the chief priests and elders among the Jews wanted to know by what authority He acted.  It is a good question even though their motives were questionable.  Jesus asked them, “the baptism of John whence was it? from heaven, or of men? (v. 25).  They considered each alternative and, sensing the dilemma Jesus had put them in, refused to answer (we cannot tell).  Then, Jesus said, “neither tell I you by what authority I do these things” (v. 27).  Of course, Jesus knew that He acted by the authority intrinsic to His identity as the Son of God.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God!  He is the savior of the world.  He is sovereign.  He is the Lord Jesus Christ.  His sovereignty and His Lordship are the basis for the authority principle stated by Paul in Col. 3:16-17.  “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
The Authority Principle Declared
The word “whatsoever” (ti ean) indicates that God is concerned about every word and deed of our lives down to the minute details.  Nothing falls outside of the umbrella of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  “Ye” is plural and refers to the Christians at Colosse to whom Paul writes.  However, in application, it refers to every New Testament Christian.  Once we become a Christian, our whole life falls under the sovereignty and Lordship of Jesus Christ.  The word “do” (poieo) indicates every action.  Paul then divides this general concept into two specific areas: word and deed.  The word “say) (lego) indicates all verbal communication.  Some communication is forbidden by Jesus Christ to Christians.  In Eph. 4:29,30, Paul mentions “corrupt communication.”  Corrupt communication is sinful and is exemplified by: lying, profanity, gossiping, some oaths, and false doctrine or teaching.  Corrupt communication grieves the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30).  Some speech is commended by Paul such as “edification” or that which is positive and builds up such as: speaking the truth, words of encouragement, exhortation, and instruction in righteousness.  The word “do” (ergos) refers to all actions including but not limited to: treatment of others, the way we handle our money, what we do with our time, what we watch on television or the internet, what we do in recreation, and how we behave at work or at home.  The words “do all” indicates fullness of consecration to God.  When we become Christians, we present our bodies as a living sacrifice unto the Lord (Rom. 12:1-2).  We are “all in” or 100 per cent committed to following the will of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The phrase “in the name of the Lord Jesus” indicates that everything we say and do must be in harmony with the will of the Lord Jesus and for His glory.  Paul refers to Jesus as “Lord.”  Jesus said, “Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say” (Luke 6:46).  Jesus demands more than lip service from His followers.  He demands conformity to His will.  The word “Lord” is a reference to the sovereignty of Jesus due to the fact that He is the Son of God.  He possesses all authority (Matt. 28:18).  New Testament Christians live under His scrutiny and His jurisdiction no matter what they may be be doing or where they may be doing it.  And, all will be brought into judgment before Him in the last day (Acts 17:31, II Cor. 5:10).  That judgment will be based upon the righteous standard of His Word (John 12:48).  Consequently, everything that a Christian does must be done by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This eliminates compartmentalization of one’s life where we follow Jesus on Sunday, but we do whatever we want the rest of the week.  The authority of Jesus Christ is expressed in His Word (Col. 3:16).  Paul commands that Christians let the word of Christ dwell in them richly in all wisdom.  The Word of God contains the mind of God as it is revealed to the mind of men and women.  The Word of God contains the wisdom from above.  It contains the words of life.  It contains the knowledge of the sacred that repudiates the profane.
The Authority Principle Applied
The Christian life is completely under the guidance of the Lord Jesus Christ.  No area is omitted.  Consider the following passages that touch on various areas of the Christian life.  First, we assemble together in His name (Matt. 18:20; I Cor. 5:4).  We proclaim repentance in His name (Luke 24:47).  Third, we believe on His name (John 1:12; I John 5:13).  Fourth, we pray in His name (John 14:14).  Then, we speak in His Name (Acts 9:27 -preaching).  Sixth, we are justified in His name (I Cor. 6:11).  Seventh, we are baptized into His name (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38).  Finally, we give thanks in His name (Eph. 5:20).  Every Christian wears the name of Christ (I Pet. 4:14-16).  We are called by that name because everything we are and do is attributable to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We do all in His name to His glory.  If we do not act in His name, our actions are not to His glory.  “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7:21-23).  Lip service to the Lord will never result in a heavenly abode.  Only those who live obediently to the Lord’s Will, out of love and faith in Him, will have the hope of everlasting life (Luke 6:46).  If Jesus is Lord, then, we must live obediently to His will at all times.