How to Respond to Sin

The Old Testament character King Saul can help all of us understand our responses to our sins. The life experience of King Saul as summarized in I Samuel 15 is a classic dramatization of our responses.

Saul was commanded by the Lord to exterminate all the pagan Amalekites. From a human viewpoint that sounds unfair. The primary purpose of life is to prepare for eternity. God knew that all Amalekites had reached a permanent mind set of rejection, and continuing to live would not change their hearts. He wanted a base of evangelism in the land and knew King Agag and his people would hinder it. Therefore, based on His divine wisdom He gave Saul orders to annihilate them.

Saul disobeyed and spared King Agag and the best of the livestock. When confronted with his sin he  – – –

DENIED his sin. He lied and said: “I have performed the commandment of the Lord” (I Samuel 15: 13).

Just then could be heard the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the cattle he had spared. His sin had found him out.

Saul next RATIONALIZED his sin. He pretended he spared the best of the animals to sacrifice them to God (I Samuel 15: 15). God said, “To obey is better than sacrifice” (I Samuel 15: 22b).

Let me share with you the seriousness of disobedience. If you have a disobedient heart, a rebellious nature, a critical spirit resulting in unwillingness to submit to authority you need to read I Samuel 15: 23: “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”

To help our understanding of the seriousness of rebellion against God’s word Samuel said, “Rebellion is as serious as witchcraft.”

Saul, having been caught next tried to EXCUSE his sin by blaming others. Note in verse 15 he says, “They have brought them back…” Who? “The people spared the best…”  In verse 21 again he blames the people: “The people took the plunder…” In verse 24 he once more blames the people by claiming he “feared the people and obeyed their voice.”

Saul then CONFESSED his sin. In Scripture there are two kinds of repentance. Judas repented and went out and hanged himself. Peter repented and went out and converted much of the known world. The form of repentance expressed by Judas was regret over getting caught. The type experienced by Peter was a broken heart over what he had done.

These two kinds of repentance are expressed in II Corinthians 7: 10: “For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

How are you dealing with your sin? At what stage are you? Are you still denying it? Have you mastered the art of rationalization? Are you presently excusing it? Have you come to the point of confession? If so, is it “godly sorrow” or “the sorrow of the world” which “produces death”?

Bear One Another’s Burdens

Have you ever noticed how few people are interested in what you are interested in? How many people have you shown interest in things they are interested in? Oops!

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load” (Galatians 6: 2 – 5).

A conflict seems to exist between verses 2 and 5: “Bear one another’s burdens,” and “Each one shall bear his own burden.”

In verse 2 the word translated burden is “baros” meaning “grief.” These are burdens of the heart. For example sorrows. We should help people bear their sorrows.

In verse 5 the word translated burden, “phortion,” means responsibility. These are burdens of personal responsibility, duties for which they are accountable.  Persons should do the things for which they are responsible and not expect others to do them on their behalf.

Some social parasites can’t be helped because they won’t help themselves.

Often sympathetic Christians get the two mixed and as do-gooders want to fix everything for everyone. That is not good lest a class of leeches develops. Such has developed in our society. There is a class of persons who don’t want to work, but rather want the government to work for them and provide for them that which they can provide for themselves. Compassion compels us to want to provide for persons unable to provide for themselves. There is a difference between those who can’t and those who won’t.

It is good to show interest and offer support for people dealing with issues of the heart, emotions.

How many people have you been able to show interest in their interests? In doing so be wise in differentiating between concerns (vs. 2) and conduct (vs. 5).

Between the above verses 2 and 5 is verse 4 which exhorts us to examine our own works in light of Scripture. Romans 14: 12 tells us how to do it, “So then each of us shall give an account of himself to God.”

“Each one shall bear his own burden…” Each one includes all of us. That is, we each have our own responsibilities. We are to avoid being lazy or careless about our own responsibilities and not expect others to do them for us.

Reflect on the above difference in verse 2 and verse 5.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6: 2

Are You Listening?

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us….” Hebrews 12: 1

God helps those who don’t try to take over His work. Some folks are waiting around to fill a vacancy in the Trinity. It’s not going to happen.

There is an acute difference in listening and hearing.

To hear means to perceive sounds that do not register or require a response. To listen means to pay thoughtful attention so a proper response can be made.

While playing a video game a child may hear the parents voice saying something, but it doesn’t register and there is no response. The reason is the child is tuned in and listening to the sounds of the game.

As a child living in a very small isolated little town with no radio station I used to listen at night to WWL, the clear channel station out of New Orleans. It was long before stereo, digital, and other wonderful refinements. It being an AM station the sound often wavered and faded a bit. There was often static. How impressed I was that I could listen to the voice of Bonnie Bell originating from the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans. There were frequent interruptions in the broadcast but I would strain to hear what was being broadcast.  All the while I was listening to what they were saying, I was hearing sounds which didn’t really register. A dog barking, a train passing through town, or other folks talking didn’t keep me from listening to what I wanted to.

This text calls on us to tune into what the Lord has to say and tune out, that is not listen, to distractions.

Many of the statements of Jesus are introduced by Him saying, “Verily, verily I say unto you.” Literally, “Listen, listen…”  Be attentive.

If we don’t, we will drift away from them. The expression used in our text was often used of evaporation. Positive productive thoughts slip our minds like water inconspicuously evaporates.

Therefore, we need to give them “more earnest heed.” “Proscchein” the Greek word so translated carries the meaning not only to focus our minds on the truths, but to act upon them. If we keep on acting on them we won’t forget them.

The influences of the world are designed to defeat us, even destroy us. There is a colorful country song that describes it.  “They tore my heart out and stomped that sucker flat.”

Reflect! To hear means to perceive sounds that do not register or require a response. To listen means to pay thoughtful attention so a proper response can be made. Are you listening to what you are hearing from Jesus? If you are hearing His word and acting on it, that is your defense against the wiles of the world.

How to Help the Suffering

In II Corinthians 1: 4 Paul refers to his “tribulation,” then of “trouble,” in verse 5 he makes reference to his “sufferings,” and in verse 6 he admits he is “afflicted.”

Does that sound like your testimony? Do you ever feel like God has forgotten you?

Little Timmy was attending school for the first time. He was shy and nervous. He asked to call home. The teacher helped him place the call. When his mother answered he was so upset he couldn’t speak. He only snubbed. Not hearing a voice, his mother answered, “Hello, who is this?” The little fellow burst into tears sobbing, “This is Timmy. Have you forgotten me already?”

Who among us hasn’t felt like crying out at some time like the Psalmist (25:16): “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.”

Tragically much human suffering is caused by friends. This was the case of Paul. He was imperfect and his fellow believers capitalized on his imperfection. The entire book of II Corinthians is an explanation of his true calling.

Mark the year A.D. 391. The city Rome, Italy. The character involved was named Telemachus, a resident of a small rural village. He had been led to Rome by the Lord. He followed the surging crowd and ended up in the Colosseum. In amazement he heard the gladiators stand before the emperor and say, “We who are about to die salute you.”  Only then did he realize that they were about to fight to the death for the entertainment of the crowd. He shouted out, “In the name of Christ, STOP.” The noise of the crowd almost drowned him out.

As the games began he pushed his way through the crowd and eventually dropped to the floor of the arena. This tiny little man continued to shout, “In the name of Christ, STOP!”

The crowd thought he was a part of the show and laughed at first. They realized he wasn’t and became angry. As he pleaded with the gladiators to stop one plunged his sword into his body. He fled to the stand and as he lay dying his last words were: “In the name of Christ, stop!”

Then a strange thing happened. A hush fell over the crowd as the gladiators stood and looked at that tiny little man lying there. In the upper rows a man stood and made his way to the exit. Others followed. A dead silence gripped the crowd as others filed out.

The year A.D. 391 and that was the last battle to the death in the Roman Colosseum. Never again did men kill men for the entertainment of the crowd. This happened all because of one small voice that could hardly be heard above the crowd. One small voice — one life — that spoke the truth in Christ’s name: STOP!

Many people are suffering. Isn’t there a voice to say, “In the name of Christ, STOP!”

The Consumption of Alcohol Today

“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit” James 5: 18

This topic demands more time for study than most posts. May it be a blessing.

Did Jesus and His disciples consume intoxicating wine in observance of Passover?

Does the Bible admonition to “take a little wine for the stomach sake” legitimize consumption of intoxicants?

Was it possible to preserve wine in a non-fermented state in the time of Jesus?

These and related questions deserve an answer based on historical facts.

Consider the last of these questions first.

Ancients had several ways of preserving unfermented wine. One was to reduce the grape juice to the constituency of a thick syrup or even a jelly known in Hebrew as debhash and in Arabic as dbs. This preserved form could be used over a long period of time. By adding water the concentrate turns the water into unfermented wine.

Sometimes a cake was made of dried grapes which later was added to water to produce unfermented wine.

In the modern era a conscientious layman responsible for preparing the table at his church for the Lord’s Supper became concerned about using fermented wine. Being a pharmacist he utilized only techniques from the time of the Bible to produce unfermented grape juice for use at the Lord’s Supper. His name was Mr. Welch of Welch’s Grape Juice fame.

Welch’s concern grew out of the fact bread with leavening was forbidden to be used at the Passover. Leavening involved using yeast. As the yeast cells die the decay produces gasses. The fermentation results in the rising of bread. Purity was desired, so unleavened bread was required.

Welch reasoned why would fermentation not be allowed in the bread while being allowed in wine?

The Bible instructs people “Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup., when it swirls around smoothly; at last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper.” (Proverbs 23: 31, 32) The movement in the wine is caused  by the bubbles rising from the fermentation.

The Greeks, seeing movement in the wine, thought it indicated there was life in the wine. When such wine was used it influenced speech, hearing, and one’s ability to walk. Because of this outside control of the body they thought it to be a god and gave the god the name Baccah.

When the Bible appeals to persons not to be filled with wine (drunk), but to be “filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5: 18) it is teaching persons to choose the truth of the Holy Spirit, not Baccah. Let the Holy Spirit control your body, not an intoxicant.

Wine was in common use in the Bible times. It is helpful to understand how it was used in deciding how to apply Bible verses related to it.

Wine was normally stored in large pointed jugs called amphorae. When it was to be used the desired portion was poured from the amphorae into a large bowl known as a kraters. From the kraters it was poured into the cup known as a kylix. 

In the large bowl, the kraters, water was added before the mixture was used to fill the cups, kylix.

The ratio of water to wine varied. Different ancient writers noted different formulas ranging from one part wine to twenty parts of water. Others indicate a ratio of 1 -5, 1 – 4, 2 – 5.

At the wedding in Cana Jesus had the water pots filled with water and when the guests drank they referred to it as “wine,” the normal word for the mixture of water and wine.

Writers normally referred to wine mixed with water as “wine.” To indicate wine not mixed with water it is called unmixed (akratesteron), “wine.”

Drinking wine without it being mixed with water was looked upon as “Scythian” or “Barbarian.” Mnesitheus wrote: “Mix it half and half, and you get madness; unmixed, body collapse.”

Plutarch wrote, “We call a mixture ‘wine,’ although the larger of the component parts is water.”

The Jewish Encyclopedia states that during the rabbinic period “‘yayin’ (wine) was to be distinguished from ‘shekar’ (strong drink): the former is diluted with water (‘mazug’); the latter is undiluted (‘yayin hai’).”

The Jewish Talmud, which contains the oral traditions from 200 B.C. to 200 A. D. has several tractates in which the mixture of water and wine are discussed. The normal mixture is said to be 1 part wine to 3 parts water.

In the portion of that work known as Pesahim 108b it is stated that the four cups every Jews was to drink from during the Passover ritual the mixture was a radio of 3 parts of water to 1 part wine.

From this can be concluded that what Jesus and the disciples used at the Last Supper was not an intoxicant.

From around 60 B.C. the Book of Maccabees 15: 39 states: “It is harmful to drink wine alone or again, to drink water alone, while wine mixed with water is sweet and delicious….”

Justin Martyr around 150 A.D. described the Lord’s Supper in this way: “Bread was bought, and wine and water, and the president sends up prayers and thanksgiving” (Apology I, 67, 5).

Clement of Alexandria stated: “It is best for the wine to be mixed with as much water as possible… For both are works of God, and the mixing of the two, both the water and wine produces health….”

The mixture of water and wine was also used for medicinal purposes. Because of amoeba in water wine was added as a purifying agent. Hence, the Scripture says, “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for the stomach’s sake and thine other infirmities.” (I Timothy 5: 23). Wine was medicinal.

An admirable attitude is expressed in Proverbs 20: 1, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”

James 5: 18 concludes with “be filled with the Spirit.” This is in the imperative mood, a command, meaning do this. In the Greek it reads, be you being filled with the Holy Spirit, meaning to constantly let the Holy Spirit control your life.

If any form of an intoxicant controls any part of your brain the Holy Spirit is not in control and the command to be constantly filled is not being obeyed.

The same word regarding being “filled” was used to describe the sails of a ship being filled by wind that propels the ship. Let the Holy Spirit propel you.