A pastor’s son from a very large church lived in the dorm room adjacent to me during my sophomore college year. At the time he was a junior, so one would think maturity would have begun to set in, especially as a preachers kid. To my disappointment, this young man was quite aloof, condescending, and acted like he was better than everyone else. He largely epitomized the attitude of arrogance demonstrated in recent movies by children of the President of the United States, problem children who did not represent their father well.

The exact opposite is true of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. He always represented His Father well by conducting Himself as the supreme good example. God the Father’s testimony of His Son was this: “Thou has loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows” (Hebrews 1:9). It is important for all to fully understand that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God, or the second Person of the Trinity. Therefore, the Father says He “…hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things” (1:2). He is “…the brightness of His [the Father’s] glory, and the express image of His person…” (1:3). Because He is God, He is the one who is “…upholding [or maintaining] all things by the word of His power…” (1:3). After He “…by Himself purged our sins, [He] sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (1:3). No mere mortal has this honor, only God the Son. When brought into the world in human form to redeem mankind, the Son of God was made “…so much better than the angels…” (1:4). Therefore, the Father instructed His holy angels saying, “…let all the angels of God worship Him” (1:6b). Further substantiating Christ’s deity is Hebrews 1:8 which states, “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Thy kingdom.”

We who are mere mortal “sons of God” (Romans 8:19) must choose to love righteousness and hate evil as THE Son of God does. We must worship Him, not as “the man upstairs,” but as God, and rejoice that He loved us enough to suffer and die for us. As you go about your day, will it be your purpose to represent your Heavenly Father well?

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Author, Warren W. Wiersbe wrote about a teenager in a church he pastored, who frequently caused problems. When this teen went to a church youth camp, the leaders agreed to pray for him every day. At one of the meetings, this teen announced he had just gotten saved. Though he had been a member of the church and a participating musician, his profession of Christ had been a counterfeit. Thankfully, he trusted Christ at this camp and went on to serve the Lord faithfully.

The Apostle Paul urged the Corinthians: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be the faith; prove your own selves” (II Corinthians 13:5). While perhaps the most carnal of the churches to which Paul wrote, he never questioned their collective salvation. Instead, he addressed them as “the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints…” (I Corinthians 1:2). Their outward conduct was certainly not holy or set apart from sin. There was carnality, stunted spiritual growth, a lack of unity, boasting in horrendous immorality, and abuse of the Lord’s Supper. Also, there was a persistent lack of love and a lack of support for those who ministered to them. But since God’s program of grace for today is not a performance system, none of these dreadful descriptions meant that these believers were not truly saved. The Apostle Paul did not make that assumption about any professing believer on the basis of sinful behavior. Christians aren’t perfect, they are just forgiven and in need of daily transformation through the power of the Holy Spirit and God’s Word.

Nonetheless, Paul did urge them to “examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith.” One may be exposed to the gospel, regular messages from God’s Word, good Christian influences, even be involved in ministry activity, and not be truly saved. Only the Lord and that individual truly know. Consistently causing problems may be an indication one has only a profession of Christ, but not a possession of salvation. Because eternal punishment is so grave, and eternal life so important, Paul urged each one to be certain they are truly saved. Dear reader, if you only been going through the motions of Christian activity without having genuinely trusting in Christ alone for eternal life, we urge you to do so right now. It is not worth risking eternal punishment by delaying even one more day. Other Christians will rejoice when they learn of your newfound faith in the Savior.

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When I was six years old, my mother was pregnant with my youngest brother. I was told, “You’re going to have a baby brother or sister, and that baby is inside mother’s tummy.” That was a difficult concept for me to grasp. It also generated a number of questions about how, when, and why all of this was going to take place. But I did understand it was an important event that was going to change our family dynamic.

Throughout the letters of the Apostle Paul, he expresses a somewhat parallel concept. In II Corinthians, he asks the question: “Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you…” (13:5). When first declared to these saints, they too may well have been confused and had many questions. They had been taught the Lord Jesus Christ had died for their sins and rose again to ascend into heaven where He is presently seated on the right hand of the Father until He returns to rapture us into the heavens. How then could He be within these often sinful believers at Corinth?

Several passages further explain how Christ lives in believers today. Paul’s description is, “that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith…” (Ephesians 3:17). Christ lives within us in a figurative sense the moment we trust in Him alone for eternal salvation. He is still seated in the heavens but, as omnipresent God, He also lives within the heart of His children of faith. The moment we trust in Him, we are instantly “baptized into his death…” (Romans 6:3-4), His burial, and resurrection (8:9-11). Baptism by the Holy Spirit is an identification with His sacrifice for our sins and a new standing in His righteousness. So, we are in Him, identified with His righteousness, and He in our hearts by faith. But Christ is also in every believer through the person of the Holy Spirit. Paul explains, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you…and if Christ be in you…the Spirit is life because of righteousness” (Romans 8:9-10).

It is a marvelous truth that Christ, the Creator of the entire universe, lives in us today. We have the presence of God the Son within us everywhere we go. We are never alone. This truth gives us cause for rejoicing, holiness, constant fellowship with Christ, and service for His cause.

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According to an Internet article in 2009, Enrique VelaLopez and his wife, Ute Marquez, were arrested in Polk county Florida for practicing medicine without a license. Undercover detectives witnessed this couple using a device called an Asyra machine, far beyond it’s authorized use, to diagnosis patients and prescribe treatment. They made far-reaching claims, including being able to cure cancer, all of which were simply exercises in fraud. These two perpetrators were fined, the public warned of their activities, and anyone learning of the use of an Asyra device was asked to contact law enforcement immediately.

If you use the title of M.D. after your name and claim to be a doctor, you better be qualified and capable to practice medicine with great skill. Likewise, one must be very careful about the kind of titles used under the umbrella of “ministry.” We have a church in our town where the sign boasts their leader is both “Pastor and Apostle.” In II Corinthians 12:12, Paul the apostle writes, “Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.” The word “apostle” literally means “a sent one.” It implies unmistakable divine direction and enablement from the Lord to go to a specific place for ministry. Examples would be when Paul was sent by God into Damascus by God’s voice from heaven, (Acts 9), or when he was sent to Macedonia (Acts 16:9). For good reason, God uses this word on a very limited basis in Scripture. No one today is an apostle, and no one can properly claim such direction from the Lord today. Miraculous displays like these have ceased with the completion of God’s Word, just as promised in I Corinthians 13:8-10. Moreover, today no one can properly claim “the signs of an apostle.” When bitten by a venomous snake, Paul suffered no harm, and he was able to pray over the handkerchief of one very ill and have that person restored to full health instantaneously (Acts 19:11-12).

Beware of preachers who use titles other than “pastor,” “preacher,” “Bible teacher,” or “elder.” Likewise, beware of any who make claims of miracles. God wants our attention, confidence, and awe to be in His Word, not in men or some supposed emotional or miraculous experience. Satan will deceive us and lead us astray if our focus is not on His Word.

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We in America enjoy two important freedoms guaranteed to us by amendments to our constitution: the freedom of speech and freedom of the press. While these are vital to our way of life, it is not uncommon for a judge in a courtroom to order a “gag order” about a pending case. When so specified by the court, defendants, lawyers, victims, family members of victims, court officials, and even the press are absolutely forbidden from disseminating any information about the case. This is done to better insure a fair trial from an impartial jury.

The Apostle Paul refers to someone, presumably himself, who had been given, what amounts to, a divine gag order from the Lord. He states, “I knew a man in Christ…caught up to the third heaven…how that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (II Corinthians 12:2-4). The word “paradise” means a park, garden, or place of future happiness. It is referred to here as the third heaven, above earth’s atmosphere and outer space. It is the dwelling place of God. Have you ever wondered why the Lord would not allow a vivid and detailed description of this place? We already know our eternal dwelling place will be in “heavenly places” (Ephesians 2:6; 1:3). Once taken to heaven, we will have the utter joy to “ever be with the Lord” (Jesus, who ransomed us, I Thessalonians 4:17). We will be “raised [with] a spiritual body” (I Corinthians 15:44). We assume, like the kingdom saints in eternity, “there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4). I Corinthians 6:9 states plainly that sinners will not be present in heaven. Therefore, we conclude every child of God in heaven will experience freedom from the old nature and will finally be enabled to live apart from sin. We will be able to view the power, majesty, and indescribable beauty of God’s throne (Revelation 4:1-6). Yet, all this information appears to be only the proverbial tip of the iceberg regarding how wonderful heaven will be.

Why are we not permitted to know more? Perhaps it is because we might lose focus on our earthly mission of serving Christ, hasten our departure, or to hinder Satan perverting our concepts of eternity. But we know enough to rejoice in these future riches, even today.

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When I first met the lady who was to become my wife, within a few weeks I knew she was “the one.” One day after a date, I took the coward’s way out. I wrote to her thanking her for the time together and signed my letter: “Love, John.” By this time, I knew I loved her and I longed to hear her confirm her love for me. But I had not yet worked up the courage to say that to her, so I signed my affection in a letter. I didn’t expect much of a response, but the next day she boldly said, “I love you too.”

In many grace circles and relationships, we often talk about love as a Christian standard and study about it. But it is somewhat uncommon for believers to personally and specifically communicate their love for one another. In contrast, it is noteworthy how many times the Apostle Paul boldly declares his love for the saints among whom he fellowshipped. He explained his motive for writing his first stern letter to the Corinthians by saying, “For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you” (II Corinthians 2:4). Our Apostle thought it was important that they knew he loved them and that any action taken related to them was based on that genuine love. Paul went on to explain the reason why he ministered to them without accepting any financial support. He asks: “Wherefore? Because I love you not? God knoweth” (II Corinthians 11:11). He ministered to them without any pay for two reasons: he loved them, and he wanted to remove further reasons for any offense. Later, he poured out his heart to them saying, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you, though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved” (II Corinthians 12:15). Though these believers often behaved poorly, Paul wanted them to know, no matter how they acted or reacted, it would not ill affect his love and sacrificial attitude toward them. He didn’t want there to be any question in their minds that they were loved unconditionally and without ceasing.

Perhaps there would be greater harmony between believers if we too confirmed our love for one another. Surely someone needs to hear from you that they are loved. Tell them today.

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