Gospel Living

Genesis 37 contains the familiar story of Joseph's brothers throwing him into a pit and then selling him into slavery.

Joseph was loved by his father, sent to find his brothers, mistreated, and then raised to new life.

This of course foreshadows the same path Jesus would follow many years later. He too was loved by His Father, sent to save the lost, crucified, buried in a tomb, and then raised again.

And moreover, this is our story too! We also are loved, sent, hated, and will be exalted. We are living out the gospel.

If Christ is Not Risen

Sometimes debaters argue the opposite point of view to show absurdity. Paul uses this techninque in 1 Corinthians 15 to show the catastophic consequences of denying the resurrection.  

1. If Christ is not risen our preaching is in vain, verse 14
2. If Christ is not risen your faith is empty, verse 14
3. If Christ is not risen we are false witnesses of God, verse 15
4. If Christ is not risen your faith is futile, verse 17
5. If Christ is not risen you are still in your sins, verse 17
6. If Christ is not risen those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished, verse 18
7. If Christ is not risen we are of all men the most pitiable, verse 19.

Thank God each of these absurdities are absolutely false. In fact, the opposite is true.

1. Our preaching has substance
2. Our faith is based on reality
3. Our testimony is true
4. Our faith is profitable
5. Our sins are forgiven
6. Our departed loved ones who trusted Christ are still alive
7. Our hope transcends time and eternity.

The Powerful Love of God

I recently heard a fantastic sermon from Dr. James Noble. He spoke at the National African American Fellowship. His text was John 3:16.

• The love of God is unconditional - agape love
• The love of God is universal - "for God so loved the world"
• The love of God is unique - "that He gave His only begotten Son"
• The love of God is unending - "have everlasting life."

Only Two Passwords

Trying to keep track of passwords is overwhelming. But without the passwords you are locked out of your computer, cell phone, email, banking, social media, medical records, travel reservations, etc.

Thank the Lord in the Christian life we only need two passwords! 

REPENT AND BELIEVE

These two concepts unlock everydoor in the Christian life. Jesus came preaching, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15).

• Repent - there is always a sin or bad attitude we need to turn away from
• Believe - there is always some area of life where we need to trust and obey God more fully.

Whatever predicamnet you find yourself in, try one or both of these passwords. You'll be amazed how spiritual doors open when you have the correct password! 

Hold Your Peace

The Practice of Joseph

The sons of Jacob put Joseph in a pit before selling him into slavery. Then they tore his coat and soaked it in blood. They tricked their father into thinking Joseph was dead.

Many years later, after Joseph become second-in-command in Egypt, he revealed himself to his brothers. Joseph graciously offered to feed the extended family during the famine and sent his brothers to bring their father down to Egypt. When the family arrived is Egypt there is no biblical reference of Joseph telling his aged father how his brothers mistreated him years earlier. Perhaps Joseph had learned from his previous mistake, that it is never wise to bring "a bad report" (Genesis 37:2).

The Practice of Jesus

As second-in-command in Egypt, Joseph is a type of Jesus, the second person of the Trinity. The Lord also forgives our former sins and never mentions them again. Consider these verses:

• "I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more" Jeremiah 31:34
• "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us" Psalm 103:12
• "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool" Isaiah 1:18
• '[God] will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea" Micah 7:19

The Practice of Christians

When we are wronged there is a temptation to tell others. "You won't believe what that other person did to me!" Study the following verses to learn how to respond the next time you are offended.

• "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sin" Proverbs 10:12
• "He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction" Proverbs 13.3
• "An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on his lips like a burning fire" Proverbs 16.27
• "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression” 
• "Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another's secret" Proverbs 25:9.

Who Jesus Reached

Today at the Mid-South Baptist Association Ministers Conference, retired pastor D.C. Cobb brought a great message on who Jesus reached. He pointed out that Jesus personally ministered to the following:

• women
• tax-collectors
• Samaritans
• strangers
• lepers
• dead
• demon-possessed
• criminals
• children
• rich
• widows
• hypocrites
• poor
• prostitutes
• handicapped
• sick

Truly the fields are white for harvest (John 4:35). We just need to follow the Lord's example and get out there and engage people!