THE NEW CREATION

A publication of the Christian Discipling Ministries International (CDMI)

A magazine published bimonthly and dedicated to the spiritual

welfare of God's New Creation on earth.

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Volume 78, Numbers 7 & 8 July/August, 2016

Contents
Page
Contents.................................................................................. 1
Editorial: The New Creation .................................................... 2
God’s Reconciling Love .......................................................... 3
Preaching the Gospel ............................................................. 9
The 5000, the 70, and the 12 ..................................................12
Measure of Integrity ................................................................14
Words from Isaiah ..................................................................17
Pursuing Righteousness, Faith, Love, and Peace ..................20
The Hope of Your Calling ........................................................23
Q & A: .....................................................................................27
Portrait of Jesus: Blind Faith ...................................................29
Children’s Story Corner: Faith .................................................30
Family Corner: Teach Your Children to Honor ........................32
Prayer List ...............................................................................34
Grads/Websites ......................................................................35
Letters .....................................................................................36
Conferences and Conventions ................................................37

NOTE: The thoughts presented in the articles are those of the writer and are
not necessarily totally endorsed by the New Creation Staff. “Study to show
yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth.” – 2 Timothy 2:15.
“Prove ALL things and hold fast to what is good.” – 1 Thess. 5:21.

The New Creation magazine and all of CDMI other publications are sent out
free of charge to all who request them. This magazine and all of other
publications are totally supported by the voluntary and generous donations of
those who wish to help us in their work for the Lord. Your support makes it
possible for CDMI to provide this magazine and also other booklets and tracts
to the poor around the world. All donations are tax exempt .

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 The New Creation Editor’s
Page
Freedom and Human Rights are very important
issues for all humans. God created Adam and Eve
with a perfect mind, body and soul for the Garden
of Eden. Adam and Eve had not only freedom and
human rights as is discussed today, but they also
had freedom from all the worries, heart aches and
pains that humans experience today.

Adam and Eve only had one rule to obey and that was to be
obedient to their Creator. They, instead, chose to obey the ruler of
darkness. God being a just Father told them since they did not want
to live in His Kingdom under His rules, they would now live under
Satan’s kingdom.

However, as you will see throughout this issue that God knew
this would happen with Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve were to
propagate the world of mankind under Satan’s kingdom. This, as we
all know too well, is not what humanity wants. The loving Heavenly
Father has a plan for mankind to return to live under His Kingdom.
We hope this issue will help you to appreciate and understand that
plan and how loving and AWESOME our Creator is.

Mankind often asks the question,’ Why do bad things happen to

good people?’ The answer is,’ Because this is not God’s Kingdom.’
The experience humanity goes through now will make them greatly
appreciate the blessings that will flow in the Kingdom of God.

God has a plan for humanity for the ushering in of the Kingdom
of God. The main part of this plan is a perfect sacrifice for the sin of
Adam. The Messiah is the one who paid the sacrifice with his life as
the perfect Lamb of God. He lived a simple earthly life totally focused
on loving the Heavenly Father and obeying His commandments unto
death. He is the ransom for all the sins of the world.

Jesus Christ gave only one test that others would know who were
his disciples. He said the world will know you are my disciples by
your love; your love for the Heavenly Father, your love for the Son,
your love for the Bride and your love for the Kingdom of God. God is
still looking for these disciples for His Son.
J. Sochacki

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 God's Reconciling Love
The Sin and its Penalty
Adam and Eve were placed in the land that God had prepared for
them. It was a garden called Eden, and this pair was "very good,"
perfect of their kind. They were created "a little lower than the
angels." But they were without experience or established characters,
and a test in obedience and loyalty to their creator was appropriate. If
true to him, their relationship with God and with each other could
continue forever. The simple obedience test involved the fruit of a
certain tree, of which they must not eat. The penalty for disobedience
was clearly stated in advance. If they disobeyed God, they would die.
No type of conscious torture beyond death was suggested. They
would cease to live, and be as if they had not been. "The soul that
sins, it shall die." Everything of them that lived would die. And they
did sin by disobedience. Their sin was a violation of God's command.
Death came by sin. (Gen. 2:17, Ezek. 18:4, Rom. 5:12)
Adam had been told that "in the day that you eat thereof dying
you shall die." This meant that the dying process leading to death
would at once begin, and it did. The words threatening the penalty
said nothing about eternal torment. And nothing was said of torment
when the sentence was pronounced. "In the sweat of thy face shalt
thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it was thou
taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." This
language is precise. None need mistake its meaning. (Gen. 2:17,
3:19)

The language describing the execution of the sentence upon

man is also clear. "Lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the
tree of life, and eat, and live forever: therefore, the LORD God sent
him forth from the Garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he
was taken." The penalty was the taking away of all power to live. The
penalty was not a perpetuation of existence in misery. (Gen. 3:22,23)

Through the procreative powers with which Adam and Eve were
endowed, a race of mankind has come forth. Each member has
inherited the death penalty that was upon our parents. All have died
because they received a life quality that was not everlasting. They
could not escape death because they were unable to refrain from sin.
"The wages of sin is death." Even those die who do not bring death
upon themselves--infants for example. By "one man sin entered, and

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death by sin." All are born dying, not living, and that which we call life
is imperfect growth and a process of decay.

It cannot be said that God was unreasonable in not giving each

of us an experience exactly like that of our first parents. After careful
thought, each of us would conclude that under similar circumstances
we would have done just as did that first human pair living in the
prepared home. And when the arrangements which God has made
for forgiveness of sins are understood, it will be evident that God
took a course both reasonable and advantageous for the whole
human race.

All Guilty Before God

God does not change his principles of government. The same
loyalty to righteousness is still required of all who would escape
death. But because "there is none righteous, no, not one," all
continue to die. The Creator's fixity of rule guarantees the
unchangeableness of his designs. Even before human disobedience,
the Creator knew that man would break God's law by the exercise of
his moral liberty of free will. This foreknowledge led to the
development of a plan of rescue that the God of love could affect
without violating his own just law of condemnation. Love would
express itself by providing the sacrifice, a corresponding price that
alone could satisfy the righteous claims of divine justice.
The corresponding price required to redeem the perfect man
Adam from death would be the offering of a perfect man's life.
Nothing more could be required, and nothing less would be
satisfactory. But where would be found the corresponding price?
Since all were condemned, "none of them could by any means
redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him." (Psa. 49:7) In
this connection, recall how God justly condemned the whole race
because of one man's sin. The first man's posterity, which was in his
loins at the time of the transgression, has shared in the sin and its
penalty. If a man of perfect righteousness could be found, willing to
give up his life as a sacrifice, justice could accept that as full
satisfaction for all. This man would also be giving up life with a
possible bride and race that might have been developed from him, as
from the first man. And where was such a man? Surely, no member
of Adam's race could meet the requirements. And what assurance
was there that another newly created, inexperienced man such as
Adam, would have not also followed his way of sin?

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Love's Manifestation
Surely, the Son of God, through whom all things were created,
shared his Father's intense love for and interest in the race of Adam.
(John 1:3) He was not a man, but could he not by humbly leaving his
glory with the Father and his spirit nature in that realm, become the
man required? Assuredly! And his close association with the Father
had cemented trust and willingness to carry forward this important
element of man's redemption.
Divine power could accomplish his wonderful change of nature,
from heavenly to earthly conditions. And it did come to pass. He who
was in a form like God's form, "counted not the being on an equality
with God...a thing to be grasped,...emptied himself, taking the form
of a servant." (Phil. 2:6,7 ASR) He was born of a virgin, who had
received seed through the Holy Spirit. As he grew, the inquiring
Jesus learned of his special relationship to the human family. He was
a perfect human son of God. By baptism at the age of thirty, he
presented himself for sacrifice, saying in his heart: "a body didst thou
prepare for me." No longer would the blood of bulls and goats
foreshadow the sacrifice for sins. He was on earth to give his flesh
for the life of the world. (Heb. 10:5,10 ASR, John 6:51-58, Psa. 40:6-
8)

The glory and perfection of the first man is described in Heb.

2:7,8. "Thou made him a little lower than the angels, thou crowned
him with glory and honor, and did set him over the works of thy
hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet." But the
entrance of sin made a great change in man's condition. In view of
this, the Apostle continued. "But now we see not yet all things put
under him [under man in the earth]. But we see Jesus, who was
made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death,
crowned with glory and honor [as a perfect man]; that he by the
grace of God should taste death for every man." (Heb. 2:8,9)

How clearly is the ransom here defined. Adam, crowned with the
glory of perfect humanity, a little lower than the angels, and with the
honor of being ruler over the works of God's hands, loses all
because of sin, and his posterity shares the loss. As a first step
toward redemption, the heavenly son of God divests himself of his
celestial glory, and takes instead the glory and honor of perfect
humanity. He is the one who had participated in the creation of
angels and men. He is made "a little lower than the angels." He takes
this lower position for a very particular and special purpose. That
5
purpose is so definitely expressed that there is no room to question
it. "Jesus,...made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of
death,...that he by the grace of God should taste death for every
man."

The teaching in Hebrews 2 answers several questions. It shows

that our blessed redeemer was actually a man when on earth. He
had to be such, in order to provide a satisfactory price for
redemption. He was not "the God-man." Such an expression is both
foreign and contrary to Bible testimony. Jesus is described as "the
son of God," not as "God the son." Before he came to earth he was a
god, and since his return to heaven he is a god; but it was as "the
man Christ Jesus" that he "gave himself a ransom [corresponding
price] for all."

The Bible's ransom teaching confirms that the temptations of

Jesus were real, vital experiences to our master; that his prayers to
God were not formalities; that he really gave up his entire human life
and its potential for Adam and his race, trusting the Father to raise
him from death. His death supplied a price to correspond with every
requirement of God's justice. "To this end Christ both died, and rose,
and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living." "He
is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the
whole world" when they individually hear and believe. (Romans 14:9,
1 John 2:2)

The gift of his son to be our ransom is a testimony of God's love

for our race. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved
us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." "In due time
Christ died for the ungodly." And God ordained 'times' in which
should be explained forth the sacrifice our master made, why it was
essential, and what it makes possible. Some have already heard in
past and present 'times'. In future 'times' promised by the Apostle, a
full knowledge of this shall reach "all men," all others, even those
who have died. (1 John 4:9,10, Romans 14:9)

A clear understanding of the gift of God and of what the ransom

consists, confirms that the penalty of sin is the taking away of all life
in death. Jesus met this penalty by his death and offering for sin. If
the penalty for sin were eternal torment, it could never have been
met because it would have required Jesus to suffer torment eternally.
But Jesus "bare our sins in his own body to the tree [cross]." The
matter is clear. If eternal torment be the penalty for our sins, and

6
Jesus is not suffering it, then we are not redeemed. (Isaiah 53:6, 1
Peter 2:24)

But we are redeemed! We are "bought with a price," even "the

precious blood of Christ." The evidence that his sacrifice was
satisfactory is that he was raised from the dead by the power of the
Father. Jesus is now "far above all principality and power, and might
and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world,
but also in that which is to come." (Eph. 1:19-21, Acts 2:24, Phil. 2:8-
10, 1 Pet. 1:4)

The teaching regarding his great reward is repeated in Scripture.

Our risen Christ is called the "last Adam." "The first man Adam was
made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit." (1
Cor. 15:45) Having died on the cross, our Savior was raised by the
father's mighty power, and is now a life-giving spirit. "Put to death in
flesh, made alive in spirit," is the literal expression of 1 Pet. 3:18. It is
the risen Lord, not Christ Jesus as a man, who is referred to as the
"last Adam." To receive life through Christ, it is necessary to be
united to him, just as Adam's race received death on account of
being united to him when he sinned. But while Adam's race sprang
from him, Christ's race consists of those who come into him. The
union with Christ is of allegiance through faith and obedience.

All who fulfill the required conditions of faith and obedience are
transferred, so to speak, from the first Adam and his death to "the
last Adam" and his life. He that believeth "is passed from death unto
life." (John 5:24) Those who refuse this gracious offer after proper
enlightenment still have death abiding in them. So it is written: "In
Christ shall all be made alive," and, "Whosoever believeth into him
should not perish, but have everlasting life," and, "He that hath the
Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."
(1 Cor. 15:22, John 3:16,36, 1 John 5:11,12)

Glorious Results Assured

It was promised to our risen Lord that "he shall see of the travail
of his soul, and shall be satisfied." It cannot be supposed that our
Lord would be 'satisfied' with small results from the sacrifice of his
life. Nor would God have arranged his plan requiring a ransom, with
enlightenment and other blessings to follow, unless he had foreseen
results that would justify the cost of the gift of His own beloved son.
The permanent results of the ransom will be in every way worthy of
the father who devised the redemptive plan, and satisfactory to the
7
son who executed it and brings it to its glorious consummation.
(Isaiah 53:8,11, John 3:16)
Important promises provide a view of the benefits to come from
Christ's ransom sacrifice. "There shall be a resurrection of the dead,
both of the just and the unjust." "The sea gave up the dead which
were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in
them." "The hour is coming when all who are in the graves shall hear
His voice, and shall come forth." "As in Adam all die, even so in
Christ shall all be made alive." "They that hear shall live." God "hath
appointed a day, in which He will judge the world in righteousness by
that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance
unto all men, in that He hath raised him from the dead. And when
they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked."
(Acts 24:15, Rev. 20:13, John 5:25-29, 1 Cor. 15:22, Acts 17:31,32)

God is and always has been most mindful of his human creation.
Most people of earth do not realize that God sent his Son to redeem
mankind. But those who believe it rejoice in telling forth this message
of God's love. All full believers are owned as a certain "firstfruit to
God and to the Lamb." (Rev. 14:4, James 1:18) They are such
because they respond to God's invitation to assist in ministering the
reconciliation made possible by the sacrificial death of Christ. (2 Cor.
5:17-21) The believing church must endure affliction and death in
their process of preparation for future life and service in glory. (2
Tim. 2:11,12) "To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my
throne, even as I also overcame, and am sat down with my Father in
his throne." (Rev. 3:21) The authority of Christ and his church
glorified with him in heaven will bring in universal righteousness and
remove forever all evil and its effects. (1 Cor. 15:24)

If you now love righteousness and hate iniquity, let your life each
day declare it. Study God's word. Believe its promise that God will
make an end of sin. Rejoice that tears and sorrow will cease; that
death will be destroyed; that the dead shall live again. God is not
unrighteous that any labor of love be not rewarded in his eternal
kingdom.

G. Rice

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 Preaching the Gospel
“And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”
Romans 10:14
Christianity is made up of believers and unbelievers, the con-
verted and unconverted. These people all claim to be Christians. The
Bible teaches that one does not need to be a theologian to preach
the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostles were not learned,
well-educated men or seminary graduates when they began to
preach the Gospel. All they needed was the power and illumination of
God's Holy Spirit to "turn the world upside down" (Acts 17:6).

The message of the Gospel of our Lord is the Good News the
world desperately needs to hear. It is concerning the Person, life,
death and resurrection of the Son of God and what these things
mean in the framework of God's Plan of the Ages for the blessing of
all the families of the earth (Genesis 22:18). If these things are not
preached together, or if parts are left out, it is not the full Gospel of
our Lord being preached, but one that is fragmented.

The message of the Gospel must make clear that the human
being is lost, incapable of liberating himself from the power of sin and
death or from Adamic condemnation. It must affirm that the Lord
Jesus Christ is the only Redeemer sent by God for man's salvation
and the only Mediator or Reconciler between God and man and
between man and his fellow man. It is the only message that
proclaims the forgiveness of sins and the gift of abundant and eternal
life. There is no racial or social discrimination in the Gospel of the
Lord Jesus Christ. Jew and Gentile, educated and uneducated,
oppressed and oppressor, rich and poor, all need to hear the Gospel
of Jesus Christ.
But as the text above points out, "how shall they hear if there is
no messenger, no preacher? Will God send His angels down here to
preach? Certainly not! He communicates His Gospel through human
beings who are members of His family here on earth. However, there
are qualities that we, as God's messengers’ need to have. The early
disciples are examples of these qualities to us. Reading the book of
Acts, we discover principles that have permanent value for all
Christians. The only people through whom God speaks are those

9
who truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who filled with His Holy
Spirit faithfully proclaim the Word of God.

In Matt. 28:19, the Lord gave a mandate to His disciples, "Go,

therefore, and teach all nations." They were the ones who had been
with Him since the beginning of His ministry; they had seen and
heard Him personally, and believed. They had seen Him dead; His
resurrection confirmed them in their faith and hope. The doubts and
fears they experienced when Jesus was on the cross and in the tomb
were all laid aside in the exhilaration of His resurrection. Now this
group of disciples had the assurance that Jesus Christ was Lord
indeed to the Glory of God the Father.
Today in a world of uncertainty and fear, God speaks through
men and women who know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal
Savior and obey Him. This is of the greatest importance in the work
of evangelism. People who have not experienced the transforming
power of Jesus in their lives cannot be God's preachers, regardless
of their education or eloquence. They don't know Christ's true Gospel
because they don't have a personal knowledge, relationship, and
dependency on the Lord. God speaks through people who know Him
intimately, who love Him and desire to serve Him, who are aware of
Christian discipleship, and have a saving knowledge of the true
Gospel, desiring to be His witnesses wherever they are.

Today in the power of God's Spirit, we can go forward and

proclaim the Truth in His Word, not to impose our will on others, or
tell them how they should think and act. This would be contrary to the
Scriptures and the spirit of the Lord; but rather to let the Lord's Spirit
work in their lives to guide and teach them, helping eagerly when
asked. We must encourage others unconditionally to surrender
themselves to His will; to let Him control their mind, emotions, and
body, so that He can use them according to His sovereign purpose.
They should be guided and taught by HIM, not us.
Members of the early church held the Scriptures in high esteem.
They believed that the Scriptures were inspired by God and submit-
ted themselves to the authority of the written revelation of God. So
should we and so should we teach others. To preach to others we
must live a new life (Acts 2:42-47); we must remember the unity of
those early Christians was based on the teachings of the Apostles.

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 Those early Christians had brotherly communion, true koinonia
fellowship in the New Testament sense of the word. Those who
believed were of one heart and soul. This reminds us of Psalm
133:1, so often quoted by brethren everywhere: "Behold, how good
and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

The early disciples were ready to live and to die for the Gospel.
They were not Christians in name only. They were deeply committed
to the Lord and to His people and to the ones to whom they
preached the Gospel, and we must remember those times were
often a great deal harder than now. There was much anti-Christian
persecution, philosophies, idolatry, violence and poverty. Never-
theless, the Apostolic Church won great victories because they were
true believers in Jesus and were ready to pay the price of
discipleship.

May the Lord inspire each one of us, who know Him and have
knowledge of His Truth to become His preachers so others may hear
and believe the glad tidings of the coming Kingdom and have the
opportunity to become His disciples. May He empower us to boldly
speak and deep in our hearts make us sensitive to give a testimony
of genuine unity and love to a world profoundly divided by hatred and
violence.
G. Boccaccio

True Freedom

Ephesians 2:6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ
Jesus and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we
are united with Christ Jesus.

Psalm 119:45 I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to

your commandments.

Isaiah 49:9 I will say to the prisoners, ‘Come out in freedom,’ and to
those in darkness, ‘Come into the light.’

11
 The 5000, the 70, and the 12
Great crowds were attracted to Jesus and followed him about
(Matt. 4:25). When he saw the crowds of people he went up on the
mountain and the twelve he had just chosen (Luke 6:12-18) came up
to him (Matt. 5:1). When he came down to the plain a company of
his disciples and a great multitude of people followed him and a leper
came and asked to be cured (Matt. 8:1). Three groups are
mentioned here: the 12 apostles, the disciples, and a great
multitude.

When Jesus was going up to Jerusalem he sent messengers

before him who went to a Samaritan village that would not receive
him. After this he appointed seventy others to go before him to every
town or place he intended to pass through (Luke 9:52,53; 10:1).

In the Gospel of John these groups are mentioned in chapter 6.

Verses 1-69 show their mentality as well as why they were following
Jesus.
The 5000

The group of 5000, besides women and children, were like sheep
without a shepherd and Jesus had compassion for them. During the
day he healed their diseases. Later in the day, he fed them with five
loaves of bread and two fish. When all had finished eating, the
disciples recovered all that was left so that nothing would be wasted.
When the people saw the signs he showed, they believed he was the
Prophet who was to come. Jesus realized they had in mind to come
take him by force to make him king and after sending the apostles
across the sea, he went back up the mountain alone (Matt. 14:15-21;
John 6:10-15).

In the fourth watch, he too crossed the sea, walking on the water.
The next morning the crowd went to Capernaum in search of him
and on finding him they asked when he had gotten there and how he
had crossed the sea. Instead of answering their question, he
reminded them that they followed him for the literal bread, such as
they had eaten the prior day. Even though they had seen the healing
he had done, the feeding of the 5000, and the crossing of the lake
without a boat, they asked him for a sign (John 6:22-31).

12
 The scribes and Pharisees also asked for a sign that they might
believe Jesus. He replied, “Only a wicked and faithless age insists
upon a sign, and no sign will be given it but the sign of the prophet
Jonah.” Like Jonah being in the whale three days and three nights,
the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the
earth (Matt. 12: 38-40).

The representative group of 5000 followed Jesus at every

opportunity. They called “Hosanna to the King” when he rode into
Jerusalem on Nisan 10 (Matt. 21:9). Four days later, on Nisan 14,
they cried, “crucify him” (Matt. 27:22). At Pentecost, after Peter had
told them exactly who Jesus was and what they had done, they
asked “. . . what shall we do?” Peter told them that they must repent
and be baptized. They gladly received his words and were baptized.
That same day about 3000 were added to the church (Acts 2: 36-41).

The 70

Jesus turns his attention to the seventy after the great crowd has
left. This group was sent to tell the people the Kingdom of God is
close upon them. Whoever does not listen to them, or disregards
them does not listen to or regard Jesus. Nor do they regard the
Father.

In the sixth chapter of John, Jesus stresses that he is the bread

from heaven, the bread of life which came down from heaven, the
living bread, and that he who eats this bread will live forever (John 6:
31-35,41,51,58) and that he gives his life for the world (verse 53).
When the crowd says they “were given bread out of heaven to eat”
(verse 31), Jesus tells them that the manna they ate was not from
Moses but “my Father gives you the bread out of heaven.” He also
said that except you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his
blood you have no life in you.

Those who do eat his flesh and drink his blood he will raise at the
last day. Many of his disciples said, “This is a hard saying, who can
hear it?” (verse 60). This was repulsive to their understanding of the
Law of Moses, but Jesus knew from the beginning who believed not
(verse 65). From this time on many of his disciples no longer
followed him.

13
 The 12

The 5000 had left, many of the disciples had gone away, so
Jesus said to the twelve, “Will you also go away? (John 6:67). There
is much information in this verse that speaks to the first two groups.
Peter answered and said, “To whom shall we go? You have the
words of eternal life. We believe and are sure that you are the
Christ, the Son of the living God,” Peter shows here a
comprehension of facts that the 5000 and the 70 did not possess.
He sees that Jesus is the only way to eternal life.

Conclusion

People were attracted to Jesus in large numbers, but for different

reasons, illustrated within these three groups; they also serve to
illustrate Christian mentality today.

If he really was the Prophet, the 5000 wanted to make him an

earthly king and they followed him because he had given them food
to eat. They wanted a sign that he was more than just another
human being; they knew his parents; how could he be from heaven.
They did not understand what was meant when Jesus said, “he who
believes in me will live because of me” (John 6:15, 26, 30, 42, 57).

The disciples, represented by the 70, did not understand that the
things he said to them about eating his flesh and drinking his blood
were of the spirit. That is why he had said to them “No one can
come to me unless he is enabled to do so by the Father” (John 6:65).

Peter’s response when Jesus asked the 12, “Do you mean to go
away too?” shows that he understood there was no one else to
follow. “You have the message of eternal life, and we believe and are
satisfied that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:69).

G. Ibasfalean

14
 Measure of Integrity
Isn’t it true that our culture often sets the standard for what is right?
If something has been acceptable for years around us, then we might
not even give any thought whether or not it meets God’s approval. Pure
and honest integrity is sometimes illusive. We read in Isaiah 55:8, “For
my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,
declares the LORD.” Truly laying hold of this truth in our lives means that
we must be well acquainted with His principles and standards. Even
then, we may fall short of His standards. God’s principles are much
higher than ours and certainly than that of the world’s.

The following is a quotation from a book “Misreading Scripture with

Western Eyes”(*) by the co-author Randolph Richards, a missionary
teaching at that time in a Christian school in Indonesia: “I remember
grading my first multiple-choice exam in Indonesia. I was surprised by
how many students left answers unmarked. So I asked the first student
when handing back the exam, ‘Why didn’t you select an answer on
question number three?’

“The student looked up at me and said, ‘I didn’t know the answer.’

‘You should have guessed,’ I replied. He looked at me, appalled, ‘What
if I accidently guessed the correct answer? I would be implying that I
knew the answer when I didn’t. That would be lying!’

“I opened my mouth to respond, but then realized I was about to

argue him to a lower standard. I shut my mouth! My American
pragmatism had been winning out over my Christian standard of
honesty. What was worse was that I hadn’t even noticed until a non-
Western person pointed it out. What I found equally interesting is that
my Christian students in the United States today don’t enjoy this story –
because they still want to guess the answers.”

Our lives are filled with choices. Often our choices must be made
with integrity as the standard. As Christians, this standard must be
measured by God’s principles. We read in 1 Kings 9:4 (ESV), “….David
your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing
according to all that I have commanded you (all Israel), and keeping my
statutes and my rules.” Though David was not perfect, we read in Acts
13:22, “I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart,
who will do all my will.” Can this be said of you and me, that we have a
heart that is “after His heart” and that we will do all His will?

15
 The Apostle Paul wrote, “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to
God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that
they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being
ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own,
they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the
law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:1-4 (ESV).
We, too, must be aware that it is possible that our righteousness is not
aligned with God’s as perfectly shown us in the life of His Son, Jesus
Christ, and is our basis of measurement. If the Lord’s Spirit is dwelling in
us, then we can acknowledge the words of 1 Corinthians. 1:30-31, “God
chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to
bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in
the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who
became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and
redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the
Lord.’”

If we are looking unto Jesus at all times, we would have no problem

making proper and righteous decisions. He has left us the perfect
example of integrity and righteousness. We need to appropriate His
principles in our daily affairs and do what He would do in any given
situation. If we let the mind of Christ work in us, by the way of the Holy
Spirit, then we will find ourselves always in the perfect will of God.

Living a life of integrity will sometimes have a cost attached to it. The
cost will perhaps be opposing what the world values, not what is lasting
and eternal. On the contrary, wise decisions will not only be pleasing to
our Heavenly Father, but also have the effect of forming us more and
more into the character likeness of our Lord Jesus.

May our conscience be so sensitive to righteousness and truth that

even to consider another course would be like throwing up a red flag,
just like it did for the young student in our opening story. His decision
may have cost him a passing grade, but that didn’t matter to him since
his conscience said that it was dishonest to go against what he knew
was right. Our conscience must be regulated by the Word of God and
needs constant regulation. If we fail in this, we will find that the world’s
standards will gradually work their way into our thoughts and choices.

May our integrity be such that others will see that we are indeed true
followers of Jesus Christ and thus, be drawn to Him.

* Used by permission of InterVarsity Publishing

E. Weeks

16
 Words from Isaiah
Isaiah 16:5 God will establish one of David’s descendants as king.
He will rule with mercy and truth. He will always do what is just
and be eager to do what is right.

Isaiah 24:14-16 But all who are left shout and sing for joy. Those
in the west praise the LORD’s majesty. In eastern lands, give glory
to the LORD. In the lands beyond the sea, praise the name of the
LORD, the God of Israel. We hear songs of praise from the ends
of the earth, songs that give glory to the Righteous One!

Isaiah 25:1 O LORD, I will honor and praise your name, for you
are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them
long ago, and now you have accomplished them.

Isaiah 26:1-9 Our city is strong! We are surrounded by the walls

of God’s salvation. Open the gates to all who are righteous; allow
the faithful to enter. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in
you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the LORD
always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock. He humbles the
proud and brings down the arrogant city. He brings it down to the
dust. The poor and oppressed trample it underfoot, and the needy
walk all over it. But for those who are righteous, the way is not
steep and rough. You are a God who does what is right, and you
smooth out the path ahead of them. LORD, we show our trust in
you by obeying your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify your
name. In the night I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek
you. For only when you come to judge the earth will people learn
what is right.

Isaiah 26:13-16 O LORD our God, others have ruled us, but you
alone are the one we worship. Those we served before are dead
and gone. Their departed spirits will never return! You attacked
them and destroyed them, and they are long forgotten. O LORD,
you have made our nation great; yes, you have made us great.
You have extended our borders, and we give you the glory! LORD,
in distress we searched for you. We prayed beneath the burden of
your discipline.

17
Isaiah 26:19 But those who die in the LORD will live; their bodies
will rise again! Those who sleep in the earth will rise up and sing
for joy! For your life-giving light will fall like dew on your people in
the place of the dead!

Isaiah 28: 5-6 Then at last the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will
himself be Israel’s glorious crown. He will be the pride and joy of
the remnant of his people. He will give a longing for justice to their
judges. He will give great courage to their warriors who stand at
the gates.

Isaiah 28: 16 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says:

“Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and
tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on.
Whoever believes should never be shaken.

Isaiah 28:29 The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is a wonderful

teacher, and he gives the farmer great wisdom.

Isaiah 29:17-19 Soon, it will not be very long, the forests of

Lebanon will become a fertile field, and the fertile field will yield
bountiful crops. In that day the deaf will hear words read from a
book, and the blind will see through the gloom and darkness. The
humble will be filled with fresh joy from the LORD. The poor will
rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 30: 18 So the LORD must wait for you to come to him so
he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a
faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help. O people of
Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will be
gracious if you ask for help. He will surely respond to the sound of
your cries.

Isaiah 30: 29 But the people of God will sing a song of joy, like the
songs at the holy festivals. You will be filled with joy, as when a
flutist leads a group of pilgrims to Jerusalem, the mountain of the
LORD, to the Rock of Israel.

Isaiah 31:5 The LORD of Heaven’s Armies will hover over

Jerusalem and protect it like a bird protecting its nest. He will
defend and save the city; he will pass over it and rescue it.
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Isaiah 32:2-5 Look, a righteous king is coming! And honest
princes will rule under him. Each one will be like a shelter from the
wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the
desert and the shadow of a great rock in a parched land. Then
everyone who has eyes will be able to see the truth, and everyone
who has ears will be able to hear it. Even the hotheads will be full
of sense and understanding. Those who stammer will speak out
plainly. In that day un-godly fools will not be heroes. Scoundrels
will not be respected.

Isaiah 32: 15-18 Then the Spirit will be poured out on us from
heaven. Then the wilderness will become a fertile field, and the
fertile field will yield bountiful crops. Justice will rule in the
wilderness and righteousness in the fertile field. And this
righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and
confidence forever. My people will live in safety, quietly at home.
They will be at rest.

Isaiah 33: 5-6 Though the LORD is very great and lives in
heaven, he will make Jerusalem his home of justice and
righteousness. In that day he will be your sure foundation,
providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The
fear of the LORD will be your treasure.

Isaiah 33: 20-24 Instead, you will see Zion as a place of holy
festivals. You will see Jerusalem, a city quiet and secure. It will be
like a tent whose ropes are taut and whose stakes are firmly fixed.
The LORD will be our Mighty One. He will be like a wide river of
protection that no enemy can cross, that no enemy ship can sail
upon. For the LORD is our judge, our lawgiver, and our king. He
will care for us and save us. The enemies’ sails hang loose on
broken masts with useless tackle. Their treasure will be divided by
the people of God. Even the lame will take their share! The people
of Israel will no longer say, “We are sick and helpless,” for the
LORD will forgive their sins.

Isaiah 40:3-11 Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear

the way through the wilderness for the LORD! Make a straight
highway through the wasteland for our God! Fill in the valleys, and
level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth
out the rough places. Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
19
and all people will see it together. The LORD has spoken!” O Zion,
messenger of good news, shout from the mountaintops! Shout it
louder, O Jerusalem. Shout, and do not be afraid. Tell the towns
of Judah, “Your God is coming!” Yes, the Sovereign LORD is
coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings
his reward with him as he comes. He will feed his flock like a
shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close
to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.

Isaiah 40:28-31 Have you never heard? Have you never

understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all
the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure
the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and
strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and
tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in
the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like
eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not
faint.

Isaiah 45:17-19 But the LORD will save the people of Israel
with eternal salvation. Throughout everlasting ages, they will never
again be humiliated and disgraced. For the LORD is God, and he
created the heavens and earth and put everything in place. He
made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos. “I
am the LORD,” he says, “and there is no other. I publicly proclaim
bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. I
would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not
be found. I, the LORD, speak only what is true and declare only
what is right.

Isaiah 48:17 This is what the LORD says - your Redeemer, the
Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you
what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should
follow.”

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 Pursuing Righteousness, Faith, Love, and Peace
“Flee youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace
with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22

Among most Christians, righteousness and faith are often much

more vigorously pursued than are love and peace, in the sense that
many feel it necessary to defend that they are more “right” and that their
“faith” is purer than that of others. But the context does not speak of
defending what we have, but pursuing these to gain them!
“Righteousness” in this context is not primarily about being “right” and
“faith” is not primarily the “purity” of what we believe. Righteousness is
about living out God’s principles. Faith is about being faithful to what we
call our “faith”. The Christian must live out his or her faith and live all
that he or she holds as right, or else as James tells us (James 2), what
we hold, is dead!

But rather than pursue that line (though profitable), it seems good to
consider the rest of the title verse. The four key words are connected in
such a way that we see that living righteousness and living faith are
necessarily connected with living love (agape) and living peace all at the
same time, so that these work in harmony to accomplish God’s perfect
will in our lives. The context points out that ALL who call on the Lord out
of a pure heart are pursuing these four principles together in all that they
do, whether in conversation with others, or in actions for others, and
should be witnessed in all of our conduct. The verse states that we call
on him out of a “pure” heart; a heart not having its own motives and
goals, but one that is “pure” from these and fully devoted to the Lord’s
will, as was Christ’s. (I Kings 8:61)

This same Greek word is also used in Mt. 5:8; 1 Tim. 1:5 and 1 Pet.
1:22 for purity of heart. And it is used in 1 Tim. 3:9; 2 Tim. 1:3 and Titus
1:15 for purity of conscience. These also mean that such wisdom is free
and clear of all worldly and selfish thought or motive, and is thus pure
and ready to receive the full wisdom of God for the blessing it gives him,
as well as all those with whom he relates. And we see that our theme
context is also applied to our dealings with others as is shown clearly in
verses 23 – 26 of 2 Timothy.

Thus, the challenge for us to consider is if in every conversation we

have with everyone; brethren, family, colleagues, strangers, but
especially with our brethren, we are aware of and seeking to apply all
four of these principles together to maintain our pure heart, and to plant
with others seeds of righteousness and peace (James 3:18). This needs
to be our goal, not only when we seek to comfort and encourage others

21
and uplift them, but also when we discuss items of difference between
us, or when we seek to correct them in a view or an action as in 2 Tim.
2:25 and 26. The Lord has placed us with them for their good. And they
should be with us for our good.

Those who have had this experience with another as they both
share in this way, with both being blessed, and matured and
appreciating the work God is doing then and there among them, have a
glimpse and taste of heavenly things, and a great and wonderful
appreciation of how it is to live in the spirit and will of God! But often,
only one in such a situation is striving to share in this way, while the
other is being defensive of his personal “right” and “faith”. On some
occasions, both are being defensive and no righteousness or peace can
be sown at all, and neither can profit from the other. We need to look at
ourselves in all such encounters and see that we are living up to the
profitable admonition of this text. Whatever the other is doing, if we are
“calling on God out of a pure heart” concerning this encounter, then we
need to be sure that we are applying all four principles in mind attitude,
heart sentiment, and with the motive and goal of sowing seeds of
righteousness and peace.

When we contend earnestly and kindly, and yet strongly in sincere

conviction of our own faith and a desire to help the other, do we stay
alert to the responses of the other one with us? As long as they respond
in kind, the discussion can go on and on as both sides are seeking the
whole truth of God’s word, and they credit each other with the same
motive and thus are willing to listen longer to the reasoning of the other.
But when reason no longer seems to be available, and kindness flies
out the window, and the respect for the other’s motive declines, are we
alert enough to notice this, and see that profit from the continuing
conversation is no longer possible? When we notice this, can we stop
our own presentation, and suggest to the other that it is better to end the
discussion at this point, than to continue and have the result of falling
further apart from each other? If we can do this, we demonstrate a
greater concern for the other than for ourselves, and a greater love for
the other in wanting to do them only good and no harm at all. The wind
of contention can only produce a much higher flame that will burn up
what remains of any friendship or fellowship. It is far better to end the
flame by changing the topic to something more mutually profitable, or if
necessary, walking away to end it if the other presses to continue it. If
we need to end it, let us be sure it is not with any disparaging words nor
any form of condescension, showing rather, continuing respect by
preferring to preserve the friendship than to do any more harm, so we
can continue to call on God out of a pure heart.
J. Knapp

22
 The Hope of Your Calling

Eph. 4:1-6 “Therefore, I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to
lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by
God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other,
making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make
every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding
yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit,
just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
There is one Messiah, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of
all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.”

Songs have always been a part of the backdrop in my life

because as Shakespeare and Elvis both observed, “All the world is a
stage, and each of us must play a part.” Backdrops and music are
crucial in setting the tone of the particular production in which we
have the leading role. Songs like “Swinging on a star” remind me
about choices which I’ve made in my life, choices I continue to make,
and also set the desired mood with words like, “Do I want to swing on
a star, carry moonbeams home in a jar, or would I rather be a mule?”
Granted, those are utterly fanciful choices, but they set the stage
nicely for answering the really important questions regarding our
calling; questions which perhaps have been kicking around in your
noggin for a long, long time about just what exactly your calling is.

Perspective is crucial in this train of thought, because if you’re

only thinking this lifetime, your choices are limited to this present
sinful world, and not to the future sinless “ages to come.” (Eph. 2:7)
It may be that you’ve had a loved one die from cancer or some other
disease, and so you see your calling as becoming a doctor
committed to fighting, or even eradicating these horrific plagues upon
humanity. Or it may be that you’ve witnessed someone close to you
unfairly suffering at the hands of the law, and you see your calling as
being an honest lawyer helping people through the legal intricacies
and pitfalls of human law. If you’re only thinking this lifetime, then
these are indeed lofty callings which require many, many years of
laborious schooling, and then continual and intensive commitment on
our part to fulfill.

On the other hand, if your perspective is eternal, you may well

have been heavily influenced by disciples of Jesus who played a
major role on the stage that is your life. You personally witnessed
23
these disciples sacrificing their own creature comforts, their own
time, and put Herculean efforts into their tenacious pursuit of
pleasing, praising, and honoring God. Being a disciple of Jesus was
the obvious focal point of their life. You could just listen to them talk,
and you absolutely knew they were different from the world. It was
indeed a very, very peculiar difference you personally wanted with all
your heart, mind, and soul to emulate. That’s how it was with me,
and I’m guessing with you, too. You see in many ways, the world is a
stage and each of us must play a part. Meanwhile we have a
vocation to which we are called, there are backdrops and
background music setting the tone of the production, and we surely
have an audience watching our performance.

Now apparently, I’m just an old geezer, but it seems to me that

years ago having a singular vocation was considered a very excellent
thing. However, now it seems the buzz word is diversification, which
means to me being mediocre at a lot of things, instead of good at
one. I don’t buy that, because as Paul so succinctly summed up for
us there should be but one ultimate goal: “That I may know him, and
the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings,
being made conformable unto his death.” (Philippians 3:10)

Paul very well knew his calling and his vocation, because for him
they were the same thing. Clearly, they were his passion. Indeed,
Paul literally speaks of himself as a prisoner of the Lord, which may
sound a bit over-dramatic, but I assure you it’s not at all. Actually, it’s
precisely what Paul means by, “Presenting your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service.” (Rom.12:1) That salient fact is the key to truly appreciating
why Paul calls himself a prisoner of Jesus, also understanding that
there are two kinds of prisoners: both voluntary and involuntary. Paul
voluntarily wanted to be a prisoner of Christ with all his heart, thus
being a prisoner of Christ is something we should actively desire in
our own vocation, because it really is part of our calling.

Walking as a prisoner with all lowliness, meekness, and

longsuffering is not a popular vocation with the many walking down
the broad way leading to destruction. They’ll dismiss our hope as
simply a fantasy, and that you can’t prove it. But Paul says, “Faith is
the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
(Heb. 11:1) Jesus says, “Narrow is the way which leads unto life, and
few there be that find it.” (Matt. 7:13, 14) Frankly, when the many
start seriously embracing the word of the Lord, the opportunity to
24
faithfully walk the narrow way will no longer be available! The time
will surely come, as God has promised, when no one will ask his
neighbor, “Do you know the Lord, for they shall all know the Lord,
from the least of them unto the greatest of them, says the Lord: for I
will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jer.
31:34) Why? Because in that blessed day, the many will no longer
be walking the broad way leading to destruction. Praise God, in that
blessed day they’ll be walking up a brand new highway called, “The
way of holiness, where the unclean shall not pass, even wayfaring
men, though fools, shall not err therein.” It will be when, “The
ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come unto Zion with songs
and everlasting joy upon their heads. Oh yes, they shall obtain joy
and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 35:8-
10)

The world currently refers to this type of talk as sheer

foolishness, mainly because they labor under the widely mistaken
notion that you have to see it to believe it. Thankfully, Paul
understood that, “We see our calling; that not many wise men after
the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. For God hath
chosen the foolish thing of this world to confound the wise; and God
hath chosen the weak things of this world to confound the things
which are mighty. God hath chosen the lowly, the despised, and
even the wretched: that no flesh should glory in His presence.” (1
Cor. 1:26-29) We are certifiable members of the lowly, the despised,
and even the wretched. Our thoughts concerning our brethren should
be on “forbearing one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity
of the spirit in the bond of peace.”

You see, walking a narrow way is never the easy way to go, nor
is it usually the quickest way to go. Actually, it is like the old hymn
goes, “One step I see before me, ’tis all I need to see. He holds me
with his own right hand and will not let me go. I’d rather walk in the
dark with God, than go alone in the light. I’d rather walk by faith with
him, than go alone by sight.” My friends, we’re all in this together,
therefore Paul tells each and every one of us to watch and pray with,
“All perseverance and supplication for all saints.” (Eph. 6:18)

Confounding the wise and the mighty are things which God does.
As for us, diversification is not our goal, rather we should be thinking
singularly as in “one God, one Messiah, one spirit, one body, one
faith, one baptism, and one hope of our calling from the Father of us
all, who is above all, through all, and in you all.” It is both our calling
25
and our vocation to pursue tenaciously a course of pleasing,
praising, and honoring our one God, just as it was, and is our Lord’s
eternal pursuit. Why, you ask? Gee, I thought you would never ask! It
is, of course, because, “It is our reasonable service. Not being
conformed to this world, but being transformed by the renewing of
our minds to prove what is the good, the acceptable, and the perfect
will of God.” (Rom. 12:1,2)
J. Larson

True Freedom

Galatians 5:13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers
and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature.
Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

Ephesians 1:7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased

our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

Romans 8:21 The creation looks forward to the day when it will join
God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.

Colossians 1:11-14 So we have not stopped praying for you since we

first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of
his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the
way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will
produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn
to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be
strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the
endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always
thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that
belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from
the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear
Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Galatians 3:22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of
sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus
Christ.

Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath
anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal
the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering
of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised and to preach
the acceptable year of the Lord.
26
 Questions and Answers

Question: In John 21:15-17, why does it say that Peter was grieved
(hurt) the third time Jesus asked him if he loved Him?

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,

‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to
Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my
lambs.’ He said to him a second time, Simon, son of John, do you
love Me?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He
said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon,
son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to
him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ and he said to Him, ‘Lord, You
know everything; you know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed
my sheep.’” (John 21:15-17 ESV).

Answer: One of the obvious answers was that it reminded Peter of

the three times he denied Jesus in the courtyard while Jesus was
being interrogated by the High Priest. This was a very sensitive thing
in Peter’s heart for we are told in Luke 22:61-62, “And the Lord
turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the
Lord, how He had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows today, you
will deny Me three times.’ And he (Peter) went out and wept bitterly.”
Peter probably also remembered the look that Jesus gave him at that
time, as well as the three denials and his heart was broken again.

However, there is also hidden in the context something that isn’t

brought out in almost all English translations. Let us look at what this
is. The following is the KJV with Strong’s concordance ref. numbers.

So <G3767> when <G3753> they had dined <G709>,

Jesus <G2424> saith <G3004> to Simon <G4613> Peter <G4074>,
Simon <G4613>, son of Jonas <G2495>, lovest thou <G25>
me <G3165> more than <G4119> these <G5130>? He
saith <G3004> unto him <G846>, Yea <G3483>, Lord <G2962>;
thou <G4771> knowest <G1492> that <G3754> I love <G5368>
thee <G4571>. He saith <G3004> unto him <G846>, Feed <G1006>
my <G3450> lambs <G721>. 16 He saith <G3004> to him <G846>
again <G3825> the second time <G1208>, Simon <G4613>, son of
Jonas <G2495>, lovest thou <G25> me <G3165>? He
saith <G3004> unto him <G846>, Yea <G3483>, Lord <G2962>;
27
thou <G4771> knowest <G1492> that <G3754> I love <G5368>
thee <G4571>. He saith <G3004> unto him <G846>, Feed <G4165>
my <G3450> sheep <G4263>. 17 He saith <G3004> unto
him <G846> the third <G5154> time, Simon <G4613>, son of
Jonas <G2495>, lovest <G5368> thou me <G3165>? And <G2532>
he said <G2036> unto him <G846>, Lord <G2962>, thou <G4771>
knowest <G1492> all things <G3956>; thou <G4771>
knowest <G1097> that <G3754> I love <G5368> thee <G4571>.

Greek Strong's Number: 25

Greek Word: ἀγαπάω
Transliteration: agapaō

Greek Strong's Number: 5368

Greek Word: φιλέω
Transliteration: phileō
Root: from <G5384> (philos); to be a friend to (fond of [an individual
or an object]), i.e. have affection for (denoting personal attachment,
as a matter of sentiment or feeling. <G25> (agapao) is wider,
embracing especially the judgment and the deliberate assent of the
will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety—
Strong's Greek & Hebrew Dictionary

In the first two questions that Jesus asked Peter, he used the
word agapao, which is a deeper and wider kind of love. Note that
Peter did not use this same love in his answer, but rather each time
used phileō, the lesser love as shown above. He just could not in all
honesty answer any other way.

In the third question that Jesus asked Peter He used the word
phileō which is a lesser degree of love as shown above. Jesus
lowered his question using this time the lesser love. Peter realized
that Jesus did this so that he would not have to evade agapao again
this time in his response. This also added to his grief or hurt. But the
lesson was not to hurt Peter, but rather it was one teaching humility
that Jesus was conveying to him. No doubt, the lesson was learned.

E. Weeks

28
A Portrait of Jesus: Blind Faith
“He spit on the ground, made some mud with the
saliva, and put it on the man’s eye. ‘Go,’ he told
him, ‘wash in the Pool of Siloam’…So the man
went and washed, and came home seeing…Some
of the Pharisees said, ‘This man is not from God,
for he does not keep the Sabbath.” John 9:6, 7, 16

We experience the world through our own senses. That’s why the
blind man and the Pharisees reacted so differently to this miracle.
That’s why the blind man ended up with sight and the Pharisees
ended up spiritually blinded. The blind man was willing to step out in
faith while the Pharisees were blinded by unbelief. They could not
see the obvious!

In the Greek and Roman world, saliva was associated with magical
powers. The Pharisees would have had a negative reaction to Jesus
spitting on the ground, that and it was illegal to make mud on the
Sabbath. Jesus definitely liked to push the Pharisees buttons. Jesus
was the Son the Father used to create the universe, and when man
was created, he was created out of the dust of the ground…now
Jesus used the same dust mixed with his saliva to heal the blind
man’s sight. The Pharisees could not see beyond their Sabbath
rules.

It is in the Temple courtyard that Jesus puts this mud on the blind
man’s eyes and then sends him off to the Pool of Siloam to wash it
off. He does not accompany him on the trip. He just gives the man a
simple set of instructions to follow. The Pool of Siloam was not
nearby and the miracle took place during the Feast of the
Tabernacles, so the streets were crowded with people. Why didn’t
Jesus just heal him on the spot, as He had done with so many
others? Could it be that Jesus was restoring the blind man’s dignity
by rebuking his helpless life? He asked him to step out in faith and
wash in the Pool of Siloam. Sometimes that is what is required of
us, we must step out in blind faith and follow the instructions of the
Master and if we do, we might experience a miracle too.

D. Mathewson

29
Children’s Story Corner: Faith

Dear Ones,
My eleven-year-old cousin asked this question:
Why does it take faith to believe in Jesus? Perhaps
you have wondered about this, too. I hope this will help you to better
understand "faith".

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of

things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) An easier way to say this is, faith is
belief in things you have not seen. In school, we learn about people
who lived in the past and what they did, people like Martin Luther
King, Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington. In world history
classes, we are taught the exploits of Napoleon Bonaparte and
Christopher Columbus. We even learn of ancient peoples like the
Romans, the Greeks, and the Egyptians. All these people are
presented as factual, with no doubt that they existed. In school, we
are not told about a man named Jesus Christ or that he ever
existed. Therefore, when we learn about Jesus at home or at
church, he might not seem as real to us as other historical figures.

Since faith believes in what we have not seen, it takes faith to

believe in anyone whom we have never seen with our own eyes. It
takes faith to believe that Martin Luther King, Jr. was a real person if
you never saw him while he was alive. There is no one alive today
who actually saw Abraham Lincoln, so everyone who believes that he
existed has faith. They have confidence in the people who told them
about Mr. Lincoln or in what they read about him. This is true about
everyone in the past. If we personally never saw them but we
believe they were real, then we have faith.

Besides having faith, we have made a choice. We have chosen to

believe that people in the past existed and that past events actually
happened. I choose to believe that there was a Holocaust when the
Germans killed six million Jews. The previous president of Iran, Mr.
Ahmadinejad, chooses not to believe there ever was a Holocaust.
He does not trust the people who say there was a Holocaust and he
does not have confidence in the books written about it.

I choose to believe there were a Dr. Martin Luther King, a

Holocaust, an Abraham Lincoln, a George Washington, a Napoleon
Bonaparte, a Christopher Columbus, and ancient Greek, Roman and
30
Egyptian peoples. I trust my teachers who told me about them and
the books I have read about them. I have confidence in my parents
and grandparents who also told me about them. I choose to believe
the Jews who are still alive who say they lived through the
Holocaust. My family all had faith and chose to believe that these
American and world leaders and events were real.

I also see the results these historical people helped to bring

about. I remember that when I was a little girl, black people had to
sit in the back row of our city bus. Because of what Dr. King did
during his life, now black people can sit with everyone else. I can go
to Washington, D.C. and see statues and memorials dedicated to
Presidents Lincoln and Washington. Dr. King, Abraham Lincoln,
George Washington and Christopher Columbus all have holidays in
their honor. Obviously, many people choose to believe and have
faith that they were real. I can go see a statue of Napoleon
Bonaparte, his tomb, and the ruins of ancient Rome, Greece and
Egypt. Therefore, I choose to believe and have faith that they
existed.

I believe and have faith that there was a man named Jesus Christ
even though I never saw him. I trust my mother and father who told
me about Jesus. They were honest people who had a strong belief
in him. In addition, because I respect my Sunday school teachers
and the pastor at our church, I choose to believe this Jesus of the
Bible. They were all kind hearted, hard-working, generous people.

Millions of people alive today have chosen to believe in Jesus.

Even more who have died chose to put their faith in him. They have
built thousands of Christian churches worldwide, monuments to
Jesus Christ. I have personally seen people who choose to believe
in Jesus change their lives and become better citizens as a result. I
can go to Israel and see Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and the ruins of
many other places that Jesus visited. Two holidays, Christmas and
Easter, honor Jesus Christ.

Therefore, you see, Dear Ones, why it takes faith to believe in

Jesus. It takes faith to believe in anything we have not seen. I
believe in Jesus. In fact, if I chose not to have faith in him, how
could I keep on believing in Dr. King, Abraham Lincoln, George
Washington, Napoleon Bonaparte and Christopher Columbus? They
all believed in Jesus.
Love from your Aunt Nancy
31
 The Family Corner:
Teach Your Children to Honor
As parents, we all want what is best for our
children. It is often said that parenting doesn't
come with an instruction book, but that is because
we don't realize that YOU the PARENT are the
instruction book. It is right there in the fifth
commandment:

Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the
land the Lord your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12

If you want your children to be successful, first teach them to

honor you, their parents. From this all other discipline and
understanding will flow. A child that honors their parents will honor
their teachers, coaches, elders and all other adults. This is more than
simply being well behaved; it is teaching your children to learn from
the lives of their elders.

And you say, “How I have hated instruction! And my heart

spurned reproof! I have not listened to the voice of my teachers, nor
inclined my ear to my instructors! I was almost in utter ruin in the
midst of the assembly and congregation.” Proverbs 5:12-14

The child that realizes from a young age that it is better to listen
and prosper, than to learn by repeating the mistakes of others will
flourish faster, have less pain, and less heartache. Instead of
wandering around trying to discover themselves, they will march out
into the world with a purpose.

So how do you accomplish this? How do you teach them to

Honor? In the beginning, it starts with the very basics of teaching
them to follow the rules. As the parent, your “Yes” and your “No”
must hold true. You must win the little battles, no matter how much
they whine, complain, drag their feet and throw fits. Pick them up,
and physically change the situation. Children whine, beg and throw
fits because it is free, easy and it often works. Ensure that it doesn’t
work, that it isn’t free (discipline this poor behavior) and they’ll quickly
stop doing it. If they are able to resist your parenting thru simple
bouts of stubborn refusal, they will realize that you are weak, and will
have no desire to honor you.
32
 Once they begin to grow, they’ll start to crave more freedom and
more guidance. Your parenting style must expand beyond “Yes and
No” to “How and Why”. You must set your eyes to the future and
realize that your primary role as a parent is to teach these young
children how to grow up and become independently functioning
adults, and hopefully great parents. You must expand your coaching
and guidance from the basics to larger life lessons. If you focus too
much on micro-managing their tasks, you’ll either stifle their growth,
or drive them from your household.

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in

the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

Share, explain and participate. Your life needs to become their

blueprint to learn from, a springboard to launch them to a higher
level.

At the other side of the spectrum is an even more damaging

opinion, that a child should be set free to grow and discover how it
should be without too much direction, control or guidance, lest you
somehow stifle their potential. We rub our sore butts thinking about
Proverbs 13:24, and say “we won’t hit our children.”

Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves
their children is careful to discipline them.

Fixating on the rod, we completely forget the second part of that

verse. Sure, we don’t cane our children for minor infractions, but if
we love them, then we should make every effort to help them grow.
We can’t just cast them out into the wild field and hope they find their
own way, but we also can’t keep them in the greenhouse forever.
Instead, we must teach them to honor us, their elders and others
from which they can gain understanding.

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are
old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

So teach your children this most important commandment, and

then teach them to pass it on.
A. Allen

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Prayer List
“Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by
failing to pray for you.” (1 Samuel 12:23)

Let us be Prayer Warriors for our Brethren!

Adkinson, Grace – TX Leavitt, Denise & Richard – ME

Anas, Julie - MI Howes, Paul & Carla - UK
Allen, Peggy & Russell – VT Maurelli, Norelyn & Family – TX (d)
Andrada, Delores – CA Mazzotta, Eva – FL
Armen, John & Blanche – CT Miller, Alain – Canada
Behlau, Linda - IL Mitchell, Antoinette - France
Bews, Jim – TX Moore, Ralph & Mary Ellen – CA
Boswell, Arlene – IL Newling, Roseanna – NH
Burdett & Pollard Fam. NH/FL (d) Niewiemski, Elaine – NY
Buxton, Jean – England (d) Parker, Geraldine – CA
Carpenter, Gloria – KY Paul, Juleen - PA
Caudle, James – WA Penton, Jim – Canada
Chudzik, Jim & Sue – IL Phillips, Bob – MO
Cline, Ruth – MO Phillips, Stella – OK
Clonar, Marie – NH Pope, Trevor – England
Cooper, Don – NJ Raymond, Kathie & Family - NJ (d)
Csutor, Judith – CT Rice, Marjorie – CA
Day, Ronald – PA Riggio, Fran – NH
Dickson, Diane - HI Schultz, Dan – MN
Donnarummo, Joan & Dan – OH Schoff, Eileen & Family - NY (d)
Duhaime, George – CT Shallcross, Harry - Australia
Duhaime, Martha – CT Sotiropoulis, Maria – Greece
Dunn, Kim - MO Schwartz, Ruth – TX
Elliot, David& Family – IL Tremblay, Pat – SC
Fantuzzo, Sharon - NY Tuscia, Priscilla - FL
Fischer, Mike & Liz – WI White, Ken - NY
Frye, Ron & Mavis – MN Williams, Eddie – CA
Hall, Chriss - MO Williams, Nathaniel – TX
Harrer, Rich - AZ Wineroth, Judi – CA
Hauslein, Karen – MD Zychal, Ruth – NJ
Hawk, Debbie – PA (d) = death in the family
Ibasfalean, George - FL
Ketko, Marion – MI

Important: If you know anyone in the names listed above whom no longer need
special prayers, please advise us so we may remove their names. Thank you.

34
Bible Correspondence
Course New Graduates & Notices
Congratulations to the following students who have
completed their course and have been awarded a
Certificate.

Basic Course

The Republic of Cameroon: Philip Anthony Ngoe

Livingston, Texas: Joe A. Cook

Ransom Course

Zambia: Wilson Kambanzi

Advanced Course

The Republic of Cameroon: Catherine Dikana

You are invited to view the following websites:

http://www.cdmi.org (Christian Discipling Ministries International)
http://www.cbfchurch.com (Christian Believers Fell. in NH)
http://www.biblefellowshipunion.co.uk (Bible Fellowship Union in UK)
http://www.bbschurch.org (Lombard, IL)
https://sites.google.com/site/quietwatersdevotions/ (Quiet Waters)
http://www.cartyorkshire.co.uk (CART)
http://www.campblessing.com (Camp Blessing)
http://www.cbsm.org.au (New Covenant News- Australia)
http://www.homechristians.net (Fraser Valley, B.C.)
http://www.christianrespondent.com (R. Frye)
http://www.bibelgemeinde.at (Free Bible Students, Austria)
http://www.bibelgemeinde.org (Mission Work Bible Students, Austria)
http://www.kronline.at/bibelstudien (Free Bible Students, Germany (English)
http:www.softgrafic.com/bibbia (Italian Bible Students)

35
Letters from Our Fellowship
and Readers
From Our Mail Box

C. M., Georgetown, CA
God Bless your efforts to spread the glad tidings of God's Kingdom!

J. H., Stanwood, MI
Dear Brethren,
Thank you for your New Creation Publication. May your work be
blessed.

I. G., Richmond, VA
Dear One's
Loving greetings in Jesus Name. May you feel His presence with you
day by day.
Lovingly in His name.

Anonymous donor:
May our Precious Lord Jesus bless you and yours to the utmost.
Words to ponder--A mind preoccupied with constant planning pays
homage to the idea of control.
We leave God behind when we leave calmness.
Thank you for your devotion to sharing the gift of words to the
followers of Jesus.
His Servant

36
 Conferences & Conventions
The 66th Berean Christian Conference will be held at Grove City
College in Grove City, PA from July 2 – July 9, 2016. Theme: Taste
and See That the Lord Is Good. Theme Text: Psalm 34:8 (NLT).
Accommodations: Linda Behlau, 5732 Fairview Ave., Downers
Grove, IL 60516, or Email: behlau@mac.com
Plan now to attend.

The 108th Christian Believers Conference will be held at Gordon

College in Wenham, MA, from July 27-31, 2016; Theme: "Where
Your Treasure Is, There Will Your Heart Be Also." Theme Text:
Luke 12:33, 34.
Accommodations: Robin Boccaccio, 180 Beechwood Drive,
Crawfordville, FL 32327 or Email: waz44@hotmail.com
Plan now to attend.

Bible Student Fellowship Conference will be held at High Leigh

Conference Center in Hoddesdon, England from 16-21 August 2016.
Accommodations: Joan Charcharos, 10 Plaiters Close, Tring HP23
5TA.

UK Bible Students Conference: 28-30 October 2016

Note: If you would like to have your Convention, Conference, Camp,

or Seminar published in The New Creation Magazine, send
information or a program at least three months in advance of the
issue month of the magazine.
Send to: Jim Sochacki, 475 Green St, Harrisonburg, VA 22802; or
email to: wyojimmy@yahoo.com

37