Author: Chet Bishop

Chet Bishop is one of the pastors at True Hope Christian Fellowship Church, in Forest Grove, Oregon. He has been a believer since 1973, and has been teaching actively since 1976. He supports himself and his family by making and repairing violin-family instruments.
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How to Make The Bible YOUR Feed: “Sheep Food:” (1/2)

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Sheep Food: Part 1

© C. O. Bishop 9/9/2016; THCF 9/11/2016 (Revised 2026 Food)

1st Peter 2:2; Jeremiah 15:16;

Introduction:

We read in Acts 20:28 that the elders are to feed the flock. In John 21:15-17, Jesus commanded Peter (three times) to “feed the flock. But God commanded the flock to “feed” itself as well…and that the Sheep food is specifically the Word of God. So, we need to consider how that feeding should happen, and when, and by whom, etc.

Supernatural Hunger

In 1st Peter 2:2, Peter tells the newborn believers to hunger for the “milk” of God’s Word…to feed upon it and so, to Grow thereby. But in Hebrews 5:12-14, the writer complains that the believers to whom he was writing should have graduated from “milk.” They should now be consuming solid food…and it is still referring to the Word of God.

And notice: in 1st Peter 2:2, it says that the result of feeding on God’s word is that we should “grow, thereby.” Are you growing? If not, ask yourself: “Am I feeding on God’s Word?”

In Jeremiah 15:16, the prophet says he ate (fed on) God’s Word, and that God’s Word was the joy and the rejoicing of his heart. Why? Because God had made him part of the family of God…and called him by God’s name.

This sort of passages lay out the normal life for believers: God calls us to feed on His Word. And it should become a joy to our hearts simply because, as believers, we are His children. God Calls us to Grow! He calls us to grow stronger in the Word, so that we move on from baby food. He calls us to joyfully feed on the tougher things of the Bible, while not forgetting the foundation He laid in the simple truths of the Gospel.

What Does “Feed on” God’s Word Mean?

Do we simply read it? Is hearing it on the radio enough? Do we have to attend Bible College? Do we have to memorize the Bible? What does it mean when the Psalmist says he “meditated” on God’s Word? Do you have to sit with your legs contorted, and your eyes closed while you think about the Bible?

I would like to suggest, as a starter, that there are at least five ways the Scripture tells us to feed upon the Word of God:

  1. Hear
  2. Read
  3. Study
  4. Memorize, and
  5. Meditate

Probably that list actually is an ascending order, each attaining a deeper, stronger grasp of the Word.  Let’s look at each of them and see how they apply to us as believers.

Hear the Word

Deuteronomy 6:4 begins with the words, “Hear O Israel…” This passage is well-known to all orthodox Jews…it is called “the Shamaah”, because the word “hear” is translated from the Hebrew word “shamaah”.

Over and over, Jesus said, “He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear.” The willing reception of the spoken Word of God is what is in view. Hearing it has an impact all by itself, without study, without comment, without further reflection, even: God’s Word does not return to Him void. It always has an effect.

The Effect of Hearing

Bear in mind that the sun, shining on potter’s clay, has the reverse effect of the same sunlight warming wax. One grows harder, while the other grows softer. The difference is in the character of the material. Jesus said, “He that hath an ear to hear” will change in a positive way by receiving God’s Word. One who only receives the Word because of a sense of social responsibility or, worse, to look good among his peers, may find that he gradually inoculated himself against the influence of the Word, because he has privately, habitually rejected its teaching. God gradually gives such a person over to a reprobate mind, so that he becomes blinded to the truth of God’s Word, and deaf to the pleading of God’s Spirit.

Luke 8:18 says, “Take heed therefore how ye hear….” Hearing the word is important, and how we hear it is important. We need to hear it with a willing heart, and look for ways to apply it to our lives…not dismiss it or critique it as if it were the writings of men. It is the Word of God. Take heed how you hear. Apply your heart to the Word as you hear it. Hunger for it. Allow it to cleanse you, and purge you.

Read the Word To Feed

It is interesting and instructive, to see that long before a king sat on a throne in Israel, God commanded (Deuteronomy 17:18-20) that that future king was to write for himself a copy of the Law of God, out of the scrolls possessed by the Levites, and that he was to read that copy all the days of his life! That means every day, as long as he lives!

God calls us, in the Church age, as believers, “kings and priests.” How does that Old Testament command apply to us? I doubt we are called to personally write out our own copy (the printing press and movable type seem to have freed us from that.) But I do think we might be admonished to be in the Word on a “steady-diet” basis, rather than a “once-in-a-while nibble.”  The results God predicted for those kings are interesting, too.

Five results are listed:

  1. That he may learn to fear the LORD his God, and
  2. To keep all the words of this Law, and these statutes, to do them,
  3. That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and
  4. That he turn not aside from the commandments, to the right hand or to the left;
  5. To the end (result) that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children, in the midst of Israel.

Now, I am not an earthly king, especially not a king of Israel, but I can see from the rest of the Word of God that those predicted results apply to all who apply God’s Word to their lives. The Psalm 119:105 states that the Word “is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:9 states that a man can only cleanse his way “by taking heed thereto according to God’s Word”.  Simply reading the Word daily, as a steady diet, providing constant contact, will have eternal results.

Study the Word, to Feed

This one is a little harder, but the word “study” in Old English, and in Greek, means to “apply oneself diligently.” So, when Paul says (2nd Timothy 2:15) “study to show thyself approved unto God…”, it means “make this a priority, and apply yourself diligently to that end.” But; the rest of the verse says “…a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” So, “applying oneself diligently” to “learning to rightly divide God’s Word” would be what we call “study,” today, would it not? Paul also exhorted Timothy (1st Timothy 4:13) to give himself to reading, to exhortation, and to doctrine. This meant not only the public reading of the scriptures, but a constant ministry of encouraging others and teaching them (feed others) to understand and obey God’s Word. That requires study, too.

The Bereans were commended (in Acts 17:11) as being “more noble than those in Thessalonica”, because they “received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so.” That is study, folks! Searching the scriptures, comparing scripture with scripture, looking for understanding. That is study!

What About Conventional “Study” To Feed?

Could it mean going off to school “to feed” and applying yourself to nothing but study for a period of time? Certainly, it could, but that is by no means necessary. Bear in mind that Paul was trained by one of the most famous educators of his time, but considered that whole experience to be rubbish. Paul did not rest upon his credentials. He rested upon the credentials of Christ. He rested upon the truth of God’s Word.

But we are exhorted to apply ourselves to the goal of understanding the Word of God. As we feed on His Word, the result is to be the collective maturity and stability of the church. The result is that we believers will not be easily swept away by every novel doctrine that comes along. And finally, so that we will be well-equipped ministers of God’s Grace, and so that we are able to build up the body of Christ in the Love of God. (Ephesians 4:12-16) These are all the result of absorbing God’s Word, through hearing, reading and studying. What else can we do?

Next Week we will look at MemorizationLord Jesus, please create in each of us an abiding hunger for Your Word, and Your Person, so that Your Spirit can mature us in Your Grace. Teach us to feed upon Your Word with Joy.

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How to Make The Connection Between Separation And Holiness

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The Connection Between Separation And Holiness: Choosing Fellowship with God

© 2026 by C. O. Bishop

2nd Corinthians 6:13-18

13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. (Paul wanted true fellowship with the Corinthian Believers.)

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, (Break off fellowship!) and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Compare 2nd Chronicles 19:1-3

1 And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.

2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord.

3 Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.

Introduction:

When we hear the words “unequally yoked,” we usually think God is reminding us to not marry an unbeliever. But, while the verse does teach that idea, that is just one application. And it is a very narrow application of a very broad concept. The overall issue is Fellowship: Partnership.

What Kind of Yoke? (The Yoke indicates fellowship…Partnership.)

The concept of a “yoke,” in the context of being “yoked together,” is a double-harness. It is used so two people (or two draft animals) can work together. They are uniting their efforts toward a common goal, or task. So, the person with whom you are joined could have a world view and loyalties contrary to yours. If they have entirely different goals than you do, why would you want to be joined with them?

In this country, we sometimes see people who have joined themselves to a foreign nation. They are either sending them restricted technology, or actually selling secrets to them. We call that behavior “spying,” in some cases, “treason” at worst, and it is universally condemned. God takes it seriously, too, but does not call us “spies” or “traitors.” He simply tells us how unfitting, and how counterproductive it is.

Fellowship is Partnership

In our culture, we think “fellowship” means “drinking coffee, eating sweets, and chatting.” (No…as a matter of fact, it does not.) Fellowship involves partnership. It means “having something in common.” It especially means sharing a goal and work or a project, together. Two workers who might have nothing to do with one another outside of work, can join together for a project, and treat one another with respect and cooperation in that work, and come away with a sense of :fellowship. (“We got that done! We accomplished that together!”)

I have worked on small crews, with other men, when, other than work, we had nearly nothing in common. But all of us were pleased at the amount of work we were getting done, and proud of our accomplishment. We all knew our jobs very well, and also knew when there was a lifting job that needed all of us. But when the lift was done and we had secured the large part in place for the man whose job it was to weld it, the rest of us dropped back into our separate welding tasks, all of which combined to produce a product that was very professional.

In fact, the four of us were accomplishing more together, on our shift, than a team of sixteen were accomplishing on a different shift, working at the same task. Collectively, we were happy about that, with a deep satisfaction. We had fellowship…partnership… in that work, though we shared nothing at all outside of work.

Fellowship also is not just “two fellows in a ship.”

Just “being in the same boat” does not produce fellowship: it does not imply “partnership.” Two fellows in a ship may be plotting to kill one another! Two fellows “in the same boat” because they both are out of work may have bitter rivalry between them, striving to get the same job.

But Paul said the Philippians had shared in the fellowship of the Gospel with him. They were partners in the work, sharing the gospel with others, seeing that as the job they had in common.

Paul points out that righteousness (having a right standing with God, and behaving that way) has nothing in common with unrighteousness (not having a right standing with God, and living that  way.) He compares it to the dichotomy between light and darkness. They literally cannot have anything in common. Light specifically dispels darkness. Darkness is the absence of light.

Finally, he makes it very pointed: What agreement does Christ have with the evil one? And the necessary conclusion: “What part does a believer have with an unbeliever?” You are on “opposing teams!” You are soldiers in opposing armies!

Fellowship implies agreement: Verse 16 calls the question, “What agreement does the temple of God have with idols?” He goes on to point out that, collectively, the Church is the living Temple of the Living God on Earth. God Lives in us! He lives in you! He is our God! We are His people! (So, Ask yourself: Why is it all right for me to take what absolutely belongs to God, and join it in a common purpose with that which absolutely does not?)

An Old Testament Example Of A Bad Choice in Fellowship

In 2nd Chronicles 19:1-3, we see the tail end of a bad situation. In 2nd Chronicles 18, we saw Jehoshaphat, a good king (of Judah, the southern kingdom) joined to Ahab, an evil king, already under a specific curse from God. Ahab asked for his help fighting the Syrians at Ramoth-Gilead.

Red Flag #1 (Association in fellowship)

Jehoshaphat wanted to ask God’s approval. Ahab called in four hundred false prophets who all said God would give them victory. But Jehoshaphat saw that the four hundred were not Prophets of the LORD, and He asked whether there were no actual prophets of the LORD there. Ahab answered, “Yeah, there’s one, a guy named Micaiah, but I hate him, because he always says bad stuff about me!” (That should have been a big red flag for Jehoshaphat, right there! If the only genuine prophet in town says “Ahab is a bad guy,” and you already know his history, why would you even consider pressing on with such a bad idea??) This is the Road to Failure!

Red Flag #2 (Potential Results of a bad Choice in Fellowship)

But Micaiah was called in, and ultimately said Ahab would not be coming home alive. (Wow! And you still want in on this? This should have been a second huge red flag. Stop!)

Red Flag #3 (The Hypocrisy of Bad Fellowship.)

But Ahab decided on a bright idea: He would disguise himself as a common soldier, but Jehoshaphat would wear his normal royal robes. (“You put a target on your back, and I will fight incognito!” Honestly, if you can’t see a problem with that, then you must be blind!)

But Jehoshaphat went along with it! (Wow…!)

Prophecy Fulfilled

So, you know the rest of the story. Predictably, the Syrian army went after Jehoshaphat, thinking he was Ahab. In fact, their king had commanded them to only go after Ahab! But Jehoshaphat cried out in terror, and the enemy soldiers somehow realized from his voice that he was not Ahab, so they turned their attention elsewhere. They had no quarrel with him personally. Ultimately, Ahab was hit by a “random” arrow (just another coincidence!) and he bled to death in his chariot.

(By the way, the specific curse on Ahab included the prediction that “where the dogs had licked up the blood of Naboth, whose death by stoning Jezebel had arranged, there the dogs would also lick up the blood of Ahab.” Want to guess where they washed out his chariot after he bled to death in it? Yep. Right where Naboth had died!)

The Rest of the Story

So: Ahab is dead and gone, and Jehoshaphat heads home, just glad to be alive. But the story is not really over: A prophet of God, named Jehu, met Jehoshaphat on the road, with a message from God. The prophet said, “Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord.” The bad choices of Fellowship and Partnership caught up with him!

That is BAD News! “You are in trouble, brother!”

Fortunately, God also allows us to see the good news: “3 Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.”

Jehoshaphat’s position was still secure in Christ, just as my position and yours are secure in Christ. But God was definitely not pleased! And 2nd Corinthians 6:13-18 reminds us that God has not changed. He still hates sin, and specifically hates to see us joining together with His enemies, and literally working with unbelievers, against His cause. He can’t have fellowship with us when we are working against Him!

So, What do We do With All of This?

Verses 17 and 18 tell us the answer:

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

If you find that you have been partnering (joining in fellowship) with unbelievers in a cause that ultimately will work against God’s values, repent! Knock it off! Turn back, and go do what you are supposed to be doing! That is repentance!

Repentance

This is a “1st John 1:9” matter, to start out, but then it becomes a lifestyle change, if we hope to bear fruit in our walk with God. Repentance (Greek “metanoia “) means a change of mind.  But “separation” has the same meaning as “sanctification,” which is the same as saying “Be ye holy for I am Holy!” (1st Peter 1:16) We are “separated unto God, for His purpose!”

So, the command to “come out from among them and be separate” is a call to commit oneself to living for God. Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me, and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who Loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Paul demonstrated the “separated life” by spending every bit of his energy, time and strength in serving the risen Christ. He threw himself completely into his partnership and Fellowship with Jesus.

So, how did Jehoshaphat demonstrate Repentance?

2nd Chronicles 19:4-7

4 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beer-sheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the Lord God of their fathers.

He went back to working WITH God, partnering with HIM, and fellowshipping with Him.

5 And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,

6 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgment.

7 Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.

Jehoshaphat went home and began mending his fences, so to speak: He traveled around among his people (Judah, Benjamin, and the half tribe of Manasseh.) He functioned as an “evangelist” of sorts: He turned people back to the LORD, the God of Israel, and he restored the judicial system of God in all the cities in his country. He drew others into fellowship with the Living God.

So, What Can We Do?

Well, of course, it varies with every person. But it still always comes down to confessing your sins (1st John 1:9,) and then seeking God’s face in prayer and in the Word, and asking what He wants you to do next.

“Do the Next Thing” is what walking implies. We can’t coast, or glide. Uphill, downhill, or on the level: Walking still requires “putting one foot in front of the other!” Take the next step! Do the Next Thing!

Will it be easy? No! Emphatically, No! It is not just “difficult:” It is impossible, apart from allowing Jesus himself to use us at His choosing. In John 15, He says that with His empowerment, we can bear much fruit. Without it, we bear none. Give that some thought!

Lord Jesus, teach us to daily seek Your face, seek Your will, and seek Your blessing. Teach us to walk by faith and not by sight. We desire to serve You, and we confess that we are not able, apart from Your intervention and supervision, Your direction, and Your empowerment. Give us Grace to seek You with a clean heart.

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How to Know Peace: A Walk Through Galatians (Part 4)

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A Walk Through Galatians (What happens in Failure?)

© 2026 by Lee Tankersley

Part 4: Chapter 2 versus 11-21 ( Peter’s Failure!)

The Bible is a historical account of God redeeming his people for his glory. But, it doesn’t leave out the dirtiness of relationships, the hardships of life, or even the failure of God’s people. We do not normally expect to see such transparency: Or at least, I am not used to seeing it. People tend to minimize or hide their flaws and failures. They amplify their strengths and successes, especially when someone is trying to get your vote and mine.

Like, let’s say, the American political system where you have each candidate highlighting each of their successes and accomplishments. They disregard their views or opinions of the past, to win your vote, while completely ignoring their failures and faults. Then they drag each other through the mud, slandering one another much to their enjoyment. The Bible does just the opposite. Today is going to be one of those stories of failure, but keep in mind that we know how the story ends.

Personal Failure

But I won’t act as though I’m any better. I’m not even sure I should be here in front of you all. There is nothing special about me. I can give numerous accounts of my failures. And I could tell of my disappointments, life tragedies, and broken relationships. I can tell of heartaches, distressing situations, betrayals of trust, or poor choices that I have made.

Hang around me long enough, and you will probably hear some of them. And I’m sure just about each and every one of you can do the same, on some account. But do you know what I need to remind myself of, even with all my failure, and the mess that I am? There is Someone out there that loves us despite all our failures. He has a use for us, and wants me and you to spend eternity with him.

Personal Results of Salvation, Despite my Failure

I can’t help but try to tell everyone about him. Romans 10:14-15 says, 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? 15 And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

I’m just a nobody, trying to tell everybody about Jesus.

I’m reading from the NLT. If you want to turn to Galatians 2:11-21, you can follow along with whatever translation is your preferred choice. I also would like to give my sources credit they deserve. The NLT Life Application Study Bible, A Layman’s Look at the Epistle to the Galatian Churches, and the Bibleref app. Thank you.

(Read Galatians 2: 11-21) Peter’s Failure

            Galatians 2:11-21 11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. 12 When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. 13 As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.

Confrontation

14 When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, “Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions? 15 “You and I are Jews by birth, not ‘sinners’ like the Gentiles. 16 Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”

17 But suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the law. Would that mean Christ has led us into sin? Absolutely not! 18 Rather, I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down.

19 For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

(Read Galatians 2:11)

            11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. (It was a serious failure!) After Paul and Barnabas (and Titus, if you remember from last time) went to Jerusalem, they had full support from the apostles. Peter and John and the leader of the church in Jerusalem (James) fully approved of the Good News they preached.

At some point Paul and Barnabas went back to Antioch, and Peter also made his way there. God does not give this sequence in an exact timeline. But we will see that what happened was not out of character for Peter. Especially when he was in a situation of accountability, or extreme pressure. Peter, once known as Simon, experienced failure a couple different times even when He was with Jesus in the Gospels. Probably the most recognized is Peter’s denial of knowing Jesus. Matthew 26: 69-75, Mark 14: 66-72, Luke 22: 54-65, and John 18: 25-27.

Read Galatians 2:12-13 (Failure spread to others)

            12 When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. 13 As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. Peter arrived in Antioch after the Jerusalem council in 48-50 AD as documented in Acts 15.

(We went over that, in part three of “A Walk Through Galatians”.) That was where Paul and Barnabas got full approval from Peter, John, and James for the Good News they preached, that salvation is by grace, through faith, in Christ, and it was for everybody, and the original apostles accepted Barnabas and Paul as co-workers. There was no legitimate cause for Peter’s failure.

Peter’s Failure: Hypocrisy

Peter had no problem when he arrived in Antioch. He even shared meals and sat with the other Gentile believers at first. But some Jewish men from Jerusalem (connected to James) who still promoted circumcision and the law, came to Antioch. Peter then separated himself from the Gentile believers for whatever reason. Paul said it was due to fear. Some speculate that it was also to protect James’s prominent position he held in Jerusalem. But, Paul went and confronted Peter for his actions. Peter was implicitly supporting their claim that Christ alone was not sufficient for salvation. His failures had even caused Barnabas and others to question things and to separate themselves from the Gentiles.

Peter had to know that what he was doing wrong. James 4:17 says, 17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

            This confrontation with Peter, that Paul is describing, reminded me of something I have heard of: A passage I find comfort in, during my walk with Jesus, and the war that rages inside me. It comforts me to know that Paul also struggled with failure, and the exact war that’s going on inside me.

The two Natures

Romans 7:14-25 14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.

20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.    24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Other Interpretation

While I was studying this confrontation between Paul and Peter, it reminded me that I have heard that some people believe Paul was only talking about himself before he believed and accepted Christ in these verses. I don’t believe that is what Paul is describing here. Hearing that this is what some believe Paul is describing, it would lead me to assume they think that after Paul had trusted in Christ, he didn’t sin anymore. I guess they call it “sinless perfectionism”.

People seem to believe this view because of the chapter breaks added later. They fail to see the letter of Romans as a whole. The chapters and verse numbers we have in our bibles today are there to help us with locating and memorization of passages, They didn’t exist before. If Paul really was just describing who he was before salvation, then I’m done for. But as I said, through my studies and the understanding that God has given me, that is not the case. I think, “How can those people go and put that burden on anyone by teaching that? Much less themselves?” I pray every day that the struggle with my old nature would just end, but the more I pray for it to end, the more I see my need for Jesus!

What God Says

We know the truth about anyone who says they have no sin, or that they don’t sin. They are claiming they have no failure! We can look to 1 John 1:8 8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. I have yet to personally meet one person that holds this view, so I don’t know how prominent this position is, but I guess they are out there. But I do wonder what they think of Peter during this confrontation in Galatians 2:11-21 in regards to James 4:17?

All I can tell you is this fact, Romans 8:1 1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And when I do fall, (and I inevitably will) I know that Jesus is there defending me in my failure, for in 1 John 2:1 says 1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.

(Read Galatians 2: 14)

            14 When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, “Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions?

Paul, Peter, and Barnabas were all Jews. (I say “were,” because for those of us who have put our faith in Christ, there is no distinction, and to hold on to those labels does nothing to benefit us.) Colossians 3:11 says, 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. And it’s also in Galatians 3:28, but we will get there eventually.

Historical Context

But for context of the confrontation between Paul and Peter, we should know that there was a culture barrier between Jews and Gentiles, and of Jewish customs at the time. Peter lets us in on this detail on the customs of the time, after God sent him a vision and had him go to Cornelius’s place, in Acts 10:28.  28 Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.

So, Paul publicly confronted Peter. Peter being a leader of the church, was acting like a hypocrite, and not being true to the Good News. Paul knew he had to put a stop to it before his actions damaged the church, so he opposed him to his face. Any one of us is prone to make a mistake, even the best of leaders, and we should rely on each other to get us back on track.

(Read Galatians 2: 15-16)

            15 “You and I are Jews by birth, not ‘sinners’ like the Gentiles. 16 Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”

Both Paul and Peter were all too well aware of the Old Testament law and the sacrificial system, but that Jesus had changed everything. Paul is not saying the law is bad, for in Romans 7:12 Paul says, 12 But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good. Paul is instead saying the law can never make us right with God, and for it to make us right with God we would have to follow it perfectly, and not one of us is perfect, except for Jesus. He is the human that came to be the kind of human that none of us could ever be.

And through trust in His finished work at the Cross, in His death and resurrection, he offers us forgiveness and eternal life by his grace. John 3:16-18 16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.

(Read Galatians 2: 17-19)

            17 But suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the law. Would that mean Christ has led us into sin? Absolutely not! 18 Rather, I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down. 19 For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God.

I want to recommend for anyone who is listening, that you read Romans 5:12-21. We will just be highlighting a few verses here. Paul studied the Old Testament scriptures, and he understood that the law can’t save us. Sin has infected us all, as shown in Romans 5:12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. And in this way Sin has separated us from God. We are unable to keep God’s laws perfectly: Fortunately, God made a way to deliver us through an act of love by Jesus Christ and not by our own efforts.

Romans 5:18 18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Knowing this truth, we must guard against the temptation of thinking that acts of service, good deeds, or any other effort that you can think of can be a substitute for faith.

(Read Galatians 2:20-21)

            20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

When we are crucified with Christ, it means we surrender to Jesus every aspect of our sinful lives–our goals, plans, desires, ideas, and even relationships. We treat these things as though they died with Jesus at the cross. Then we live a life of surrender to the Author of life. Because Jesus came back to life, and He now lives in us by the Holy Spirit, filling up all the empty places that we have given to Him, which all our old pursuits could never really fill. Our self-centered way of life ends, and our new Christ-centered way of life begins. It does not mean we will be free from failure.

To be honest, letting go of these desires, goals, plans, and relationships is hard, and failure is common. But I know that whatever God has in store for me will be far greater than I can even understand or imagine right now, or maybe even ever will on this side of life. But I can continue to trust God, who loves us and has a greater understanding than I can ever see myself having.

            How have our old selves been crucified with Christ? It was when Christ was crucified for our sin. Through faith, we trust that His death paid for our own personal sin. In this way, we are crucified with Him.

How God Sees Us, Regardless of Our Failure

Legally, God sees us as if we died with Christ, because Jesus took the penalty for all our sins when he died. Paul says in Colossians 2:13-15 13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Relationally, we have become one with Christ, and His experiences are ours. Our Christian lives begin when we are joined with him: We die to our old life and begin a new life. Romans 6:5 says 5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. The focus of Christianity is not on death but on life. Because we have been crucified with Christ we have also been raised with Him, receiving a new resurrection life as He did, we have a new power, a new vision, and a new community, and we have been reconciled with God, despite our failures. We are no longer alone, because Christ lives in us. He is our power for living and our hope for the future.

The Danger of False Teachers

            False believers today can still be a danger for us, and they are a danger to anyone not in Christ. They act as if Jesus did not have to die, by replacing Jewish legalism with their own form of Christian legalism, by believing they can earn God’s favor by what they do. Such teaching denies our own continuing failure. They do not trust completely in Christ’s work on the cross. By struggling to believe in God’s power to change them, they do not rest in God’s power to save them.

It is only because of Him that anything good comes from me. It is only because of Him, that the things that need to be changed can change. And it is only because of Him that I am saved. If we could be saved by “being good,” then Christ did not have to die. The Cross is the only way to salvation.

Please follow me to Acts 4:11-12 as this comes to an end 11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ 12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Did you find it?  Your name, is it there? Yeah, I didn’t see mine either. Praise our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

                                                                                                                        Amen.

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How to Know The Call of The Apostles And Disciples

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The Voices of the Apostles and Disciples

© 2026 by C. O. Bishop

2nd Corinthians 6:1-13

The Testimony of the Apostles and Disciples:

1 We then, as workers together with him (disciples), beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. 12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.

Introduction:

Last week we addressed the first four verses. We saw this whole passage as the voice of the Apostles and all true disciples at the time. They all were experiencing the Cost of Discipleship.

The Cost of Discipleship varies by location and time. Prior to 1947, one might not have faced punishment in what is now Pakistan, for preaching Christ publicly. Why?

Centuries of Colonial History

Because for centuries, Britain had ruled all of India as a colonial tributary, and the Church of England was still present, along with the Roman Catholics. So, many people of India had at least nominally embraced “Christendom” in the form of either Romanism or Anglicanism. Whether they actually knew the Lord, or were disciples, is hard to say: Their entire families took on the name of “Christian,” whether it was a genuine relationship with Jesus or just a religious preference.

But, ever since the mid-1800s, Britain had been gradually losing control of India, and after WWII, Britain made the decision to “Partition” India into two sovereign states, the “Dominion of Pakistan,” and the “Union of India.” The result was a bloodbath. Muslims slaughtered millions of Hindus, and many survivors fled the country permanently. But most could not. And those who survived and remained became a persecuted minority within what had been their own country.

The Result for Disciples in Pakistan

But a largely Hindu nation called “India,” and a supposedly entirely Muslim nation called “Pakistan” are the long-run Geopolitical result. And in that nation of Pakistan, even today, it is a dangerous place for followers of Jesus. In many other nations, it is also dangerous to stand for Jesus. It is dangerous to shine a light: Dangerous to sound the alarm of the Gospel! Disciples are in serious danger, there.

We pray for the disciples in Pakistan, who are risking their lives to teach Christian Discipleship. They are faithfully practicing it themselves, and we are deeply aware of the risk, and the potential cost.. Reading these verses in 2nd Corinthians 6:1-13, we have a more “distant” view. But we still have still a real sense of the potential “Cost of Discipleship” in this fallen world.

How Should Such Knowledge Affect Us, As Disciples?

The Hebrew believers knew about the Cost: The danger in being a disciple. The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews addressed the Cost of Active Faith, in Hebrews 11:35-40.

“35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”

We read of these disciples who lived horrible lives and died horrible deaths. And it troubles us to know the reality. They did not have some sort of “happy ending” appear. to “let them out of the trial.” They endured the trial, and they died in it!

But tin Chapter 12, He tells us how we ought to respond to this knowledge: The challenge to be Disciples.

How Should We Respond As Disciples? (Hebrews 12:1-4)

“1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.”

The witnesses are not “watching you.” They are testifying TO you: Bearing witness TO you, just as Paul testified to the Corinthian believers, and just as the disciples in Kenya and in Pakistan are testifying to all of us, today. They are witnesses to the Glory and Power of God, and they testify to us week by week, showing us the result of God’s Word in that hostile environment.

Consider: How Do Weeds Respond?

Oddly enough, if I consider how weeds respond to their environment, I can see that (because we don’t irrigate) the weed seeds in our hard-packed, crushed-rock driveway get exactly the same amount of rain as the weeds out in the grass we keep calling a “lawn.”

But, the weeds in the driveway have a great deal harder time growing, as they can only get a few roots down through the rock into the soil below. The roots have to go very deep to find reliable water and nutrients. So, the stunted plants mature at only 2-3 inches in height. Their stunted leaves are very small, along with that short little flower stem. But that stem bears a blossom, and that blossom goes to seed, and the wind scatters those seeds, to start new plants…exactly the same as the taller weeds do, in our neglected lawn.

The weeds in the lawn grow to 18-24 inches in height, and some of their flower stems branch out and bear more than one flower: The flowers themselves are larger and bear more seeds. And the wind also scatters their seeds. And their seeds go further, because they launched from a higher elevation.

But, Why the Differences?

Why do they grow taller? Because they have better soil, and an easy life. Why do they have multiple blooms on their stems? For the same reason: They are blessed with an easier life! Why do they bear more seeds, and thus, more fruit? It is for the same reason again!

But in the Body of Christ, at large, we see that the persecuted churches, growing in the most difficult and the most dangerous environments often display the deepest faith (think “deeper roots”) and they spread rapidly, in spite of the difficulty and danger.

We have a relatively easy, safe life with far more resources, and very little real opposition. Does it not follow that, as disciples, we should bear more “fruit,” and that our “seed” ought to be scattering and finding root everywhere? Give that some thought! Why is it that weeds will follow the correct pattern, while we, as believers, tend to just “coast?”

Consider the Salmon!

We see the same pattern in salmon: The ones who are willing to focus their lives on swimming upstream will overcome all obstacles, or die trying. They risk their lives to get to the specific gravel beds they seek. Those who succeed will spawn, and produce hundreds of baby salmon just like them. Any fish choosing to do otherwise removes itself from the gene pool by that choice. (To my knowledge, no salmon ever chooses to take the easy way.)

But! You may protest that: “Salmon do not have a completely free will: They only do what their instinct demands that they do!”

Aha! And therein lies the problem! You and I DO have a free will! God called us to Himself, and we responded by our own will, though originally, our only motive may have been “to flee from the wrath to come.” Since then, we have read and believed His Word: Again, by choice.

And, according to Romans 12:1 He calls us, daily, to serve Him as our reasonable service of Worship. He calls us to voluntarily offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, to serve at HIS will, not ours. But He always leaves us the option to say, “No, I would rather serve myself!” And, when we do so, the consequences of that choice are that we have no fellowship with Him. (Fellowship implies Partnership.) And, it means we do not join Him as “workers together with Him.”

Also, although God has “laid the foundation of Christ” in our lives, (By Grace, through Faith) the layers we add to that foundation during the time when we are “off, doing our own thing,” are “wood, hay, and stubble.” Human works without God’s blessing have no eternal value!

So, How Can We Change?

Like the weed-seeds, we may find ourselves in a rocky place. We may bemoan how we got there, and we may suffer remorse for all the bad decisions that brought us to this point. But, regardless of how we arrived here, we now have the same choice as the weed-seeds: Take root and grow where God has planted you, or don’t. In the plant’s experience, it means “Grow here or die!”

In our case, it may only mean, “Blossom and bear fruit where you are, or continue to waste the opportunities God offers you!” You may look around and feel that “But the land is so barren around me: There is no hope!”

Remember, after Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem, God told Israel, “Stay put, and obey Me, and that I will bless you!” They rebelled and ran off to Egypt, in Jeremiah 42:19-43:7. And they suffered the consequences of disobedience: No blessing, no sustenance, and no safety!

But, What Are the Consequences of Commitment?

Most of you would agree that when you began to try to seriously walk with Jesus, your life got harder, not easier. You entered into the spiritual warfare of the Christian Life, and discovered that the Enemy was actually YOUR enemy!

Could the apostles and early disciples have decided against suffering the Consequences of Commitment? Sure! And some did! Demas began as a co-worker with Paul. He was valuable in the work. (See Colossians 4:14, and Philemon 24. Paul included him as part of his team!)

But later, Demas decided it was costing him more than he was willing to give, to serve as an Ambassador of Christ. So, the last thing we hear of him, is in 2nd Timothy 4:10. “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica.”

What a sad epitaph for one who began strong, but who ultimately “sold out cheap.” He wanted what the World offered, and he finally took the bait! Balaam did the same thing: He was a genuine prophet of God, but he sold out and, today, he is only remembered for his failure.

Don’t sell out! Make your walk with Jesus the core value in your life, and offer yourself to Him to be used as He chooses. That is the kind of choice God will honor and bless.

Lord Jesus, clear our minds, and let us see clearly the choices before us. Help us to make decisions that honor You and which draw us into a deeper relationship with You.

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Know How To Be Real “Workers Together With Him”

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How Can We Be “Workers Together With Him?”

© 2026 by C. O. Bishop

2nd Corinthians 6:1-4

Workers together With Jesus! What does that mean? And, How can we be those workers?

1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

Introduction:

We are among the recipients of this epistle, though nearly 2000 years removed. We should take this passage personally, not as a theory. Yes, He calls us “workers together with Him.” God also directs us to take the Great Commission personally, as well as most of the epistles. (The few exceptions might include things like a personal greeting to an individual, by name…or similar passages. And such passages still have teaching for us.)

But, in this case, Paul begins to address the question of how we can be workers together with Jesus. In the next several verses, he gives personal testimony as to what it meant to the apostles. But we can apply these four verses directly to every believer. What does it mean to US?

WE, Then, As Workers Together With HIM

Is this the apostle Paul talking? Yes it is! And is the “we,” here, specific to the Apostles? Undoubtedly, yes! But the next three words are his plea. He begs that we follow in their steps, as they follow in the steps of Jesus! The Apostles worked together with Jesus. We are also workers together with Him.

This exactly matches what Paul said in 1st Corinthians 11:1 “Be ye followers of me as I am of Christ.” How can we even imagine trying to “wiggle out of” such a calling? Our call is precisely the same as that of the apostles, with the exception that, though we are workers, we are not apostles.

But, we definitely are Ambassadors. And, Romans 8:28-30, says that we definitely are among “the called of God.” Workers, together with Him.

“28 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. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

Are You Called To Be A Worker With Him?

Most believers like to quote the first half of Romans 8:28. They claiming that “God will work all things together for Good” on their behalf. But that promise is only “to them who are the called, according to His Purpose.” If God hasn’t called you, then He does not offer that promise to you. And, according to the rest of that passage, if you aren’t called…you aren’t born again!

A genuine believer can’ t say, “Well, discipleship isn’t for everyone!” or, “Well, I just don’t feel called!”

Paul suggests that if we do that, and miss the central issue of discipleship, then we have “received the Grace of God in vain.” We have made it a useless and fruitless thing, both for God and for ourselves. That is sad even to consider, and somewhat frightening, as well. If we deny that He calls us Workers together with Him, then we cannot walk with Him, as He works.

In a Time Accepted, In the Day of Salvation

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured (helped) thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Jesus died at the right point in time, according to Romans 5:6. “6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

God says Jesus died at the correct time in History. Frankly, that is just one more thing that is “over my pay grade.” Why is it that Revelation 13:8 calls Him “the Lamb Slain from the foundation of the Earth?” But we see Him crucified in Jerusalem, nearly 2000 years ago. How can both be true? And which one was the “Right Time?”

1st Peter 1:18-20 says, “18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,”? According to that passage the crucifixion was a “done deal,” in God’s perspective, before He created the Earth at all!

How Can These Things Be?

Ephesians 3:8-12 gives us a clue: “8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.”

So, God had a plan before He created planet Earth! And, surprisingly, it did not center on people. It centered upon His Righteousness and Wisdom. His Eternal Purpose was, through the Church (that’s us!) to teach the Holy Angels (the ones still in heaven with Him, perhaps) the manifold wisdom of God.

What Had Just Happened in Heaven?

God does not give a precise timeline, but, immediately after God’s creation of the human race, the enemy set about to destroy us all through sin: And a blood sacrifice for sin was provided, right there in the Garden of Eden.

From Adam, through Abraham, to the Thief on the Cross, to the last person who ever chooses to trust in Jesus, we are all saved the same way: By God’s Grace, through Faith in God’s chosen Sacrifice: Jesus, the Messiah!

Judgment had already fallen on the angelic host who rebelled with Satan. But God had also already set up an eternal “object lesson” for the entire heavenly host. (Remember, this is still before the Creation!) His plan was to demonstrate His Own Wisdom through a group of People called the Church.

(Not through Noah, though he demonstrated a great deal about the coming Savior. Not through Abraham, though he was a great man of faith; and not through Israel, though it truly is the Chosen Nation of God. He chose to do it through the Church, which is a “motley mob of mixed-breed mongrels,” whom God has called from among both Jews and Gentiles.

So, What is the Church: The “Called-ones of God? We Are Workers, Too!

In 1st Corinthians 1:26-31, we see what typifies the calling of God: It is not the best-educated, the ones with greatest physical prowess, nor the rich, etc. It is the common people.

He says, “26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”

That is the group through whom God has chosen to teach the angels something about HIS Wisdom! That is “our calling!” God says so! We may look like a “bunch of ignorant savages,” compared to the Angelic hosts who watch our progress (and whom God occasionally sends in, to give us a boost!) But He says that is who we really are. God deliberately chooses people with nothing much to offer, through whom to do His best Work.

He chooses, as a group, all those who will confess that they have nothing to offer of their own. He helped us: first by means of the Cross, then by the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and finally by the Indwelling Holy Spirit and the Living Word of God.

And How Does He Want Us to Respond As His Workers?

“3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses…”

God tells us that as a general rule, we are to be model citizens: We are not to cause offense…not to give people a cause to stumble, and so to reject the Gospel. Does God ever authorize disobedience to Civil Law? Very seldom!

In general, Civil Law does not go against God’s Law. (Can it do so? Yes, but it seldom actually happens.) It is good to remember that when Romans 13:1-7 told us to be in subjection to the civil authorities, they were living under the “Iron Fist” of Rome. This was not some progressive, nice-smelling, sweet-talking Utopian world-system! That specific Government heavily persecuted the church for three hundred years, but Romans 13:1-7 never changed. Jesus paid taxes, knowing full well that Rome would (at least partially) use it for evil.

When we make trouble, bicker among ourselves, stir up rebellion, or utter railing complaints against politicians, etc., we give cause for unbelievers to despise the Church, and with us, they despise Jesus. He says, “In all things” demonstrate that we are approved as the servants of God.

We are called to endurance in hard times and sufferings, in poverty in some cases. And through distresses of all sorts, we have the opportunity to demonstrate the Grace of God in the Christian Life. These are the kinds of things that demonstrate that we are approved as servants of God. Failing to respond well to those challenges demonstrates the opposite.

Jesus Gave The World The Right To Judge His Workers In Three Areas:

These are the criteria Jesus gave the World, by which to Judge the Church. That is why Paul reminds us to “Give no offense!”

What About Today? How Can We Be Workers Together With Him?

We have all known men and women who claim to be believers, some claiming special prominence in the Church, but who consistently deal with other people unkindly, and exhibit self-centered pride, instead of humble submission to a Holy, Righteous, but Merciful God.

The Pharisees claimed to be genuine believers, but were constantly at odds with Jesus, the very God they claimed to serve! He said that He sent the prophets to them down through the years, and those to whom He sent them rejected the Prophets, one and all, killing many of them.

The common people knew the Pharisees were arrogant, and that they were harshly judgmental of the common folk around them. They knew they were hypocrites. And, they could see that Jesus was the “Genuine Article,” where the Service and Character of God was concerned.

People need to be able to see that in our lives as well. Make certain that your relationship with Jesus is actually producing the pure character  and genuine Agapé Love of God in you, not just a man-made piety.

Lord Jesus, raise us up to be workers together with You. Allow us to see the World and the Church through Your Eyes, and not judge by Human Standards.

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Continue With Us In A Walk Through Galatians (Part 3)

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A Walk Through Galatians (Part 3)

(Part 3: Chapter 2 verses 1-10)

© 2026 by Lee Tankersley

Introduction:

            Last time we were here, Paul had been defending his authority as an apostle against Judaizers. They had been going behind Paul and his companions on his first mission. They had tried to undermine what he had originally taught the Galatian believers. Now, in the next 10 verses he is going to close the book on this part of his story.

            Paul reminded the Galatian believers of who he was and what he was doing before he met Jesus. He told how he encountered Jesus, and believed who Jesus said he was and the Gospel (Good News.) Then he explained who he became afterward, and the training he had received. Paul fervently defended his apostleship, for the sake of the believers in Galatia and anyone else who might hear the Good News. The Good News that Jesus Christ paid the full penalty for sins: theirs, yours, and mine. He took the hit for us: He rescued them and us from being led by the false teaching and misguiding of whatever faith we had believed before.

The legalism that was being pushed was not from God, and those who preach legalism also are not from God. I will be blunt because I guess someone has to be, if you are trusting in anything other than what Jesus has done at the Cross then you are not a Christian. I’m not trying to be mean, it just needs to be said. I’m stoked that you are here and hope if you have not fully trusted in Christ that you will allow yourself to set aside your own understanding and open up yourself to humility and realize what is at stake. As we are told in Romans 3:23, we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

 In Romans 3:22, Paul tells us 22We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. And, Paul says, in Romans 5:6, “6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.“

            Romans 5:8 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Remember to remind yourself if you are ever uncertain of the love God has for you, that he loved you before you ever turned to him.

Let’s Look at Galatians 2:1-10

            I’m reading from the NLT, if you want to grab your Bible and turn to Galatians 2:1-10 you can follow along with whatever translation is your preferred choice. I also would like to give my sources credit they deserve, The NLT Life Application Study bible, A Layman’s Look at the Epistle to the Galatian Churches, and Bibleref app. Thank you.

(Read Galatians 2:1-10)

Galatians 2:1-10 1 Then fourteen years later I went back to Jerusalem again, this time with Barnabas; and Titus came along, too. 2 I went there because God revealed to me that I should go. While I was there I met privately with those considered to be leaders of the church and shared with them the message I had been preaching to the Gentiles. I wanted to make sure that we were in agreement, for fear that all my efforts had been wasted and I was running the race for nothing.

3 And they supported me and did not even demand that my companion Titus be circumcised, though he was a Gentile. 4 Even that question came up only because of some so-called believers there—false ones, really—who were secretly brought in. They sneaked in to spy on us and take away the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. They wanted to enslave us and force us to follow their Jewish regulations.  5 But we refused to give in to them for a single moment. We wanted to preserve the truth of the gospel message for you.

6 And the leaders of the church had nothing to add to what I was preaching. (By the way, their reputation as great leaders made no difference to me, for God has no favorites.)  7 Instead, they saw that God had given me the responsibility of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as he had given Peter the responsibility of preaching to the Jews. 8 For the same God who worked through Peter as the apostle to the Jews also worked through me as the apostle to the Gentiles.

9 In fact, James, Peter, and John, who were known as pillars of the church, recognized the gift God had given me, and they accepted Barnabas and me as their co-workers. They encouraged us to keep preaching to the Gentiles, while they continued their work with the Jews. 10 Their only suggestion was that we keep on helping the poor, which I have always been eager to do.

(Reading Galatians 2:1)

            1 Then fourteen years later I went back to Jerusalem again, this time with Barnabas; and Titus came along, too. Fourteen years have gone by since he was last in Jerusalem which we see in Acts 9:26-30 where he was seen by Barnabas and introduced to Peter, and James. He was only there for 15 days before he was sent away due to an attempt to murder him.

We can see that in Acts 11:25-26 that Barnabas went to look for Paul (at the time still called Saul) in Tarsus and then he brought him to Antioch where he was serving. Barnabas didn’t try leading by himself, but found a coworker in Paul. Those in ministry can look at Barnabas as an example, he found someone to work alongside him, their partnership brought accountability, fellowship, support, and encouragement. In all honesty we are all in this together. Each one of us brings something to the table and are just as important as any other.

We can see in 1 Corinthians 12:7 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. And we are all part of the same body united in Christ. We can see this and some of the gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:27-28

27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages.

This also can be seen in Romans 12:4-8 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function,  5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. 6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.  7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.  8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

I will recommend a book, if you’ll allow me. If you already haven’t read it, or even if you think you are not in such a position and it doesn’t apply to you and it’s not needed, you probably should read it: It’s A Layman’s Look at The Work of the Shepherd by C. O. Bishop.
(Yes, that is Chet.)

(Galatians 2:2-3)

2 I went there because God revealed to me that I should go. While I was there I met privately with those considered to be leaders of the church and shared with them the message I had been preaching to the Gentiles. I wanted to make sure that we were in agreement, for fear that all my efforts had been wasted and I was running the race for nothing. 3 And they supported me and did not even demand that my companion Titus be circumcised, though he was a Gentile.

We saw that Barnabas went and found Paul in Tarsus and somewhere during that fourteen years, Paul was joined by Titus, too. It is not exactly mentioned when they joined together. He must have been a part of the “local believers” that accompanied them, as mentioned in Acts 15: 2, but Titus’ role was no less important. God revealed to Paul that he should return to Jerusalem and he finally met with the Leaders there. This encounter is shown in Acts 15.

This important meeting acknowledged the apostles’ approval of Paul’s preaching. Paul sought to make sure he was in agreement with the leaders in Jerusalem after a confrontation with the Judaizers in Antioch, who were teaching that “unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.” He wanted to be sure that his teaching aligned with what they also had been taught.

Sometimes we can avoid the hard conversations for fear of disagreement or fearing that arguments may take place. Instead, we should openly share our plans and actions with one another. Good communication will help us understand each other, reduce gossip and create unity within the church. Paul preached what Jesus gave to him to say: His account of this showed that what he was taught was the same message the other apostles preached.

Paul’s message to both Jews and Gentiles was that God offered salvation to all people regardless of race, sex, education, background or whatever else, and that Jesus already did it all at the Cross. Anyone who puts their trust in Christ will be saved. In Romans 10:8-11 we see this truth:

“8 In fact, it says, “The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: 9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”

(Galatians 2:4-5)

4 Even that question came up only because of some so-called believers there—false ones, really—who were secretly brought in. They sneaked in to spy on us and take away the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. They wanted to enslave us and force us to follow their Jewish regulations. 5 But we refused to give in to them for a single moment. We wanted to preserve the truth of the gospel message for you.

We see that when Paul, Barnabas, and the accompanying believers arrived in Jerusalem they were met by the whole church including the apostles and elders, along with (as Paul puts it) some “so-called believers”, who were insisting that Gentile converts must be circumcised and follow the law of Moses. I imagine this is referring to Titus since we know he was a Gentile. So, who are the False believers, the “spies,” as Paul calls them, in the church today?

It’s anyone who introduces extra rules or practices as being required for salvation. They twist scripture to validate their opinions. Paul mentions this about Israel in Romans 10:3-4 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. Paul and Barnabas didn’t back down to these demands, and they had the approval of the apostles in Jerusalem.

What are some marks of a false gospel being preached? Anyone who treats Christ’s death as meaningless, or who says that people must obey the law in order to be saved, or who includes trying to find favor with God by obeying certain rituals, and counts on keeping laws to be right with God.

(Galatians 2:6-9)

6 And the leaders of the church had nothing to add to what I was preaching. (By the way, their reputation as great leaders made no difference to me, for God has no favorites.)  7 Instead, they saw that God had given me the responsibility of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as he had given Peter the responsibility of preaching to the Jews.

8 For the same God who worked through Peter as the apostle to the Jews also worked through me as the apostle to the Gentiles. 9 In fact, James, Peter, and John, who were known as pillars of the church, recognized the gift God had given me, and they accepted Barnabas and me as their co-workers. They encouraged us to keep preaching to the Gentiles, while they continued their work with the Jews.

Titus, a Gentile believer, who was with Paul and Barnabas became a “test case.” Would the apostles and leaders insist that Titus be circumcised and follow the laws of Moses to be saved, or was Titus’ faith in Jesus’ death on the Cross enough? We received the answer back in Galatians 2:3 “ 3 And they supported me and did not even demand that my companion Titus be circumcised, though he was a Gentile.”

This is God’s will, and what Jesus himself taught, we can see in John 6:40 “40 For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.” Remember God does not accept human religion as a substitute for faith in Christ. We are saved by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone. It is easy for us to rate people based on their status and be intimidated, but Paul was not intimidated, because all believers are equal in Christ and our ultimate allegiance, and the One to whom we are accountable, must be Jesus. We are to serve Him with all that we are.

He alone knows our hearts, 1 Samuel 16:7 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” Peter, John, and James had nothing but support for what Paul and Barnabas were preaching, in fact they realized that God was using Paul and Barnabas to reach the rest of the known world, just as God used Peter to reach the Jews, and they gave their approval for them to continue to work among the Gentiles.

The important fact here is that Paul and Peter preached the exact same message: “All must come to salvation by God’s grace through faith in Christ.” Acts 15:11 says, 11 We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”

(Galatians 2:10)

10 Their only suggestion was that we keep on helping the poor, which I have always been eager to do. Paul has written in this letter that the other apostles, Jesus’ own disciples during His time here, have given full approval for both his role as an apostle and the message he preached for salvation.

This was the opportunity to correct Paul, or rebuke his message, if there ever was one. But Peter, John, and James recognized it as truth. The only thing that was asked of Paul is that they keep remembering the poor. At the time, the Jerusalem church was struggling financially, being impacted by a severe famine referenced in Acts 11: 28-30.

We must stand firm against anyone who tries to twist scripture or add to the Good News. We must put on the whole armor of God as it is given to us in Ephesians 6:14-17 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And we know we can have rest because of what Jesus told us in Matthew 11:28-30
“28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Thank you Jesus!

                                                                                                                        Amen!

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Understand That the New Birth Comes With a New Job!

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The New Birth Comes With a New Job

© 2026 by C. O. Bishop

2nd Corinthians 5:17-21

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Introduction:

Last week we finished on 2nd Corinthians 5:17… “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Here we see that, though we still possess our old Sin Nature, God no longer defines us by it. The Holy God who deliberately became a Man, died as the full sacrifice for the sins of the human race. Now, still as the Holy God who hates sin, He provides a new birth. Thereby, He provides a new nature. He gives eternal life to all who place their faith in His completed work at the Cross. John 10:27-30.

He also chose to indwell all those who believe in Him, in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Further, He chooses to know and relate to those who believe in Him. But He only does so as to those who are His new Creation in Christ. He says Sin has contaminated our old nature. It cannot become agreeable to the Spirit of God. Romans 8:7 says “it is not subject to the Law of God, neither can it be.”

God Himself cannot repair the damage done to our old selves when Adam fell. But, what He did do was even more miraculous. He provided a new Birth. As a believer, you are a New Creation.

So, the last five verses of 2nd Corinthians 5 tell us the result of that New Creation, and what our new job entails.

What Is The Result Of That New Creation?

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

That verse sums up our New Life! Everything in our existence as those alive from the dead, and members of the Body of Christ, is here, in brief form.

  • It is all from God…our existence, our Hope, our sustenance, and our defense against the enemies of our souls.
  • He has (past tense) reconciled us by Jesus Christ, to Himself.
  • And, we have a new purpose in life: we are representatives of God, with an eye to the reconciliation of other lost souls. They are to be part of His New Creation.

So, What If We Don’t See Things That Way?

I have jokingly commented in the past that “You’ll notice that, if you try to look out through your nose instead of your eyes, it seriously limits your field of view.” Of course that is just a joke, at the silly notion that we might have more than one choiceas to “how to physically see the world.”

But the truth is that we often look “through the eyes” of our old sin nature, and we see hopeless chaos all around us. That makes sense! There are eight billion souls in the world. And all of us want to go our own way and to express our own individual wills. And Romans 1:18-32 allows us to see the result, from God’s perspective.

As believers, God tells us to see through the eyes of faith. We do not deny the evil in the world, but we can clearly recognize the source. We also see the incredible beauty and order in the creation, despite the ruin and corruption caused by sin.

God’s Call to See things His Way

So, God calls us to look beyond the things of the World, and the inclinations of our old nature. He calls us to confess with Him that the things of the New Creation are indeed all new.

2nd Corinthians 5:7 reminds us that “We walk by faith, not by sight.”

Ephesian 1:18 lists Paul’s prayer, “that the eyes of your understanding would be enlightened.”

Philippians 3:20 says “Our citizenship is in Heaven…” (KJV translates the Greek word, politeumo as “conversation”: but it means “citizenship!”)

None of these ideas are even approachable in the flesh. Our old sin nature is not only blind to these concepts, but it angrily denies that they are real at all. This is because of what Psalm 14:1 says: “The fool says in his heart, ‘there is no god!’”

And Romans 1:21-28 confirms it: (“When they knew God they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imagination…Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image, made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beast, and creeping things…  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind…” )

So, yes, God says we now have a choice. We can look through the eyes of faith, and see things from God’s perspective. (That is part of reconciliation to God.) Or we can go back to seeing things the way the world sees them, and live outside His direction and care.

Does He Continue to Love us?

Yes, your Heavenly Father still loves you and will stay with you forever. (By the way, this is not just a title: He is your real Father, through the New Birth!)

But you will not be conscious of His Love and Care as clearly as when you were in fellowship with Him and seeing things His way. Amos 3:3 says, “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” It is a rhetorical question, with the implied answer being, “NO!”

1st John 1:7 says, “If we walk in the light as He is in the Light, we have fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.”

If you actually belong to Jesus, as a New Creation, through the New Birth, then He will continually work to persuade you to “see things His way.” (And to DO things His way!)

What Is “Reconciliation?”

In terms of finances, and bookkeeping, when there is a discrepancy between two sets of records, it becomes critically important to discover which account is correct, and to “reconcile” the incorrect record to match the correct record. In terms of world view, God’s account is correct! Every other view is in error at one level or another.

God reconciled us to Himself: Not the other way around. I recently read an article wherein the financial records of a particular organization had consistently been at odds with the records of their bank. It turned out that the company bookkeeper had somehow been altering the bank reports to match her records, instead of re-checking her own arithmetic and reconciling her own books to those of the bank. You can imagine what a mess that was making.

God HAS Reconciled Us to Himself!

But God says that He “Has (past tense) reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ.”

That is our new position in Christ. God “corrected” us, through the New Birth, so that it is possible for us to agree with God. Our old sin nature can never agree with God. Only our new self: Only the New Creation can be in agreement with God, and so, be qualified to walk with Him. And when we choose to follow our own ideas, we become temporarily “separated” from the mind of God, and we behave (to one degree or another) as though we were never reborn.

Years ago, I knew a woman who declared that it would be “immoral” for her to attempt to share her faith with another person. She claimed she was a believer, but she declared that Jesus’s “marching orders” were wrong…immoral!

That was a very disturbing thing to hear coming from a woman I had known and respected as an older sister in Christ. It left me wondering whether she was even a believer. As far as I know, she never changed that viewpoint. But…who needed to change? Who needed “reconciliation?” Did Jesus need to change His orders? Or did she need to confess that the world had heavily influenced her mind, and that she was wrong?

What is the Ministry of Reconciliation?

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Paul goes on to explain The Ministry (service) of Reconciliation: He says it began with God, acting through Christ (God the Son…Jesus, the Messiah. The word “Christ” is just the Greek word for the Hebrew word “Messiah.” Both mean the “anointed One.”) He concludes that the immediate result of reconciliation is that God no longer imputes (“credits”) the sins of the reconciled individuals to them, even though they were the guilty parties. He no longer treats us as sinners. He treats us as His offspring…His dear, young children, because, through the New Birth, that is what we are!

God Passed On That Ministry To Us!

Again, it is past tense. He “… has committed unto us the Word of Reconciliation.” That is our new job! The result is clear:

“20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

One might protest that this was only true of the apostles: That the “we,” here, is the apostles, and the “ye,” here, includes the readers. But the Great Commission also included us by implication!

“18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

On the basis of the Full Authority of Jesus, He commanded the Apostles to go and make disciples, and to teach those disciples to do ALL that He had (just) commanded them. So, He included us in that plan! There was a Spiritual Chain reaction begun at the Cross, and we are part of the result.

If we fail to do what He commands, it results in the “shutting down” of that chain reaction. We stop the Divine Flow of redemption and reconciliation and revival. We quench the Holy Spirit, and there are long-range consequences of that choice. Ultimately, people die because of that choice.

A Harsh Reality

We think that sounds harsh, but God explains it in Ezekiel 3:17-19 “17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. 18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.”

We realize that this warning was given specifically to Ezekiel, who was sent as a prophet to Israel, during the captivity. But the concept is clear: People are condemned as sinners…it is true of the whole human race, not just Israel! And if they hear the call to repent and receive the gift of eternal life, they have a choice: they can believe, and be saved, or reject it and stay condemned.

Our Choice

But if we choose to ignore the ministry of reconciliation, not only do they stay condemned: we are partially responsible. (Remember James 4:17 “Therefore if a man knoweth to do Good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”)

Our choice, day by day, is whether to do (or not to do)what God has called us to do! Jesus made His choice: He chose to take our place at the Cross, becoming SIN on our behalf. God judged our sins at the Cross, along with those of the whole world, according to 1st John 2:2.

The result, to all who choose to believe, is a New birth, a New position in Christ, a New Citizenship in Heaven, a New Nature, and a New Job.

We simply have to choose, day by day and moment by moment, how to respond to Our New Relationship with God.

Lord Jesus, Please awaken us to our New Relationship and New responsibility as the Ministers of Reconciliation. Fill us with Your supernatural Love and care for the souls around us. Lead us to Walk with You in the Light of Your Word.

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How to Understand the Motivation of Apostles and Ambassadors

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Understanding the Motivation of the Apostles and Ambassadors

© 2026 by C. O. Bishop

2nd Corinthians 5:11-17

11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. 12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.  13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.

14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Introduction:

Last week we studied how to set priorities as believers. Today we will see what motivated the Apostles, and how that motivation should set an example for our own lives.

The Fear of the Lord:

Five Judgments

Last week we ended on verse eleven, “11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”

We saw five of the main judgments that a human can face. And all five are a source of fear for us.

We know that we were born sinners and that we faced God’s eternal judgment.

Next, we know that Jesus offered the only way to escape that judgment. He took the sins of the entire world upon Himself at the Cross. Thereby God judged our sins, at the Cross, instead of us bearing that judgment ourselves. That is God’s Grace: We respond in Faith and He saved us.

God tells us, here in chapter 5, about the Judgment seat of Christ. There we either receive (or fail to receive) reward, based on how we responded to Jesus during our life. And He explains how it works, in 1st Corinthians 3:11-15.

Also, He tells us about the Judgment of the Living Nations. It will occur right here on planet earth, just after the end of the Tribulation. That judgment will be a terrible, fearsome thing. People either enter the Millennial Kingdom in their natural body after surviving the Great Tribulation, as believers. Or they will enter Hell, having survived the Great Tribulation as an unbeliever and still an enemy of God.

Finally, we saw the final Great White Throne Judgment. There, those who rejected the Lord’s Grace will face God’s irrevocable judgment.

Godly Fear Moved The Apostles

God says that “knowing the terror of the Lord” is part of what motivated the Apostles to serve faithfully. They did not have to fear punishment: God judged their sins at the Cross. But they were fully persuaded that the whole world does face the wages of sin. And they did not wish that judgment upon anyone at all. So, they committed themselves to Being Ambassadors. They lived to persuade their fellow humans to be reconciled to the Holy God whose Judgment they otherwise will face.

Judgment is Already Here, But it is Also Yet To Come

That judgment is already in place, and has been since Genesis chapter three. That is where Adam fell into sin and dragged all of us with him. Jesus said “He who believes is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he does not believe.” It does not say, “he will be condemned IF he does not believe.”

I was already under God’s judgment as a rebellious sinner and as an enemy of God. I’m grateful that God had many believers praying for me. I’m grateful that someone finally shared the portion of God’s Word that broke through my defense. God poured out His full Judgment upon Jesus at the Cross.

However, I know that I will face the Lord Jesus at the Judgment Seat of Christ. I fear feeling ashamed at His appearance, because I have wasted so much time in my life. I know he has made us each an ambassador for Him. But I feel that I have spent far too much time distracted by the “urgencies” of daily life, instead of realizing the eternal cost of dealing with a slack hand.

What is the Alternative?

Paul said, along with that fear of the coming judgment, He has given us a desire for transparency, so that the Light of Christ can shine through us to the dark World.

Others, those who only wanted to “look good” were deliberately cloaking their motives with false piety and claims of great spiritual gifts. Paul says (v. 12) that was not his motive at all. He had no desire to boast, or make false claims. He wanted to provide the believers with a cause for thanksgiving, as they saw God at work in him, and in their own lives.

The false teachers claimed that they were the “real thing” because they “looked better” than Paul. They were an on-going problem . (And, after continuous hardships, savage beatings, and stonings: No, Paul didn’t look too good!)

Someone once told my wife, that initially, they assumed I could not be a valuable teacher. Why? I failed to dress well enough to impress them. But their heart was open, and within a few classes, they decided that “how I looked” was not a reasonable predictor of the value of the teaching. (Glad to hear it!)

Also, some (Acts 26:24) accused Paul of “going mad,” due to excessive study and learning. His reply was that if he really was “beside himself,” he was accountable to God for whatever excess he demonstrated. (v.13) But, if he was actually “sober” (seeing things clearly: preaching reality: Compare Romans 12:3) then it was for their benefit, and, ultimately, they would be accountable to God for their response.

The Love Of Christ Constrains Us: WHY?

14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

Paul says everything has changed for him and the other Apostles, (and, in fact, for all believers!)

The Love of Christ Constrains Us… Why?

Because the apostles understood (and were teaching others to understand) that when Jesus died as our representative, we died with Him! God addresses this concept over and over. Romans 6:8 says we are dead with Christ so that we can Live with Him…living inHim, and forHim!

 In Galatians 2:19-21, Paul states it as a personal reality for him: “19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

The Law did not constrain Paul’s behavior. The Love of Christ did. He knew the Law had demanded his death. He also knew that Jesus had died as his representative. Therefore, according to God’s Law, he, Paul, was dead to the Law, and the life he now lived was not his own.

He openly confessed that no works of his did anything to qualify him for God’s gift of eternal life: Rather, he boldly stated that if it is possible to gain righteous standing before a holy God on the strength of one’s own works under the Law, then Jesus had died for nothing!

The Conclusion?

Paul and the other Apostles (and the lesson is for us, too!) no longer looked at other humans the way they did before. We must not allow our old flesh…our old sin nature…to control how we see others. We need to see them as precious souls for whom Jesus gave His life.

And even for those who once knew Jesus during his life on earth, (and for those of us who tend to remember him from during that time,) He says, we are not to see Him that way anymore. We now see Him as the Savior, and as the Incarnate Creator, God, and as the Eternal Judge of all the Earth, and as the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords!

We see (at least we should see) Him in His exalted, present state, as our Intercessor and as our Lord and Master, as well as our loving Heavenly Father. Of course, we should be looking to Him as our Great Shepherd, to guide us and to provide for us, and to defend us from all enemies.

And, we should be looking for His return as the Conqueror of all nations, and the King of the Millennial Kingdom. God says for us to no longer see Him only as “Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mild.” That is not what He now is offering to the World, nor, even to the Church!

We Are New Creations in Christ!

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Compare Ephesians 4:24…the new nature is a new creation, created in the likeness of God, in righteousness and true Holiness. We have a difficult time grasping this truth, because we daily experience the reality that we also still have our old Sin nature.

From God’s perspective, the Old Sin Nature is a dead thing, and He makes no effort to correct it or give it life. Romans 8:7 says that it is not subject to the Law of God and it cannot become subject to God’s Law. So, God recognizes only our new nature and desires to bless, teach and encourage our new nature. He addresses the New Creature, and says that everything about it is new!

How Can God Love A Sinner Like Me?

Sometimes we wonder. “How can God Love me, when I continually fail Him?” But that is not how He sees you! He sees you as His precious child. He leads you along through the hard times, and encourages you to learn to walk with Him.

Does He still hate sin? YES! But He has separated you from your sin, “as far as the East is from the West.” (Psalm 103:12) He recognizes that the real culprit is the sin that still dwells in us, according to Romans 7:17. He works to cleanse us and correct us, and to love us into a stable walk with Him. But He will never condemn us again. Jesus said so! (John 5:24)

If any of you have questions about these things, please call me or text me. We can address your questions personally.

Lord Jesus, please work Your Love so deeply into our consciousness that we no longer fear Your Judgment, but rather, we will anxiously desire to please You as Our true Heavenly Father. Bring us to understand that we died  with You and that we now liv in You. Teach us the reality of walking with You by faith.

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Do You Know How To Establish Your Priorities as a Believer?

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How To Establish Your Priorities as a Believer

© 2026 by C. O. Bishop

2nd Corinthians 5:8-11

8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, (whether we live or die) we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

Introduction:

Last week we talked about what happens to believers when they die: (What happens when we leave these bodies?) We saw that God created us as eternal creatures, created as three-part beings: Body, Soul and Spirit. When our non-physical parts (Soul and Spirit) leave our bodies, we call it “death.” Our Soul and Spirit have separated from our body. And every time scripture addresses “death,” it has to do with some sort of separation. Physical death is the separation of the soul and spirit from the body.

In Genesis 2:17, when God warned Adam “…in the day that you eat thereof, you shall surely die,” He meant it! But there was an instantaneous result, (Genesis 3:7) when Adam ate that fruit. God separated both Adam and Eve from spiritual fellowship with Him. Adam died physically, 930 years later. But he and everyone who proceeded from him (including Eve, and the entire human race) died spiritually at that very moment.

So, How Does God Save Sinners?

God offered a coming Savior, in Genesis 3:15…the “Seed of the Woman.” Adam believed that promise, (Genesis 3:20) and God re-established the relationship (Genesis 3:21) through the first blood-sacrifice, looking forward to the Cross. God offered Grace in the form of a Savior. Adam responded in Faith, and God accepted him on the basis of faith. I hope that sounds familiar to you all. God saved Abraham, in the same manner, though there was less detail about the promise. God offered Grace in the form of a Promise. Abraham believed God, instead of believing his own eyes, his own experience, or the evidence in nature. And (Genesis 15:6) God declared Abraham righteous on the basis of that faith.

That is the only way God has ever saved anyone in the history of the World. As someone famously said, long ago, “God saves us by Grace, through faith, plus nothing!” In fact, I tried to find out the source of that quote, using Google, and it took me straight to Ephesians 2:8, 9! (“For 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.”)

Anyone who confesses he or she is a lost Sinner, and throws himself or herself upon the Mercy of God, provided by Grace, through the Blood of Jesus, is restored to fellowship with God, and permanently joined to Him by the New Birth.

But, What About The Future?

Can I lose that “Fellowship” with God? Well… temporarily, Yes! But not the Relationship.

As believers, though we are eternally saved, we can be separated from fellowship with God, through sin. In that condition, we are behaving as though we were spiritually dead. God offers to restore us to fellowship through a second promise: 1st John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

That is the future of believers, in this life: We desire to walk with God in holiness, but we often fail. We admit our failure is sin, and we approach the throne of God with nothing to offer but confession. He then restores the fellowship so that we can go on walking with Him.

But, an unbeliever, who rejects God’s warning and promise, and thereby maintains their original separation from God, has never been born again. They have never become God’s child. If they persist, and physically die, as an unbeliever, they face eternal separation from God, in the Lake of Fire. God calls that Eternal loss the “second death.”

So, As Believers, How Does the Rebirth Change Our Priorities? (v. 8, 9)

2nd Corinthians 5:8, 9 speaks only to believers. As a believer, I can honestly say that I look forward to being eternally free from the struggles of this life: The constant struggle of trying to walk with God as a saved sinner. That is why verse 8 says, we would rather be with Jesus!

I have two natures: the one is a deadly enemy, and I long to be free of it. The other is the new person, created in the likeness of God in righteousness and true Holiness. (God says so, in Ephesians 4:24.) Do I feel righteous or holy? No! I am keenly aware of my old nature which is still attempting to regain dominance.

But as a believer, yes: I look forward to “going home!” And because I am aware of His presence, and I’m aware that His righteousness is perfect, I am anxious to live in such a way that, whether I live or die, I will not be ashamed, before Him.

What About the Judgment Seat of Christ? (v. 10)

Hebrews 9:27 says “…it is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgment.”

If that were the only teaching on the coming judgment, it would sound as though all people face the same judgment. But there are at least five judgments listed in scripture, that can affect people. Not all apply to everyone.

  1. The General Judgment (condemnation) of the World. (John 3:18, 19; Romans 1:18, etc. This one affected all of us!)
  2. The Judgment of Sin at the Cross. (Colossians 2:14; 1st John 2:2 Jesus died for all the sins of the entire Human race, though not all respond in faith.)
  3. The Judgment Seat of Christ (2nd Corinthians 5:10; 1st Corinthians 3:10-16 This one affects believers only, and it is an awards judgment, giving reward to believers who allowed Jesus to work through them. He rewards us as if “we” were the ones who accomplished the work, when, by necessity, only He could do it!)
  4. The Judgment of Living Nations (Matthew 25:31-46 This one affects the living believers and unbelievers, after the Great Tribulation, when Jesus Returns to Earth.)
  5. The Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15 This one affects only theunrighteous dead, and it is final.

All the Judgments are Fearful to Consider:

Original Judgment

As we look back and consider the Judgment in the Garden of Eden, we are sobered and chilled to see the permanent consequences of Adam’s sin. In fact, reading through the rest of Genesis, we see that very often, sin had permanent results. All the sons of Abraham that were produced in the flesh (by his own ability and choices) ended up being bitter enemies of his promised son, Isaac, later on. There are many other such examples. But Romans 5:12 says all the sin and death in the world was ultimately because of that one sin!

Judgment of Sin at the Cross

When we see the suffering of Jesus at the Cross, and His torments leading to the Cross, we are grieved to see the awful results of Sin, as it affected Jesus, our Savior.

2nd Corinthians 5:21 tells us that Jesus literally “Became Sin” for us, so that God could pour all His wrath upon Jesus at the Cross, thus allowing us to become the righteousness of God in Him.

But it also explains why Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken Me?” Yes, He was quoting Psalm 22, which is a prophetic Psalm, clearly predicting the Cross. But it was also a fact that God turned His face away from the monstrosity of our sin, completely personified in Jesus at that moment!

Judgement Seat of Christ (Judgment of Believers’ Works.)

The Judgement Seat of Christ is an awards ceremony of sorts. But we feel anxiety about it, knowing that everything I do (or fail to do) in this life will be considered and judged in that day. All the time I have wasted. The many wrong notions I have entertained, contrary to God’s Word. All of them will be exposed for what they are. How?

1st Corinthians 3:11-15 tells us that the things we have built into our lives, as believers, are either of eternal value, or are eternally non-valuable. And it says that the determination will be made “by fire.” The things that I found attractive, but were eternally worthless, will go up in a cloud of smoke. The things that originated in Jesus, and which He did, using me as a tool, will survive that test, and will be the cause for eternal reward.

Abraham’s nephew, Lot, stands as an example of one who lost everything because of his life choices, but who still was saved. We can’t see it very clearly, but God says he was saved. It’s possible for a believer to be just like him. They have gone their own way their whole life, and done things that felt religious and pious, but have not submitted themselves to Jesus as a tool in His hand.

1st Corinthians 3:15 tells us that we can lose our rewards through self-will and sin. We do not lose our position in Christ, but we escape God’s judgment as one escaping through the flames. I fear the results of this judgment. I know I am not a very consistent servant of Christ.

Judgement of the Living Nations

At the end of the Great Tribulation, the Lord Jesus will return (Revelation 19) and will set up His throne in Jerusalem. (Zechariah 14, among others.) But His first order of business, before the promised Kingdom Age can begin, is to sort out the survivors of the Great Tribulation. (Remember: According to Revelation 6:8 and 9:18, more than half of the world’s population will have died during that terrible seven years!)

The Lord Jesus will sort the survivors, according to Matthew 25:31-46, by how the people demonstrated faith in the way they cared for God’s people (or failed to do so.) It is a fearful thing to consider the judgment happening right there for everyone to see. Yes, if you are born again today, you will be absent during the Tribulation. But you will be present to see the Judgment of the Living Nations! How do I know? Jesus said that where He is, there we will be also! And Ephesians 2:6 says God has already seated us in the throne with Jesus.) I am not looking forward to witnessing these final two judgments!

The Great White Throne Judgment

In Revelation 20:11-15 we see the final judgment of Sin and sinners. All the unrighteous dead of all time will stand before that Throne for final Judgment. Who is the Judge? It is Jesus, again. John 5:22 says, “the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son even as they honor the Father.”

But, we will be there, sitting in the throne with Jesus! I really am not looking forward to this experience. All the unsaved folks I knew will be there! It will include those to whom I had the chance to share the Gospel, but who never received His forgiveness. It also includes the ones with whom I failed to share. And I will watch their judgment, and it will be too late to intervene!

Therefore, Knowing the Terror of the Lord, We Persuade Men

This is one of our motives for Evangelism! All of the Judgments mentioned in scripture are worthy of our dread! Yes, Jesus took away our sins, at the Cross! But even if we no longer have to fear God’s eternal judgment, others still face that judgment!

We are made manifest unto God; and also made manifest in your consciences.

We also seek to be transparent to one another. Paul said he was “made manifest” to God, and sought to be “also made manifest” in the minds of the believers in Corinth.

Ephesians 5:13 says, “whatsoever maketh manifest is light.” God’s light is shining in our lives. We want to be “transparent,” so His light can shine through us to one another, and to the people in the world around us.

God does not want us “putting on a show” of piety or religiosity. We are sinners saved by Grace, and we offer that Grace to one another, and to the people all around us. That is why we enthusiastically support missions, and we look for opportunities to share with those nearby.

Lord Jesus, please cause Your Words to soak into our consciences and to soften our hearts toward those around us who still face the Judgment of God. Give us Your tender Heart of Compassion toward all around us, in Jesus’ Name.

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How to Know Where a Deceased Loved-One Has Gone

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How to Know Where a Loved-One Has Gone

© 2026 by C. O. Bishop

2nd Corinthians 5:1-9

1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight🙂 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

1st Thessalonians 4:13-18

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Introduction:

We have touched upon this passage repeatedly, over the years. Why? Because it is a universal concern and a frequent question, regarding a loved-one who has died. “Where is (name)?”

When people who have been believers for many years still have to ask this question, I am sad. They are fearful for their husband, wife, or other person they have lost. God wants us to know this truth, and to comfort one another with this knowledge.

So, How CAN we Know?

We read the twin passages with which we opened. We see that our confidence in the eternal life God has given is not based upon supposition or human reasoning. God gave it to us “By the Word of the Lord!”

Also, we immediately see that God commands us to comfort one another with these words. Why? Because it is something He wants us to KNOW. As individual believers, we begin by learning how we were saved. Then we try to understand why, and how permanent that positional change truly is. We are now His literal offspring, through the new birth, and we cannot become UN-Born-again!

Personal Assurance: What Should YOU Know?

If we read 1st John 5:11-16, we gain a personal assurance of our own eternal life. God clearly says He wants us to KNOW that we have eternal life.

1st John 5:11-13 says, “And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

Our initial, timid faith can grow strong as we consider the evidence binding us to The Eternal Savior, Jesus, the Messiah…the Christ.

The Beginning

Jesus promised in John 5:24, “He that heareth My Word and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath eternal life, and shall not come unto condemnation, but has passed from death unto life.”

If you have heard the Good News that Jesus died in your place at the Cross, and have placed your trust in Him, trusting His finished work at the Cross for your salvation, God says it’s a done deal!

  1. You have eternal life! (Present tense! You do NOT have to wait until you die to find out!)
  2. God will never again Condemn You!. (Future tense…it will never happen!)
  3. You have permanently crossed over from death into Life! (Past perfect tense! It is a “done deal,” and you can’t go back to being lost!)

That specific promise of Jesus is the basis for our confidence before Him. We lay claim to that Promise by Faith. When we share that mutual confidence with one another, we gain confidence about others as well. Can I actually see inside someone else’s heart, and know for sure about their faith? No: But Their responses to God and to other believers, and to the ordinary trials and stresses of life can pretty well tell me where their heart really is.

Collective Assurance: What should “WE” Know?

In 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18, we read what is coming for all believers, living and dead. We see that Jesus will return to the Air, and collect all the church-age believer’s bodies.

How do we know the bodies are in view and not the souls…the Spirits…the non-physical portions of our three-part humanity? Because 2nd Corinthians 5:8 states that when we leave these bodies, we will instantly be present with the Lord. And 2nd Corinthians 5:2-4 states that we will simultaneously be “clothed upon” with an immortal body of some sort. It evidently is not our own physical body resurrected, but something temporary.

1st Corinthians 15:50-54 says that we will all get our own resurrected bodies at the same time.

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible (body) must put on incorruption, and this mortal (body) must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

So, we seem to have found a paradox!

Is There Truly A Paradox?

One passage says we get an immortal body the moment we leave these mortal bodies. The other says “…we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.”

Let’s go back and read the 1st Thessalonians 4:14 passage again: It says that Jesus will bring the dead in Christ “with Him.” Yes, we could read it as merely saying that they will “follow Him in resurrection.” But the point of this passage, when combined with 1st Corinthians 15, is that all the dead bodies of dead believers will be resurrected immortal. That means regardless of where they are, or what has happened to them during the centuries in which they have undergone decay, or have been digested by scavengers, or even burned to ashes, and scattered who-knows-where.

And then (in the next moment, according to both 1st Thessalonians 4 and 1st Corinthians 15,) the living bodies of those who are still alive at that time will be transformed into the eternal, immortal state “in the twinkling of an eye!”

But, When?

It is also important to read 1st Thessalonians 5, understanding that originally, there were no chapter divisions. Chapter five developed directly out of chapter four. If chapter four describes the rapture of the church, then we see that the tribulation begins at that moment!

The “Rapture of the Church” is the portion of the “Day of the Lord” that “Comes as a thief in the night.” It is the only portion of all the grief that is to come and the joy and peace that follows, that can (and will) come as a “surprise.”

All the rest of it is literally “laid out” just as tightly “choreographed” as a play! The Book of the Revelation of Jesus gives us the script, and the world will see those events unfold exactly as written. And all of it follows the removal of the Church, simply because we are not a part of the Coming Judgment on Earth and Israel. (If you have questions about that, read Daniel 9:23-27.)

Nor are we part of the Millennial Kingdom, in the strictest sense: We will all have resurrected, glorified bodies, whereas the Tribulation Saints will enter the Kingdom in their mortal bodies, marrying, bearing children, and living for the full age of the Kingdom in most cases.

So, Where IS Grandma? (Grandpa? Dad? Mom? Wife? Husband?)

It ultimately depends on one thing. Jesus died for their sins, because He died for the Sins of the Whole World. (1st John 2:2 states it undeniably! “And He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”)

But…did they believe His promise, and so receive Him as their Savior?

Each of us has the choice: we can choose the way of life or the way of death. Jeremiah 21:8 says, “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.”

Hebrews 9:27 says, “…it is given unto man once to die, but after this the judgment.”

Two Possible Destinations

To an unbeliever, that judgment is the “Great White Throne Judgment” in Revelation 20:11-15.

To a believer, that Judgment is the “Judgment Seat of Christ,” in 2nd Corinthians 5:9-13, but explained in 1st Corinthians 3:11-15.

If your loved-one was a believer, having placed his or her trust in Jesus’s shed blood as their only hope for salvation from the final judgment of Sin, then I can say with full assurance, that they are with Jesus right now. (And they are looking at Him, by the way, not watching over you!)

If they died still rejecting His offer of eternal life, then, sadly, all I can say is what Jesus said. “They died in their sins.” Can I know whether they, in fact, rejected Him to the end? No! But I can say that Jesus said most of the human race will do just that, and be lost forever!

In Matthew 7:13, 14 Jesus says, “13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

That is just Reality. Hard truth, but honest.

Now: Do I Like That Judgment?

No! But I see the justice in it: God hates sin, and He judges sin! He has offered one escape from the destruction that His Judgment is bringing. We can either accept it or reject it, but the Judgment is already in place.

I spent my first eighteen years on God’s “Death Row.” Had I died during that time I would be in hell today. But Jesus stepped in and died in my place, just as he did in your place and in the place of the entire human race. But it took me over eighteen years to realize and to confess that I was a lost sinner, and that I needed a Savior.

That was in 1973. Since that time, the Lord has worked to teach me to walk with Him, and to believe His Word. I certainly have not “arrived.” I am increasingly aware of the fact that I can literally do nothing without Him. I’m sure that the majority of the people here would fervently agree with that conclusion.

But we want our lives to count for eternity. Some friends we have watched pass out of this life and we were sad, because we don’t know for sure where they are. But when those died, whose lives had been transformed by His Grace and His Power, we knew that they had simply “graduated early.” So, we comfort one another in our losses and in our hard times, and we support one another in our striving to walk with Jesus.

Lord Jesus, teach us to love Your Word, and desire Your constant presence and oversight in our lives. Let us rejoice to press on to the mark of that high calling of God in Christ Jesus!

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