“Easter” is a Good Time to Break Away from Paganism

This message is primarily for those who call on the name of Jesus Christ as their own Lord and Savior from sin, and serve as a Chaplain or a gospel minister in a jail, prison or a follow-up ministry such as a rescue mission – in the United States.

All Scripture quotes are usually taken from the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. When quoting a text, any deviation from the NKJV text is placed within parenthesis signs (). These usually occur as direct translations from the original languages, or as notes from the original setting to help apply the text to today’s culture.

ALL CAPITAL LETTERS are sometimes used to emphasize words in a text, or to make a comment about a biblical text, or emphasize a statement.

Our society is very humanistic and it is becoming increasingly pagan. Just look at the evening news or watch just about any “talk show” to see the evidence.

In humanistic thought, man is the center of everything. He thinks he knows right and how to fix things. Humanists believe all the answers reside within the human mind. He also seeks only to please self. In humanism, the individual becomes their own god.

Classic paganism, though connected to humanism worships man-made gods or idols. In humanism self or the ideas of other men, become in effect god. In pure paganism idols are worshiped. But when you think of it both replace the true God with something or someone else, so they are both idolatrous.

Both humanism and paganism have crept into American evangelicalism and into the "Christian" religion practiced in most of our correctional institutions. When the Apostle Paul first visited Athens in the first century he was shocked at the numerous idols that culture worshiped.

Acts 17:16 reads,

16 Now while Paul waited for them (Silas and Timothy - who stayed on awhile in Thessalonica) at Athens, HIS SPIRIT WAS PROVOKED (irritated, aroused to anger, - one translation even renders this word ‘painfully excited’) WITHIN HIM when he saw that the city was given over to idols.

Then in the cultural center of Athens, on Mar's hill, before the idolatrous Athenian philosophers he said these momentous words – in Acts 17:29-31.

"... since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or bronze, SOMETHING SHAPED BY ART AND MAN'S DEVISING. Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, BUT NOW commands all men everywhere to REPENT (of their idolatry), because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness BY THE MAN He has ordained. He has given assurance of this (judgment) TO ALL BY RAISING HIM (the Man who is to be the Judge) from the dead."

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead guarantees God's righteous judgment against man-made religion and idolatry. It also guarantees that he, the Lamb of God and sacrifice for the sin of His people is the Righteous Judge. Revelation 6 pictures part of this judgment as He opens the sixth seal of judgment and is about to take back the earth for God.

Revelation 6 -

15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,

16 and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne AND FROM THE WRATH OF THE LAMB!

17"For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

“The Lamb," is the risen, glorified and returning One, Jesus Christ.

As I said earlier, paganism is creeping into what purports to be Christian. It is doing so on a much larger scale than we can imagine, ever so subtlety. In an effort to "close the ranks" many churches and denominations that were once known for a commitment to truth are throwing out biblical doctrine which is absolute truth, to join forces with paganized Christendom. This mentality also exists within many prison ministries.

I have a missionary friend who loves a people group that are trapped in a false Christianity. He told me they actually worship statues and icons. Therefore, he tells them about the biblical Jesus, and what he did.

Furthermore, I recently visited a "Christian" venue where they were actually advertising walking through a mystical floor map, which they claimed could help you "get closer to God!" Why didn't they simply say, "If you want to get closer to God, get closer to Jesus. And the way to do that is to know and respond to His word, the Bible?" Yes, I am sad to say it, but paganism has crept into American evangelicalism.

But a risen Savior is a good reason to do like the ancient Thessalonians, who "turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God." They also learned "to wait for His Son from heaven whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us (believers) from the wrath to come."

That is what you need to tell people this "Easter." You need to tell people that the fact of Christ’s resurrection should motivate them to break away from idolatry.

The language spoken by the ethnic culture group my missionary friend is trying to reach even calls the Easter holiday "Cristos Anastasis - Christ Rose Again." But he tells me while they say those words they take more pleasure in looking for specially colored eggs and imbibing in alcohol than in following the Risen One. So, while they quote the truth they resist responding to it and do not live according to it. They are still lost in their man-made idolatrous form of Christianity.

In Acts 17, I want you to see the strength of the command, there in verses 29-31,

29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God (the meaning is we are all of the human family God made in His own image in Genesis 1:26,27), we ought not to think that the Divine Nature (or, ‘The Deity’) is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising (mankind’s thoughts or imaginations).

30 Truly, these times of ignorance (the word used applies to a lack of knowledge of Divine things AND of a moral blindness) God overlooked,

This statement adequately describes at least one side of idolatry. Natural man turns to self-made gods and self as god because he is spiritually dead and blind to the truth. Yet, God holds all men grievously guilty of SIN when they invent false gods. The very next part of this verse commands everyone, everywhere, to repent from this "ignorant" sin.

"BUT NOW" (since the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ).

There is a definite time orientation here. This point of time and onward in human history is in contrast to the former time of Gentile ignorant idolatry that verse 30 says, "God overlooked." That phrase does not been He did not notice the grievous sin of idolatry, but rather that God did not universally attend to it by judgment. It was as if He put up with mankind’s ignorance, BUT NOW HE WILL NOT PUT UP WITH IT ANYMORE!

Continuing in verse 30 we read:

BUT NOW COMMANDS (in context, God commands) all men everywhere to repent, (of their humanism and self-made pagan idols)

31 BECAUSE (here’s strong motivation to repent) He has appointed a day on which HE WILL JUDGE the world in righteousness

The final part of verse 31 tells how God will judge – AND who the Judge will actually be!

31 … by (or through) the Man He has ordained. He has given assurance of this (the Judge and the righteous judgment He will meet out) TO ALL by RAISING HIM FROM THE DEAD.

God will judge the world through One who is fully Man, yet somehow at the same time, fully God. The Judge who is a Man must also be God - because the text says in verse 30, "God overlooked... but now … and then in verse 31 “He (antecedent 'God') will judge ... THROUGH the Man..."

The language there means that just like in redeeming His people "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself' (2 Cor. 5:19) so this verse in Acts 17 means God will be in the Man judging the world of unrepentant idolaters in righteousness!

There is only one that fulfills that description, being at the same time fully God and fully Man - Jesus Christ! God the Father APPOINTED (that’s the sense of the word translated ‘ordained’) Jesus to be the Judge of all the earth. John 5:26-27 makes it very clear just like our verse in Acts 17:31, does.

26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,

27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.

Furthermore, Acts 17:31 says the final Judge is the resurrected Man, and that can only be Jesus Christ. Tell inmates and others He is either their Lord and Savior now or their Judge for all eternity later. His resurrection from the dead confirms that and puts it fully into effect.

So, Jesus Christ is not only the reason to turn from humanistic idolatry because of His RESURRECTION, proving He is the true God and Savior, but also because it guarantees His sudden RETURN to meet out judgment on unrepentant sinners. If we realize the truth and reality of His rising from the dead we then are to know the same power that conquered death will bring Him back in glory to judge the world in righteousness.

However, His resurrection truly believed in (and celebrated at "Easter") once and for all time, transfers the believer’s sins - even their idolatry, to His cross. But, on the other hand, a rejection of Him as Savior from sin and Lord over all means a person is under the wrath of God.

John 3:36 puts it succinctly, it says: "He who believes in the Son has everlasting (eternal) life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life; BUT THE WRATH OF GOD ABIDES (remains) ON HIM."

2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 stresses the certainty and severity of this coming judgment -

7 ... when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels (this is when He returns to earth in glory),

8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (they do not obey it - by not repenting and not believing).

9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who (have believed*), ...

(*NKJV marginal reading, based on the earliest manuscripts)

These are hard words, but we live in a hardened time of apostasy and misguided unbiblical religion. Therefore, it is not, nor has it really ever been a time to pussy-foot around these serious eternal truths. Let God say what He wants to say through your ministry, since it is God who saves, those He wants to save will not stumble into an eternal hell for hearing it!

Man-made religion executed Jesus and they thought they won a great victory, but His resurrection proves they lost. It proves they were wrong in rejecting Him. Man-made ideas on how to be right with God and how to live are always wrong. Only God is right. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead proves it!

That’s my word to you dear Chaplain and dear gospel minister this time of year as we remember His empty tomb.

Rich Hines

Minister To Chaplains – Aurora Ministries

Salvation: Grace Received Always Produces Fruit - February 20, 2009

This message is primarily for those who call on the name of Jesus Christ as their own Lord and Savior from sin, and serve as a Chaplain or a gospel minister in a jail, prison or a follow-up ministry such as a rescue mission – in the United States.

All Scripture quotes are usually taken from the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. When quoting a text, any deviation from the NKJV text is placed within parenthesis signs (). These usually occur as direct translations from the original languages, or as notes from the original setting to help apply the text to today’s culture.

ALL CAPITAL LETTERS are sometimes used to emphasize words in a text, or to make a comment about a biblical text, or emphasize a statement.

Recently I have been reminded of a serious error made by a certain school of thought that relates to the very gospel of salvation. I am also aware that this thinking has influenced many that serve as rescue mission chaplains and program leaders. It is a perversion of grace.

The Holy Spirit through Jude, our Lord's half-brother, said, "... for certain men have crept in (meaning into the churches and their ministries) unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, WHO TURN THE GRACE OF OUR GOD INTO LEWDNESS and deny the only Lord God* and our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude verse 4, * NU text omits ‘God’).

In effect, that is what these modern teachers are doing with the gospel of salvation. This is a serious error. I want to warn you and steer you away from what this modern perversion of grace says.

The heart of their message is that God's grace does not include any repentance at all. They claim any explanation of the gospel of salvation that says a saved person will have a change of life and actual evidence of good fruit in their life is adding works to grace.

Since this teaching has gotten into Rescue Missions, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn it has also invaded some prisons and jails.

The truth about salvation is that it is always ONLY BY GRACE - THROUGH FAITH ALONE, IN CHRIST ALONE. It is by God’s grace alone that He saves any that truly believe in, or commit themselves to - Jesus Christ and all that He is and does.

What these teachers do not understand is that the faith that commits one to follow Jesus is not a human work. It cannot happen or be real on human effort alone. The faith or believing in Jesus for all that He is and has done, and will do is ALSO A GIFT OF GOD’S GRACE!

SALVATION from sin and judgment only happens because - BY FAITH GOD’S GRACE IN CHRIST, HAS BEEN RECEIVED. In addition, SALVATION WILL ALWAYS MANIFEST ITSELF BY PRODUCING REAL FRUIT IN THE LIFE THAT HAS IT!

God’s grace produces supernatural changes of good fruit when at work in an individual. According to God’s word if there is no fruit in a life that claims an attachment to Christ, that person has not been saved from eternal judgment. Simply put, Jesus said it was “Fruit or Fire.” If a professing Christian is fruitless they are headed for hell fire.

At the last supper, Jesus revealed to all his disciples that one of them was a traitor. We read that in John 13:21. After he was identified by Jesus to John, the traitor, Judas, departed to help Christ’s enemies arrest Him.

Then later that same evening after Jesus and His eleven true followers left the upper room, they headed for the Garden of Gethsemane. More than likely on the way they passed some vineyard workers that were cutting unproductive branches from their vines and throwing them into a fire. Now we pick up the narrative in John 15.

Look at what Jesus said in John 15:1-2a, 5-6:

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; ...

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

No doubt the earlier revelation by Jesus that one of His disciples would betray Him was still on these men’s minds, especially John’s. As first century Jews these men knew well the Old Testament use of "fire" as a reference to judgment, (reference Numbers 11:1, 16:35; Deut. 9:3,4; or Ps. 21:8,9). This would be especially so when connected to what Jesus had taught them earlier about men’s eternal destinies in relation to whether or not they belonged to Him. I am referring to John 5:21-29. Look at it.

21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.

22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed ALL JUDGMENT TO THE SON,

23 (in order) that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

24 Most assuredly (or ‘true, true’) I say to you, he who hears MY word and believes in Him who sent Me HAS EVERLASTING LIFE, and SHALL NOT COME INTO JUDGMENT, but has (been) passed from death into life (He meant spiritual death to spiritual life).

25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead (physically dead bodies) will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live (again physically). (This is further made clear by Christ in verses 28-29)

26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,

27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.

28 DO NOT MARVEL AT THIS; FOR THE HOUR IS COMING IN WHICH ALL WHO ARE IN THE GRAVES (physically dead bodies) WILL HEAR HIS VOICE

29 and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those that have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation (judgment).

Look again at how Jesus explained Judas the traitor to the eleven true followers that night on the way to the Garden, in John 15 -

2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; ...

5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

6 If anyone does not abide in Me, (like Judas Iscariot) he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

Judas Iscariot was not an abider. He did not remain with Christ because he was never truly a believer. If he had been a real believer, he would have been an abider and good fruit would have been produced through his life. That is what Jesus said. As a fruitless branch his eternal end will be to be burned forever in the lake of fire.

This really is the opposite of what these deceptive teachers are saying about God’s grace. Let me put it to you again even more bluntly: they are teaching people that all that is ever required for full and complete salvation is just a momentary brief statement of belief that Jesus died for your sins - and wham-o, you’re included in an eternal heaven.

They even go on to say, EVEN IF THERE IS NEVER ANY EVIDENCE OF A CHANGE OF LIFE DIRECTION AND YOU CONTINUE TO SIN AS YOU DID BEFORE, GOD HAS TO SAVE YOU ON THE BASIS OF YOUR PROFESSION OF FAITH!

Supposing themselves to be the champions of grace, they reveal they do not understand God’s grace as taught in the Bible. They apparently think grace is just a sentiment or an attitude God has towards sinners. They do not understand it includes that, BUT ALSO ACTS, AND HAS REAL POWER TO ACCOMPLISSH SOMETHING.

God’s grace received - powerfully changes people! Look no further than Titus 2:11-12

to see this is the teaching of God’s word –

11 For the GRACE of God THAT BRINGS SALVATION has appeared to all (all types of) men,

12 teaching US THAT, DENYING UNGODLINESS AND WORLDLY LUSTS, WE SHOULD LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, AND GODLY IN THE PRESENT AGE.

You should note the context of these words from God through Paul to Titus – the preceding verses are talking about saved Christian slaves being good workers for their human masters, NOT TALKING BACK OR STEALING FROM THEM! So, among other things - in context these verses are saying the grace of God that brought those slaves salvation will also powerfully work to change their attitudes and actions toward their masters.

Grace teaches believers “to live righteously” – that’s good fruit. AGAIN, THERE IS NO SALVATION FROM GOD THAT DOESN’T ACTUALLY CHANGE THE SINNER WHILE THEY ARE STILL ON EARTH.

There has to be Holy Spirit produced fruit – or else an individual is still headed for the eternal fire of God’s judgment. Picking up on Jesus’ illustration to His true followers on the way to Gethsemane in John 15, the Holy Spirit through the writer to the Hebrews said the same thing -

Hebrews 6:4a, 6-10

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, ...

This verse begins a long parenthesis with the words “for those who were once enlightened.” This and what follows to the end of the parenthesis in verse 5, describes people who were never truly saved.

They heard the gospel message, they experienced the conviction of the Holy Spirit and saw His work in others and had a head knowledge of the truth, BUT they never truly repented and believed the gospel, so eventually verse 6 says they fell “away.”

That means they fell away from the truth of the gospel and the repentance and faith in Christ, it calls for.

Then the phrase, “to renew them again to repentance” in verse 6 goes back to what was before the parenthesis began in verse 4 “It is impossible.” Thus, it is impossible to renew them to true repentance. Look at verse 6 -

6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God and put Him to an open shame.

The final phrase of verse 6 means they reject Jesus and stand as one with the crowd that screamed for His crucifixion. They are not His people. So in verses 7-8, the word of God uses a similar illustration to the one Jesus used on the way to Gethsemene.

7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs (fruit) useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;

8 but IF IT BEARS THORNS AND BRIERS, IT IS REJECTED and near to being cursed, WHOSE END IS TO BE BURNED.

Fruitless branches are burned. This is again a reference to hell fire. The writer to the Hebrews by the breath of the Holy Spirit even uses this same language in Chapter 10 in reference to the final judgment of those lost in their sin.

Hebrews 10:26-29

26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.

28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

30 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

So, in the end – it’s either FRUIT or FIRE.

With that said, the Spirit of God wants true believers to understand the real grace of God working in them and guaranteeing their eternal security. Note how the passage ends in verses 9 and 10.

9 But, beloved, we are confident of BETTER THINGS CONCERNING YOU, YES, THINGS THAT ACOMPANY SALVATION, (like real Holy Spirit produced fruit) though we speak in this manner.

10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love (produced again by His grace that they received when they truly repented and believed the gospel) which you have shown toward His name, in that you ministered to the saints, and do minister.

What a powerful God and what a wonderful, amazing grace He bestows on His true children! Preach and teach it.

Rich Hines

Minister To Chaplains

Don’t Be Deceived – January 19, 2009

This message is primarily for those who call on the name of Jesus Christ as their own Lord and Savior from sin, and serve as a Chaplain or a gospel minister in a jail, prison or a follow-up ministry such as a rescue mission – in the United States.

All Scripture quotes are usually taken from the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. When quoting a text, any deviation from the NKJV text is placed within parenthesis signs (). These usually occur as direct translations from the original languages, or as notes from the original setting to help apply the text to today’s culture.

ALL CAPITAL LETTERS are sometimes used to emphasize words in a text, or to make a comment about a biblical text, or emphasize a statement.

Currently, one of my prayers for ministers of the gospel in prison, jail and rescue missions, AND for the souls they serve HAS BEEN THAT THEY not be deceived.

In my past chaplaincy experience, WHICH WAS FROM 35 TO 15 YEARS AGO, most of the false teaching about God “out there” and coming into correctional facilities was from cults and secular humanistic self-help groups. As we turn the corner on yet another year, I have been alarmed to realize this has changed significantly.

NOW, in 2009, the deception about God and how to approach living, is coming IN THE MAIN from what professes to be the church of the Lord Jesus Christ!

I know biblically that Satan has always sought to infiltrate the true church. Jesus taught that he would. In Matthew 7:15 He said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you (in context, followers of Christ) in sheep’s clothing (the garb of a true prophet of God) but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”

Further in the parable of the tares sown in the good field of wheat in Matthew 13:24-30 and further explained in verses 36-50, Jesus clearly said, “the enemy who sowed them is the devil.” (Matt. 13:39).

What is really different today is the make up of those in the professing church who claim to be evangelical Christians. As never before, it seems a much greater percentage of them are undiscerning as to what, and to whom they listen to, and follow.

A great part of the professing flock of God has little or no ability to tell the difference between what’s truly from God and what’s not!

If your commitment is to the word of God and to the gospel of Jesus Christ defined by it, you ought to be alarmed. You may be asking, humanly speaking, “Who’s to blame?” I believe the greatest fault lies at the feet of weak spiritual leadership.

Let me cite two RECENT examples.

In December 2009, I visited a large church with hundreds of invited guests who were “non-churched people.” This event was at a special program, thought to be a presentation of Jesus Christ and His gospel. After a dramatic performance in which Jesus was ONLY presented as one who can make you feel better about life’s troubles and disappointments, the pastor got up and asked for a “commitment” to this Jesus. BUT NEVER ONCE IN TEN MINUTES OF PRESENTATION, DID HE EVER EVEN MENTION SIN!

He never even communicated with other words, the gospel truth that all human beings HAVE OFFENDED GOD, because they have broken His law and need forgiveness from Him for their rebellion, or their sin.

Then, in January 2009, I was at a meeting with Chaplains from all over the USA. There, a Chaplain was speaking about correctional ministry and how they ought to address the problem of recidivism. All of his answers were from humanistic social “science” rather than from the word of God. That’s tragic, because it is the Bible alone that builds believers up in their faith so that their walk is honoring to God and obedient to the moral laws of human governments. Making inmates stronger Christians reduces recidivism.

The thinking that the Bible is the only source of what to believe and therefore how to live - has been eroded, and this erosion has somehow been sponsored by professing Christians leaders. You therefore, ought to be deeply disturbed about this and determined to resist any temptation to have anything BUT A BIBLICAL LIFE AND MINISTRY. With that said, I want you to look at Colossians 2:1-10 with me.

First of all, a godly Christian leader has a DEEP CONCERN for every believers’ spiritual growth. Note it in Colossians 2:1-3 -

1 For I want you to know WHAT A GREAT CONFLICT (struggle, battle) I HAVE FOR YOU AND THOSE IN Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,
2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, (this is growth)
3 in whom (Christ) are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Furthermore good Christian leaders realize THEY MUST WARN believers about the REALITY AND WORK OF DECEIVERS. Note it in Colossians 2:4-7 –

4 Now this I SAY LEST ANYONE SHOULD DECEIVE (this word means to deceive through faulty, false logic) YOU WITH PERSUASIVE WORDS.
5 For though I am absent in the flesh,(he was imprisoned in Rome) yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

Having given them the warning, then Paul, a biblical Christian leader, GAVE A spiritual prescription for guarding against deception. Therefore, so should you. It comes in Colossians 2:6-10.

First, there are commands to obey in verses 6 - 8a,

6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you

There are two commands here. They are:

(1) to walk in Christ, verse 6 and
(2) to be on the alert, ( the word beware) in verse 8.

These commands are both responsibilities given by God to Christians to constantly obey. The form of the verbs “walk” and “beware” say that. A Christian leader should be an example. They should be in the forefront in obeying these commands.

Verse 7 explains how believers are to constantly walk or to live out their life – in Christ. Their “rooted-ness” in Christ must be deep. If it is, they will then be ESTABLISHED in the faith. I gave a message on that theme, in the March 2008 Chaplain’s Corner, which you may read in the archives.

Now here in Colossians 2:7, I want you to note the connection between being strengthened (rooted and built up) in Christ, AND solid Bible teaching and praise. That is the key. You will not be deceived, if you are constantly listening to solid Bible teaching.

The verse says, “rooted and built up in Him (meaning Christ) and established in the faith, as you have been taught (by sound biblical doctrine)”

Again, you cannot get away from it - give the inmates the word, the word, the word and nothing but the word.

“abounding in it with thanksgiving (praise as a result of the eternal truths comprehended).” All valid praise as taught by the Bible is based on understanding of who God is and what He has done. It is not disconnected and just emotion.

Now, in this message, I want to spend some time on verse 8, which starts off by giving a second command, to “Beware,” which really means to be on the lookout. You are to be on the alert and lookout for the deceivers and deceiving messages that are intended to take us captive.

As a Christian leader, you are not only to watch out for yourself, but ALSO FOR THE FLOCK GOD HAS ENTRUSTED TO YOUR CARE (see also Acts 20:28a). Be on guard, be on the lookout so that you may perceive deceivers that want to ruin you and the rest of God’s people.

The NKJV translation “cheat you” is not really the best English word for what the original language says. That word really means to carry off captive as a slave! John MacArthur explains it in his commentary as - spiritual kidnapping. Re-read the verse this way:

8 (constantly) Beware lest anyone (carry you off captive as a slave) – through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world and not according to Christ,

The means spiritual deceivers used in ancient Colosse AND STILL USE TODAY, is revealed in the second part of verse 8 –

“through philosophy and empty deceit”

The word “philosophy” literally means “love of wisdom.” It speaks of an overwhelming attraction to some thinking or world-view. In this verse, the original language further defines the philosophy God’s Spirit through Paul was talking about. It literally says “through THE philosophy” making it a specific and particular love of wisdom.

Most likely the philosophy was the particular heretical doctrine that was invading the ancient Colossian church. That heresy had at least three parts. It combined Jewish religious legalism, with denying the physical body some of its normal needs (asceticism), with worship of angels, and especially MYSTICISM.

Today in America, there are numerous ways of thinking about life and the purpose of human existence. These are all likewise, philosophies. With the invasion of Hindu and New Age Religion in America, many MYSTICAL spin offs have occurred. One way or another they find their way into the ideologies competing for your inmates’ attention.

Within what is advertised as Christian, and especially within certain sectors of correctional chaplaincy today, one of these mystical philosophies has gained support. It’s called “Theophostic Counselling.”

The word theophostic comes from two Greek words meaning, god and light. The central idea in Theophostic Counseling is that through as mystical experience, like a vision, our God gives light and understanding as to the real problem and solution in a counselees’ life. These mystical experiences of visions, or words claimed to have beed heard from God, are extra-biblical revelations. BEWARE of this heretical and unbiblical philosophy. It is in reality EMPTY DECEIT.

Empty deceit is another means used by those who want to spiritually kidnap people. The word translated “deceit” here in Col. 2:8, refers to a trickery or beguilement that operates - BY GIVING A FALSE IMPRESSION.

That is exactly what Satan did in the Garden of Eden, in Genesis 2. He has continued to use this means down through the ages. But note in verse 8, the word used to modify this deceit is - “EMPTY.” In reality, in truth – there is NOTHING TO IT. There is nothing real in this deceit and in the philosophy it seduces people to follow.

The next part of verse 8 reveals another (besides Satan) source of the deceit:

“according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world”

It is from fallen mankind, and the world system of unbelief.

The word “tradition” refers to that which is handed down from one generation to the next. Whether the tradition is in organized man-made religion or some strictly human philosophy or “school of thought,” it is from thinking that is independent of and unaided by - God.

Further, the Holy Spirit says it is from “the basic principles of the world.”

The word for “BASIC PRINCIPLES” refers to the first order of things from which others that follow take their pattern. It can refer to a row of trees, or posts. It can also mean the abc’s, as in elementary education, like in what we call kindergarten. It is not even the well-studied higher education of the world. It is the most simple, worldly understanding.

Unsaved philosophers are often very proud of their intellectual achievements, but in reality, the word of God says here, what they’re proud of their intellectual achievements, but in reality the word of God says here, what they are so proud of is really very simple and basic. Above all, it is not from the real truth. It is from the lost and confused world system of unbelief.

Lastly, in verse 8, we are told where the deceivers’ message DOES NOT COME FROM. The source of the deceit is NOT GOD.

“and not according to Christ.”

This statement also launches us into the SECOND PART OF THE PRESCRIPTION to take against deception. That is to FOCUS ON THE BIBLICAL CHRIST, and on what we HAVE IN HAVING HIM IN OUR LIFE.

9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Truly, these verses are a high point of biblical revelation on the doctrine of Christ and His sufficiency for the believer. Jesus is God who fully became a human being. He was still God while living a human life on earth. Even now in glory as God, He retains a glorified human body.

Rather than being just one in a series of angelic beings emanating from God, as the ancient and even some modern heresies teach, He is eternally the Sovereign over all creation INCLUDING ANGELS. Therefore, He alone is to be worshiped.

The final fact and reality every Christian is to realize – because of who Jesus is and BECAUSE THEY have been placed by the Holy Spirit into an eternal RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, is that they are COMPLETED. I say it that way on purpose because that is the verb tense of “complete” in verse 10.

It is a finished act with ongoing results. The passive voice of this verb (used here) means Someone else did it to the Christian. That Someone is God. He has already made every believer completely adequate and full of all they need!

They need nothing more than Christ in their life to be filled with everything they need for this life. There is nothing more needed or required. Therefore, no philosophy or teaching can come along and say to a Christian you need more than what you already have to be closer to God, or to be graduated to a higher spirituality.

Dear listening minister, live that and teach it!

Rich Hines
Minister To Chaplains

Christmas Calls For Our Obedience to God – December 16, 2008

This message is primarily for those who call on the name of Jesus Christ as their own Lord and Savior from sin, and serve as a Chaplain or a volunteer gospel minister in a jail, prison or a follow-up ministry such as a rescue mission - in the United States.

All Scripture quotes are normally taken from the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. When quoting a text, any deviation from the NKJV text is placed within parenthesis signs (). These usually occur as direct translations from the original languages, or as notes from the original setting to help apply the text to today's culture.

ALL CAPITAL LETTERS are sometimes used to emphasize words in a text, or to make a comment about a biblical text, or emphasize a statement.

Even though it's different today, originally Christmas was a uniquely Christian celebration. True believers celebrated God's entry into human history as a human being. The Child born in Bethlehem's stable was God through and through.

In theological terms, when believers in Christ celebrate Christmas they celebrate God's incarnation. They celebrate the amazing historical condescension, when God, the Son - laid aside His outward glory and took another form, a human form.

Though He was still God, He then became totally human as well. You need to teach inmates and residents this truth. They need to hear and understand it.

Listen to the Holy Spirit's chosen words in Philippians 2:5-7, 5 ... Christ Jesus

6 who, being (always existing) in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, (more literally - 'did not regard equality with God as a thing to be held on to tightly')

7 but MADE HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION (He literally, 'emptied Himself' of His outward glory) TAKING THE FORM OF A BONDSERVANT (a slave) and coming in the likeness of men.

But this is not the only reason Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. We must ask the question, "WHY DID HE COME THIS WAY?" The answer to that question is even a greater cause of wonderment, and joy, and gratitude. The answer is in Philippians 2:8

8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and BECAME OBEDIENT to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

God became a Man so that He could die as a substitionary sacrifice for human sinners. This was the eternal plan of God the Father for His Son who became Jesus. But in fulfilling that plan, He had to be willing to be OBEDIENT to death.

So, in a very real sense, for Jesus, Christmas meant being obedient to God. Another passage that reflects Christ's obedience in coming to this world is in Hebrews 5:5-9. Here, He undertook His High Priestly role of offering Himself as the Sacrifice to which all other sacrifices pointed. It reads:

5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: "You are My Son, today I have begotten You."

6 As He also says in another place: "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek"; (This refers to an eternal priest that offers an eternal sacrifice)

7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, (compare Luke 22:41-44 where an angel was dispatched to strengthen Him physically)

8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

9 And having been perfected (this means His task was COMPLETED at the cross), He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, In coming to earth and suffering the kind of death He died, He was OBEDIENT. In receiving the eternal salvation He purchased for us, we must also be obedient. That's what the end of verse 9 says "He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him." Of course, it means to all those that are obedient to the faith God commands us to place in Christ.

1 John 3:23 says -

"And this is His (God's from v. 21) commandment: that we believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another as He gave us commandment."

So BELIEVING on who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for sinners - is being OBEDIENT to God's commandment. Jesus is the Author or more literally, "the Cause" of eternal salvation to all who BELIEVE in Him.

"Eternal salvation," that's what obedient believers rejoice over. Christmas led to the fulfillment of the purpose of Christ's first coming - His sacrificial death which brought them ETERNAL SALVATION.

Christ came, Christmas happened so that God would save His people from their sins. The human name Jesus means "Jehova Saves" or simply, Savior. In naming Mary's human Baby the angel told Joseph, "... you shall call His name JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21).

Christmas calls the unsaved to repentance and the obedience of faith. It's altogether right to evangelize with the Christmas message.

But there should be more from those that believe and then rejoice in their salvation from their sins. A proper response by Christians to what Jesus began to do at Christmas Calls For their ongoing Obedience to God.

True thankfulness and love for our Benefactor is shown by obedient living. The gospel that saves also calls believers to an obedient holy life. 1 Peter 1:13 talks about what Christians are to do as they wait for the grace of full deliverance from sin at the return and unveiling of Jesus Christ. In that context, 1 Peter 1:14-16 says:

14 ... as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts (before salvation) as in your ignorance (your unsaved state);

15 but as He who called you (to salvation) is holy, you also be holy ("be holy" is a command) in all your conduct,

16 because it is written (in Leviticus 11:44) "Be holy, for I am holy."

Remember and teach what Jesus, who is the Cause of eternal salvation, said:

John 14: 21,23

21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he WHO LOVES ME. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.
...

23 If anyone loves Me, HE WILL KEEP MY WORD; and My father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with Him.

We live in a time when many professing Christians in our society, including the correctional facilities do not generally live a separated, holy life. From the Scripture we've just looked at, I want to charge you to make obedient holy living an issue at Christmas. That is the only reasonable response to God's great Gift.

How does the unsaved world celebrate Christmas? With self-indulgence, and in many settings debauchery. Those that have truly responded to what God has done in human history, ushered in by Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, ought not to be like them at all. They ought to live holy lives.

1 Peter 4:1-4 says -

1 Therefore, since Christ suffered FOR US in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

2 THAT HE NO LONGER SHOULD LIVE THE REST OF HIS TIME IN THE FLESH FOR THE LUSTS OF MEN, BUT FOR THE WILL OF GOD.

3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles (the pagan idol worshippers) - when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.

4 In regard to these(things), they (the unsaved pagans) think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.

This passage really says so much. By application at Christmas, we have God commanding His own children to not participate in worldly "Christmas Partying."

But there's more here. This Scripture reveals one reason so many professing believers live their lives just like, or close to the way unbelievers live. They don't want to be thought of as weird, and mostly they fear being spoken evil against. In the correctional setting the fear of what men might say about you and do to you is even a greater influence.

It takes courage to be obedient to God, not only as an inmate or officer in a correctional facility, but everywhere in our society today. If ever there was a time to deny self and take up our crosses daily, IT IS NOW!

It took courage for the Eternal Word to become human flesh and die on a cross for His people. And by His Spirit He will enable His people to have courage and suffer persecution when they are OBEDIENT to Him and live a different way - a way that honors Him.

In closing this message which is really about what Christmas should encourage us to do, I want to remind you, and in turn - those you teach, about an important passage we don't hear preached very often these days-

Romans 12:1,2

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (the only logical, rational, intelligent worship).

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, (so) that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Verse 1 is a call to worship and give God glory BECAUSE of His great mercy. Verse 2 is more instruction on HOW to worship.

We certainly don't hear much about offering ourselves - even our own physical bodies as a living sacrifice to God these days. The verb tense of "present" in verse 1 means at different points of time, whenever we're called to do so. This word means "to place a person or a thing at one's disposal." An Old Testament animal that was to be sacrificed was placed in a situation where their natural will to live would be over ruled.

As an act of worship and thankfulness to our Lord Jesus for His obedient coming to earth and taking our sin upon Himself, we ought to live obedient, holy lives. We ought to be constantly willing to offer up our own will to the Lord for His use. That's the sense of being a living sacrifice.

John MacArthur makes a wonderful observation on the inclusion of "our "bodies" in the phrase "a living sacrifice," in Romans 12:1.

He writes "Our BODIES, however, are more than physical shells that house our souls. They are also where our old, unredeemed humanness resides. Our BODIES incorporate our humanness, our humanness incorporates our flesh, and our flesh incorporates our sin, as Romans 6 and 7 so clearly explain."

This is therefore a call to holiness in the sense of being a call to sacrifice our flesh's best loved sins!

The call to worship in Romans 12:1 is a call to live a holy life. The terms used in both verse 1 and 2 reflect Old Testament sacrificial worship. The animals offered to God in that era, were to be spotless and perfect. They were to be the very best.



Verse 2 goes on to help us to actually offer up an acceptable sacrifice of our lives. It teaches us the battle is in the mind, for the patterns of our thinking.

2 And do not be (better: stop being) conformed to this world, but be (start being) transformed by the (constant) renewing of your mind,

(And the only way to renew the mind, the way of thinking is by being constantly, regularly in God's word.)

- (so) that you may (constantly) prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The term "this world" refers to the constant influence from the fallen, God-excluding society around each one of us. In our time of mass communication, the fallen philosophies of how to think and therefore live our lives comes as a constant barrage from every secular source of information on this planet.

In the correctional facilities one of the most common things is the "electronic babysitter," the television. Add to that the general discussion that goes on in a dorm setting - and you have even more of the world's influence.

To be conformed to this world's thinking is to be squeezed into its' mold. We are commanded to not be influenced this way. And instead, we are told to be TRANSFORMED. That too is a command. To be transformed, is to let the outward appearance rightly reflect and show the true inner change that Christ wants.

An obedient Christian looks like what he or she is truly inwardly. In that sense, they look more and more like Christ in their general behavior. His way of living as a Human Being was counter-cultural to the sinful way of life of the men of His earthly era. As individuals grow and mature in Christ they are transformed into His image.

A story is told about a Chinese Christian whose mind had been so renewed that he saw others with the compassion of Christ. That being the case, he was moved with pity when he saw many of his countrymen being taken to work as coolies in the mines of South Africa.

In order to be able to witness to his fellow Chinese, this prominent man sold himself to the mining company to work as a coolie for five years. He died there, still a slave, but not until he had won more than 200 men to Christ. His decision to be OBEDIENT to what God put on his heart is a living sacrifice in the fullest sense.

Looking back again at Philippians 2:8 we see another thing about Christ's obedience,

8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and BECAME OBEDIENT to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Notice, there is a definite connection between being obedient to God and being HUMBLE. The man from China, like His Lord, first humbled himself and then followed through with his obedience to God's plan for his life.

I think Christmas challenges us, and should challenge others to obedience as well. May the obedience of ChrisT to His Father in emptying Himself to come to earth and become our Savior encourage our obedience to Him this Christmas - and throughout 2009.

Rich Hines
Aurora Ministries - Minister To Chaplains