Since the inception of the Bible, Christians have debated as to whether the Bible is truly the ‘Word of God’. Many people question who the author of the Bible is and wonder as to what authority it has over our lives. M.T Omoniyi shares how there are both internal and external pieces of evidence proving why Christians believe the Bible to be the word of God and is the only divine revelation from the one true God.
Glorifying God With Our Giving
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Our society is obsessed with money. It is all about gaining money, building up finances and attaining wealth, which are all beneficial when the ambition is healthy. Saying that, it is rare we see an equal promotion for giving in the same way. Giving is a crucial part of our mandate as Christians, with our example being Christ. But how often do we actually give when we see a need? What are our thoughts and attitudes when there is a call to give and why are we not as enthusiastic when it comes time to open our wallets?
Our attitude to give
The topic of giving has become more sensitive within our church communities and Christian spheres. We are too comfortable with what we believe is ours. However, if we were to understand that everything, absolutely everything we have is a gift from God and belongs to God, we might learn to loosen our grip.
The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it
Psalm 24:1
When a Christian finds it hard to give, whether time, money or any other resources, for a need, especially in the body, we must understand why. Jesus says in His famous sermon on the mount, “You cannot serve both God and money” (Matt. 6:24). One will be disregarded in devotion to the other. We must ask ourselves if we are serving money more than God? And have we made an idol of our finances?
Unfortunately, there can be a belief that if we have “enough” money, everything will be good. We can put more faith in our finances than in the Lord God Almighty, creator of the universe. Yet, the more we give, the more we can trust God as our provider. The Word says, “give” and it will be given to you (Luke 6:38) and the word of God will never return to Him void (Isa. 55:11). We need to change our attitude towards money.
An eternity mindset
Our outlook on giving can be hindered by our mindset. If we are more focused on earthly possessions, such as money, we might be less inclined to let go. The rich young ruler was not ready to give up his finances for the Kingdom. He chose money over God and sometimes we unknowingly making the same choice in how we use our money. However, the things on this earth are temporary, including money, they fade away and soon become dust.
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal
Matthew 6:19
We must remember we have an eternity of bountiful blessings to come and we are merely stewards over what God has given us. It is a blessing to be abounding and bountiful with finances, however, many times we have been ‘blessed to be a blessing’, especially in relation to the Kingdom of God.
Generally, we understand the idea of this type of giving as specifically to a church body or organisation during a church service. However, our giving can extend further than our church.
Be moved by compassion
It is important to serve our church when there is a financial need as we aim to build up the body where we can. Having said that, we need to recognise that the body of Christ extends beyond our church walls. There are great organisations and ministries outside, sharing the good news who need financial support to continue their work. Charities which are serving the Lord and preaching the Gospel through outreach projects in marginalised countries and improvised communities. Our hearts should be filled with as much compassion when we see needs we know we can contribute towards.
We must be led by the Holy Spirit in this area and understand that it may not be every time. Nonetheless, we should always be open to give, even as small as it may seem. Jesus spoke of a woman who gave from her very last in Mark 12:41-44. Despite how it looked to the outside, her little was the most given. Jesus knew her situation. God knows our situation too, He understands what we have and what we can give. Equally, when we have received a blessing in our finances, there should naturally be a desire to give to God.
Our Lord and saviour gave the greatest gift we could ever receive. He gave His life. We are forever blessed and the sacrificial character of His giving should inspire us to give selflessly in whatever capacity.
Ultimately, when we give our money for whatever need it can support, we are serving God. Our money is not our own. We need to remember who the source is and the giver of all things. Trust in the promises of God as it pertains to our giving. Be ready to give and understand that our money will not follow us to eternity. We glorify God with our giving here on earth.
For more on the topic of giving, listen to the latest episode of the #OnTheTable podcast!
What is social media costing you?
Social media has evolved drastically over time from a means to connect and build community with others to being used to promote a business, model or even shop for clothes/products. Since social media is so accessible via our computers, iPads, and phones you will find yourself sometimes being inundated with social media notifications which at times can be overwhelming. Or just out of boredom in your spare time or at work, you can find yourself scrolling through social media newsfeeds for hours! When using social media, it is important to ask yourself the blunt but honest question – What is social media costing you?
Question your desire to use social media
I’ll start off by saying that the use of social media is not a sin, but it is important to use it with wisdom…
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere
James 3:17
One must ask themselves, why am I using social media? More importantly…how is social media using me? Are we glorifying God through our social media posts/stories or glorifying ourselves and others? When writing a post or sharing a photo, what are your motives…is to share an experience, share joy/encouragement or is to gain more likes and be validated by your followers? Your conviction regarding social media will not be the same as other people, the Holy Spirit will minister to you personally and it is important to listen. Here are a few pros and cons of social media, hence why wisdom but also discernment is important with its use.
What do we know about social media?
Pros of social media
- You can share life updates with community and connect with friends and family
- A platform to build your brand/business
- You can share motivational quotes and church scriptures
- Keep up with new releases of songs from your favourite artists
Cons of social media
- It can be VERY addictive (check your phone screen time and hours spent on social media pages)
- Comparison is rife – this can have an effect on your mental health for example how you view yourself, body image etc
- It is a highlight reel – people tend to show the best parts of their life yet rarely share their downfalls, insecurities or failures
- Dehumanisation – it is easy to put social media influencers on a pedestal and forget they’re human too
These lists are not exhaustive but highlight a few key things to consider when using social media.
How do you feel after using social media?
What emotions do you feel after using social media? Is it exhaustion, FOMO, low self-esteem, peer pressure? It could be the case that the frequent use of social media is stealing your joy. It is very easy to idolise social media and dedicate all our time/energy to it but we must remember that it will not satisfy us, “my people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water,” Jeremiah 2:13. In the presence of God, there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11) and anything that removes Him from His rightful place in your life needs to be questioned. Going forward how can we cultivate a healthier view of social media and be a good steward of it?
- One thing is moderation, know yourself and your personal limits “I have the right to do anything,” you say–but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”–but I will not be mastered by anything.” 1 Corinthians 6:12.
- Decide how you want to portray yourself on social media, you DO have a choice to be authentic or to conform to what may seem “popular”.
- Filter out followers who are not adding value to your page or who could cause you to stumble in your walk of faith.
- Finally use your social media in a way that is seasoned with grace and salt, always remembering who you are in Christ and trying not to be lost in today’s culture.
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone
Colossians 4:5-6
Are We Using Our Relationship Status To Effectively Serve Our Community?
The church is so multifaceted, filled with people of different ages, genders, and ethnicities. And whilst we are commissioned to go forth and share the good news of the gospel, we are all called to live in community with fellow believers, sharpening and building one another. Would you say you are making the most of your community in light of your status? Whether we’re single, married or even widowed God can still use us as we are, to serve our community. Whatever status we fall under, we can still use our God-given privileges and gifts to advance the kingdom and support members of our community.
For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another
Romans 12:4-5
Single people
As a single person, you are uniquely placed. You can have single-minded devotion to God, like Paul you can dedicate every moment of your day to the Lord’s work such as evangelism, teaching and missionary trips. If you wanted to be in the Lord’s house all day every day you could! (Psalm 69:9). Another important point is that you have autonomy, you can use your time and resources however you see fit without having to consult with another person. Now in this season, do you see it as a never-ending waiting season before the next stage i.e., relationship/marriage? Or do you view it as a time to serve your community for example offering to babysit for a couple in your church, supporting the youth team or tutoring kids from church? Is your single status purely about yourself or are you opening yourself to be used to service the needs of others around you?
Can I still serve effectively if I’m not single?
As a married person you may find that life has gone from 0 to 100 in terms of demand on your time. Your time and resources are no longer yours alone, you now have to consider another person or people when making decisions. As a wise husband, father, wife or mother you will have to manage your time between God, church, family and work. Yet God’s grace is still sufficient for you too! As a married couple daily you are representing Christ and the Church in terms of sacrificial love and agape love (Ephesians 5:22-33) but also discipling your children in the way of the Lord to serve in His Kingdom (Proverbs 22:6). Not only this, as a couple you still have a God-given purpose and God-given gifts that can still be utilised whether that is counselling younger couples, leading a bible study group, or individually serving within a team in church. Whilst married people may have less capacity than single people, they can still be purposeful individuals whilst in their marriage like Priscilla and Aquilla (Acts 18), Peter (Matthew 8), Deborah (Judges 4 and 5) and Abigail (1 Samuel 25).
Another group that can be overlooked are married people who become widowed, which is a painful and life changing situation. Widows are a vulnerable community in the church who often need financial and emotional support, love, and community. They are encouraged to remain devoted to God and His Word (2 Timothy 5:5) and remarry and rebuild their lives again (2 Timothy 5:14). These are a group of people who need life spoken into them and their situation, to be encouraged to hope in God and find solace in Him through the church community.
Yet they too can pour back into the church community once they have healed from their loss. In the book of Ruth, Naomi had lost her husband AND sons yet she still managed to play a critical role in Ruth’s engagement to Boaz through her motherly wisdom.
Is age ever a factor?
The over 50’s
In today’s modern and fast paced world, the older generation can often be overlooked and their views can be seen as primitive yet the Bible does mention that there’s wisdom that can come from lived experience. Older men and women are encouraged to teach what is good and aligned with the Word of God to the younger men and women (Titus 2:2-8). This points to the role of mentorship, having an older couple, older man or woman who can spiritually walk with you, challenge you and hold you accountable.
In summary whatever status you fall under today, we all have our part to play in the body of Christ, an opportunity to serve our community, make our mark and usher in the Kingdom of heaven. God only asks that we present ourselves as willing and obedient vessels for Him to use for His glory.
Why Did Jesus Have To Die So That We Could Be Forgiven?
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Often when we think about God, we commonly associate him with paternal or comrade attributes, i.e. a Father or friend, but rarely do we view him as a judge. Packer rightly puts it, saying;
Speak to [people] of God as a Father, a friend, a helper , one who loves us despite all our weakness and sin and their faces light up. But speak to them of God as Judge and they frown and shake their heads. They find it repellent and unworthy.
J.I Packer
In a cultural climate that is becoming more acquainted with self-love and extending grace to ourselves, why doesn’t God let bygones be bygones? Why can’t he just overlook our wrongdoings and just forgive us with no strings attached?
Holy by nature
To understand why God does what he does, we must first reckon with who he is. Knowing God’s character provides us with the roadmap in discovering the answers as to his will and thus his actions. One thing is clear about God. He is holy. Holiness speaks to the deepest and innermost nature of God, as it points not only to his transcendence (the fact that he unique, other and separate from the creation he has made) i.e. omniscient, omnipotent etc, but to the fact that his moral purity is consummate. That means that the nature of God’s righteousness is so utterly perfect that he is the standard of moral perfection and goodness against which all actions are measured by.
This holy character is so exclusive to God himself that it must separate from all things that are unholy. In Leviticus we see this separation physically; the Most Holy Place where God resides being off-limits to all people except the Hight Priest, who had to be consecrated (made holy for God’s purposes) and anointed before being able to work in such close proximity to God. Moses is warned by God to not come near the burning bush which was engulfed by God’s holy presence. The running theme is that God being perfectly holy, is dangerous to anyone that is morally imperfect.
Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all people I will be honoured
Leviticus 10:3
His holiness must never be breached, compromised or trivialised, this being a matter or life or death. Anything unclean, impure that would trespass God’s holy nature may be consumed in judgement. Judgement maintains the equilibrium so that what is holy is separate from unholy, and clean and pure separate from what is unclean and impure.
God rules with authority
God’s holiness, as previously mentioned, speaks of his all-powerful and majestic nature. This means that God, who is morally perfect, also rules sovereignly, meaning all and authority belongs to him. Ultimately it means he decides what laws we should live by. He also decides how we should be judged if we do not live by them. Rightfully so, being the standard of moral perfection, God’s wisdom of right and wrong, qualifies him to know what is just and fair play, because to know justice is to know himself. Justice flows from the righteous nature of God. We know what is wrong because we compare it with what is right and what is right is perfectly fulfilled in him.
What is fair?
Being made in God’s image – God’s inclination to long for just treatment and fair play resides in us. We rejoice when we see a killer is found guilty in court and we mourn when fellow humans face injustice. The truth is sin (to fall short of what is right), has entered us all. We are all prone to do what is wrong, to committing an error and thus to be culpable. It is God’s task to maintain equilibrium and be consistent with his moral perfection by doing what is just. At the heart of justice which expresses God’s nature is retribution, rendering to people what they deserved. If we do something wrong, we deserved to be punished for it, so that the standard of doing right is maintained. This is the reason why God cannot just forgive us. If we saw a judge let a guilty offender just go free with no punishment, it would anger us. So why should we get away with our wrongdoing?
God must punish our sin, he simply cannot thwart justice by overlooking our deeds. So how can we be forgiven while ensuring that God carries out justice by charging a guilty offence with punishment? Christ is the answer. He substitutes himself in our position. Despite being innocent and sinless he takes on our offences as though they were his and becomes the guilty defendant in our place. God’s wrath and will to carry out justice is satisfied as Jesus bears the full consequences by dying as the bloody sacrificial lamb on the cross. This is called atonement. Now because of Christ, those who believe in Christ and his work on the cross can be forgiven by God because the debt has been paid and judgement for the offence fulfilled. It is only through Christ’s sacrifice of appeasing God’s judgement of sin through the shedding of his blood that forgiveness can truly take place.
If God Is Sovereign, Why Do We Pray?
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Scripture clearly teaches that God is sovereign. He works all things in accordance to His will (Ephesians 1:11). He knows the end from the beginning and His purposes are always accomplished (Isaiah 46:9-10). So in light of God’s sovereignty, why should we pray?
God commands us to pray
Firstly, we’re commanded to pray. This may seem tedious as we know it very well; but we must never overlook this simple fact. We’re not to pray only when we feel like it, or wait until we “sort our life out” before we approach God in prayer. We must pray continually and habitually, making a discipline of prayer which then becomes a delight (Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Furthermore, if our Lord and supreme example made a practice of prayer, it is then inconceivable that we would not follow suit (Mark 1:35; Mark 6:46; Luke 6:12; Matthew 14:23).
Prayer is effective
At the Passover meal, Jesus warned Peter about the impending attack from Satan purposed to draw him away from Christ (Luke 22:31). Peter was outraged. He vehemently denied such a claim, declaring that he’d follow Jesus to the point of imprisonment and death (Luke 21:33). Jesus responded to these sincere protest by foretelling how Peter would eventually betray Him (Luke 22:24). Peter did exactly that, and the death of Jesus left him and the band of disciples dejected.
Fast forward over a month or so, and Peter is passionately preaching before thousands at Pentecost. How was this so? What was it that brought Peter from despair to boldness and a strengthened group of disciples? Jesus’ prayer. Because Jesus prayed for Peter, He turned back to Jesus and strengthened the brethren. Christ’s prayer is effective.
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
(Luke 22:31-32)
Peter was eventually imprisoned, numerous times in fact. So the church prayed (Acts 12:5). They cried out to God asking that He may intervene and have Peter freed. Yet somehow, the night before his trial, Peter was knocking on Mary’s door (Acts 12:13-14). Through the prayer of the saints, God had sent an angel to release Peter (Acts 12:6-7; 11). Here we see God’s sovereignty as Luke writes of how Peter “described how the Lord had brought him out of prison” (Acts 12:17), and the effectiveness of the prayer of the saints in bringing this about. The prayer of the saints is effective.
Like you and I, the prophet Elijah was human. Nonetheless, his prayers were immensely effective because of the God to whom he prayed. This is the basis upon which James calls his readers to pray for the sick among them (James 5:13-18). The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
(James 5:16b-18)
Prayer is a means to God’s ends
God is not a spectator of human affairs and happenings of this world. Nor are we mere puppets acting under his control. His sovereign ends come to pass by way of earthly and human means. Therefore, we are to be labourers, availing ourselves for God’s use to fulfil His plans through our efforts and prayers.
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.
(1 Corinthians 3:6)
You do not have because you do not ask God.
(James 4:2)
We’re commanded to pray, it is effective and is a means by which God accomplishes His purposes. In His sovereignty, God responds to our prayers. Therefore, God’s sovereignty does not render prayer futile, but incentives it and makes it worthwhile.
For more on the topic of prayer, listen to this episode of the On The Table Podcast!
How Can We Trust God’s Ways In The Face Of Injustice?
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Whether it is racism, gender inequality, government corruption or sexual scandals, injustice seems to be rampant. Disillusionment arises when we read the Bible, see God’s nature and His position on justice, and compare it with the current state of the world. ‘Where is God?’ has been the question asked since time immemorial, by many including God’s very own prophet Habakkuk. How can a just God allow evil to run rampant in the world?
A Right Response
There are many ways to respond to injustice, some are good and others are bad. However, there is one way that isn’t often spoken about enough – lamenting. To lament is to express deep sorrow or regret. Lamenting is a common theme in the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament. Over one-third of the psalms are laments. The people of God lament over injustice because they know their God is perfect, holy and just, yet they and the world are not. The world has been marred with sin and injustice often reigns. Lamenting is the song of the soul that wonders why God is taking so long to make things right. This is what Habakkuk wonders when he cries;
“How long, LORD, must I call for help and you do not listen or cry out to you about violence and you do not save?”
Habakkuk 1:2
During his time, Judah was a morally corrupt and violent people, and God seemed to allow them to thrive in their evil ways. Habakkuk is confused. Doesn’t God care? Can He not see? Here is God’s response ;
“Look at the nations and observe — be utterly astounded! For I am doing something in your days that you will not believe when you hear about it.”
Habakkuk 1:5
God does care and He does see. Habakkuk was unaware that God was going to use another wicked nation (the Chaldeans) to punish Judah. God said that if He told Habakkuk he wouldn’t believe it, and Habakkuk couldn’t. God is using evil for good? How can that be so?
God’s Ways Aren’t Ours
Trusting God can be difficult. It becomes increasingly more difficult when His ways are beyond what we can understand. This is why it is important to know who God is because it will be an anchor when you can’t or don’t understand what God may be doing at a particular moment. Lamenting stems from an intrinsically God-centred perspective. Lamenting begins because we know God’s character. How can you express deep sorrow over injustice if you don’t first know that God is just? By knowing God’s character we can trust God’s heart even if we cannot understand His methods. This is what Habakkuk had to learn and what we as followers of Jesus have to learn also.
“Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, and you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do you tolerate those who are treacherous? Why are you silent while one who is wicked swallows up one who is more righteous than himself?”
Habakkuk 1:13
Habakkuk was having a hard time comprehending God’s actions like we sometimes do. But before Habakkuk learnt this lesson of trust, God had to show Him that His ways are superior to what Habakkuk can understand. Habakkuk can’t fathom how God is allowing sin to go unpunished as well as allowing a more wicked nation to punish a less wicked nation. God’s way seems to be in conflict with God’s character. Here is how God responds ;
“The LORD answered me: Write down this vision; clearly inscribe it on tablets so one may easily read it. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it testifies about the end and will not lie. Though it delays, wait for it, since it will certainly come and not be late.”
Habakkuk 2:2-3
God tells Habakkuk to write the vision so that when His word comes to pass there will be evidence for not only Habakkuk to see but future generations too. God promises to punish all evil, every sin will be punished. Habakkuk and by application us as Christians are being taught that God being patient does not mean God is being inactive. God makes all things beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
The Just Shall Live By Faith
While knowing God’s character helps us to understand the way He does things, the question that remains is – will we trust Him? While lamenting may begin with despair, it never remains there. God moves us from despair to hope. This doesn’t mean that the situation improves immediately, it didn’t for Habakkuk and it might not for you, but it does mean is that even through tear-filled eyes; you can see God more clearly. In seeing God more clearly, you realise that trusting in yourself is futile. The just shall live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4). What this means is those who believe God for their righteousness also believe in the God who says He will make all things right. God is not a man that He should lie, if He said it, it will come to pass no matter how long it takes (Numbers 23:19, 2 Peter 3:9).
Habakkuk understands this towards the end of his lament in chapter 3;
“Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord GOD is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet and makes me walk on my high places.
Habakkuk 3:17-19
Though wickedness may abound, God promises to conquer all His enemies (Isaiah 42:13). And God has conquered His enemies through His Son Jesus (Colossians 2:15). Injustice won’t win, Jesus has and will. By faith, we can join in with Habakkuk in exulting the God of our salvation.
What is the Trinity?
The Trinity is the doctrine that God is one in His being (nature/essence) but three in person (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Although the word “Trinity” is never mentioned in the Bible, its constituent parts are found throughout Scripture. Hence, it is a biblical teaching which can be broken down in the following way:
- There is one God
- He exists as three distinct persons
- Each person is equally, eternally and truly God
- The Father is God
- The Son is God
- The Holy Spirit is God
Wayne Grudem defines it as such:
“God eternally exists as three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and there is one God.”[1]
(Wayne Grudem)
There is one God
The Trinity does not teach that there are three gods (polytheism). The Bible consistently maintains that there is one God and He is one in His essence (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6; 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 Timothy 2:5).
He exists as three distinct persons
God always has and always will exist as three distinct persons who are co-equal, co-eternal and all truly divine. The Father is God (John 6:27; Titus 1:4). The Son is God (John 1:1-4, 14, 18; 20:28; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:3; Titus 2:13). The Holy Spirit is also God (Acts 5:4; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19).
Equality with different roles
The three persons of the Trinity have distinct roles but remain equal. Their “three-in-oneness” can be seen through their respective roles in the singular events of creation and salvation.
In creation, the Father spoke the world into existence (Genesis 1:3-26). The Son was the means by which He created (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16) and by whose power the universe is sustained (Colossians 1:17). The Spirit was the breath (wind) of God who hovered over the waters, bringing order and life to His creation (Genesis 1:2).
In salvation, the Father initiated the plan and sent His Son into the world (John 3:16; Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 1:9-10). The Son obeyed and accomplished salvation for us (John 6:38; Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 10:5-7). The Spirit gave us new spiritual life (John 3:5-8). He sanctifies us (1 Peter 1:2) and applied this redemption to our lives, being the down payment of our salvation (2 Corinthians 1:22, 5:5, Ephesians 1:13-14).
What the Trinity is not
The Trinity is not modalism – the idea that “Father”, “Son” and “Holy Spirit” are three different names or manifestations of God. The Trinity is not three separate gods (polytheism), nor is it the denial of the full deity of Christ (Arianism). Instead, they are three persons who dwell in communion with one another, sharing the same nature, yet remaining distinct. This is not a contradiction either; “being” refers to what you are whereas “person” refers to who you are. This is a mystery, a paradox, but not a contradiction. We know God is triune because He has revealed Himself as such in Scripture. However, the exact intricacies of the three persons and how they subsist without being compounded is beyond our comprehension.
“We cannot conceive how a single, perfectly united being can also be three distinct persons, but that does not mean it is incoherent or impossible”[2]
(Roger E. Olson)
[1] Wayne Grudem Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (1st edn Inter-Varsity Press, 1994) 226
[2] Roger E. Olson The Mosaic of Christian Belief : Twenty Centuries of Unity and Diversity (Inter-Varsity Press, 2002) 151
Building Radical Hope
Joke: Q: How do groups of angels greet each other? A: Halo, halo, halo.
What Is Hope?
Let’s start by taking a look at what hope is from both a dictionary definition and a biblical one.
Hope (Dictionary) – The general consensus from all dictionary definitions is that hope is a feeling of expectation, a desire or wish for a certain thing to happen.
Hope (Bible) – A biblical definition of hope takes it one step further. Hope is an expectation with certainty that God will do what he has said.
I hope you can see the difference. One is a wish or desire, the other is a certainty or guarantee.
Let me use a verse from Scripture to illustrate the point.
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).
Why do we bring up this verse? You cannot have hope unless it is tied together with faith. In essence, you have hope because you have faith and you have faith because you have hope. However, you don’t just have faith in faith or hope in hope, there is no real value in that. What matters most is the object of your faith and hope – that makes all the difference.
The thing that separates the basic definition of hope and the biblical definition of hope is what I call The God Factor. Your hope should be based on the fact of who God is and nothing else. If God is not the object of your hope then you don’t have true biblical hope because the certainty has been removed. Without that, your hope simply reverts back to a wish.
Why Can You Have Hope?
There is one underlying reason why hope should spring into your heart as a believer. God cannot lie. Consider this Scripture in Hebrews:
“Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:17-19, emphasis added).
If God has said it, you can trust his promise because it is impossible for God to lie. This trust therefore becomes an anchor for the soul. Anchors are designed to keep you steady so that you will not be moved. This anchor that it is impossible for God to lie is the foundation for your certainty and the backbone for your hope. It is the reason why you can have hope today.
We call this type of hope “in spite of.” In spite of what you see; in spite of what is going on; in spite of how dire the situation looks, you can have hope because God cannot lie. Regardless of your situation, find out what God has said about it and let that be the truth you believe about it. This does not guarantee that your situation will change immediately but the beauty of hope is that even if the situation remains, so does your hope. Because of hope you have confidence knowing God will respond and come through on your behalf. If that is what he said you can be certain that is what he will do.
Why Is Hope so Important in the Christian Life?
Having a better understanding of what hope is leads to another question. Why is it so important? Here is the answer – hope is what motivates you as a believer. Can you imagine if we had no hope? Paul himself said:
“If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:19).
Your entire walk as a believer is based on hope. A hope that goes beyond this life and extends throughout eternity. Everything you do as a Christian flows from this. Why do you pray? Hope. Why do you witness? Hope. Why do you endure hardship, trials, or persecution? Hope. Why did many who have gone before us sacrifice, give, serve, even lose their lives for the message of the gospel? One word, hope.
If you remove the element of hope then you will discover that your joy, your enthusiasm, your peace, your focus, your motivation, everything attached to your walk with God will be removed with it. That is why you cannot lose hope. It is also why one of the weapons of Satan is to attack your hope. Think of all the words that are the opposite of hope. Fear, despair, doubt, uncertainty. None of these words inspire and none of these words bring the joy and peace that hope in God brings. That’s why you must fight for it at all costs.
But you have help in God. Know today that God is the God of hope, Christ is the hope of Glory and the Holy Spirit is the one who births hope in you. Consider these verses.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
God does not want you to lose hope today and you don’t have to. Keep your trust in the one who is faithful because he will not let you down.
Read: Psalm 62
In Psalm 62, David is surrounded by murderous enemies. Though he had little reason to cling to hope, David still was able to say, “My hope comes from God.” David, like many other people in the Bible, faced difficult times with no evidence that things would get better, but they chose hope anyway.
Reflection 1:What problem was David up against, and how did he respond? What problems are you facing today? How will you respond?
Reflection 2:Notice how David repeated the word “only.” What do you think the significance of that is? What other things do people tend to put their hope in besides God (see 62:9-10)?
Reflection 3:Review verse 11-12. What do you think would change in your life if you believed this without any doubts? How do the truths in verses 11-12 help you put your hope in God?
Reflection 4:Review verse 8. Take some time now to pour out your heart before God. Tell him everything that’s weighing you down and trust him with every detail. He hears you.
How Can Jesus Be God?
Many questions surround the Christian faith. One of the main questions that are asked by non-Christians and Christians alike is – how can Jesus be God? The answer to this question is of utmost importance since the nature of Jesus authenticates the claims and works of Jesus. What this means is if Jesus is God then all humans must respond to what culminates his earthly ministry – the cross and subsequent resurrection. Some claim that Jesus never explicitly states that He is God, but is this true?
Jesus from the beginning
The bible begins with the following statement “In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1). What this statement illustrates is that before the world was created there was God, this implies that God is the Creator and has not been created. Verse 3 then states “Then God said “Let there be light”, and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). So what we see is that God used words to bring forth creation. The gospel of John will later explain that the Word used to bring forth creation is Jesus Himself. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. (John 1:1). In this book, the writer lets his audience know that the Word was with God in the beginning. Who is this Word? Well, this Word put on flesh and dwelt among the people in the world (John 1:14). Who is this Word that put on flesh? Jesus. Philippians 2:7 states “Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity…,”. The Word of God is the Son of God who became a human so that through His life and death He might reconcile the world to Himself (John 1:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:17-19). Jesus is God.
The Bible is axiomatic
The bible being axiomatic simply means that the Bible is self-authenticating. This means that the evidence for the truthfulness of the claims the bible makes can be found within the scriptures itself. The mistake we can make when trying to decipher the truthfulness of a claim is isolating one piece of information from a wider body of information. The issue faced regarding biblical literacy is that the bible is seen as several mini-stories rather than one cohesive story. Scripture progressively reveals not only who God is but that God will, through His Son, intervene in human history to be the long-awaited sacrifice mankind need to be redeemed from their sin and into fellowship with their maker. From the Seed being promised in the garden (Genesis 3:15) to King David prophesying that the Holy One will never see Decay (Psalm 16:8-11), to Daniel’s vision of the Son of Man (Daniel 7:9-14); there are over 500 prophecies that reference Jesus as the coming Messiah. Why is this important? Because the Bible calls this Messiah coming into the world God (Philippians 2:6-8).
Do you believe it?
If Jesus is God, will you believe? If you do believe, what have you done with this information? You see what the bible claims about Jesus are a big deal and this declaration cannot be met with indifference. Jesus was hated because He made Himself to be equal with God (John 5:18). Does this make you angry along with the Pharisees? Or does it fill you with awe? Jesus being God changes everything. Jesus being God means that we don’t have a God that is distant but One that is near. We serve a God who came into human history to not only defeat sin but to suffer alongside sinners. Jesus is God and the empty grave proves it.