Do we believe God?

Hello To All:

"In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;" (Titus 1:2).

Do we truly believe that: "God - cannot lie?"  Our text, from Titus, tells us that: "God - cannot lie;" but, do we truly believe this?  It would be pretty safe to say, that all who claim allegiance to Jesus Christ, would agree with the text; and proclaim, for all the world to hear: "God - cannot lie!"  But, our proclamation does not necessarily mean that we believe that: "God - cannot lie." Contrary to our own divided perspectives, the King's Book, with absolute certainty, proclaims this testimony, regarding the integrity of God. Consider these additional texts:

1. (Numbers 23:19) "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"
2. (1 Samuel 15:29) "And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent."
3. (Psalms 89:34-36) "My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me."
4. (Hebrews 6:18) "...in which it was impossible for God to lie..."

"God, that cannot lie" - "God is not a man, that He should lie" - "Hath He said, and shall He not do it" - "Hath he spoken, and shall He not make it good" - "The Strength of Israel will not lie" - "My covenant will I not break"  - "Nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips" - "I have sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David" - "It was impossible for God to lie."

As we look at the above statements, taken from the above texts, we are compelled to conclude, that the integrity of God is absolute: "God - cannot lie!"  We are also compelled to conclude, that Jesus of Nazareth, who is the Christ, the Son of the Living God; and thus, fully God; and thus, having the same absolute integrity - we are compelled to conclude that: Jesus - cannot lie!

It would, also, be pretty safe to say, that all who claim allegiance to Jesus Christ, would say: Jesus - cannot lie!  So, perhaps we should conclude this essay, right here, since it would seem that we would all say, that we do believe God.  Our question has been answered - we do not need to go any further - we have our answer.

But, I am not satisfied with such a conclusion.  As I look at myself - as I look at the western church - as I listen to the smorgasbord of teachings and doctrines (you can pretty much pick whatever you are comfortable with) - as I listen to what we say and look at what we do: I am compelled to conclude, that: WE DO NOT BELIEVE GOD! This is the hard thing; and it is capitalized to get our attention; and,hopefully, to wake us up to the reality of how widespread unbelief is, in the western church.

Now some of you are possibly thinking: now elder, this is only your opinion - where is the proof - how can you say that we do not believe God - when, in fact, we do believe God; and thus, we do believe Jesus!

It is certain, that we all, truly, do want to believe that we truly do believe! And, at that entry level of discipleship, where we do have salvation, we all do agree and we all do believe. But, I am, once again, compelled to say, that as I listen to what we, as the church (individually and corporately) say; and, as I observe what we do - I am compelled to conclude, that: WE DO NOT BELIEVE GOD!  And, because of this unbelief, many of us are stuck in entry level discipleship. Please bear with me, my beloved; and, perhaps, we shall all move a step closer to: "Victorious discipleship in Jesus Christ." Amen.

If you have been a regular reader of this blog, hopefully you have begun to recognize the many areas where our belief and practice come into conflict with the revealed truth of the King's Book. If you are a first time visitor, I invite you to search through the earlier blogs - I trust that you will find them edifying - and, it is my hope and intent that they help you to become more deeply aware of your own journey with Jesus of Nazareth.

The time is at hand to respond to the unspoken question: where is the proof.  The time is at hand to answer, with proof, the question posed by the title to this essay: "Do we believe God?" Please join me in looking at; and examining; and embracing; and submitting to: the truth of another portion of the King's Book.

1. "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body." (Matthew 26:26 King James Text)
2. "During the meal, Jesus took and blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to his disciples: Take, eat, This is my body." (Matthew 26:26 The Message - a contemporary English translation).

Now we come to it - the place of proof - the revelation of unbelief - a call to repentance - a place of submission to the Truth of the King's Book.  Jesus of Nazareth proclaims: "This is my body."  These are words that are very familiar to all of us who call on Jesus Christ for salvation. Every time we join together,  for communion, these words - "This is my body" - are proclaimed. These are also words, because of how they are interpreted, that have caused significant divisions in the body of Christ.

The mere fact, that there are so many opposing perspectives (I am familiar with at least four dominant perspectives), regarding the meaning of - "This is my body" - should demonstrate to us, that unbelief has a significant foothold in many of our lives. Of course, each of us is inclined to think; that our personal perspective is the correct one; and that all of the other perspectives are the ones in error. Further proof of how powerful and influential the institutional/denominational perspective is on the individual adherent.  All too often, we allow others to do our thinking for us. One of the objectives, of this forum, is to encourage us to turn to Jesus Christ for right thinking.

As we consider the implications of - "This is my body" - please note, that text number one is from the King James Version (one of the oldest of the English translations); and, that text number two is from The Message (one of the newest of the English translations).  Both translations precisely quote Jesus as saying: "This is my body."  In fact, I am not aware of any English translation, that translates the original Greek language in any way other than: "This is my body."

This agreement on the precise nature of the proclamation - "This is my body" - is essential for us to recognize.  There is nothing else, in all of the Bible, that would  alter this precise proclamation: "This is my body." These are the words of Jesus of Nazareth, who is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Consider, also, these words of Jesus of Nazareth, recorded at Revelation 22:18-19: "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." Adding to or taking away from, the precise proclamation of the Word of God, has consequences; and if the adding to or taking away from, is serious enough, those consequences can be eternal.

Lest we think that the words of Jesus, recorded in Revelation, only apply to the book of Revelation, consider these words, recorded at Deuteronomy 4:2: "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you."  Consider also, Deuteronomy 12:32: "What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it."  Finally, consider this from Proverbs 30:5-6: "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar."

To varying degrees, all of the dominant perspectives, on the meaning of - "This is my body" - add to or take away from the clear and precise proclamation: "This is my body."  It can be readily argued that of all of the areas of disagreement, that exist in Christian denominational and institutional perspectives; this one, where we add to and take away from the clear meaning of the proclamation - "This is my body" - is the most destructive to the health of the western Christian church.

When next we gather, we shall look at one of these perspectives, perhaps the most dangerous and destructive of all; and the proof shall be laid before us that: WE DO NOT BELIEVE GOD!

Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus, I continue to be:

Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus