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| Volume 25 Number 1 January 2023 |
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| Volume 25 Number 1 January 2023 |
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Louis Rushmore, Editor
I’m sure you’ve noticed that public prayers in our assemblies often follow a familiar sort of jingle – the same words in the same order with nearly a melodic feature, almost resembling a chant. Sometimes, we suspect that the words and their definitions just might be foreign to the speakers’ own vocabularies, but they’ve heard prayers prayed that way time and time again over the years. On some occasions, the prayer may come across so quickly as though the play button on a recorder were pressed – only that the speed was set to faster, which results in run together words so that there’s a good possibility that neither the speaker nor the hearers could discern what was said. We and others around us have the same needs regularly, of course, and so we surely will pray about the same things frequently; nevertheless, public prayers ought to be meaningful to the one leading them as well as to the ones who hear them. Before each public prayer that I lead, I pray to God in advance that the prayer I’m about to express will be acceptable to Him and useful for those present.
Regarding public prayers, we often hear something like this. “Dear God, please forgive us of our many sins.” Bible class after Bible class and worship after worship, we may hear something of that nature uttered – “forgive us of our many sins.” Elders, preachers and other members petition God habitually with the words, “Forgive us of our many sins.”
Naturally, we do not want to minimize the magnitude of sin, few or many, in anyone’s life. Sin is a barrier between the sinner and God (Isaiah 59:1-3). Sin is a barrier over which, around which, under which and through which a sinner cannot go to the Father. Every human commits sin (Romans 3:10, 23). The only person on earth Who never committed even one sin is Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5).
Christians also sometimes commit sins (1 John 1:8, 10). That’s a fact. However, Christians who are trying earnestly to practice Christianity – walking in the light as He is the light (1 John 1:7) – ought to be sinning less often than they were prior to being converted. Hence, praying regularly for God to forgive us of our many sins seems inconsistent with the Christian profession.
Mortals are unable to save themselves from sin apart from the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16). However, one way to distinguish between sinners and saints (Christians) is that whereas sinners major in unrighteousness and may minor in righteousness, saints major in righteousness and minor in unrighteousness. Saints or Christians are forgiven sinners. They repent of sins of which they are aware (Acts 8:22), and while walking in the light of Jesus Christ, His blood cleanses them from sins of which they are not aware (1 John 1:7).
Asking God to forgive us of our many sins seems to be an admission that characteristically the children of God are not repenting of sins of which they are aware, and neither are they carefully walking in the light of our Lord and Savior. If we carefully select the words for our prayers and say them in a meaningful way, we probably won’t be asking God to forgive us of our many sins.
Enemies of Jesus
Rodney Nulph
If there ever were a person to love, Jesus is the One. In fact, given His wonderful attitude and actions, it is difficult to understand why anyone would not love Him! How could anyone be an enemy of Jesus? Ironically, before Jesus ever walked on the earth, inspired prophets attested to the fact that not everyone would love Jesus. “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool’” (Psalm 110:1 NKJV). “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…” (Isaiah 53:3). One could certainly understand Jesus having enemies if He were a scoundrel, but Jesus was nothing of the sort. Yet, the New Testament verifies that many hated Him. “Therefore, the Jews sought the more to kill him…” (John 5:18). Some even plotted and schemed to put Jesus to death (John 11:53). Sadder still, Jesus knew many hated Him (John 15:18-20). He did nothing to deserve hatred, and yet, many hated our Lord. Why? Why did Jesus have enemies?
Firstly, Jesus has enemies because of what He believed. Jesus’ belief system was based on heavenly guidance. Jesus was and is the full embodiment of truth (John 14:6). Everything He taught was truth (John 17:17), and He demanded that those who follow Deity to completely believe that same truth (John 8:31-32). He perfectly and meticulously lived the truth that He taught (Acts 10:38; John 6:38; Hebrews 5:8-9). Jesus also clearly told others that abiding in truth was the only way to live and please God (Luke 6:46). Amazingly, not everyone in Jesus’ day was concerned with truth. He illustrated this fact well in the story of two builders (Matthew 7:24-27). Thus, those who were not interested in absolute truth made themselves enemies of Christ. It is important for those who love truth today to realize that not everyone does. Often, when we believe what Jesus believed and strive to obey our Master, we too will have enemies. “Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you” (1 John 3:13 ESV).
Secondly, Jesus has enemies because of what He said. The words of Jesus were tender, compassionate and life giving! He gently invited those who struggled and were burdened to come, and He would provide help and support (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus never told a lie! How could anyone become an enemy to a man like Jesus, whose words were always perfect? Sadly, though, some disdained what He had to say. When Jesus told the truth about His equality with the Father, hatred for Him grew intensely. “Therefore, the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God” (John 5:18). Talk about intolerance! Jesus did not just say that He was equal with the Father, Jesus also provided adequate evidence. He pointed to John the immerser for proof (John 5:32-33), to his miraculous works (John 5:36) and to the Heavenly Father (John 5:37; Matthew 3:16; 17:5; John 12:28). Surely with this clear evidence, everyone ought to know that what Jesus said was truth. In case some skeptics needed more evidence, Jesus reminded folks that the ancient Scriptures testified of His Deity (John 5:39), especially about Moses, Israel’s great leader of yesterday (John 5:46-47). Did Jesus tell the truth when He spoke of His Deity? Absolutely! No rational person could deny it. However, some were so filled with hatred that they did not care about evidence, and therefore, the words Jesus spoke cut them to the core, exciting their innermost disdain for Him. Jesus had become their enemy simply because He told the truth (Galatians 4:16).
Thirdly, Jesus has enemies because of what He did. His actions and deeds were simply amazing. Our Lord’s motives were always pure, His attitude was always perfect, His actions were always loving, and yet, He still had enemies! How could anyone detest actions that flowed from Jesus’ benevolent heart? To a grieving family, whose brother had passed, Jesus kindly said, “…Lazarus, come forth” (John 11:43), and a joyous reunion followed Jesus’ kind act. Not everyone was pleased, however, and some gossiped to the religious leaders, who schemed what to do about Jesus (John 11:46-48). How could anyone hate a man who raised another from the dead? On and on the story could go because Jesus “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38).
How could anyone hate a man like Jesus? Sadly, the answer lies in the fact that darkness hates light (John 3:19-20). Jesus is the full embodiment of light (John 8:12). Light emanates from His very core. Thus, those who love darkness will not love Jesus. The story has not changed in some 2,000 years. There are folks, even today, who absolutely loathe goodness and righteousness. Christians, who are striving to follow the example of Jesus (1 Peter 2:21), should expect to be hated by those who are dark and love darkness. Friendship with the world and those in it makes one an enemy of Jesus (James 4:4), but friendship with Jesus makes one an enemy of the world (John 15:18). So, what will it be? Are you an enemy or a friend of Jesus?