To Him That Worketh Not

Romans 4:5 (KJV)
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Much controversy has arisen from what Paul is saying in these few passages and the misunderstanding have become the backbone of the large majority of denominational doctrine. You will hear things of salvation by “grace only”, “by faith only”, “by grave through faith only”, etc.
First of all, it’s this total missing of the context of Romans. We have to remember that Paul was addressing a group of Christians who were formerly of the Jewish religion. One of the first things that Paul was trying to address here was to hammer home the fact that the symbols of the law themselves meant nothing. In fact, many have abused this show of “privilege” to the effect that the name of God was evil spoken of (c.f. 2:24). It is in this context that Paul first brought in circumcision, grace and faith.
Secondly, while many will try to distinguish between the old law and the new by drawing the line of faith verses works, Paul made it very clear that grace and faith were indeed very much part of the old law. In fact, as he pointed out, it was through faith that the law is established (v. 3:31). It was through faith that Abraham was justified, even before circumcision (v. 4:9,10).
Thirdly, we need to be clear exactly what “works” mean. Paul used circumcision as an example of a work of the old law. In itself, it was useless and meaningless. It was only by grace, through faith that that one of old or new, Jew or Gentile, could be saved.
Some would use circumcision as a parallel to baptism. That just as Abraham was justified before circumcision, the Christian is justified before baptism, and in similar fashion, by grace through faith.
There are 2 major flaws for this line of argument.
Firstly, Paul was not discounting circumcision but to highlight the necessity of faith and that faith could be manifested in both the circumcised and the uncircumcised.

Secondly, the sign of circumcision is the “seal of the righteousness of faith”. Recall that the Israelites had to be circumcised after they had entered the promised land (Jos 5:2-7) as it was not convenient for them to do so in the wilderness. No where is it mentioned that baptism is a sign or seal, but indeed is the very step that puts us in contact with Christ’s blood. It belongs to the very act of faith, the same faith that imputed righteousness unto Abraham. If anything, a more possible parallel would be that of the Lord’s Supper, which Jesus clearly taught that it was to be a memorial (1Co 11:23-26). Christians are to partake of it using the authorised elements and at the authorised day. And yet, it is only significant and relevant to the Christian, and certainly, no faithful Christian will fail to observe it. According to Paul’s argument, no one can become a Jew just by circumcision, any more than one can become a Christian by partaking the Lord’s Supper!

So today, the concept of grace and faith remains the same. Grace is that opportunity offered to man to be restored to God, because sin separates us from God. Faith, as clearly fleshed out in Hebrews 11, is obedient action out of belief. As in the days of Paul, we need to be careful not to let our faith become stagnant but ensure that it is growing and continually working (as we read in James 2), with which can we be continually imputed righteousness, through Christ Jesus, and finally lay claim to the crown of life.

Do Evil that Good may come?

Rom 3:7 — Rom 3:8 (KJV)
For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

This accusation, believe it or not, is still well and alive today! In fact, it was one of the first ideas that I have come across even formerly as an unbeliever. "oh Christians have Jesus what, who forgives anything you do, so you can do anything, just ask for forgiveness"
Brethren, let us be careful not to be sucked into the worldly ideas, so popularized by pulp and celluloid fiction - there is no such thing as "balance" of good and evil! In the eyes of God there is no such concept of a heavenly subject "in charge" evil and hell! Unlike the Grecian concept of multiple gods on a mount olympus and many other world religions with similar ideas.
There is only good. Evil is the absence of good. Goodness from God is absolute. It does not require "evil" as a contrast, to establish goodness.
And that links up to the entire concept up to this point that Paul was trying to explain.
The actions, especially of the old law, were only meaningful in so far as the motivation behind. By themselves, they achieve nothing.
To give a loose analogy, it's like getting a cellphone for the purpose of communication. The cellphone is only useful for that purpose if it is used in the right manner! Merely getting one is useless. Getting one and just playing games on it is useless.
Faith is that "communication" - that underpinning factor. It has not changed since the foundation of the world. Yet the modes have changed as according to the dispensation - from direct communication from God in the patriarchal age, to through the law of Moses, to via the law of Christ.
And when we focus only on the mode and not the foundational purpose, we have made the mode void. We have made "circumcision" as "uncircumcision".
Even today, the liberty in Christ does not make us free to do what we like but on the contrary, make us even more sensitive to what God demands of us. At the same time, that whatever vestisages of ceremony left, as authorized by God, is not abused and reduced to mere ceremony but again established by faith.

What Has Thou To Do?

Psa 50:16 — Psa 50:17 (KJV)

But unto the wicked God saith,
What hast thou to do to declare my statutes,
or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
Seeing thou hatest instruction,
and castest my words behind thee.

I can't help but think of generations down, that John the baptizer would say of the Pharisees and Sadducees - "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" (Matt 3:7)
These were a group which were supposedly experts, teachers in the Old Law, and yet was sharply criticised by John and later even Jesus Himself (esp. Matt 23).
Indeed, when we choose to ignore any part of God's commands, we have no business in declaring His Word.
God forbid, yet this is the reality of the selfish desires of men, even till today, even as we observed the denominational confusion.
Are there morally good people among these "wicked"? Oh absolutely! Just as there are morally good, even superior, souls among those who practice other forms of religion or even the atheist!
What then? Shall we hold our peace and just let them do as they will?
God forbid! To do so is perhaps the most heinous  thing to do to another! If we truly loved souls the way Jesus did, we would spare no effort to at least bring the gospel to such. It is not for us to judge but for us to preach the truth.
It is not the "end game" while one still has a breath of life. As John the baptizer will subsequently say -
"Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:" (Matt 3:8). He knew his place. He was merely relaying the message. Yet all the same, if men, regardless of so-called believers in the denominational world or outright deniers of God, will not turn from their old ways, the label of "wicked" remains.
What is our repsonse? To continue to seek after God's Word in its pure simplicity; speak the truth IN LOVE (Eph 4:15), withholding nothing, excepting no one; and continue in good works that God may be glorified in us.

Priceless Soul

Psa 49:6 — Psa 49:8 (KJV)

They that trust in their wealth,
and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
None of them can by any means redeem his brother,
nor give to God a ransom for him:
(For the redemption of their soul is precious,
and it ceaseth for ever:)

Indeed, there is NOTHING in this world that is able to save the soul. Nothing that we can offer to God to redeemed our souls. The only thing that saves is the blood of Christ (1Pe 1;18,19).
Wherefore, our efforts should really be focused on the the things above and not our worldly possessions. Nothing wrong with the latter, but it is far to easy for them to become a distraction (1Ti 6:10,17;Mat 13:22).
V. 8 seems a little obscure and looking at the context, "ceaseth" describes the limitation of worldly riches. The ESV renders it clearer as - "for the ransom of their life is costly
and can never suffice,"
Oftentimes we fail to appreciate just how valuable our souls are in the sight of God!
Just imagine being the richest man in the world. Exceeding that of Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, etc. Imagine being 100 times richer.
And still, one is no where near the capability to redeem a soul!
Wherefore, it remains for us to take precious care of our souls, to nourish it with the word of God, to exercise unto godliness and fill it with good works, knowing very well a great price was paid for it.

Argumentum ad Verencundiam

Acts 13:50 (KJV)
But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

Such is the extent of deceivers who will stop at nothing to protect their interests. Unfortunately, many are taken in this manner and this happens in virtually every field of learning/knowledge.

Kyle Butt wrote of the term "argumentum ad verencundiam" (appeal to authority).
"This faulty line of reasoning suggests that a certain idea or proposition should be accepted because all the “authorities” accept it. And, while it is true that legitimate authorities can be trusted to supply real evidence, it is not true that a person should accept a conclusion solely because “an authority” says that such is the case, without that authority giving proper evidence for the conclusion (Geisler and Brooks, pp. 98-99)." (full article here http://www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=9&article=1249)

These were" devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city", not some corrupt, bribed, base fellows (although such were also employed! Acts 17:5). And yet they too can be misled by scheming people.
We need to be very careful of such possibilities. How often have we heard comments like "oh but so and so is so kind and faithful" or "so and so holds a ThD, surely he knows more than you do" or "so and so is held in such high regard, surely he cannot be wrong"
The fact remains, whatever the source, whatever the person, the benchmark is always against the Word. Even from the apostles (Act 17:11), even from angels! (Gal 1:8)
No amount of sincerity, piety, or scholarship can take the place of the truth in God's Word.
Let no man intimidate us into following what is deviant from the Word.

Betrayers and Murderers

Acts 7:52 (KJV)
Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

Seems like an unfair accusation levelled by Stephen! And yet one that is also echoed by Jesus Himself - Matthew 23:35
That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zechariah son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

And in fact, according to Jesus, the Pharisees were even more despicable ! Matthew 23:29-30  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous,
And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

Before we too shake our heads and wag our tongues, let us be reminded that it is so easy to go about establishing our own righteousness. That we too can focus on the things that we “feel good”, “feel right” about, yet only serves to offend and insult God.
And even today, the responsibility and consequence is ever more heavy and dire because we have had the hind-sight of history. Let us be forewarned, even as the Hebrew writer penned in Heb 10:26-29, that we should ever more be diligent to follow exactly what He has commanded, lest we too be labeled as betrayers and murderers!

The Penitent

Psa 38:17 — Psa 38:18 (KJV)

For I am ready to halt,
and my sorrow is continually before me.
For I will declare mine iniquity;
I will be sorry for my sin.

Psalm 38 is a powerful Psalm in times of our weaknesses.
Sin is a reality, even for the child of God (1Jo 1:8,9). The question then is how should we respond when we sin?

First and foremost is the acknowledgement of the transgression. The bulk of the Psalm is the psalmist pouring out his soul before God lamenting his actions, not sorry because he was "caught" but a godly sorrow that he has let God down (v. 1,2). Every time we sin, we offend God. It does not matter if someone else was affected or not, or that we get away or get caught.
"ready to halt" or "ready to fall" alludes to the awareness and therefore preparedness for the crisis, the keen sobriety to our own weaknesses and possibility of falling. Not that sin is inevitable but as Paul wrote, in 1Co 10:12, to "take heed" and not be over confident and cocky, which often results in the exact opposite of what we are sure of (pro 16:18)

Secondly, block out the negativity but at the same time, give no excuses (v. 13,14). Not to say that we pat ourselves on our back and say "it's OK". We are already past that from point 1. What is meant here is not being affected by those who are merely cashing in on the chance to gloat and even gossip about the situation. Oftentimes, it is such talebearing that wears people down even till the point where one never makes a comeback (c.f. 2Co 2:6.7) What then? Just walk away. No need take heed, no need to respond. Which leads us to the third point.

Focus on making right/doing right in the sight of God (v. 20). That is true repentance from godly sorrow that worketh salvation (2Co 7:10). God is ever ready to help and forgive His penitent children (v. 21, 22)! Don't wallow in self-pity. But instead, be resolved to work even more fervently for the Lord. This will in turn make us stronger to fight off temptation.

Finally, as fellow brethren, far be it for us to merely shake our heads and click our tongues, but try our best to help the erring come to repentance and after that render our full support to bring the fallen back to their feet (Gal 6:1; 2Co 2:7-10).

Let us all love one another, with the love of God that we may all one day be received up in heaven in glory.

Feet Washing

John 13:10 (KJV)
Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

The feet washing account can be taken at various levels.

The main thrust of Jesus' message is that of servitude (v. 15).  That even the Son of God came not to be served but to serve, to give his life a ransom for many (Mat 20:28).
Wherefore, we should similarly serve one another and our fellow man.
Why is it not to be taken literally? Because the context is not about the physical, as shown here in the verse but is symbol. Additionally, we do not read of feet washing being practiced throughout the rest of the New Testament

In order to be part of Christ, we have to obey what he commands. No more, no less. The ever impetuous Peter immediately tried to "outdo" himself by counter proposing, but as we all know, one cannot make one "more righteous" by doing beyond what is commanded.

On a more "speculative" level, if you please, is the idea of the state of mind when one truly obeys the gospel. One of the criticisms of a "plan" of salvation is the feeling of having form without function. Almost like the attitude of the Pharisees. Some have even extended to all forms of organised worship acts. An most certainly, one can merely go through the motions of worship, even the steps to salvation without genuine conviction. The contrast here is given between Judas and the rest. The others could he made "clean" because of their purity of desire. Judas on the other hand, had already made up his mind to betray Jesus, hence can never be made clean. In a like manner, even as we learn of the steps to salvation, yes, one can be like clean Peter, to truly believe by showing genuine repentance and the commitment thereof to make right, thereby making sense of baptism. But an unclean Judas attitude is one that makes the steps mere ceremony and does nothing for the soul.
Nevetheless, it remains for us to learn and obey what God wants us to do, and do it whole heartedly, in all purity. That is exactly what Jesus said of "sprit" and "truth" (Jhn 4:24). And we need not be stuck in the stage of unbelief, but as and when we truly turn and obey, God's grace and mercy will be extended.
Judas was given chances to repent, even after he realised his folly. Yet he blew them away by again taking things into his own hands, and taking his own life.

Praise of men

John 12:43 (KJV)
For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

This simple yet profound and hard hitting statement just about sums up the state of affairs in the denominational mish mash even today...

Even in the days of true miracles, there was a mixture of belief and unbelief. And this perfectly explains the reason for unbelief.

The evidence was clear then as it still is today. But when people allow their pride and prejudice to get in the way, no truth, however compelling can get in.
But some protest "there are some really devout and sincere people in the denominational world!" So was the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8), Cornelius(Acts 10), Apollos (Acts 18). And yet these too needed to be taught the Gospel, and needed to "update" their beliefs, and needed to obey the Gospel to be pleasing to God.
At the end of the day, it boils down to just how much we love God - to acknowledge and do the uncomfortable, and not give excuses like procrastinating Felix (Acts 24:25) or "almost persuaded" Agrippa (Acts 26:28).
Are there unfaithful members in the Lord's Church? God forbid, yet it happens, even from the first century. But that does not justify other "gospels"!
God cannot be pleased when we seek to please men, even oursleves, and surround oursleves with those who dance to our tune (c.f. 2Ti 4:3). God cannot be pleased when we seek only to do things that are convenient, self-glorifying, even "right", when we will not even acknowledge God in the way that He laid out (Mat 7:21-23). God cannot be pleased when we pick and choose as His commands and "ad lib" with our own ideas of what righteousness mean (c.f. Rom 10:2,3; 16:17,18; 1Tim 6:5).

Let us not seek to be men-pleases (including self!) but continually seek after God's pleasure (c.f. Col 3:22) and be humble and contrite to acknowledge if we should veer away, and have the courage to get back on track. Because ultimately, a "well done, good and faithful servant" (Mat 25:21,23) from the Lord, is all that matters.