Tag Archives: Sin

BIBLE QUESTIONS, JESUS CHRIST, MATTHEW

HOW DOES THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION DIFFER FROM THE VIRGIN BIRTH — BOB PRICHARD

The virgin birth refers to the birth of Jesus Christ in fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, made more than seven hundred years before His birth. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins. Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us” (Matthew 1:18-23).

Mary, the mother of Jesus was a virgin when she conceived Him. She and her betrothed husband Joseph had never “come together” sexually. The child she conceived was the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16), conceived miraculously by the Holy Spirit. Thus the conception of Christ was unique in all history. His actual birth, although very humble, was a normal birth. Thus the virgin birth really has more to do with the conception of Jesus Christ than it does with His actual birth.

The immaculate conception is the doctrine that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was conceived without “original sin,” and then remained a sinless virgin throughout life. This  idea has no basis in scripture. While it is true that Mary was a virgin before the birth of Christ, she did not remain a perpetual virgin. Joseph “knew her not till she had brought forth a son” (Matthew 1:25), implying Joseph did “know her” later. Mary and Joseph had other children, the brothers and sisters of Jesus (Matthew 13:54-56). 

Mary was not sinless. “All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, the “lamb without spot” (1 Peter 1:19) is the only exception. Christ had no need to offer sacrifice for His sins, because He had none (Hebrews 7:27). Mary, however, had to offer a sin offering (Luke 2:22-24; Leviticus 12:6-8). Only sinners would need to offer a sin offering. Mary was not without sin.

The Bible does not teach “original sin,” the idea that all human beings inherit Adam’s sin. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him” (Ezekiel 18:20). Mary was born pure, like every other child, but then made her own choices about sin. Mary was a great woman, but nothing in the scriptures indicate that there was anything unusual about her birth.

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHRISTIAN LIVING

WHAT IS THE PARABLE OF THE WINE BOTTLE? — BOB PRICHARD

The weeping prophet Jeremiah told the parable of the wine bottle to the nation of Israel. Israel turned away from God repeatedly, and did not realize the consequences of disobedience. They thought they would continue to prosper, but God warned them that judgment was coming. He spoke of Israel saying, “This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing. For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear” (Jeremiah 13:10-11). Their pride was their downfall.

Jeremiah told them: “Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall say unto thee, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine? Then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit upon David’s throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness. And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them” (Jeremiah 13:12-14). There may have been a common proverb about Israel that “every wine bottle shall be filled,” indicating that Israel would be very prosperous. God wanted Israel to know, however, that the wine of God’s wrath would fill the wine bottle. 

How fitting that Jeremiah described God’s wrath upon a disobedient nation with destruction as that which comes in drunkenness. Israel thought it would enjoy the pleasures of a full wine bottle, but God warned that the wine bottle brings destruction, as fathers and sons dashed together for destruction. The carnage on today’s highways by the drunk driver is testimony to the fact that the wine bottle still brings destruction. The effects of the use and abuse of alcohol are devastating to families daily in our nation. Those who use alcohol hurt not only themselves but family, friends, and other innocent victims caught in the wake of destruction associated with drinking. Solomon warned, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1).

Despite Israel’s wickedness, God offered hope if they would listen to his admonition.  “Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness” (Jeremiah 10:16). The warning continued, however, “But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord’s flock is carried away captive” (Jeremiah 10:17). History tells us that unrepentant Israel went into captivity. Pray that our nation will repent of its pride and wickedness.

SALVATION

GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS — BOB PRICHARD

The story is told of two softball-loving brothers who made a pact that if one made it to heaven before the other, he would call back to report if there was softball in heaven. According to the story, one brother died, and true to their pact, he called his brother, and said, “I have good news and bad news. The good news is that they have softball in heaven, but the bad news is that you are pitching next Tuesday.” Of course this is just a story, and going to heaven would certainly not be bad news, but life is filled with good and bad news.

SOME BAD NEWS

The worst news of all time is that Adam and Eve sinned against God by eating the forbidden fruit. “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat” (Genesis 3:4-6).

Disobeying God didn’t make them wise. It cost them dearly. “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8:22). The tragedy is that we follow in their footsteps. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

SOME GOOD NEWS

Despite our problem of sin, the situation is not hopeless. Paul, as an ambassador for Christ said, “We pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 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” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21). Peter announced to the multitude on Pentecost, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:36-38). The response was great. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41). “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47). That is good news!

MORE BAD NEWS

Despite God’s intricate plans for His church, man has disrupted and divided the church of the New Testament. God has given direction of what the church should be in the Bible. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). Later in His prayer, Jesus prayed for modern man: “Neither pray I for these alone [the Apostles], but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:20-21).

Sadly, in a nation that has experienced religious freedom, men have used that freedom to deviate from God’s plans and make man-made rules for the church. Paul warned Timothy, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth” (1 Timothy 4:1-3). Even in our life-time, we have experiences religious bodies doing these very things.

SOME MORE GOOD NEWS

But our religious world does not have to continue being divided and in defiance of the wishes of the Savior. The Bible is our guidebook, and as long as we stay with the Bible, we can have unity. When we adhere to creeds, handbooks, catechisms and books of discipline, we will necessarily have division. We look back to the example of King Josiah who came to the throne of Judah at 8 years old, and then at 16 began to restore what had been lost. When a copy of the law, which had been lost in the neglected temple was found, Josiah “made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book” (2 Chronicles 34:31).

We can do the same thing. In the parable of the sower, Jesus said, “The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11). If we will plant the pure seed of the gospel, we can expect to reap the pure harvest of the gospel, the one church of the New Testament. If we will do what they did in New Testament days, we will be members of the same church. Peter commanded those whose hearts were pricked by the gospel, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).

The great news is that you can do the same today. If we can assist you in obeying the gospel of Christ, please contact us.

JESUS CHRIST, SALVATION

THE DOCTRINE OF THE ATONEMENT — BOB PRICHARD

The doctrine of the atonement is central in the Bible. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they broke the close fellowship they had with God. To restore that fellowship, it was necessary for God to accomplish the atonement. The Hebrew word used in the Old Testament for atonement means “to cover.” The Greek word used in the New Testament is a word that means “reconciliation.” Our English word implies a restoration of fellowship, being “at one.” For man to have his sins covered, to be reconciled or at one with God, the atonement was necessary.

The ultimate accomplishment of the atonement could come about only through God’s actions. The whole Bible describes this activity, culminating in the sacrifice of Christ as an atonement for man’s sins. God put everything in place to make this possible. “When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:4-5).

Adam and Eve rebelled against God’s will, bringing sin into the world. God gave them the choice of all trees in the garden, with one exception: “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17). Like Adam and Eve, we must bear the consequences of sin—not for their sin, but for our own. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We deserve spiritual death because of our sin, but through Christ we can live.

From the beginning, God showed that because of the serious nature of sin, the atonement could come about only through the shedding of blood, the giving of life for life. “Almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). God shed the blood of animals to cover Adam and Eve when they left the garden (Genesis 3:21). From Abel to Noah to Job to other patriarchs, faithful men offered sacrifices to God, requiring the shedding of blood.

God told Abraham, “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of” (Genesis 22:2). As he was about to kill Isaac, the angel of the Lord stopped him, saying, “I know that thou fearest God, seeing that thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.” Though he did not kill Isaac, it was still necessary to offer a sacrifice, so God provided a ram for the sacrifice, for the shedding of blood (Genesis 22:11-14). The sacrifices of the patriarchs, as well as the sacrifices under the Mosaic system, were in preparation for the ultimate sacrifice of Christ. “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Romans 5:10). For this cause, “We preach Christ crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:22).

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, JUDE

WHAT IS THE DURATION OF HELL, IN LIGHT OF JUDE 7? — BOB PRICHARD

It is quite common in today’s religious world to reject the biblical teaching of the reality and duration of hell. Many claim that the old time understanding of “eternal hell fire” is out of character for a loving God, and that when this life is over, the unsaved will simply cease to exist. This is an appealing doctrine to many, because it eliminates the possibility of punishment for sin. However, Jesus said, that the wicked “shall go away into everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:46). Paul spoke of those who do not know God, and refuse to obey Him, “who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Thessalonians 1:9).

Hell, the ultimate abode of the wicked, is translated from the Greek word, Gehenna. This is a different term from hades, another Greek word incorrectly rendered as hell in the King James Version. Hades is the abode of all the dead, righteous and unrighteous, before the resurrection. The literal Gehenna, from which hell is derived, was a narrow gorge near Jerusalem that represented the worst of Jewish history. Years before the Jews stained this valley with the blood of their own innocent children offered in sacrifice to the idol Baal. In Christ’s day, Gehenna was a continually burning garbage dump whose name He appropriated to describe the final abode of the wicked.

Again and again the scriptures describe hell as a place of unending punishment for the wicked. Jesus spoke of the day when His angels would gather those who do iniquity and “cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:42). John described hell, saying  “the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night” (Revelation 14:11). Other passages describe hell as “outer darkness” (Matthew 8:12), a “furnace of fire” (Matthew 13:42), and “eternal fire” (Jude 7).

Jude 7 speaks of Sodom and Gomorrah, the wicked cities that were “giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7). Some contend that since the “eternal fire” that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah burned out, then the eternal fire of hell must do the same. The point Jude was making however, was that the wickedness of Sodom brought God’s wrath, and its destruction was so utter that the only thing to compare it with was eternal fire. Even today, the fire of Sodom is still burning in the sense that it serves as a warning to all men of the importance of obeying God.

What is the duration of hell? Jesus said that the wicked “shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Matthew 25:46). Hell is just as eternal as heaven is, and in the same sense. If the fires of hell burn out, and are not eternal, then we should not expect the bliss of heaven for the righteous to be eternal. The term “eternal” literally means “always being.” Hell is eternal, and is not going to burn out. We must prepare to avoid it by obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ.

CHRISTIAN LIVING, JESUS CHRIST, SALVATION

THE PRICE IS RIGHT —  BOB PRICHARD

Reginald Newman, of Kirksville, MO tried a little price change at his local Wal-Mart. After putting the price tag from a $3.17 water bottle on a $500 TV, he attempted to check out. A grand jury indicted him for attempted stealing by deceit, a charge that could get him seven years in prison and a $5,000 fine (World, May 17/24, 2008). He is paying a high price for his escapade. 

Satan changed the price tag on obeying God. “And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:2-5). Just one word, “not,” changed the price tag for mankind. 

It has been said that the best things in life are free. And there is truth in this saying. What can compare to a beautiful sunset or the hug and kiss of a precious grandchild? But most good things come at a cost. 

A great family may come at the cost of advancement in the business realm. A knowledge of the Bible may come at the cost of missing television or a day of shopping or golfing. A pure life may come at the cost of missing the latest movie or music. 

The antidote to our greatest problem came at the greatest of all costs. “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; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:18-20). This was the right price, because God ordained it. Do we appreciate it?

CHRISTIAN LIVING

I AM NOT A VICTIM! — BOB PRICHARD

Under the title, “We’re All Victims,” John Leo wrote about the top 10 “victim stories” of the year, in the November 21, 2005 U.S.News. Leo pointed out that in our politically correct culture, anyone who gets offended is a victim. Leo cited the British Muslims who were “victimized” by tissue boxes picturing Winnie the Pooh and Piglet; and atheists who were “victimized” by actors who thanked God for winning Oscars, as well as students at the University of Wisconsin who were “victimized” by local bars that discontinued discount drinks on weekends in response to a federal campaign to limit binge drinking.

The dictionary defines a victim as “one who is harmed or killed by another; one who is harmed by or made to suffer from an act, circumstance, agency, or condition; a person who is tricked, swindled, or taken advantage of.” 

Yes, everywhere we look, we see victims. But I want you to know that I am not a victim. In fact, I am guilty. I know the truth of Paul’s words in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” I know that I am a sinner, deserving of God’s punishment. But I know that I will not receive justice for my sins, but instead God’s grace.

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24), reminds me that I have been forgiven through the grace of God when I obeyed the gospel of Christ.

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). Because I have repented and been baptized, my sins have been remitted.

One more definition of victim: “a living creature slain and offered as a sacrifice during a religious rite.” I am so grateful that Jesus served as that victim for me so that I could have forgiveness.

BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHRISTIAN LIVING

IF WE ARE SUPPOSED TO FORGIVE AND FORGET,  HOW CAN WE REALLY FORGET WRONGS DONE TO US? — BOB PRICHARD

There is no doubt that if we are to be pleasing to God, we must forgive. As Jesus gave the model prayer to the disciples, he told them to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” He then explained, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:12, 14-15). We cannot expect God to forgive us unless we are willing to forgive others. The question is, however, do we have to forgive and forget?

We cannot find the exact phrase “forgive and forget” in scripture, but the principle of forgiving and forgetting is certainly there, because this is the way God forgives. Speaking of the coming Christian age, the prophet Jeremiah gave the Lord’s promise, “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:34). David described God’s forgiveness of sin: “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). God forgives penitent sinners completely and absolutely, and “will remember their sin no more.” But is “remember no more” the same as to “forget absolutely”? When God says he will “remember no more,” He is not saying that He cannot have any knowledge of forgiven sins, but that He has willed to no longer call to mind, or recall those sins. Where those sins are recorded in the great book of the works of men (Revelation 20:12), God has written “forgiven.” 

If we are to “forgive and forget” as God does, then we will determine that we will no longer bring to mind those wrongs that we have forgiven. The nineteenth century preacher Henry Ward Beecher said, “To say ‘I can forgive, but I can’t forget,’ is really to say, ‘I cannot forgive.’” Painful memories of what others have done to us often linger, because of the consequences of sin. When a painful memory of a forgiven wrong surfaces in one’s mind, however, if he has really “forgiven and forgotten,” he will not allow himself to bring it to mind. It is much easier to carry a grudge, or wallow in self-pity, rather than forgiving and forgetting, but we cannot do this and be pleasing to God.

Many have discovered that a good “forgettery” may be as valuable as a good memory. Forgiving as God wants us to is an act of the will. It is not easy, but time heals many injuries when we have forgiven and forgotten as God wants us to. One of the greatest tragedies of life is to see people who hold a grudge against one another, and will not forgive. Some even forget what they disagreed over, but will not forgive. Those who will not forgive will find that God cannot forgive them.

  As Jesus hung on the cross, the words “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34), were continually on His lips. If he could forgive even those who crucified Him, surely His followers today can be forgiving people.

BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHRISTIAN LIVING

 HOW DO WE HATE THE SIN BUT LOVE THE SINNER? — BOB PRICHARD

Sin is the universal tragedy of mankind. Paul reminds us, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sin’s consequences are severe, for “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Man would be hopeless if it were not also true that “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Because the sin and the sinner become so closely tied together, and because of the seriousness of sin and its consequences, it is hard to love the sinner while hating the sin. 

The only way to properly hate the sin and love the sinner is to follow the example of Christ. His love for the sinner is unquestioned. He submitted to the Father’s plan by going to the cross, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Christ was willing to endure the shame and pain of the cross because of His love for sinners. As He cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46), He was feeling the pain of separation from the heavenly Father because of mankind’s sins. He knew though, that His mission was to seek out sinners, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman taken in the very act of adultery to Jesus, trying to tempt Him. They said, “Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?” As they “continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” It was not long until only the woman remained, and He asked her, “Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?” When she answered, “No man, Lord,” He said, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (John 8:3-11). Jesus did not make light of her sin, but called her to a higher standard. “Go, and sin no more” demonstrated His hatred of sin while loving the sinner.

Christ reserved His harshest words for those who willingly rejected His message of truth. He told them, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.  And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not” (John 8:44-45). They were unwilling to accept the truth He preached, and unwilling to repent of their sins. God’s message to those deceived by Satan is a message of reconciliation. “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19). That message of reconciliation is a message of love for the sinner, while hating his sinful deeds. The Great Physician has said, “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick” (Matthew 9:12). We must hate the evil deeds of sinners, but offer reconciliation to those sin sick souls that are willing to return to God in obedience.

CHRISTIAN LIVING, GOD, NEW TESTAMENT

MIND BOGGLING! — BOB PRICHARD

Remember the Rubik’s Cube? That little six colored cube presented quite a challenge to most of us. I remember feeling proud of myself for getting a couple of sides all the same color. In June 2023, Max Park bettered his own world record for solving the puzzle by solving the puzzle in 3.13 seconds. Since there are 43 quintillion unique combinations possible (we’ll take the word of the mathematicians on this), it is truly mind boggling to me that anyone could solve the puzzle in 3.13 minutes, much less 3.13 seconds.

In an age when there are not too many things which we consider awesome, this feat of solving that puzzle so quickly truly amazes me.

We too easily take things for granted. Putting a man on the moon is arguably the greatest technological achievement of the twentieth century. Those of us who were of age will all remember seeing Neil Armstrong taking those first steps for mankind on the moon in 1969. But what about the second and third trips to the moon? The astronauts had to play golf on the moon to even get TV coverage. We so easily lose our sense of awe!

There is so much of scripture that we, out of familiarity, fail to recognize with the proper sense of awe. John 3:16 has been familiar to us since our childhood, and most all of us can easily quote it. But to restore your sense of awe, read it for the personal message it truly is. “For God so loved ME, that he gave his only begotten Son, that I SHOULD believe in him AND should not perish, but have everlasting life.” “But God commendeth his love toward ME, in that, while I WAS yet A sinner, Christ died for ME” (Romans 5:8).

Isn’t it mind boggling and awesome, to consider how much He loved us!

BIBLE, CHRISTIAN LIVING

NOCICEPTION — BOB PRICHARD

Although we may come to hate it, it is something that we really can’t live without. Sometimes children are born without it, but they seldom live beyond the age of twenty-five. What is nociception? It is the perception of pain. Pain tells us that we need to take our hand off the hot stove, that we have experienced a significant injury, or that we have experienced painful loss.

Most of us have more pain than we would like, but pain has been effective in helping us avoid more serious injury. Those children born without nociception may bite off a finger, break a bone, or scald a hand without ever knowing until they see the injury.

Our perception of pain is a complex process, involving different parts of the brain, to tell us about the location, intensity and type of pain we are experiencing. Our brain sends out messages of distress, and we respond to the problem.

Paul warned Timothy, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils: Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:1-2). What happens to people with “their conscience seared with a hot iron”? Because the feeling is gone, they can tell lies in hypocrisy, and their conscience never bothers them.

Does your conscience still feel pain when you do wrong, or has it become seared? I find it interesting that even those who brought the woman taken in adultery before the Lord still had a conscience. “He lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. … And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last” (John 8:7-9). Nociception is valuable—whether it be physical pain or the pain of a conscience convicted of sin.

CHRISTIAN LIVING

“FIGHTING SPREADS DEVILS’ CANCER” — BOB PRICHARD

The headline on my article came from the cover of the February 4, 2006 issue of Science News. You can bet when I saw that headline, I had to read the accompanying article. The devils discussed in the article are some fierce creatures from Tasmania, with the scientific name Sarcophilus harissii, but with the common nameTasmanian devils. Scientists at the University of Tasmania in Hobart have found that fighting Tasmanian devils have been transmitting cancer by biting one another on the neck and face. The resulting tumors usually cause the animal to die of starvation within six months of the lesions appearing.

The real Devil also kills by biting and devouring. Peter warns us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9).

We must be careful that we do not fall into the devil’s trap by acting like little devils ourselves. Paul writes, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:13-16). 

My favorite cartoon character is Taz, the Tasmanian devil. I like to see him whirling around in that tornado, because I know that some comic mayhem is going to happen. Comic mayhem is one thing, but real mayhem in the church is certainly not comic. Let us see that we do not bite and devour one another!

CHRISTIAN LIVING, SALVATION

“SO FIGHT I” — BOB PRICHARD

Irish boxer Steven Donnelly defeated Mongolian boxer Tuvshinbat Byamba, in a split decision at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but lost at the same time. Lacking confidence before the match, Donnelly made a bet with a bookmaker that he would lose. So he won the match but lost his bet. Punishment from the International Olympic Committee was only a reprimand, because he was unaware of Olympic rules against sports betting and had “no intent to manipulate any event” (WORLD, October 29, 2016, p. 13).

Seems pretty dumb to bet against yourself, unless you are planning to lose. Why would anyone work at cross purposes to himself, betting against himself, and then trying to win the fight?

But before dismissing Steven Donnelly too quickly, we might ask ourselves why we also work at cross purposes to ourselves. The most important thing we could hope for our families is that every member would go to heaven. Yet Christians will neglect worship, roast the elders and preacher, and demonstrate that Christ and His church are surely not the most important thing in their lives, and then be surprised when their children have less faith than they have.

The lure of sin is so powerful that we must be constantly on guard to make sure that our lives are consistent with God’s will, and that we do not lose our priorities. Even Paul had to fight against the evil he found within.  

For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (Romans 7:19-23). 

It was enough to make him want to give up: “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Like Paul, we can rejoice:  “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:24-25). With every sin, every missed opportunity to serve God, I am betting against myself. Paul says, “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

CHRISTIAN LIVING, SALVATION, TIMOTHY, FIRST

“REFINANCING THE PAST” — BOB PRICHARD

I enjoy the comics, not only because they allow me to have a chuckle in the midst of an evil and frightening world, but because they often suggest profound thoughts. A “Frank and Ernest” cartoon (9/8/2017) has Ernest speaking to Frank as a loan officer, telling him, “In order to invest in my future, I need to refinance my past.”

It is often prudent to refinance a loan, getting a better interest rate or a more affordable payment. There is usually a cost, but that cost is offset by future savings (if the borrower is acting wisely).

Your future is affected by your past, not only in terms of finances, but in terms of how your life has been invested. Whether you have used your time wisely, been diligent in pursuing an education, or lived above the norms of the world have a tremendous impact. Mistakes of the past, even long past, have a tendency to hurt us when we least expect it, like the “Marlboro Man” who quit many years ago but then faced cancer, or the crisis we face today because we did not plan for the “rainy day.”

When it comes to spiritual matters, even the best of us need to have our past refinanced so that we can have a future. From the time Adam and Eve chose to rebel against God, each of us has followed the same path. “As by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And that sin has a significant cost: “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). In fact, the cost was so high, that the only remedy for this great sin debt was “the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19).

In the financial world, it is possible to dig such a serious hole of debt that no refinancing is possible. All that is left is to declare bankruptcy. That is where we find ourselves concerning our sins. We are bankrupt without Christ. Paul acknowledged his bankrupt state: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” But Christ saved him, and gave him a future. “Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting” (1 Timothy 1:15-16). We have followed Paul’s pattern in sin, and we can follow his pattern in obeying the Lord to receive his gracious promise for our future!

CHRISTIAN LIVING, JESUS CHRIST, SALVATION

LICENSE PLATE THEOLOGY — BOB PRICHARD

When states first started letting people put messages on their license plates, it became a challenge to decipher the meaning of a tag. There was even a TV game show based on figuring out personalized tags. Often the messages are “cute,” like BOB4UA, meaning Bob is for the University of Alabama. Or ATCHR, suggesting perhaps the person is a teacher. I saw a tag the other day that was not hard to decipher, but it was hard to understand why someone would choose that message. The tag said SINNER. It made me wonder, what is the theology of the person who chose to proclaim this message on the vehicle?-

Was this person feeling guilty for being an employee of the IRS? Jesus compared the prayers of the Pharisee who prayed “with himself,” and “the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). The Jews hated publicans, but it was not necessarily his work as a tax collector that made him a sinner.

Perhaps this person is on the run. Solomon advises, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repaid” (Proverbs 13:20-21).

Perhaps this person just wants to call attention to the common plight of mankind: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Fortunately, this verse is not the end of the story, however. The next two verses remind us, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” (Romans 3:24-25). 

An encounter with Jesus, obedience to Him, changes everything. When Jesus told Zacchaeus He was going to his house that day, “they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner” (Luke 19:7). The end result of the visit was repentance and restitution by Zacchaeus, and the declaration of Jesus,  “This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:-10). Yes, we have sinned, but I thank God that Jesus gave himself so that we do not have to bear the consequences of our sins. FORGVN!

CHRISTIAN LIVING

BEAUTIFUL BOTTLES — BOB PRICHARD

Out to lunch at an upscale restaurant, I saw the most beautiful bar display I have ever seen. The clear glass shelves were lighted from below to showcase beautiful bottles of liquor in every hue of the rainbow. They sparkled in the light, and every eye that passed by was drawn to the stunning display. Beautiful, yes, but so dangerous!

Solomon warned, “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.” The beautiful color is deceptive. He asks, “Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?” The answer, of course, is “They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine” (Proverbs 23:31, 29-30).

The beautiful bottles conceal hidden danger. “At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” The effect is to muddle the mind and cloud the judgment.

Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again (Proverbs 23:32-35).

Satan knows too well the power of persuasion, and how enticing sin can look. Who would think that just one drink, just one fling, just one “little” sin could lead to so much trouble? Yet hell will be filled with people who followed Satan’s enticing lead. 

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death (James 1:13-15).

Don’t be dazzled by the beauty of sin.