Greetings members and friends and welcome to another commentary and preview to this Sunday’s study of the Word.  This Sunday’s study text is entitled “Salvation For All Who Believe” and it is based on the Epistle or letter to the Romans 10:5-17. 

Obedience to God’s law and commandments is essential to life.  It is, has been and always will be the basis of life.  Righteousness, the state or quality of being right as opposed to wrong or good as opposed to evil, is meaningless without the law of God.  What is right or wrong, good or evil is dependent upon a person’s interaction with the law of God. 

But it is difficult, if not impossible, for human beings to be justified as righteous by their interaction with the law of God.  In order to be just, God demonstrated the righteousness of the law by coming in the form of a man and doing what the law required. 

In doing this, He can be just in His judgement and silence those who object by saying God required man to do something man is incapable of doing and then condemned him for not doing it. 

Righteousness is required of all those who will abide in the presence and receive an eternal inheritance among the people of God.  To obtain righteousness, God placed all the requirements of His law into something all humanity can do and that is to believe Him.  God, in the person of Jesus Christ, is the fulfillment of His own law. 

Now God is just in declaring righteousness based on law, but He is able to declare righteousness based upon another means which is belief and faith.  By or through faith, God gives man another alternative or method of achieving righteousness.  This is what this study text is about, God’s alternative method of obtaining righteousness. 

All people past, present and future both Jew and Gentile, those who know and knew Christ and those who didn’t and won’t, will be justified, and thereby declared righteous, by faith.  The saving work of Jesus Christ covers all humanity. 

Those who know Jesus, have heard His words, have seen and have knowledge of His works and have accepted Him as their Savior and Lord have a much better opportunity of salvation than those who have not.  From righteous Abel and Abraham to everyone who never heard or will hear of Jesus, God will justify, not by their works, but by their faith. 

What is it that they and all whom God will justify believe?  That God exist and is a rewarder of those who diligently Him.  This is made easier when we know and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.  There is no need to search or look any further for the cure or answer for righteousness. 

To confess with one’s mouth and to believe in one’s heart is Paul’s way of saying believe and act appropriately upon the testimony of Jesus Christ and our lives will be saved.  The testimony of Jesus Christ is the gospel and everything Jesus has said and did we have knowledge of. 

By this Paul does not exclude those who have never heard nor never will hear the name of Jesus Christ which many Christians mistakenly do.  Instead in this text he is including, not excluding, and talking about those who have and will hear His name. 

Jesus Christ gave everyone a better reason to believe God.  His work gave God the means to justify all His people by faith.  Faith itself is made operative, real, saving and redemptive by works.  God will determine the disposition of every person’s faith or lack thereof and thereby determine who is righteous.  

Well, again be sure to look over the study again and come prepared to offer your comments, questions and perspective on the meaning of the study.  If you can’t attend your own Sunday School class this Sunday, you can join us live and online at 9:00 am at www.fbmbc.org and clicking the online services link. 

You can also join us live by dialing 508 924-2890.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section or you can share them on Sunday.  So, let’s all have a great lesson and discussion this Sunday and remember to fear God and keep His commandments.

 

Pastor Jordan

 

Comments

 

Greetings members and friends and welcome to another commentary and preview to this Sunday’s study of the Word.  This Sunday’s study text is entitled “The Faith of Abraham” and it is based on the Epistle or letter to the Romans 4:1-12. 

Last week we studied a few verses from Paul’s introduction to his letter to the church in Rome.  In today’s study, Paul’s focus in this part of his letter is on the role of faith in salvation.  The church at Rome was a gentile or non-Jewish congregation. 

In this portion of the letter, Paul emphasized to his readers that Jewishness or the Law, which he refers to as circumcision, is not a prerequisite for salvation.  He attempts to make it clear that salvation is a matter of faith and not on any acts or works of the Law or privilege of Jewishness.  He uses Abraham to make his point. 

Abraham did not earn his righteousness, but Abraham received his righteousness as the gift of God.  And God gave him or counted him righteous because of his faith in Him.  He was not a Jew or circumcised when God imputed or counted him righteous.  Paul says the same thing applies to everyone else who believes God by faith. 

God will justify both the Jew and Gentile by faith being the one and only God of both.  So it is important for us today to understand that salvation is by grace through faith.  The thing we must understand is that faith is authenticated by works or acts of belief.  One can not merely say he or she has faith in or believes God, but does not work, act or behave like it. 

As Paul continued with his example of Abraham, he cited ways in which Abraham’s belief was manifested in his actions.  He just didn’t say he believed God, but his actions bore witness of his faith. 

The same Paul said is true of all who believe God.  Our concern for the church, our adherence to God commandments, our actions and attitudes toward others and our confidence in the words and teachings of Jesus Christ are all reflective of our belief in God and manifest proof that our faith is more than mere words or affirmations. 

The bible calls Abraham “the father of faith”.  He set the example for all believers to follow.  Those who follow his example are called the seed and offspring of Abraham.  Not after the flesh, but after faith. 

Jesus said to those who said they were Abraham’s seed that they were not his seed because if they were they would do the works of Abraham and believe Him.  Though they were the descendants of Abraham, in what Paul called the circumcision, Jesus backed up Paul’s claim and teaching that it is our faith verified through our works that causes God to impute righteousness to His children.  The same type of faith that justified our father Abraham. 

Well, again be sure to look over the study again and come prepared to offer your comments, questions and perspective on the meaning of the study.  If you can’t attend your own Sunday School class this Sunday, you can join us live and online at 9:00 am at www.fbmbc.org and clicking the online services link. 

You can also join us live by dialing 508 924-2890.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section or you can share them on Sunday.  So, let’s all have a great lesson and discussion this Sunday and remember to fear God and keep His commandments.

 

Pastor Jordan

 

Comments

 

Greetings members and friends and welcome to another commentary and preview to this Sunday’s study of the Word.  This Sunday’s study text is entitled “The Power Of The Gospel” and it is based on the Epistle or letter to the Romans 1:8-17. 

During the life and times of the Apostle Paul, Rome was the center of the world and the Roman Empire in terms of both power and influence.  It was laying the foundations that would impact the western world for centuries to come. 

Christianity was a new religion among the many beliefs and practices of the time.  The founder to Christianity was crucified as a Roman criminal so anything preached in His name was not embraced or welcomed by the Roman authorities.  So for Paul to come to Rome and preach the gospel was to enter into a hostile and potentially dangerous environment. 

Paul had preached in many places throughout the Roman Empire but never in Rome itself.  Yet there was a community of believers in Rome to whom Paul writes a letter informing them of a long awaited and anticipated journey to the city.  Today’s study focuses on a small portion of Paul’s introduction of his letter to the church in Rome. 

The Apostle tells the church that the news of their faith and existence has spread widely within the Christian church or world.  He also tells them that God is his witness that he doesn’t cease to mention them in his prayers and that his petition to God to come and visit them is at long last close to being granted. 

He explains the reason for his coming is his strong desire to impart some spiritual gift and assistance to them to help establish them and exchange mutual comfort inherent in their common faith. 

He tells them that he had desired to come to them before now even as he has gone to other Christian communities because he desired to contribute to their prosperity and well-being that he may have some “fruit” among them just as he has had among others.  He shares with them that he is obligated to do this for them just has he has for all the others regardless of their status.  

He proclaims at long last he is ready to preach in Rome the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ of which he is not afraid, embarrassed or apologetic of.  Paul describes the gospel as God’s powerful instrument or tool that is used for the attainment of salvation for everyone beginning with the Jewish nation and then everyone else. 

Paul names the Jews first because it is by and through the Jewish nation that Jesus came and they were the first to receive the gospel. But the gospel is not just for them, but for all people.  He closes this part of his introduction with the powerful truth that righteousness from the beginning until now is by faith. 

All before and after Christ will be justified or declared righteous by their faith and belief that God is just and will reward those who express their faith in Him by seeking to honor, obey and please Him.  For us today, the same thing applies. 

Having faith in God is more than just naming the name of Jesus, but it is a commitment to a life that seeks to bring praise and honor to God by the way we live and interact with others everyday.  Faith is a conscience decision to live our lives daily as if God is watching and to live it in such a way as to please Him and bring Him glory. 

It is by this faith, all will be justified or declared righteous by God Himself.  It is this message that Paul says he is unashamedly and ready to preach and bring to the city of Rome and the church that is there.  

Today, we too should be unashamedly and ready to live, share and spread this gospel to a community, state, nation and world who are in desperate need of its saving power.  Let’s do what we can while we can because someone’s eternal destiny, as well as our own, may well depend on what each of us decides to do. 

Well, be sure to look over the study again and come prepared to offer your comments, questions and perspective on the meaning of the study.  If you can’t attend your own Sunday School class this Sunday, you can join us live and online at 9:00 am at www.fbmbc.org and clicking the online services link. 

You can also join us live by dialing 508 924-2890.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section or you can share them on Sunday.  So, let’s all have a great lesson and discussion this Sunday and remember to fear God and keep His commandments.

 

Pastor Jordan

 

 

Greetings members and friends and welcome to another commentary and preview to this Sunday’s study of the Word.  This Sunday’s study text is entitled “Why Do You Doubt?” and it is based on the NT gospel according to Matthew 14:22-33. 

Today’s text is again about the power or authority of Jesus over physical circumstances as we know and perceive them.  This exercise of power and authority is what we call miracles.  In this study text, we are told that Jesus did something else no other human has done, and as far as we know, no other human can do. 

Jesus walked on water and so did Peter at the bequest or invitation of Jesus.  The bible says when the other disciples saw what happened, they worshipped Jesus and were convinced He is the Son of God. 

One day with the aid of a device of some kind, I would not be surprised if man was able to walk or transport himself on or across water.  Using a type of jet backpack, he is making strides at flying from one point to another.  What makes the gospel account so remarkable is there is no mention of any device or aid the Jesus uses to do any of the miracles He is reported to have performed. 

Much of what is called a miracle then, mankind can do today or come close to doing with the aid of devices and things he had made to extend his ability to alter the laws of physics.  And that which he can’t do now, given enough time he probably will figure that out also. 

Controlling weather, healing all manner of sickness and disease, walking on water are all things man can and/or will be able to do.  Why?  He is made in the image of his Creator and has the ability to learn how things work in the world his Creator has made. 

So, the question should not be if these things can be done, but were they done by Jesus?  And this is where doubt comes into play.  Jesus was indeed fully human, but He was also fully God.  The divine part of Jesus was able to inform the human part of Himself to exercise a hidden, but real power or dynamic about our world we have yet to discover. 

We know that part of it has something to do with faith.  A faith that allows one to suspend the natural laws of physics and their limitations upon what we see is possible.  Therefore, the key to salvation in Christ is to relieve oneself of doubt. 

Either Jesus is who the bible says He is or He isn’t.  Either He did what the bible say He did or He didn’t.  Either there is eternal life for those who believe in Him or there isn’t.  Any doubt leaves room for disobedience and sin. 

We begin to doubt the consequence of sin or if there be any sin.  We begin to doubt the value of eternal life or even whether there is any eternal life.  When Peter began to doubt his ability to stay on the water, he began to sink.  Jesus attributed his fall to the effects of doubt upon his faith. 

Whether or not we are saved will likewise depend upon the effects of doubt upon our faith.  Doubt will weaken and cancel our faith to the point that it becomes useless and makes us unfit for life in the eternal kingdom of God. We are unable to explain how Jesus was able to what He did.  But faith doesn’t require an explanation. 

Faith says God created this world and created me in it.  Faith says God wants me to be where He is.  Faith says I don’t know how God is going to do what I believe and want Him to do for me and what the bible says He has done and will do.  Faith just says it will be and has been done and leaves no room for doubt. 

Well, be sure to look over the study again and come prepared to offer your comments, questions and perspective on the meaning of the study.  If you can’t attend your own Sunday School class this Sunday, you can join us live and online at 9:00 am at www.fbmbc.org and clicking the online services link. 

You can also join us live by dialing 508 924-2890.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section or you can share them on Sunday.  So, let’s all have a great lesson and discussion this Sunday and remember to fear God and keep His commandments.

 

Pastor Jordan

 

Comments

 

Greetings members and friends and welcome to another commentary and preview to this Sunday’s study of the Word.  This Sunday’s study text is entitled “Healed By Faith” and it is based on the NT gospel according to Matthew 9:18-26. 

In today’s text, the power or authority of Jesus over physical circumstances as we know and perceive them is again evident and displayed.  The text, which is also recorded in Mark and Luke in more detail, is about the healing of one person which occurred on the way to heal another. 

It all begins when a Jewish leader of a synagogue comes to Jesus on behalf of his daughter who is on a “death bed” to ask Jesus to come to his house and save her.  Matthew reading makes is seem like the ruler knew his daughter was already dead and was asking Jesus to resurrect her. 

But Matthew’s account combines the serious urgency of the situation and the fact that the child dies before Jesus could reach the house.  He indeed may have suspected his daughter was dead by the time he reached Jesus or would die before he could get Jesus to lay hands on her, but by faith he had to try to get her some help. 

Another fact about the ruler that Matthew omits is that this girl was this ruler’s only child and that she was only twelve years of age.  Jesus agrees to come and on the way to the ruler’s house another unusual healing takes place. 

A woman who had what the bible appears to describe as a menstrual cycle which would not stop or dry for 12 years, the same age of the child, believed Jesus could help her.  She had spent everything she had searching for someone to help her only to no avail. 

As a crowd surrounded and followed Jesus to Jairus’s house, this woman was so desperate for help that she believed if she could just touch Jesus’s clothes as He passed by, she would be healed.  She managed to touch him and was healed and Jesus didn’t see her when she touched Him but He knew someone had.  When the woman admitted it was her who had touched Him, Jesus told her to go in peace and that her faith had healed her. 

Jairus’s daughter dies before Jesus makes it to his house but He tells Jairus not to fear or give up hope.  When they enter the house, Jesus allows only the mother and father and those disciples, Peter, James and John, who became known as His inner circle to enter the room where the child was.  

Jesus is reported to have taken the child by the hand and said “child arise” and her life returned unto her.  Here again the Creator in the person of Jesus exercises His knowledge of how things work in our world to do something we can’t explain or understand how it could happen.  Jesus would tell us we too could do it if we exercised faith in a manner consistent with the challenge before us. 

It should also be noted that He did not want the details and the facts of what happened from the perspective of those who were in the room to be published or broadcasted among the people.  His reasons for giving this command is not clear, but could have been given in order not to draw unwanted or premature attention to Himself. 

The bottom line in this study and many others like it is that the works that Jesus is reported to have done and made possible continue to testify of His person and mission to our world.  In the future, mankind will continue to do what seemed impossible to people of earlier generations and to us today.  That fact lets us know because we don’t know or understand how something can be done, doesn’t mean it can’t be done or hasn’t been done. 

One of the key hurdles to salvation by faith in Jesus Christ is overcoming the question of how could Jesus do what was reported he did, accepting that He did it and believing that God was in Him reconciling His own creation unto Himself.  We must keep reminding ourselves, if God truly created this universe, what is it that this God can not do? 

Well, be sure to look over the lesson again and come prepared to offer your comments, questions and perspective on the meaning of the lesson.  If you can’t attend your own Sunday School class this Sunday, you can join us live and online at 9:00 am at www.fbmbc.org and clicking the online services link. 

You can also join us live by dialing 508 924-2890.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section or you can share them on Sunday.  So, let’s all have a great lesson and discussion this Sunday and remember to fear God and keep His commandments.

 

Pastor Jordan

 

Comments

 

Greetings members and friends and to everyone who is interested in knowing more about God through the study of the scripture text of the bible.  This Sunday’s lesson is entitled “Why Are You Afraid?” and it is based on Matthew 8:23-27. 

This event along with several others reported in the gospels of Jesus doing something that defies all known physical laws is one of the things that give people pause when it comes to believing in the New Testament and the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ. 

In today’s lesson, Jesus is reported to have caused a storm of wind and sea waves to cease and become calm by a rebuke of them including speaking the words for the storm to cease. If this event occurred just like similarly reported events, then Jesus both knew something the rest of us don’t know and tapped something the rest of us don’t know how to tap. 

This is what I tell all people who doubt the authenticity of the bible and the gospels for reported events such as these.  There is much we don’t know and understand and can’t know and understand about the world in which we find ourselves.  Mankind has discovered what appears to be the bases for much of how things works and their causes.  Yet there is still so much more we don’t understand or even can understand. 

Is there a way to control the weather in a given or any instance?  Such a thing may seem remote if not impossible from what we now know and understand.  But because we don’t currently see how this can be done, doesn’t mean it can’t be done. 

Today, we have the knowledge and means to help the cripple or handicapped to walk, those who are blind or almost blind to see, those who have speech problems to talk and those who can’t hear to hear.  While it is not perfect, things continue to improve and get better as more understanding of these things are learned. 

We are currently able to predict weather patterns and forecast weather conditions for days, and sometime longer, in advance.  Maybe there is a way to not only predict but to influence or even control these patterns now that their formation is being understood. 

You see, Jesus’s knowledge and understanding of our world appears to be on a level we still haven’t achieved.  He was able to do things then mankind with the aid of science and technology is just beginning to do. 

Evidently, the same things can be achieved without any science or technology we are currently aware of.  From walking on water, giving sight to the blind, healing all manner of sickness, raising the dead to calming storms at sea, these are all things Jesus is reported to have done. 

For us who believe, we do not allow the how this could be done to prevent us from believing.  For if this world continues for another 100, 300, 700, 1000 or more years, not only might mankind discover how some of these things could be or were done, but they will have discovered so many other things we currently don’t even know exist or think is possible. 

How many people would have thought it possible to transmit live images across the globe, speak to and see others in real time anywhere in the world, transplant hearts and other organs in the body and do and experience so many others things we currently do in the year 1721 three hundred years ago. 

If Jesus is our Creator in the flesh, He has insights into our world we don’t have.  It’s like those who build complex computers who leave unpublished backdoors and access points that those who use the computers are unaware of.  Because our Creator is capable of such things, including creating a universe, we should not fear His ability to preserve our own lives. 

Well, be sure to look over the lesson again and come prepared to offer your comments, questions and perspective on the meaning of the lesson.  If you can’t attend your own Sunday School class this Sunday, you can join us live and online at 9:00 am at www.fbmbc.org and clicking the online services link. 

You can also join us live by dialing 508 924-2890.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section or you can share them on Sunday.  So, let’s all have a great lesson and discussion this Sunday and remember to fear God and keep His commandments.

 

Pastor Jordan

 

Comments

 

Greetings members and friends and to everyone who is interested in knowing more about God through the study of the scripture text of the bible.  This Sunday’s lesson is entitled “Why Do You Worry?” and it is based on Matthew 6:25-34. 

Life is a struggle against what is needed to survive and live and securing and providing those things that are needed.  This has always been true and the case with humanity.  There is a saying that if one does not work, one does not eat. 

Jesus knew how much we can become anxious or worried about life’s necessities.  In the text today He reassures His followers that life’s necessities are one thing they should not anguish over.  He said more important than what we shall eat, drink or put on is seeking and doing the will of God. 

He explains that God, who He refers to as our Father, already knows what we need.  He points to the fact that God takes care of creatures and things far less important or valuable that those made in His image.  And if God does that for them, doesn’t it stand to reason God will much more take care of His offspring. 

Furthermore, He asked what can we change by worrying or being anxious?  The answer is nothing.  So then why do we worry if God cares so much and worrying doesn’t change anything. Because worrying is something that comes naturally to us as human beings.

Worrying is how we respond to perceived need or situations we don’t have control over. We have a natural need to be in control. Worry is followed by the fear the worst or something close to it is going to happen. Fear can lead to panic which leads to bad and unwise choices and among them is often disobeying God.

Jesus said to eliminate worry by placing our faith in God to control the uncontrollable. This is where worry begins.  Our fear of the uncontrollable which includes also death and dying. He says in essence to just take one day at a time.

With each day comes its own challenges and uncertainties and dealing with them is enough in itself. He says to look to God to help us each day to manage the challenges of that day and not to become anxious about days we don’t even know if we are going to see.

Does trusting God mean that we are not going to have any problems, suffer any lack or have any concerns about the future?  Of course not.  But trusting God does mean we don’t have to face anything alone and that we have a source of help who cares about us, is able to help us and willing to help us. 

So those who really trust in God should not worry and do not worry.  Because they realize the worst thing that can happen is death and God is in control of that. 

Well, be sure to look over the lesson again and come prepared to offer your comments, questions and perspective on the meaning of the lesson.  If you can’t attend your own Sunday School class this Sunday, you can join us live and online at 9:00 am at www.fbmbc.org and clicking the online services link. 

You can also join us live by dialing 508 924-2890.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section or you can share them on Sunday.  So, let’s all have a great lesson and discussion this Sunday and remember to fear God and keep His commandments.

 

Pastor Jordan

 

Comments

 

Greetings my fellow brothers and sisters and welcome back to my Sunday School Lesson Commentary and Preview for this upcoming lesson entitled “Jonah:  Fiery Harbinger Of Doom”. I am your host, Pastor Jordan, and will be sharing my thoughts on this lesson.  For any first-time viewers, I’m glad you found us and I hope you will return. 

This Sunday’s lesson text is found in the OT Book of Jonah 3:1-10 and you can view it by clicking the link.  Jonah is known by many people for being swallowed by a large fish or whale and being thrown up three days later.  Jesus referenced this incident in His own ministry in relation to His death and resurrection. 

Many preachers cite Jonah as an example of their reluctance to answer the call to preach.  Jonah ended up in the belly of the whale after he tried to flee from God’s call to preach to the people of Nineveh.  The Nineveh that Jonah was called to preach to was not Jewish, but pagan and heathen much like our culture today. 

Evidently, their behavior had gotten to the point to where God would no longer withhold judgement upon them.  But God is gracious and merciful.  He sent Jonah there in order to inform them of their coming destruction.  Though He is not required to, God would often warn people then as well as now of coming judgement. 

Jonah’s message to Nineveh was straight and to the point.  He did not mince, soften or veil the words in the message.  He was not trying to spare anyone’s feelings, be polite nor trying not to offend anyone.  His message was without love, compassion or mercy in both tone and substance. 

Today, many who attempt to preach and teach the word of God do so as if they are walking on egg shells by trying not to be offensive, hurting anyone feelings or turn anyone away.  Preachers and teachers do need to be mindful of their tone and choice of words, but not at the expense of the hard reality of the truth even if there are those who don’t like it, are offended or turned off by it. 

This no holds barred method worked on the people of Nineveh to the point that they believed the preaching of Jonah and repented and fasted in response to Jonah’s message.  Though it contained no mention of repentance, forgiveness or mercy it was so powerful and believable that they repented and fasted without any conditions from God.  Just the threat of destruction and judgement was enough for them to change their ways. 

For thousands of years and many generations, the threat of judgement, the appeal to repentance and the promise of mercy and salvation has been the driving combination of divine messages that have compelled many to come to faith in God and Christ.  This combination has led many to amend their ways and choose life and God over death and unbelief. 

And while the challenge to convince the hearts and minds of people over the years has been difficult, people today seem to become more resistance to this message with each passing generation.  The reasons for this resistance are varied and complex.  We must therefore pray and ask God to help us to discover and implement the tools and techniques needed to penetrate the resistance that is overtaking the mind and hearts of those in our generation. 

Finally, Jesus said that the men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.  The people of Nineveh repented without a promise of grace, mercy or salvation and people today will not repent and have God’s promise of all three. 

This is why it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah, Nineveh and many more in the day of judgement than it will be for those of us who have the gospel, but refuse to repent and obey.    

Well, be sure to look over the lesson again and come prepared to offer your comments, questions and perspective on the meaning of the lesson.  If you can’t attend your own Sunday School class this Sunday, you can join us live and online at 9:00 am at www.fbmbc.org and clicking the online services link. 

You can also join us live by dialing 508 924-2890.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section or you can share them on Sunday.  So, let’s all have a great lesson and discussion this Sunday and remember to fear God and keep His commandments.

 

Pastor Jordan

 

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