The Hypocrite’s Hope

Job 8:13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:

14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider’s web.

A spider’s web may be five times stronger than steel, yet much more flexible.  For example, spider silk outperforms Kevlar by 300% in its ability to absorb energy before breaking! (http://www.spiders.us/faq/how-strong-is-a-spider-web/)  A spider will place a web, like a trap, in a strategic location in order to catch a prey.  After the prey hits the web, the spider quickly builds a cocoon around the prey, trapping it, then kills it with a thousand bites.

When a hypocrite forgets God, his hope then becomes the snare that engulfs him, that leads to his destruction.  The hypocrite’s hope is in his own method of deliverance, that, ironically, is the web of destruction.  Hope outside of God, is a web of destruction, engulfing a soul that is perishing.

Prov. 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Job 27:8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?



The Profundity of Salvation Wrapped in Simplicity

What the Bible says about “How to have assurance about salvation.”

  1. God is holy and all mankind, as sinners, stand unholy before Him – 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (1 Pet. 1:16, Rom. 3:10, 5:12 Isa. 64:6, Psa. 14:3.)

 

  1. God loves sinners, sent His Son, the sinless Lamb of God, to suffer man’s penalty for sin, die on the cross, and be resurrected as Redeemer for all mankind – 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Jn. 3:16, Isa. 43:11, Acts 5:31, 2 Cor. 5:21, 1 Tim. 1:15, 1 John 4:10, 14)

 

  1. Mankind, religious by nature, tries to atone for sin by “good works.” The Bible states that “good works” by man are not sufficient – Titus 3:5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” – 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

 

  1. God demands righteousness according to His standards, which mankind can only meet by faith in Jesus Christ, whose righteousness is imputed to repentant sinners who place their faith in HIM and HIM alone – 4:6 “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,” (Rom. 4:11, 22, Gal. 3:6, Jas. 2:23, Rom. 5:1, 1 Jn. 2:2)

 

  1. Sin separates us from God, and the Lord Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man – 1 Tim. 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (See also Isa. 59:1-2) John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

 

  1. For sinners to be reconciled to God, they must believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior, and trust Him only for salvation – 5:11 “And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” 2 Cor. 5:18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;”

 

  1. Salvation is not an experience, a religious quest, nor an obscure “pipe-dream.” Salvation is in the person of Jesus Christ – 1 Jn. 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

 

  1. When an individual realizes the need for reconciliation to God, is willing to turn from sin unto a forgiving Savior, and trust Christ only for salvation, THEN the gift of eternal life is given– Rom 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” 10:28 “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish…” Jn. 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Rom. 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.


Time : Eternity = Body : Soul

Time to eternity is simply a “bump in the road” within the concept of infinity. God is “a Spirit” (Jn. 4:24) and in His sovereignty, chose to create materialism encased with temporality.

How can mankind, continually predicated with the constraints of temporality in all that humans do, truly grasp a “period” of time without time, known as eternity? Within “eternity,” would one even consider “time”? Yet, God, Who is eternal, created a “period” that humans can measure in units of chronological dimensions called “time.”

On the one hand, “time” itself is a testimony of God’s greatness, in that He devised such a concept and created the parameters for which mankind can attempt to measure it. On the other hand, time is the essence of humanity’s existence. The dates upon the cemeteries’ tombstones give testimony to man’s temporality.

Why would God, Who is eternal and is a spirit, create a materialistic universe with an inherent deterioration that scientists call “the second law of thermodynamics”? Such a concept is parallel to the body/soul phenomena – that is, within the temporality of the body, mankind has an everlasting soul. The universe/body deteriorates while within the sphere of eternal values.

Aging, my body is slowly deteriorating; yet, my soul is not aging at all. In my soul, I have just as much vitality, passion, and creativity in planning, as well as desire to accomplish, as I have ever had in my life. In a sense, my eternal soul is yet bound within the temporality of my body. I feel the restraints, like a parody of power, yet, it leads me to marvel at the creation of the universe, and God’s great power.

Contradictions of clarity muse within my mind. I touch the meaning of eternity without grasping it. I begrudgingly submit to the reality of temporality while resisting its languishing effects.

For an eternal God to place materialistic temporality within eternity, there must be a monumental motivation of the greatest magnitude! Why would God do that?!?

Mankind’s creation must be the answer to such an enigma! In the creation process of Gen. 1, God prepared the temporality of the universe for His crown of creation – mankind. God interrupted eternity for such a special occasion as Creation. Before “time” began, the eternal God had a plan, which He implemented when He wanted, and NOTHING surprised Him. Mankind is created for God’s glory, Isa. 43:7. God, in His infinite wisdom, created mankind with cognition, or the ability to think and discern. Man has free will, a conscience, and can determine and decide whether to obey or disobey God. God knew that mankind would disobey, sin, and come short of God’s intention (Rom. 3:23.) God had a plan BEFORE the foundation of the world (1 Pet. 1:18-20, Jn. 17:24, Eph. 1:4, etc.) that would culminate in the Incarnation – “…the Word made flesh…” (Jn. 1:14) – that God the Father would send His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to redeem and reconcile fallen mankind unto Himself (Jn. 3:16, 1 Jn. 4:9, 2 Cor. 5:18-19.)

When a person in a temporal body, with an eternal soul and spirit, puts his faith in Christ, spiritual truth enlightens and prepares that individual to fully live a life of meaning and understanding upon an old earth that, too, is deteriorating into eternity.
~Dr. John Adams


Tumbleweed Christianity

 

Here in the southwest, tumbleweeds are a nuisance. Like a dried-up weed-ball, they roll every which way the wind blows. They congregate in the corner of a fencerow, obstruct a normal routine of travel, or just roll aimlessly across the plain. They never stay too long in one place, having no firm roots nor ever producing any worthwhile fruit. Basically, tumbleweeds are practically good for nothing. They are dead weeds.

Tumbleweeds are not indigenous to the southwest. They actually came to America via Ukrainian farmers. Their real name is the Russian thistle. If growing near a wheat field, the useless weed will deplete the moisture from the ground, depriving the nutrients needed for the wheat’s fruitfulness.

Such are many so-called Christians. They have similar characteristics as tumbleweeds: they move about aimlessly from church to church – they are shallow and have no roots, nor ever produce long-lasting fruit. If they congregate in a place for a time, having no desire to establish roots, they may become an obstruction for someone trying to stay on the right path of faithful fruitfulness.

When moved by the Holy Spirit to pen the letter to the church at Ephesus, the Apostle Paul explained the value of church structure for believers in Eph. 4:11-13. Note how he included verse 14:

Eph. 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Believers in Christ are not to be tossed to and fro like tumbleweeds. They are directed by the Scriptures to get rooted and grounded in faith and love (Eph. 3:17), grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:18), and be fruitful for the glory of God (Jn. 15:8.) God’s plan is a local, visible assembly like Mountain Springs where one can establish roots, grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and be fruitful for His glory. Our church will introduce you to Christ and teach you His Word that you may grow thereby (1 Pet. 2:2).

Do not be a “tumbleweed” Christian. Come, plant your roots, and grow with us at Mountain Springs!
~Dr. John Adams


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