Self-Willed or God’s Will - Part 1

By Tom Rose

The prohibition against taking from or adding to God’s Word is consistently implied throughout scripture, and at times it is stated explicitly.  Solomon admonished, “Every word of God is pure. . .Do not add to His Words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar” (Pr. 30:5-6).  Also, the statement in Rev. 22:18-19 is a compelling and sober warning not to tamper with or alter “the things which are written in this book.”

Unfortunately, the tendency to disregard God’s clearly stated commands lurks in every heart and lies at the root of most human problems.  It began in the Garden of Eden.  Adam and Eve were the first to take liberties with God’s Word.  They had no written scriptures, but God had spoken to them personally and apparently audibly: “They heard the voice of the Lord God. . .I heard Your voice in the Garden” (Gen. 3:8, 10).  We know nothing of the marvelous insights which God must have shared with this pair, but we do know that He commanded them not to eat of one particular tree in the Garden.  God considered this of such great importance that the penalty for disobedience was death. (See Gen. 2:16-17)

“That serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world” (Rev. 12:9), was immediately at work in the Garden of Eden. With his cunning skill, he provided a most effective rationale for legitimizing disobedience: the reinterpretation of what God has said to bring it into line with human desire.  "And the woman said to the serpent, 'We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.''  Then the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like  God, knowing good and evil.'" (Gen. 3:2-5)

Questioning God’s command, Satan perverted its meaning, turned the death penalty into a promise of godhood, and persuaded Eve to accept his innovative and appealing interpretation.  Eve had found a “prophet” whose twisted but appealing perversion of Truth was irresistible.  "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate." (Gen. 3:6)

Satan’s seduction of Eve was the original appeal to ''self"– her “self.”  “You can be like God,” was the tantalizing promise.  Something inside Eve responded to that.  It was then that self had its awful birth and established its throne in her life.  Sadly, her submission to her new master of self soon affected her husband, and her example even appeals to us today.  Totally absorbed in what she would get out of eating this wonderful fruit, Eve stifled any concern for what she ought to do.  Indeed, there was no ought at all; no regard for duty, moral commitment, or restraint upon her desires – no real concern for anyone but herself.

(Part 2 next week)

Lovers of Light and Lovers of Darkness

By Paul Earnhart

If you go into an old barn on a dark night and turn on a bright light, you will see two different reactions.  The rats will run, but the candle flies will soon be swarming around your light.

Jesus came into the world as the light of the world.  And there were two different reactions.  Some hated Him and began almost immediately to plot His extermination.  Others, however, were drawn to Him and became completely loyal to Him.

In John 3:19-21, He explains these two reactions.  “And this is the judgment that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil.  For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest their deeds should be exposed.  But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

The true character and teaching of Jesus serve as a judgment on the deeds of evil people.  Once they truly understand Him, they react against Him; and, in so doing, they actually pass judgment on themselves.

In our generation, however, Satan has confused the issue.  He has made Jesus out to be a very broad-minded and tolerant individual who will accept most any kind of conduct.  Satan has also led many to think that believing in Jesus is simply accepting the fact that He lived and died for mankind; and if one believes that, one can live any way they want to live.  Those who are deceived by Satan in this manner do not truly know Jesus.

Jesus condemned sin in all forms, and He demands that we live as pure a life as we can live.  Nothing in the life or teaching of Jesus encourages sin.  And just as belief in a doctor means following the doctor’s instructions, so belief in the great physician means living as He directs.  He asked, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do the things that I say?” (Lk 6:46)

Being A Disciple - Part 2

By Mark McCrary

This article continues from last week where the questions addressed were “What is a Disciple?” and “Why is it Important for Disciples to be Like Christ?”

What Is Expected of a Disciple?

The life of a disciple is marked by several key characteristics. First and foremost, a disciple is a learner (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus calls people to Him to learn and grow. Baptism marks the beginning of this journey, but it’s not the end. Continued learning—through personal Bible study, attending Bible classes, and listening to teaching—is essential for growth. This is why the early church made preaching and teaching such an important part of their gatherings (Acts 20:7).

Second, being a disciple requires following Jesus with total commitment (Lk 9:57-62). In the same way the disciples left their nets to follow Jesus (Lk 5:11), we are called to leave behind anything that would keep us from fully following Christ. Commitment is essential because without it one cannot receive the crown of life (Rev 2:10). This is one of the failings of the teachings of “once saved, always saved” and “preservation of the saints.” These teachings fail to understand why we are saved—to represent God.  If we fail to do so, we fail in our role as disciples and do not have the blessings that come to disciples.

For this reason, obedience is another vital aspect of discipleship. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Our love for Him compels us to obey His teachings, and that obedience transforms us. As Paul writes in Romans 12:1-2, we are to be “transformed by the renewal of our mind.” This transformation is evident in the lives of disciples who speak like Jesus, act like Jesus, and love like Jesus.

A true disciple also makes a public confession of faith (Matthew 10:32-33), openly declaring allegiance to Christ even when it is unpopular or risky (Acts 4:19-20).

Love, service, and sacrifice are further hallmarks of a disciple’s life, as seen in the early church (Acts 2:42-47). The early Christians lived lives of love and humility, drawing many to Christ through their example. Following Jesus may require self-denial and even carrying a cross (Matthew 10:38), but the life of a disciple is one of continued growth (2 Peter 1:5-10; Colossians 2:6-7).

Making More Disciples

Understanding discipleship reshapes the way we approach evangelism. The goal isn’t simply to "save" people from hell but to bring them to God and teach them to follow Him. Importantly, baptism is a crucial step, but it is not the journey's end.  In 1 Corinthians 1:16-17, Paul said he didn’t come to baptize, but to “preach the gospel.” The goal isn’t merely to escape judgment, but to live transformed lives that reflect “the gospel”—the good news of Jesus!

This, then, changes how we evangelize. Instead of focusing solely on warning people about hell, we lift up Jesus for the world to see (John 12:32). The best way to do so is not through fear of hell, but through love—God’s love for us and then our love for others.  This is the impact of Jesus’ teachings on our lives.  As disciples, we become living testimonies of Christ’s teachings (Matthew 5:16; John 13:35). Our transformed lives, marked by peace, joy, and purpose, become the most powerful witness to the gospel (1 Peter 2:12; Romans 12:2). Then, in words, we share the teachings of Jesus with others.

Conclusion

Being a disciple of Jesus is more than knowing facts or performing rituals. It’s about living a life that mirrors Christ, deepening our relationship with God, and showing others what a transformed life looks like. As we follow Him, we become reflections of His character in the world. This is the life Jesus calls us to live. Through our discipleship, we offer the world a better way—a life of purpose, peace, and joy in Christ.

Being a Disciple - Part 1

By Mark McCrary

In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus commands His followers to "make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19-20). The concept of discipleship is central to His teachings. Yet, in modern Christian discussions, there’s often more focus on the question of salvation: “Are you saved?” or “Do you want to be saved?” “Have you been baptized? Do you want to be baptized?” While these questions are important, they can sometimes miss the depth of Jesus' call. Being baptized and saved can become a state of achievement—a box checked, where little is expected beyond attending church occasionally or maintaining a basic spiritual routine. But Jesus calls us to much more. He calls us to discipleship.

Discipleship is more than just accepting Jesus; it’s a lifelong journey of following and being transformed by Him. In fact, the Gospel of John, which emphasizes belief in Jesus (John 20:30-31), uses the word “disciple” more than any other New Testament book. John’s vision of belief is intertwined with being a disciple, not simply someone who is saved. It’s in understanding discipleship that we can truly grasp the life Jesus calls us to live.

What Is a Disciple?

A disciple, in its simplest definition, is a learner—someone who follows the teachings of a master. In Jesus' time, “higher education” consisted of a person becoming a disciple of a rabbi, not merely to gain information, but to adopt a way of life. The master would pass on his teachings, and the disciple would absorb those teachings and put them into practice. The relationship was deeply personal, with disciples often living and traveling with the teacher, learning through both instruction and observation.

For the Christian, our Master is Christ. To be His disciple means to follow His teachings and strive to live as He lived. As Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me” (Matthew 11:28-30). While Jesus calls the suffering to Himself for relief, this is also a call for disciples, bowed down with the oppressive, self-serving teachings of the scribes and Pharisees, to come to Him and take His yoke (teachings) and be changed by Him. As we follow Jesus, we are molded into His image (Romans 8:29), learning to live as He did, reflecting His character to the world around us (Galatians 2:20).

Why Is It Important for Disciples to Be Like Christ?

Jesus came to perfectly bear the image of God to the world (Hebrews 1:3; John 14:9). He was the fulfillment of what God always intended for humanity—what He had desired from Israel in the Old Testament (Exodus 19:6). In many ways, Jesus is presented as the "anti-Adam" (Romans 5:14-19). Where Adam failed and gave into sin, Jesus remained sinless. Where Adam failed in the Garden, Jesus succeeded (Mt. 26:36-46). Where Adam submitted to temptation, Jesus resisted it (Matthew 4:1-11).

Jesus’ life shows us what it means to live as God intended. We take His words to heart; it is enough for us as disciples to be like our Master.  That is the heart of discipleship—living in such a way that we reflect His image to the world. As we reflect His image, as He reflected the Father, then we fulfill our initial design of bearing God’s image to the world around us.  All because Jesus releases us of our sins and teaches us how to walk (1 Jn 1:7).

(to be continued next week with the topics, “What is expected of a disciple?” and “Making More Disciples”)

God So Loved the World

By Paul Earnhart

God’s love for mankind has been expressed in more ways than we can count.  His creation of man was an act of love, to say nothing of the wonderful world which He made for our habitation.  He gave us eyes to see and mountains and flowers and colorful sunsets to behold.  He gave us ears to hear and the song of the birds and the roar of the ocean to enjoy.  He gave us the gift of taste and delicious food to satisfy our appetites.  Who can count the material and physical benefits He has provided?

But when we try to describe the love of God, all of these things become insignificant beside the gift He gave for satisfaction of our spiritual needs.  Jesus described it in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  God knew that the needs of the inner man are greater than those of the outer man.

God’s love is surely the greatest love of history, and it was expressed in the greatest gift of all time…the gift of His only begotten Son.  Its purpose was to rescue each one of us from the greatest possible tragedy: eternal death.  And to provide for us the most valuable blessing we can hope to attain: eternal life.

Our world does not now comprehend what God did.  Our thinking is so dominated by our concern for here and now, for the needs of our physical bodies, that most people give little attention to the needs of the spirit.  But one day, all of that will change.  Regardless of how we may prosper in material things, there will come a day when none of those things can help us.  When we come to the time of our death, the important thing will be our relationship to God.  If we are not right with Him, all will be lost.  Jesus is our way to God (John 14:6).  Only those who believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.  And belief in Him means full submission to Him.