*The following article was written by Ben Sinclair and is excerpted from “The Messenger”- Spring 2025- Baptist World Mission

Have you ever asked the question, “Is it worth it?” Sometimes, before a ministry event, I hear an encourager say, “If just one person gets saved, it’s worth it.” Which leads me to ask, “What if nobody gets saved?” Is all the hard work and investment a waste? Why do missionaries do what they do? At the end of their ministry, how will they know if it’s been worth it?

Missions requires money. The deputation ministry will cost tens of thousands of dollars annually. Essential personal and ministry expenses require the average independent Baptist missionary to raise about $6,200 in monthly support. Is it worth the money?

Missions requires time. William Carey labored fervently and faithfully in India for seven long years before Krishna Pal became the first Indian believer. Adoniram Judson ministered and preached for six, trying years in Burma before Moung Nau trusted in Christ. These Baptist missionaries endured years of tremendous difficulties, imprisonment, and persecution. Is it worth the time?

Missions requires personal sacrifice. One of the hardest things missionaries must do every term is to say goodbye to family and friends. Missionaries offer the best years of their life in service to the Lord. Is it worth the personal sacrifice?

The title question contains two pronouns. “Is it worth it?” We must identify both “its” to answer the question accurately. If missionaries do what they do for converts and see few or no conversions, they will logically conclude their efforts are not worth it. Missionaries love seeing people saved! Bearing fruit glorifies God (John 15:8). But missions is not primarily about seeing souls saved.

If missionaries do what they do for fame, they will almost certainly be disappointed when they do not receive the recognition they feel that they deserve. But missions is emphatically not about the missionary.

If missionaries go to build a big ministry or plant dozens of churches, they will inevitably be frustrated with a lack of big numbers. Some churches only support missionaries who produce “worthwhile” statistics. Based on some of the missionary questionnaires I have received, I’m afraid some local churches today would have dropped both Carey and Judson because neither saw anyone saved during their first several years on the field. If statistics are the measure of a missionary’s value or the answer to “Is it worth it?” then many missionaries serving on difficult fields today are not worth it. But missions is not about impressive statistics.

Then, what are missions and ministry all about? Missions, ministry, and even the very purpose of your existence are about God and His glory! The first it in our question must refer to the Lord Jesus. The Lord alone is worthy (Revelation 4:11)! He determines everything’s value and worth.

The Lord is worthy of worship. Billions of people around the world do not even know the precious name of Jesus. Missionaries go to proclaim the Lord Jesus to people who do not know or worship Him. Missions is essential because God is desirous and deserving of the worship of every person He created (Exodus 34:14)!

The Lord is worthy of sacrifice. Paul beseeched the Roman believers, “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). What men often refer to as a sacrifice, missionaries like Paul describe as “reasonable service.”

The Lord is worthy of obedience. Sometimes, we imagine that God is only interested in us giving Him offerings and sacrifices. However, while God is pleased with holy, acceptable sacrifices, the Bible teaches He is more desirous of our obedience. When God told King Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites, Saul thought he would impress Samuel and God by sparing the best sheep and oxen “to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.” Samuel scolded Saul by stating, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22). Missionaries go because Jesus commanded, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

So, is it worth it? Missions and ministry activities may not always immediately result in souls saved, public recognition, or impressive statistics. However, that is not what life is all about. Missions and ministry are about pleasing and glorifying God. I submit that He is worth all our money, time, worship, sacrifice, and obedience. If these are the nouns we refer to when asked, “Is it worth it?” then yes, the answer will always be Yes, He is worth it all!

In John 3:7, Jesus said- “Ye must be born again”. What was Jesus saying? What does it mean to be ‘born again’? When Christians use terms like ‘born again’ or the ‘new birth’, what are they referring to? Many people hear these terms and are left scratching their head trying to figure out what theses terms mean. In this article, I hope to shed some light on what the Bible teaches about this foundational doctrine of the new birth.

If the term ‘born again’ leaves you confused, you are not the first to be confused by such terminology. In the Gospel of John, a religious man by the name of Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. Jesus told Nicodemus something that startled and confused him. Jesus said- “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (Jn. 3:3) Nicodemus was confused by what Jesus said and responded: “How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” (Jn. 3:4)

Nicodemus was thinking of birth in the physical realm, but Jesus was speaking of birth in the spiritual realm. Jesus explained to Nicodemus what it meant to be born again. Jesus said, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (Jn. 3:5-6) To be born of water is to be born of the flesh- this speaks of physical birth. To be born of the Spirit is speaking of spiritual birth. Men are born once physically but must be born again spiritually if they are to enter God’s kingdom! Jesus reiterated this to Nicodemus- “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (Jn. 3:7)

Without the new birth, there is no hope of eternal life! There is no chance of going to heaven. There is no place in God’s kingdom except for those who have been born again! This matter of new birth is a matter of life and death. It is a matter that has eternal consequences.

It has been correctly stated that: “If you’re born once, you’ll die twice (physical death followed by the second death in Hell)- but if you’re born twice, you can only die once (physical death followed by eternal life in Heaven)”

Since the new birth is such an important issue, then it is vitally important that we rightly understand what the Bible teaches about the new birth.

The Need for a New Birth

The Bible clearly teaches that mankind is born into this world in a sinful condition and separated from God. The Bible teaches that “There is none righteous, no, not one:” and that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:10, 23). We are born into this world spiritually “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1). It is our sin that separates us from God. All are sinners since all have broken the law of God. The Bible teaches that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). This refers to physical death (Heb. 9:27), spiritual death (Eph. 2:1), and eternal death (the second death in the Lake of Fire) (Rev. 20:14-15). Unless we are born again, we are heading for eternal death in the Lake of Fire!

This reality explains why we need to be born again! Without the new birth, we will remain separated from God both in life and for eternity.

What the New Birth is Not

Before we consider what the new birth is, let’s consider some wrong ideas about the new birth.

The New Birth is NOT Reformation

It is not turning over a new leaf and determining to live a better life. It is not outwardly reforming your life. While the new birth will lead to a new life, simply cleaning up your life and acting better is not the new birth.
“Reformation may be likened to a new suit for the man, but the new birth is a new man for the suit….Reformation deals with exterior things, but regeneration with interior realities. Reformation alters a person’s manner; but regeneration alters the man himself.” (Alfred Gibbs)

The New Birth is NOT a Ritual

It is not found in observing religious ceremonies and ordinances. It is not found through good deeds, church membership, partaking of the Lord’s Supper or being baptized in water. These things are good and ought to be part of the Christian life, yet none of these things result in the new birth. A person can do all these things and still not be born again!

The New Birth is NOT Religiosity

A man may be religious (like Nicodemus) and yet never be born again and die and go to Hell.

There are many religious people who will stand before God and say, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” Yet, God will declare unto them- “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Mt. 7:23).

A person can be moral, religious, and even God-fearing, and yet without the new birth, they cannot enter the kingdom of God!

What the New Birth Is

The new birth is a spiritual birth- it is a work of God within us- giving us new life from above. The Bible speaks of the new birth as being “born of God” (1 John 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18) and “born of the Spirit” (John 3:5-6, 8).

John 1:12-13 speaks of how a person is born again- “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

It is by receiving Jesus Christ as one’s personal Lord and Savior that a person is born again! The new birth is “not by works of righteousness which we have done” (Titus 3:5) but is a gift of God’s mercy and grace to anyone will receive it by faith. The Bible- “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Eph. 2:8).

A person is born again, not through baptism, good works, going to church, or religious rituals, but by the grace of God that is received by repentant faith in Christ alone! To repent is to receive Christ as Lord and to trust in Christ (faith) is to receive Him as Savior. Jesus died, was buried, and rose again defeating death and grave so that all who come to Him in repentance and faith can receive spiritual and eternal life from God!

Have you repented of your sins and trusted in Jesus Christ alone to save you?

The New Birth is Instantaneous

The new birth is not a long, drawn-out process. Instead, it is a one-time event just like physical birth is a one-time event. The moment a person repents and trusts in Christ, they are born again from above, are made spiritually alive in Christ, and are given the gift of everlasting life!

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (Jn. 5:24)

The New Birth is Irreversible

Just as natural birth is irreversible, so too spiritual birth is irreversible. Once a person receives the gift of eternal life, they are secure in Christ!

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (Jn. 10:28)

“The doctrine of eternal security, accordingly, rests upon the question of whether salvation is a work of God or of man, whether it is entirely of grace or based on human merit. Although the new believer in Christ may fall short or what he ought to be as a child of God, just as in the case of human parentage, it does not alter the fact that he has receive life which is eternal.” (L.S. Chafer)

The Importance of the New Birth

Understanding the new birth is of vital importance! A person may be wrong on many issues, yet if they have been born again, they will spend eternity in Heaven. Yet, a person be right on many issues, but if they are not born again, they will spend eternity in Hell. This is a matter of utmost importance. It is matter of life and death! As Jesus said to Nicodemus- “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (Jn. 3:3)

“It is said of George Whitfield, the great reformer, that half of all his sermons were preached on this subject of the necessity of the new birth. One of his listeners finally asked him, “Mr. Whitefield, why do you preach continuously over and over on the text, ‘Ye must be born again?’,” and Mr. Whitfield replied, “I preach so often on the text, ‘Ye must be born again’, because ‘Ye must be born again’.” That is the best reason in all the world for preaching on it many, many times.” (M.R. Dehaan)

The Results of the New Birth

The new birth is the beginning of the Christian life! At the moment of repentant faith in Christ, a sinner is born again and made a new creature in Christ! Consider some of the benefits a person receives when they are born again:

A New Nature

2 Pet. 1:4- “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

A New Life

2 Cor. 5:17- “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

A New Family

Jn.1:12- “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

A New Love

1 Jn. 3:14- “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”

1 Jn. 5:1- “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.”

A New Victory

1 Jn. 3:9- “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”

1 Jn. 5:4- “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

1 Jn. 5:18- “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.”

Have you been born again? If not, will you repent and trust in Christ alone to save you today? Jesus said- “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (Jn. 14:6) and “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (Jn. 6:37). “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).

~Pastor Aaron Francis

Are you saved? Have you been born again? Have you repented and believed the Gospel of Jesus Christ? If so, you have reason to rejoice! If you have Christ, you have everything you need for this life and for eternity. The Lord has blessed His children beyond measure with spiritual blessings in Christ. The believer who recognizes all they have in Christ can say with the Psalmist “my cup runneth over” (Ps. 23:5).  Not only is my cup full, but it is overflowing with the blessing of God. The following was written by Robert T. Ketcham and shows all that Jesus Christ becomes to the believing heart:

“In the Lord Jesus Christ we have a Life that can never be forfeited.

In the Lord Jesus Christ we have a Relation which can never be abrogated; we have a Righteousness which can never be tarnished; we have an Acceptance which can never be questioned; we have a Judgment which can never be repeated; we have a Title which can never be clouded.

In the Lord Jesus Christ we have a Position which can never be invalidated; we have a Standing which can never be disputed; we have a Justification which can never be reversed; we have a Seal which can never be broken; we have an Inheritance which can never be alienated; we have a Wealth which can never be depleted; we have a Resource which can never be diminished, a Bank which can never be closed.

In the Lord Jesus Christ we have a Possession which can never be measured; a Portion which can never be denied; a Peace which can never be destroyed; a Joy which can never be suppressed; a Love which can never be abated; a Grace which can never be arrested.

In the Lord Jesus Christ we have a Strength which can never by vitiated; we have a Power which can never be exhausted; we have a Salvation which can never be annulled; we have a Forgiveness which can never be rescinded.

In the Lord Jesus Christ we have a Deliverance which can never be thwarted; we have an Assurance which can never be disappointed; we have a Nature which can never be changed; we have an Access which can never be discontinued.

In the Lord Jesus Christ we have an Attraction which can never be superseded; we have a Comfort which can never be lessened; we have a Service which can never be unrewarded; we have Intercessor who can never be disqualified; we have a Revelation which can never be destroyed.

In the Lord Jesus Christ we have a Victor who can never be vanquished; we have a Resurrection which can never be hindered; we have a Hope which can never be disappointed, and we have a Glory which can never be dimmed.

Yes, Christ is all. Christ is all in the Father’s vision. Christ is all in the Spirit’s message. Christ is all in the Scripture’s pages. Christ is all in Creation’s morning. Christ is all in sin’s midnight. Christ is all in atoning grace. Christ is all in all.”

Principle #1- Recognize the Importance of Bible Prophecy!

Many people fall into one of two ditches when it comes to Bible prophecy-

Ditch #1- There are those who go beyond what Scripture teaches and try to figure out what God has not revealed- they often err in the ditch of prophetic speculation. They speculate where Scripture is silent. This is seen by those who try and set dates for Christ’s return or who try to identify prophetic characters or details that the Bible doesn’t identify. A good rule of principle when it comes to Scripture is to speak with conviction where Scripture clearly speaks but to be silent where Scripture is silent!

Ditch #2- There are others who ignore Bible prophecy or minimize its importance. Some people avoid it because they see it as controversial, or divisive, or too difficult to understand. This is another ditch because of the fact that the Bible places a great emphasis on Bible prophecy- One-third of Scripture is prophecy.

When you ignore prophecy, you are ignoring one-third of the Bible. The Apostle Paul spoke much about prophecy. The Apostle John wrote one of the largest prophetic books of the Bible- Revelation. Jesus also spent a large amount of time dealing with prophecy.

Principle #2- Reject Date-Setting & Date-Setters!  

“Beware of men who attempt to figure out the time of the Lord’s return. Such effort dishonors God’s Word, reproaches prophecy, and shipwrecks the faith of many of God’s children.” (P.B. Fitzwater)

We must beware of those who try to figure out what God hasn’t revealed!

Those who set dates for Christ’s return undermine Biblical teaching on Bible prophecy!

In 1988, a man by the name of Edgar Whisenant wrote a book entitled “88 Reasons Why Christ is Coming in 1988”. When 1988 came and went, he updated his book and entitled it “The Final Shout: Rapture Report 1989”. Edgar Whisenant may have been a sincere Christian who was eager for the Lord’s return but he could have saved himself from a whole lot of humiliation, from misleading others, and ultimately from hurting the testimony of Christ if he had simply done what the Bible says and accepted the fact that no man knows the timing of Christ’s return! Sadly, Whisenant is only one amongst many who have tried to predict the return of Christ but have failed. 

When you a hear a supposed Bible teacher saying that Christ is coming back on a certain date: DON’T BELIEVE HIM!

Acts 1:7b- “…It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.”

Matthew 24:36- “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”

Principle #3- Recognize the Distinction Between the Rapture & Return of Christ!

When the Bible speaks of Second Coming of Christ, it speaks of two stages- the Rapture (when Christ comes for His saints and we meet Him in the clouds) & the Revelation of Christ (when Christ comes with His saints and He comes to bring judgment upon His enemies).

Understanding that there are two stages to the Second Coming helps us resolve the tension in Scripture which speaks of the imminency of Christ’s return (the fact that He could return at any moment) but also speaks of signs that precede His return.

Consider the following chart that shows how the Rapture & Return of Christ are not the same event:

(Source: Eschatology– Gary E. Gilley)

Principle #4- Recognize God’s Distinct Plan for the Church and Israel!

The Church and Israel are distinct! They are not one and the same thing. God has a distinct plan for the Church & God has a distinct plan for Israel. The Church didn’t replace Israel. Instead, Scripture teaches that, although the nation of Israel is currently in a state of spiritual blindness, God has a future for Israel.

When the church is raptured, God will begin His dealings with Israel once again!

Something that is unique about the book of Revelation is that in Rev. 6-19 (which covers the Tribulation period) the church is not mentioned as being on earth. The reason is because the church is caught away to be with Christ before the Great Tribulation which is referred to as “the time of Jacob’s (a reference to Israel) trouble” (Jer. 30:7).

Principle #5- Rightly Divide the Word of Truth!

There is much unscriptural teaching in the realm of Bible prophecy that comes from handling the Word of God in a careless manner. When we handle the Word of God, we must do so with great care and precision- making sure that we are not reading our ideas into Scripture, but instead, drawing out what God has said in Scripture.  

Careless teaching in the realm of Bible prophecy has turned many people away from studying Bible prophecy. Sadly, its reputation has been smeared by teachers who have come up with all sorts of extrabiblical ideas & unbiblical doctrines in the name of prophecy. When we study the Bible, we must “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

Consider three fundamental principles that will help a person to “rightly divide” God’s Word:

-Interpret the Bible in a straightforward manner! Dr. David L. Cooper refers to this as the ‘Golden Rule of Interpretation’ and says: “When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense, but take every word at its primary literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context clearly indicate otherwise.”

Another way of saying this is: “If the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense, lest you end up with nonsense.” This method of interpretation is called the ‘Normal-Literal’ or ‘Grammatical-Historical’ method of Bible interpretation. This is a commonsense approach to handling God’s Word that uses standard rules of grammar to understand and interpret it. It is taking God’s Word at face value.

The opposite of this straightforward method of Bible interpretation is the allegorical method of interpreting the Bible- where instead of taking the plain sense of a passage, it is spiritualized to mean something else!

-Keep things in context! When interpreting a verse, read the verses before and after to make sure you are not taking a verse out of context. It is easy to make the Bible say what you want it to say by isolating verses, ignoring the context of a verse, and not using proper rules of interpretation. This is how false teachers handle the Word of God. But the faithful student of Scripture must not handle the Word in such a careless manner. To mishandle the Word is to ultimately misrepresent God.

Here are some helpful ways to keep a verse in context: 1) Never interpret a verse in isolation. Read the verses before it and read the verses after it. 2) Understand the theme of the book you are reading. 3) Try to understand the historical context of the passage. 4) Read the Bible carefully and slowly. Read a passage multiple times.

-Interpret the Bible with the Bible. The Bible is the best commentary on the Bible. When you study God’s Word, use Scripture to interpret Scripture. If you don’t understand a passage, search your Bible for other passages that will bring clarity to the verse you are studying.

This also involves interpreting difficult passages in light of clear passages. R.A Torrey once said, “Many do just the opposite…There will be a number of passages, the meaning of which is as plain as day. There will be another passage which is more or less obscure, and they will ignore all these perfectly plain passages and try to explain them away in the uncertain light of the obscure passage.”

Cults & false teachers often build their false doctrines on obscure & difficult passages while ignoring passages that are clear and easy to understand.

Conclusion

Keeping these principles in mind will help the student of the Bible better understand Bible prophecy and the whole of Scripture. May we seek to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

2 Cor. 2:17- “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.”

~Pastor Aaron Francis

This time of year brings many reminders of the hope that entered the world some 2,000  years ago in the form of a baby in a manger! Yet, this baby was no ordinary baby- truly this was “the Son of God” (Lk. 1:35). Yet, as our culture in America grows increasingly secular, many people are uninformed or misinformed regarding the identity of this One born in a manger many years ago. What does the Bible say about this One born in a manger in Bethlehem?

His Coming Was Prophesied

Throughout the Old Testament Scriptures, many verses prophesy of the birth of Christ-

Isaiah 7:14- “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Isaiah 9:6- “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Micah 5:2- “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

These prophecies surrounding the birth of Christ were perfectly fulfilled when Christ was born!

His Pedigree was Royal

The Old Testament prophesied that the Christ (Messiah) would come through the lineage of Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3), Isaac (Gen. 26:24), Jacob (Gen. 28:13-15), Judah (Gen. 49:10), and King David (2 Sam. 7:12-16).  

In Mt. 1:1, Jesus is presented as the “Son of David”. Jesus was a direct descendant of King David who fulfills the promise made to David of a Son that would receive an eternal throne and kingdom!

His Nature is Divine

Jesus was unlike any other baby that was ever born or will ever be born. Within the manger of Bethlehem lay more than a baby- as Immanuel, this baby is “God With Us”- the eternal Son of God!

In 1 Tim. 3:16, Christ is referred to as “God…manifest in the flesh”. In John 1:1 & 14, the Bible says- “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

The prophet Micah spoke of the pre-existence of Christ and the fact that Jesus didn’t come into existence at His birth but has existed from eternity past- “…whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

Isaiah spoke of Christ as “the Mighty God” (Is. 9:6).

His Being is Holy

In Luke 1:35, an angel spoke to Mary about this child that she would bear- “…that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

 In fulfillment of prophecy, Jesus was born of a virgin. This is important because it is through a father’s seed that the sin nature is passed from one generation to the next. Yet, Jesus did not have a human father. He was conceived in the womb of a virgin- therefore, He came into this world sinless, holy, perfect.

His Birthplace was Humble

Though Christ is “the Mighty God”, yet His entrance into this world was marked by simplicity, lowliness, and humility.  

In Luke 2:4-7, we read “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Think of the condescension of God becoming Man in the lowliest of circumstances! Consider this quote by R.G. Lee that describes the humility of Christ’s incarnation:

“In Bethlehem, humility and glory in their extremes were joined. Born in a stable! Cradled in a cattle trough! Wrapped in swaddling clothes of poverty! No room for Him who made all rooms! No place for Him who made and knows all places! Oh, deep humiliation of the Creator—born of the creature, woman!

Christ who in eternity rested motherless upon the Father’s bosom and in time rested fatherless upon a woman’s bosom, clasping the Ancient of Days had become the Infant of Days. What deep descent from the heights of glory to the depths of shame; from the wonders of heaven to the wickedness of earth; from exaltation to humiliation; from the throne to the tree; from dignity to debasement; from worship to wrath; from the halls of heaven to the nails of earth; from the coronation to the curse; from the glory place to the gory place!

But in His descent was the dawn of mercy. Because we cannot ascend to Him, He descends to us.”

His Arrival was Announced

In Luke 2:8-14, we read of the announcement of the birth of Christ: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

The arrival of the promised Messiah was not made to the powerful people of that day- instead, the angel made the announcement to lowly shepherds watching their flocks.

His Purpose was Redemptive

Why did Jesus come into this world? If Jesus merely lived a good life, taught moral lessons, and provided a good example to follow- we would still be in our sins! Jesus did live a perfect (sinless) life, Jesus did reveal Divine truth in His teaching, Jesus provides the best example to follow- yet, none of those things reveal the ultimate purpose for which Christ came into the world.

Ultimately, Jesus was born to die! Isaiah prophesied of the suffering that Jesus would endure in order to pay the penalty for our sins- “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:4-6)

Jesus willingly laid down His life, not as a martyr or a victim, but as a sinless substitute bearing our sins upon Himself. “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” (1 Pet. 3:18)

Jesus is “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Through His death and resurrection, Jesus offers the free gift of everlasting life to all who will repent and believe the Gospel!

His Destiny is Glorious

Just as certain as the Bible prophesied the first coming of Christ, so the Bible also prophesies the second coming of Christ! The Bible teaches that Jesus is coming again. And when He comes again, He is coming to judge the earth and to establish His kingdom! He is coming to rule and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords!  It’s been said that “Jesus came the first time to judge sin in men- Jesus is coming the second time to judge men in sin.”

The angel that revealed to Mary that she would bear a Son and call His name Jesus also revealed that this same Jesus “…shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Lk. 1:32-33)

He came the first time in humility as the Lamb of God- He will come the second time in power as the Lion of Judah to establish His Kingdom and to put down His enemies.

Mt. 24:30-31- “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

~Pastor Aaron Francis

How should Christians view the nation of Israel? This is a hotly debated topic that needs to be addressed with Biblical clarity. Please check out the two previous posts that have been written regarding this topic:

How Should Christians View Israel? (Pt. 1) – In this post, we began by looking at the foundation of this issue- the Abrahamic Covenant- Understanding this unconditional covenant that God made to Abraham and his descendants (the Israelites) is essential to understanding that God has not completely cast away the nation of Israel. In spite of Israel’s disobedience to God, God’s promises to Israel remain.

How Should Christians View Israel? (Pt. 2) – In this post, we looked at the dangers of a false doctrine often referred to as ‘Replacement Theology’ (or Supersessionism). To embrace Replacement Theology (the idea that the church has replaced or superseded Israel and that the promises God made to Israel now belong to the Church) requires ignoring or allegorizing clear statements of Scripture that speak of a future restoration of Israel (both nationally and spiritually).

In this final post on a Christian’s view of Israel, I want to answer the very important question: Does God have a future for Israel? We must allow the Word of God (not the opinions of men or the prevailing cultural ideas) to answer this question for us. When we look to the Word of God, we find that the Bible promises both a physical restoration and spiritual restoration of Israel. Consider the following:

Ezekiel 37 provides one of the clearest passages on the restoration of Israel. This passage speaks of the fact that Israel’s restoration will be in two parts. Let’s consider these one by one:

A Physical Restoration (Return to the Land)

The first part of the restoration is a physical restoration- where Israel returns to her land but in spiritually dead condition.

“The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.” (Ezekiel 37:1-8)

Who is Ezekiel referring to here? Verse 11 makes it clear: “…Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel…”.
There are many other passages that confirm that in the end times, Israel would be restored to her homeland in a state of unbelief (Isaiah 11:10-12; 66:7-8; Zech. 8:7-8). Though God scattered the nation because of her sin against God (Deut. 28:64-66; Jer. 24:9; Hos. 9:17), God also promised that He would not make He would not make a full end of Israel (Jer. 30:11) but would bring her back into her homeland (Ez. 37:21; Is. 11:11-12- the first regathering would have been Israel’s return from the Babylonian Exile in the 6th century B.C.- the second regathering happened in the 20th century on May 14th, 1948 when the modern state of Israel was born).

The physical preservation & restoration of Israel to her homeland after being scattered for almost 2,000 years is nothing short of a miracle- “No other phenomenon in history is quite so extraordinary as the unique event represented by the Restoration of Israel…At no other time in world history, so far as it is known, has a people been destroyed, and then come back after a lapse of time and reestablished itself. It is utterly out of the question to seek a parallel for the recurrence of Israel’s restoration after 2,500 years of former history.” (William Albright- Professor of Semitic Languages at Johns Hopkins University from 1930-1958)

This is the current state of modern Israel. Physically regathered, but spiritually dead. Israel has been gathered in unbelief in preparation for the coming judgement of the Great Tribulation.

A Spiritual Restoration (Return to the Lord)

Ezekiel’s prophecy continues: “Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.” (Ezekiel 37:9-14)

The day is coming when God will breathe spiritual life into these ‘dry bones’- referring to Israel’s future spiritual restoration. Many other Bible passages speak of this spiritual restoration of Israel.

In Jeremiah 31, we learn that God has promised to make a New Covenant with Israel which would be in contrast with the Mosaic Covenant He previously made with them (vv. 31-32). This speaks of the future spiritual regeneration of Israel. Under this New Covenant, God promised to “put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (vv. 33-34). In Jeremiah 31:35-37, God’s covenant is declared as an absolute certainty- as certain as the laws of nature which govern the sun, moon, and stars.

In the New Testament, we find that Jesus affirmed a future restoration for Israel: “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (Luke 13:35- also see Mt. 23:39); “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24)

Jesus made it clear that the Jewish people would be left in a state of spiritual desolation and that they would not see their Messiah “until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” Jesus didn’t say- ‘You will never see me again’. Instead, they will see Him again when they recognize Him as their Messiah.

Jesus also it clear that Israel would suffer greatly as a people group and would be scattered amongst the nations “until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” Jesus warned of Israel’s judgment but also gave a promise of hope that their judgment would not be forever.

The Word of God is clear that dark days are ahead for the Jewish people. The Bible speaks of the fact that Jerusalem will become a burdensome stone to the nations (Zech. 12:3). The nations of the world will gather against Israel (Zech. 14:2). Two-thirds of Jews in Israel will die during the Great Tribulation (Zech. 13:8). Yet, the Jewish remnant that survives the Great Tribulation (“the time of Jacob’s trouble”) will look upon Him who they pierced [Jesus] and be saved (Zech. 12:10; Rom. 11:26).

The Bible promises a glorious future for the Jewish people who will be spiritually regenerated and restored- when they look upon Jesus as their Messiah at His Second Coming.

“And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn… In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness… they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.” (Zechariah 12:10; 13:1, 9b)

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” (Rom. 11:25-29)

~Pastor Aaron Francis

In a previous post (How Should Christians View Israel- Pt. 1), we learned that God’s dealings with Israel are based on an eternal and unconditional covenant God made with Abraham and his descendants in Genesis 12. This covenant was not dependent on the faithfulness of Abraham or his descendants but is based on the faithfulness of God in keeping His promises. Numbers 23:19a makes it clear that “God is not a man, that he should lie…”. If God makes an unconditional promise, we can be certain He will keep it.

The Bible is clear that God has not forsaken His chosen people- the Israelites. Yet, over the years, a pernicious teaching has arisen and has even crept into churches which teaches that the church has replaced or superseded Israel and that the promises God made to Israel now apply to the church. This type of teaching is called ‘Replacement Theology’ or ‘Supersessionism’ and is commonly taught in Roman Catholic, Mainline Protestant, and some Reformed churches. This teaching has historically been taught by influential theologians such as: Augustine of Hippo, Martin Luther, and John Calvin. This teaching has recently been promoted by prominent social media influencers such as: Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson. Those who hold to this teaching reject the idea that the Old Testament covenants and promises God made to Israel will be literally fulfilled to Israel- instead, God’s promises to Israel are now applied to the church. Basically, this teaching promotes the idea that God is finished with Israel (the Jewish people) and that the church has completely replaced ethnic Israel in God’s redemptive plan.

Tragically, Replacement Theology has historically been the theological basis from which many professing Christians have justified antisemitic behavior. Consider the following observation: “Replacement theology is the root of Christian antisemitism. By teaching that God has cast off Israel forever, it paves the way for centuries of persecution—from medieval pogroms to the Holocaust—because if Jews are no longer God’s people, their suffering becomes ‘proof’ of divine abandonment rather than a call to repentance and restoration.” (Dr. Renald Showers)

From a Scriptural standpoint, Replacement Theology requires ignoring or spiritualizing many straightforward passages of Scripture. Consider the following Scriptures that teach that God still has a plan for Israel that is distinct from the Church:  

• We have already learned about the Abrahamic Covenant which the Bible teaches is eternal and unconditional. For example, in Genesis 17:7-8, we find that the Abrahamic Covenant is “an everlasting covenant” and that the Promised Land is an “everlasting possession”- In other words, this Covenant still stands today!
• In Romans 9, Paul spoke of his Jewish brethren as his “kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises.” (vv. 3b-4). In these verses, Paul makes it clear that the covenants and promises of God still belong to ethnic Israel.
• In Romans 11, we read that Israel (as an ethnic group) has not been cast away by God: “I say then, Hath God cast away his people [ethnic Israel]? God forbid. For I [Paul] also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew…” (v. 1-2a) God has not cast away the Israelites. God’s promises still stand. His eternal covenants are still in place. And though the Israelites have been temporarily (not permanently) set aside in spiritual blindness, God still has a future for His people- “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved…” (vv. 25-26a).

• In Scripture, Israel is symbolized as an ‘olive tree’ (Hosea 14:4-6). In Romans 11, this symbology is alluded to in describing how Gentile believers relate to Israel. Because of their rejection of Jesus as Messiah, some of the natural ‘branches’ (ethnic Jews) have been temporarily broken off from the tree (the place of blessing). One day the ‘natural branches’ will be grafted back into the olive tree (vv. 23-24). Gentile believers are described as being a ‘wild olive tree’ who are grafted into the natural olive tree. Gentile believers are grafted into the tree, yet nothing in this passage says that we replace the natural branches or that the natural branches won’t ever be grafted back into the tree. God warns Gentile believers against having an arrogant attitude towards the natural branches in Romans 11:18-24- “Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?”

Let’s consider some common verses that are wrongly used to teach Replacement Theology:

• Galatians 6:16- “And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.” Is the church here referred to as the ‘Israel of God’? No, it is not. Instead, Paul is addressing two groups within the church: Gentile believers (referred to as “as many as walk according to this rule”) and Jewish believers (“the Israel of God”). The conjunction ‘and’ makes it clear that these are two distinct groups Paul is speaking about.
• Matthew 21:43- “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” This verse is used by some to teach that the church has replaced Israel and that God is done dealing with Israel. To interpret this verse in such a way, however, ignores the plain teaching of Scripture that: 1) God’s covenants with Israel cannot be broken (Jeremiah 33:19-22); 2) God still has a future for Israel after the ‘Church Age’ (Romans 11:25-26, 29). By comparing Scripture with Scripture, we know that whatever this verse is teaching, it is NOT teaching that the Church has replaced Israel. Just a few chapters later, Jesus said to the Jewish people- “For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (Matthew 23:39) The Israelites will not see their Messiah TILL they recognize Christ as their Messiah. That generation of Jews that rejected Jesus as Messiah at His first coming forfeited the kingdom, yet a future generation of Jews will receive Jesus as Messiah at His second coming and will inherit the promised Kingdom.
• Romans 9:6b- “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:”. Paul here is distinguishing between national/ethnic Israel (which is in a state of unbelief) and a spiritual Israel (the believing remnant of Jews). Those who believe Replacement Theology would say that ‘spiritual Israel’ is the Church (made up of believing Jews and Gentiles). However, Paul is not speaking of Gentile believers or the church as a whole in this passage. Instead, Paul is making a distinction between national/ethnic Israel and the remnant of Jewish believers. This verse does not teach that the church is the new Israel or that the church has replaced Israel. Though national/ethnic Israel is in a spiritually dead condition, this verse does not negate the promises that national/ethnic Israel will be spiritually restored in the future.
• Galatians 3:28-29- “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” In this passage, Paul is emphasizing equality in salvation- not sameness in role and identity. This passage speaks of oneness in spiritual standing before God but does not erase natural distinctions such as ethnicity, social standing, or gender. This passage does not say that there are not ethnic Jews and ethnic Gentiles today- in the same way it does not say there are not biological males and biological females today. Instead, this verse is speaking about our equal standing before God in the matter of salvation. According to verse 29, it is true that all believers (Gentile and Jew) are Abraham’s seed in a spiritual sense and are ‘heirs according to the promise’. Believing Gentiles inherit God’s spiritual blessings through God’s promise to Abraham that in him all the families of the earth would be blessed. But this does not mean that Gentile believers are ethnic Israel or that the Church has replaced Israel.

Ultimately, Replacement Theology is a dangerous distortion of God’s Word that undermines the integrity of God’s promises, contradicts plain Scripture, fuels antisemitic beliefs, and denies any future hope of salvation for the Jewish people. As Bible-believers, we must stick with the Word of God and reject the error of Replacement Theology. God’s Word is clear: “Hath God cast away his people? God forbid” (Romans 11:1)

To be continued…

~Pastor Aaron Francis

In recent years, there has been much talk about how Christians should view the nation of Israel. Some have claimed that Christians who believe that the Jewish people still have a right to their ancestral homeland have a ‘brain virus’ and believe ‘heresy’ (Read more at: https://harbingersdaily.com/the-real-brain-virus-isnt-christian-zionism-its-antisemitism/). Others have adopted the idea that the Church has replaced Israel and that God is finished with the Jewish people. Sadly, this idea has been growing in recent years and is promoted in many churches and is promoted through many media outlets. Yet, this idea of Replacement Theology (i.e., ‘Supersessionism’) does not align with very clear passages of Scripture that speak of God’s unconditional covenant with Israel and God’s future plans for Israel. Believing Replacement Theology requires ignoring or allegorizing clear and straightforward passages of Scripture.

It is vital to understand how Israel fits into God’s prophetic plan for the ages if one is to “rightly divid[e] the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Understanding God’s dealings with Israel in the past and how God will deal with Israel in the future is a key that unlocks so much of the Word of God!

Understanding God’s plan for Israel begins by understanding God’s historical dealings with and promises to Israel. It all begins with a promise God made to Abraham called the Abrahamic Covenant.

What is the Abrahamic Covenant?

Genesis 12:1-3- “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

In Gen. 12:1-3, we read of God’s call of Abram (who would later be named Abraham) to leave his homeland and move to a land that God would show him! We also read of God’s covenant (promise) to Abraham and his descendants. This covenant forms the basis for understanding God’s promises to Israel.

First, this was an unconditional covenant.

This covenant that God made with Abraham was ‘unconditional’- that is, without conditions to be met by Abraham or his descendants. Instead, this covenant was completely based on the faithfulness of God to fulfill His Word.

The Abrahamic Covenant was unlike other covenants in the Bible that were ‘conditional’- that is, their fulfillment was dependent on the people meeting certain conditions (such as obedience to God).  

The Abrahamic Covenant was ‘unconditional’- it was not based on Abraham’s obedience or the obedience of Abraham’s descendants- it was based on the promises of God. Even in spite of Israel’s disobedience to God, this covenant has never been revoked. God is faithful! All that is contained in this covenant still stands today!

Second, this covenant involved personal blessing for Abraham. (‘I will bless thee, and make thy name great’)

Abram was truly blessed by God! His name is well-known and is revered by many people to this day. He is the Father of the Jews. Even in Islam, Abraham is second only to Mohammed. In Christianity, we consider Abraham to be one of the great men of faith.

His name is mentioned is sixteen books of the OT and eleven books of the NT.

Abraham is the Father of the Jews but also to all who believe (Rom. 4:11) (i.e., Christians).

Third, this covenant involved national blessing for Abraham’s descendants (the Israelites). (‘I will make of thee a great nation’)

In Gen. 22:17, God promised Abraham- “That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed [descendants] as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed [descendants] shall possess the gate of his enemies;”

The Abrahamic covenant was passed down through Isaac and Jacob (Israel) and to the nation of Israel through Jacob’s twelve sons.

This promise of blessing to the Israelites included:

The multiplication of the Jewish people. God promised that they would “multiply…as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore.” (Genesis 22:17)

The title deed to the land of Canaan.

Genesis 12:7a- “And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land…”

Genesis 13:14-15, 17- “And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever… Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.”

Genesis 15:7- “And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.”

How much land?

Genesis 15:18- “In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:”

The title deed to the land measured from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates River- a huge plot of land that the Jews have never fully occupied but will one day in the Millennial Kingdom.

The Bible is clear that the promise to this land is unconditional and eternal.  

Genesis 17:8 speaks of this land as “an everlasting possession” for Abraham and his descendants.

This promise of the land was repeated to Isaac (Genesis 24:7; 26:3), to Jacob (Genesis 28:4, 13), and to the descendants of Jacob (Israel) (Genesis 35:12).

The promise of an eternal throne and kingdom. This would come through the Messiah- the Son of David (2 Sam. 7:10-17).

A blessing to those who bless Israel and curse to those who curse Israel (‘bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee’– Genesis 12:3)

I believe this applies to nations! I believe one reason why God has been so longsuffering to America (in spite of her sin against God) is because America has historically stood with Israel. Lord willing, that will continue in the future! The United States was among the first nations to recognize the state of Israel in 1948 and has historically been a close ally to Israel.

On the other hand, consider nations that have persecuted Israel- such as the Babylonians, Assyrians, Greeks, and Romans (these empires were judged by God and no longer exist)! Antisemites are under the curse of God. Read the histories of antisemites such as Haman, Hitler, Stalin, and many others! In modern times, antisemitism is on the rise again (from those on the left and those on the right politically speaking)! Christians should never endorse, support, or be involved in antisemitic behavior.

The preservation of the Jewish people through the ages. One of the greatest testaments to the Bible’s accuracy is the existence of Israel. An ancient nation that still exists today!

In 1754, Bishop Thomas Newton said about the Jews- “Their preservation is really one of the most illustrious acts of Divine Providence. They are dispersed among all nations, yet not confounded with any…They can produce their pedigree from the beginning of the world…After wars, massacres and persecutions they still subsist; they are still quite numerous. What but a supernatural power could have preserved them in such a manner as no other nation on earth has been preserved.”

Have you ever met an Assyrian? A Babylonian? A Roman? A Philistine? NOPE! These mighty nations are now extinct! But Israel exists to this very day (even after being persecuted, scattered, and almost exterminated)!

Fourth, this covenant involved universal blessing for all the families of the earth.

How would all the world be blessed through Abraham?

It would be through the seed of Abraham- Jesus Christ (the fulfillment of Gen. 3:15- “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”)

This blessing applies today to people who believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:6-9, 13-14).

This blessing will continue when Christ returns and establishes His kingdom!

There are four major ways that God has blessed (and will bless) the world through Israel: 1) The giving of Scripture (Rom. 3:1-2). The Word of God was primarily written by Jews (with the exception of Luke). God used the Hebrew nation to give us the Word of God!; 2) The giving of the Law (Rom. 3:19; Gal. 3:24); 3) The giving of the Savior (Gen. 3:15; Rom. 9:4-5). Through the Hebrew nation came Jesus Christ the Redeemer of mankind! 4) The giving of the coming Kingdom (Is. 9:6-7)

Understanding God’s unconditional and eternal covenant that was made with Abraham and passed down to his descendants (via Isaac and Jacob) provides the historical background for why Christians today believe that God still has a future for Israel. God’s future dealings with Israel are based upon His unconditional covenant made with Abraham and his descendants. What that will look like will be dealt with in a future post. Believing that God has a future for Israel based upon His past promises to Israel is not the symptom of a ‘brain virus’ but comes from searching the Scripture and taking God at His Word! 

To be continued…

~Pastor Aaron Francis

Lack of proper communication is often at the heart of relational issues in marriage, in the home, in the church, and even in the workplace. In attempting to remedy these communication problems, an emphasis is often placed on the importance of speaking in a proper way. This is a great truth to emphasize! Our speech should be guided by the principles of God’s Word.

However, there is another aspect of communication that is often overlooked and not emphasized enough. That aspect of communication is being a good listener!

What does it mean to be a good listener?

First, we must recognize that God is a good listener! The Bible says of God the Father: “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers…” (1 Pet. 3:12a). God the Son (Jesus) said: “…All things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” (Jn. 15:15). His ears were always attentive to the Father. The Bible says of God the Holy Spirit that “…he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak…” (Jn. 16:13). Whatever the Spirit heard from the Son, He would deliver to the apostles.  “The fact that our triune God is a good listener should powerfully motivate us to improve in this area. The three persons of the Trinity listen carefully to each other and, amazingly, to us!” (Wayne Mack)  As believers, we are called to “be ye…followers [lit. ‘imitators’] of God” (Eph. 5:1).  Imitating God means learning to be a good listener!

Second, to be a good listener we must learn to listen with our whole person! Both the inner man (our heart/mind/emotions) and the outer man (the ear/body language) should be involved in listening.

How do we listen with the outer man (the ear/body language)?

In the book Your Family, God’s Way, Wayne Mack provides some tips on the physical aspects of good listening.

He uses the acronym ‘SOLER’ to detail some helpful aspects of good listening with the ‘outer man’.

‘S’ stands for ‘squared stance’- “When listening, don’t turn your side or back to the person who is attempting to communicate with you. By facing the speaker you are indicating, ‘What you are saying is really important to me.’”

‘O’ stands for ‘open stance’- “A closed stance communicates: ‘I’m not going to let you close to me. I want to keep you at a distance.’ In an open stance, the listener relaxes his arms, hands, and shoulders as if to say: ‘I am here to receive whatever you want to communicate.’”

‘L’ is a reminder that good listener ‘leans slightly forward’ when talking with another person- “By doing this he communicates, ‘I really want to make sure I hear everything you have to say.’”

‘E’ stands for ‘eye contact’- “A good listener looks right at the other person and avoids giving the impression that he is in a hurry or that his thoughts are elsewhere.”

‘R’ stands for ‘relaxed posture’- “This tells the speaker that the listener is not nervous, ill at ease, or impatient, and sets the speaker more at ease.”

How do we listen with the inner man (the heart/mind/emotions)?

This involves listening with your mind engaged in what the person is saying (i.e., not allowing your mind to wander; not thinking of something else; not thinking of the next thing you want to say).

This also involves listening with your emotions engaged and trying to feel what the other person is feeling. This principle is found in Romans 12:15- “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”

Consider the following: “We have no good basis for responding to what another person is saying until, to some extent, we have begun to feel what they are feeling. When we respond to people without investing the time and effort to empathize, our relationships and communication will be hollow. People will conclude that we neither understand nor care…Families often violate this principle of good listening. As we listen to another family member, our intellect may tell us that he has no valid cause for what he is thinking or feeling. When a child expresses irrational fears, parents often jump in quickly and explain why his fears are unfounded. When a wife is anxious or upset about a situation, many a husband hurriedly responds with what he considers incontrovertible evidence for the foolishness of such concerns. When a family member gets excited about an opportunity or activity in which you see no value, how easy it is to prick that person’s balloon of enthusiasm. Certainly there is a time for using logic, a time for giving explanations and corrections, a time for showing why certain feelings and responses are unfounded. In general, though, we will be much better prepared to offer words of wisdom and the other person will be much more likely to receive them if we have taken the time to listen with our inner as well as outer man.” (Mack- Your Family, God’s Way)

Third, to be a good listener requires self-control & discipline.

Learning to listen well does not come naturally but takes self-control and self-discipline. Many verses command us to learn to listen well:

Psalm 78:1- “Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.”

Proverbs 7:24- “Hearken [listen] unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.”

Jeremiah 13:15- “Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.”

James 1:19- “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”

Many more verses could be given that talk about the importance of hearing well! We need to learn how to listen attentively to God’s Word but we also need to learn to listen attentively when others speak to us. This takes discipline and hard work because it does not come naturally. Our natural (fleshly) response is to invert James 1:19 and to be quick to wrath, quick to speak, and slow to hear. Instead, we are to be ‘swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath’.

Learning to listen well means not interrupting others when they are speaking to us. It means really listening (with your whole person- giving your full attention) to what they have to say before giving your opinion.  

Fourth, to be a good listener requires selflessness and humility.

The selfish person lives as though the world revolves around themselves. They think of themselves first, they put their own needs/desires first, their conversations are filled with talking about themselves (their accomplishments, their good deeds, their talents), their goal in life is self-preservation, self-exaltation, and self-gratification.  

Clearly this is contrary to the spirit of true Christianity which calls us to a life of selflessness and humility:

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” (Phil. 2:3-4)

In the book Your Family, God’s Way, Wayne Mack says the following:

“It is pride that says: ‘Make sure you draw attention to yourself. Choose the topics for discussion. What you want to talk about is more relevant than what other family members may want to talk about. Your problems and concerns are more serious than theirs. Take every opportunity to tell people who you know, how much you know, what you have accomplished. Everyone will be interested in a rehearsal of your experiences and achievements.’

Humility stands diametrically opposed to this kind of thinking and behavior. According to the Bible, if you are a wise and humble person you will: (1) appreciate and listen to the counsel of others (Prov. 12:15); (2) respectfully hear what others have to say before you give your opinion on issues (Prov. 18:2); (3) refrain from drawing conclusions or giving counsel until you have really listened carefully (Prov. 18:13); (4) recognize that your viewpoint on an issue may be biased because it is based on insufficient data or colored by selfish interests (Prov. 18:17); (5) carefully consider the insights and perspectives of other people (Prov. 26:12, 16); (6) ‘be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath [anger]’ (James 1:19).

Listening is a way of serving other people. It’s a way of esteeming others to be better than yourself (Phil. 2:3). It doesn’t take any humility to talk, but it takes a lot of humility to really listen.”

Concluding Thoughts

In closing, it is important to realize that God calls His children to be wise in how they speak but also to be wise in how they listen. Listening well will grow us in our vertical relationship with God but it will also grow us in our horizontal relationships with others (our spouse, parents, children, pastor, church members, friends, family, coworkers, etc).  

I would encourage you to read and meditate upon the following verses that encourage godly listening:

Prov. 18:2- “A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.”

Albert Barnes commentary on Prov. 18:2- “Another form of egotism. In “understanding,” i. e., self-knowledge, the “fool” finds no pleasure; but self-assertion, talking about himself and his own opinions, is his highest joy.”

Prov. 18:13- “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.”

Prov. 18:15- “The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.”

Prov. 19:20- “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.”

Prov. 29:11- “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.”

James 1:19- “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”

~Pastor Aaron Francis