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“But Now You Say...”

I remember hearing as a kid, “The biggest word in the English language is but!” I may have gotten the gist of the little pun then, but it makes a lot more since now that I have the experienced life as an adult. One of the most significant buts in any conversation was contained in Jesus' closing statement in John while speaking to the self-willed. He said, “But now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains.” (John 9.41). That is the opposite of justification; it is self-condemnation.

“But now you say...”…  ( Click for more )

"Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because 'All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever.' Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you." (1 Peter 1.22-25). In the text just quoted, Peter identifies…  ( Click for more )

“Your Sin Remains”

“But now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains.” (John 9.41). These are the closing sad words in the case of Jesus and the blind man. It was not the blind man who couldn't see; it was privileged Pharisees whose sins could not be remedied. There was remedy, but they refused to admit their need!

Dialogue in the Dark is a world exhibit now in the Atlanta area that is designed to raise the awareness level regarding the site impaired. I went there recently with my wife and through that exhibit, I learned things that I could never…  ( Click for more )

For the better part of three years Paul and Barnabas labored in the spiritual fields of Cyprus and Asia Minor. They preached to, exhorted, strengthened, and equipped the new converts so they could stand fast in the faith once they were on their own. As one of the final acts before departing and returning to Antioch in Syria, Paul and Barnabas "…appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting." (Acts 14.23). Once they arrived back at their sending congregation, Paul and Barnabas "…reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened…  ( Click for more )

"If you were blind...”

I have heard it said that some things are worse than death. I think this saying is absolutely true. It is human nature to just wish for life without regards to the quality of life that we might be facing. However at some point in time, the dying realize that there is a fate worse than death and will themselves to cease this life and venture over to the other side.

I have also concluded that there is absolutely a fate worse than spiritual blindness. In fact, those who realize that they are spiritually blind have the hope of salvation; those…  ( Click for more )

“Are We Blind Also?”

In order to fully understand the focus text that will be used for today's devotional, one must read the entire story of Jesus' healing of the blind man in John 9. We have referred to this chapter time and again in this series, but with good reason. The figurative language in the last few verses of this chapter is interpreted by the literal events that precede it. In the closing verses of the chapter, “seeing” doesn't mean “seeing,” and “blind” doesn't mean “blind.”

The Pharisees understood…  ( Click for more )

“For Judgment I Have Come”

The blind man was no longer blind thanks to the miraculous intervention of Jesus Christ. But, there were plenty of other “blind men” in the area who also needed healing! They, however, were suffering from a significantly more dangerous kind of blindness, one which Jesus could also heal but only under certain conditions. One condition was that they admit their spiritual blindness and stop claiming otherwise. We will continue our thoughts along this line after dispensing with an alleged contradiction today.

The following is…  ( Click for more )

God speaks through James: “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, 'You sit here in a good place,' and say to the poor man, 'You stand there,' or, 'Sit here at my footstool,' have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?” James 2.1-4).

Today's focus concerns…  ( Click for more )

The Galatian Christians were making some very bad choices. They were choosing bondage to the Law over servitude to Christ and in so doing were choosing fleshly appetites over spiritual matters. Hear another of Paul's indictments: "You observe days and months and seasons and years." (Galatians 4.10). The context makes plain the substance of Paul's indictment as we will note in continuing to examine this text.

The Law of Moses had many ordinances which had to be remembered. Many of these things were done with specific regularity either having a weekly, monthly, or yearly…  ( Click for more )

“Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can understand it?’ When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, ‘Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. And…  ( Click for more )

“An epitaph,” according to Wikipedia,” is literally: 'on the gravestone' a short text honoring a deceased person, strictly speaking that is inscribed on their tombstone or plaque, but also used figuratively. Some are specified by the dead person beforehand, others chosen by those responsible for the burial.” The particular one I remember one specific day was short and simple; it just said, “She lived by the Golden Rule.” I don't think she (whoever she was) wrote this epitaph for herself; rather, it appears that someone who cared for her ascribed…  ( Click for more )

“Do You Believe in the Son of God?”

“Jesus heard that they [the Pharisees] had cast him [the blind man] out; and when He had found him, He said to him, 'Do you believe in the Son of God?' He answered and said, 'Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?' And Jesus said to him, 'You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.' Then he said, 'Lord, I believe!' And he worshiped Him. And Jesus said, 'For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.' Then some of the Pharisees who…  ( Click for more )

“When He had found him.” One man's trash is another man's treasure and Beauty is in the eye of the beholder are related sayings. The events in John 9 regarding the dealings which the Pharisees had with a man who had formerly been blind illustrate perfectly just how true these saying are.

“Jesus heard that they [the Pharisees] had cast him [the blind man] out; and when He had found him, He said to him, 'Do you believe in the Son of God?' He answered and said, 'Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?' And Jesus said to him, 'You have both seen Him and it is…  ( Click for more )

“I told you already, and you did not listen.” I don’t know about you, but a wall goes up when I hear these words, that is unless I actively prevent it. I hate to be told that I have chosen to ignore a bit of critical information, or that my lack of understanding is due to my own ineptness. Yet, we all do it. If anything, I told you so’s ought to be wakeup calls rather than go to sleep calls. Yet, that is how we that are self-deluded choose to treat them!

“So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, ‘Give God the glory! We know…  ( Click for more )

“He is of age; ask him.” Some things just sound better coming from the horse's mouth. But, then again some people are so blinded by personal agendas that they will not believe truth even when the horse speaks. This was the case with the Jews who confronted the man who had been born blind and whose eyes were miraculously opened by Jesus Christ. Consider these men who refused the truth due to their own self-willed blindness; they typify those of us who have willed it such that we can never come to a knowledge of the truth; we reject the free offer of justification that issues…  ( Click for more )

“He is a prophet.” Justification was depicted in a real life event during the earthly ministry of Jesus. This series of articles explores John 9 and the events surrounding the gift of sight which was bestowed upon a man who had been blind from birth. At the end of John 9, Jesus likened the granting of sight to spiritual enlightenment and justification so we are making the same application throughout the chapter.

“They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also…  ( Click for more )

The men who saw Jesus perform the miracle of multiplying the loaves and fish said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” (John 6.14). They were to be commended for that statement, but the story does not end here. A crowd followed Him to Capernaum where they listened to Him for a while as He spoke of His relationship with the Father. We will note some of what He said as well as the reaction of the multitude.

“And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never…  ( Click for more )

I Went, I Washed, and I Received My Sight! The beauty of simplicity is illustrated over and over again in John 9 by the story of the blind man whose sight was granted by Jesus. Simplicity gets to the heart of the matter and strips away the irrelevant and incidental details. That is exactly what is done in this story. As a reader, you are challenged to review the entire record of these events as we proceed through this series of messages. We resume today's message just at the point where the blind beggar returned to the presence of people who had routinely seen him with his disability. …  ( Click for more )

Seen any icons today? Every computer user knows about icons. Certain religions revere icons. Some buildings are referred to as icons. Certain sports heroes are recognized as icons. Icons are a part of our 21century culture. Today's article will address the Original Icon!

When man was created, he was created in the image (Gr. = eikon) of God (Genesis 1.26,1 Corinthians 11.7). The designer behind all designs is God; He is the original icon! Everything within this universe that is subject to the laws of this universe had a predecessor. Nothing, not one thing, of a material…  ( Click for more )

The Blind Man Came Back Seeing! This is the turning point of this message and lynch pin of the entire New Testament. Had he come back not seeing, it would have proved Jesus to be an impostor. However, the fact that He came back seeing is proof in and of itself that Jesus is the Son of God and it guarantees that what He claims to be and to be able to do are real and factual claims!

“Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' Jesus answered, 'Neither…  ( Click for more )

Justification DOES NOT inherently involve consumption of gander sauce. If you are unfamiliar with the way I am using the term gander sauce, you are invited to go into the archives and read the last couple of installments of Today's Little Lift. Briefly, it involves the judgment that we bring upon ourselves when we unfairly and unjustly judge others. Personally I am opining the fact that I have been so spiritually blinded for so many years and now find myself having to retract as it were so much of what I have taught and thought to be true.

Don't get me wrong; it is not all bad.…  ( Click for more )

A huge serving of gander sauce was served up when I asked my friend where he would draw the lines of spiritual fellowship/support should he take steps to depart from the church tradition in which he and I had been reared (see yesterday’s message for a more complete explanation). This forced me to consider where I had drawn my lines of fellowship and the reasons they were drawn where they were.

Drawing lines of fellowship (i.e. deciding who is right in God’s sight and who is not right in God’s sight) is a huge undertaking. Once one starts down that path there…  ( Click for more )

Gander sauce is horrible tasting stuff! That's what we are forced to eat when the unfair rules that we impose on others are forced upon us. The idiom goes something like this: What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Gander sauce, that's what I've been eating a lot of over the past few years. And, to complicate things, it is still a frequent staple in my diet. Gander sauce is closely connected to human ideas of justification, hence today's message.

Having been reared, indoctrinated in, and formally educated in the rules of the Churches of Christ, I speak from personal…  ( Click for more )

“See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, ‘Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.’ Now this, ‘Yet once more,’ indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have…  ( Click for more )