Don't be bitter

A bitter Christian can be someone who has been disappointed by the actions of other Christians. If you cannot forgive those believers who have let you down, if you hold a grudge against them, then you are setting yourself up for failure in your Christian walk. You will be walking in darkness in that you are not abiding in the light of fellowship with God.

The Apostle John wrote, "9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes." 1 John 2:9-11

There is a connection between bitterness and hate. One who is bitter is not walking in love. You could choose to forgive and walk in love. That doesn't mean you have to like the way someone is, nor does it mean you have to trust them or not hold them accountable for what they have done. But if you are unforgiving and unloving, then you are not walking in the light and are subject to failure in your spiritual life and usefulness for God.

James wrote, "13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." James 2:13

The believer who has been or believes he has been wronged needs to seek to be merciful to those by whom he has been wronged. Just as God forgave us in Christ, we are to forgive others. But if you cannot forgive others, you will not receive mercy from God. This is a not about receiving eternal life, but about consequences in this life--about failure in your walk and service to God.

Jesus spoke a parable that addresses the consequences of not showing mercy: "23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' 34 And his master was angry and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses." Matthew 18:23-35

If someone or many have wronged you or offended you, do not become bitter and unloving and unforgiving. Do not take it out on all believers. Jesus gave the commandment to love one another: "34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35 This was a more specific commandment than the summary commandment to "love your neighbor as yourself." Don't set your expectations so high, for people will let you down, and remember that you let God down, and he has forgiven (and will forgive) you. God has shown you what is good and what he requires, "... to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

Abraham, the Star Count, and Justification

 In Genesis 15.5-6, we read about God drawing Abraham's attention towards the stars and saying his descendants will be as the number of them, and then we are told that Abraham “believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” Was Abraham justified by faith (“righteousness” “accounted” to him) at that moment?

There are a least 2 issues here that people raise. One is that Abraham seemed to already have been a believer, and it would seem that he was already justified by faith. The other is that the revelation of a great number of descendants does not seem like the revelation that would result in justification if believed.

I believe one should consider what Romans 4 and Galatians 3 has to say about Abraham to help in answering these questions.

But it has been pointed out that the Hebrew in Genesis 15.6 indicates that the statement that Abraham “believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness” took place in the past—at some unknown time in the past, probably before God called Abraham out of the country of his family to go to Canaan, for why would Abraham had obeyed God as an unbeliever? That's a reasonable argument to place Abraham's justifying faith before the star count revelation. The only possible alternate view would be that Abraham believed in the God of creation, but did not yet have the faith that results in justification. The belief that he did have about God was such that when God called him, he went. It would be like Cornelius who feared the God of Israel and prayed to him, but he wasn't “saved” until Peter was sent to him, and said the words by which he would be saved. Could this have been the case with Abraham?

If Abraham was saved in connection with the star count, what was it about that revelation that his believing it would result in justification? It would seem that whether in the past before he was called or at the star count revelation, his belief in God that result in justification would have to be in something salvation related. But that gets into the issue of what was the content/ object of the faith by which one is saved. Was it concerning the future Messiah being the “Savior of the world,” as the Samaritans recognized about Jesus in John 4?

Romans chapter 4 talks about Abraham's faith and justification, and it needs to be addressed concerning what is being looked at concerning Genesis 15.5-6. We read, “For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Romans 4:3

In that chapter, we also read, “¹⁶ Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all ¹⁷ (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; ¹⁸ who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." ¹⁹ And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. ²⁰ He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, ²¹ and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. ²² And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness." ²³ Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, ²⁴ but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, ²⁵ who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.” Romans 4:16-25

In the above text, it is obvious that the star count was not just about the people that descended from Abraham, but all nations. He would be the father of many nations, and that was according to what was spoken. We read in Galatians 3:7, “only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.” The star count looked to those who count as Abraham's spiritual sons by faith. We also read, “²⁶ For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ...²⁹ And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:26, 29 The star count was the spiritual descendants of Abraham, descendants by faith in his “Seed” that would come, being Christ: “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.” Galatians 3:16

Did Abraham understand all of this, concerning the true meaning of the star count, and that that star count would be because of his “Seed” (Christ), and that all who believe in that Seed would be justified? Romans 4 seems to connect the star count with Abraham's faith and consequent justification: “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, ²¹ and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. ²² And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness." Romans 4:20-22

If Abraham was justified at that point in time, it must have been that understood something about the true meaning of the star count, and that it would be through the future “Seed” by which all, including himself, would be justified.

Just as a note...Jesus did say that Abraham “saw his day...”: ⁵⁶ Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad. John 8:56

Galatians 3 speaks of the blessing of the Abraham Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3) which comes upon all nations by faith, and this was the gospel...: “the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, 'In you all the nations shall be blessed.'" Galatians 3:8 Could Abraham have understood this, that his future Seed would be the means of justification by God, for he and all who believe in that Seed, being Christ? Could it be at the star count revelation in Genesis 15:5 that he understood the promise in Genesis 12:3 and that was when he was justified. Romans 4:2-22 seems to place his justification at the time of the star count revelation when he was “fully convinced” of what God had promised. And Jesus said that Abraham saw His (Jesus') day.

I know that some will have trouble believing Abraham wasn't justified before the star count revelation—they will argue that he had to be saved some time before God called him to go to Canaan, before Genesis chapter 12. But could he have had the faith similar to Cornelius, before Peter came to him and spoke to him “words by which” he was “saved” (Acts 11:14)? Cornelius was a man who feared God with his whole household, before Peter came to him.

The only solution I could offer to support the view that Abraham was saved prior to the star count revelation, possibly as far back before the calling to go to Canaan, and make sense with the connection Romans 4 makes between the star count believed, and it being accounted to Abraham as righteousness, is that the faith by which Abraham was justified in the past was the basis for his faith at the star count revelation—that faith he later had was an extension of and consistent with the faith he had in the past, by which he was saved. I don't know if that makes sense, because it seems the text connects his justification with his faith in the star count, but it is the only way I could think of explaining it.

But it seems more natural to connect his justification to the revelation in Genesis 15:5. It was with that revelation that he came to understand and “see” Christ, his “Seed” as the means of the star count descendants that would come from him. Those who would believe like Abraham in the Seed/ Christ would be justified just as Abraham was: Abraham would be their father and they would be sons: “he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised [the gentiles], that righteousness might be imputed to them also, ¹² and the father of circumcision [the Jews] to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. ¹³ For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” Romans 4:11-13

Faith and doubt

 Faith is not about being right or wrong. A person can believe something that is wrong.

Faith is not about a quantity of knowledge about something. One only needs to know enough to believe.

Does being wrong—though one does not believe they are, and lacking knowledge about something--though they have enough knowledge to believe, mean their faith includes doubt?

When Peter began to sink, and Jesus asked him why he doubted, did he still have faith? Why did he start to sink? If a little faith is good enough, then what good was a little faith for Peter if he sunk and drowned? Jesus seem to equate doubt with little faith: ³¹ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:31 Jesus' reaction was one of disapproval.

James speaks of faith without doubting, does this mean there is faith with doubt?  “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:6-8 Could the double-minded condition be that one asks God for wisdom, but he does not believe God will give it? He asks God for wisdom, but proceeds to deal with the matter as he sees best, not waiting on the Lord?

Does belief require 100% certainty to be belief? This can get complicated.

There are some things one are not 100% certain about but they choose to go with it. They may say that they could be wrong, but they believe it is most likely or the best option. Is this a case of a faith that includes doubt? Is it just wishful thinking? Is it just a preference?

Is the idea of 100% too demanding? Or do we even need to think in terms of percentages? Belief by definition doesn't seem to include doubt. Faith and belief mean the same thing. There is nothing in the words themselves to suggest that one of them, such as belief, includes doubt. It would be better to say that there is a belief without doubt and a belief with doubt. But any belief that includes doubt means a lack of certainty.

Some will point to this text to say faith includes unbelief: ²³ Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." ²⁴ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" Mark 9:23-24

We do not know exactly why this man responded this way or what he meant. Jesus was telling him he needed to have faith. Maybe the man didn't quite know what was expected of him. Maybe he was saying he wanted to believe but had doubts. Maybe he believed God could heal, but he didn't think he would. Something was lacking, but the man did bring his son to the disciples for healing. Maybe he was just hopeful something could be done, but was not certain about it, and he was just being honest.

There can be things we are certain about, and other things we think are the most likely or the best option. The former would seem to be faith without any doubt, but the latter does seem to contain some doubt, because it lacks certainty, though one may still believe it is possible, or they want it to be true. Is that faith that contains doubt? For it isn't complete denial. (edited 1-1-25)

The issue of motives

 The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Galatia:

“But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you.” Galatians 4:18

Paul's statement suggests that what they did was right, but they should do what is right always and not just when he was present. Were they being motivated to gain praise from their action?

Motives are important, and especially when it comes to determining degree of guilt and sentencing in a court of law, but unless one knows clearly that they are being motivated for the wrong reason—in which case they should maybe cease until they are properly motivated—they should leave the judgment up to God.

We need to be careful about trying to judge other's motives, unless it is about a crime and the appropriate consequences.

Sometimes our actions may not be properly motivated, and yet they are not for men's praise or material gain either. One may do something that they believe is right, though they do not want to do it, and they struggle with doing it with cheerfulness.

The Apostle Paul said that “he who is spiritual judges all things,” 1 Corinthians 2:15 I take that to mean we should examine everything through the authority of Scripture, however, I don't believe that means that I need to try to discern the motives of everyone or even myself. I can just judge the act or thought as to whether is right or not. And unless it is clearly obvious to me that I am being wrongly motivated, maybe I shouldn't try to determine what my motives are (in doing the right thing or anything), and let God be the judge.

Paul wrote the Corinthian church concerning judging: ² “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. ³ But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. ⁴ For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. ⁵ Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.” 1 Corinthians 4:2-5

If one looks at the quote of Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:15, you will see there is more to what was said about judging: “he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.” 1 Corinthians 2:15 We should examine everything through the authority of Scripture, however, we don't need to try to discern the motives of everyone or even ourselves.

Motives are important, but the best way to make sure your motives are right is to be sure you are motivated by a desire or concern to be faithful and pleasing to God. As Paul said, “it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

Jesus said, “​¹ "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward from your Father in heaven. ² Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ³ But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” Matthew 6:1-4

Unless you know without a doubt that you are seeking praise from men or some temporal material gain, you should seek to do what is right and good, and you will have your reward from God; and he will judge the intents and motives of the heart in the day of judgment.

 (edited 1-1-25)

Death's timing and circumstances

 The book of Hebrews says, “... it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment...” Hebrews 9:27

Everyone is appointed to death, and it will eventually come, and there is no guarantee that one will get to die in their old age, when the body is worn out, and all systems are failing, when it may be welcomed or desired.

Believers live in the same world as non-believers, and the believer gets to experience the same loss of life as the non-believer in this world. 

God may intervene to keep death from happening, but it may be more common than not, that God does not intervene, and he allows nature or circumstances to take their course.

The unfortunate timing and circumstances of death can happen to both believer and non-believer. Both can die together in the same event or by the same circumstances.

The same kind of horrible events and circumstances that kill non-believers can kill believers.

The book of Job records the sufferings that God permitted on Job, that Satan caused. A major part of his suffering were the deaths of all his 10 children at once.

There was a Puritan Theologian named John Owen that had 11 children of which ten died in infancy, and the one daughter that survived to adulthood, married, and shortly thereafter died of consumption.

The Christian response is usually that God will be glorified somehow, someway, in that death or those deaths. It is said that we may not know in this life how that (God's glorification) will happen. 

The believer who has experienced tragedy and loss can sympathize / empathize with others who have suffered similar loss.  If the believer can continue in the faith and trust God after such loss, then it is possible for others to do the same.  So maybe through this, God is glorified.

The believer has the benefit of a future hope, being a resurrected life with God forever in the new creation—and with those who have died, family and friends, if they are also believers in Jesus as their Savior from sin.  Believers are not to *sorrow as those who do not have this hope, but it doesn't mean they cannot experience sorrow.   

^*13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
¹⁵ For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Updated 1/1/25

interesting comments

Some interesting comments made to me over the years 

A woman at work approaches me in the break room and says, “there is nothing wrong with profanity as long as you don’t use the Lord’s name in vain.”

A man at work approaches me at my work area and says, “stop trying to be perfect. There is only one that is perfect!”

I asked a co-worker if he believed in God. He said, “I do.” But then he said with a raised voice: “But I do not believe in the God of modern-day Christianity!”

The same co-worker one day said to me…”you say we are saved by faith alone. So what about people in the Old Testament?” I responded, “Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” My co-worker stared at me for a moment, then said, “Oh.” And just walked away.

I showed a co-worker my senior graduation picture. He showed the picture to someone in management, who after seeing it, came up to me and pointed his finger at me and said, “That’s why I don’t go to church!” I didn’t have a clue what that was all about.

One day a co-worker came up to me and asked, “do you believe in eternal salvation?” I answered, “I do.” He responds, “well I don’t!” And he walked away.

The human resource leader at work asked me if I would do the invocation for a profit-sharing banquet. After I said the prayer, before the employees and the local and corporate management at the banquet, a man in management came up to me and asked, “do you have a vocation?”

A pastor once had me fill in for him for a church service. Afterwards, he asked to speak to me in his study. There he says, “Jason, tell us what you know, not what you don’t know.” I thought to myself, “what do I know?”

A man in church one day said to me, “If I studied the Bible as much as you do, it would mess up my mind.”

A pastor once asked me to fill in for him on a Sunday. He said, “don’t speak on anything controversial.” I think to myself, “what isn’t controversial?”

The same pastor, at a later time, asked me fill in for him and says, “you can speak on anything you want—literally.” I think to myself, “really?”

A pastor once told me, “I am [he is] analytical, but you [me] are philosophical.” I think to myself, “So I’m not analytical?”

One Sunday morning after I taught adult Sunday School, a woman comes up to me and says, “I was told that you are kind of Stodgy.” I think to myself, “what does that mean?”

An elderly woman at church one day told me, “you are the reason I come to church. I would rather just come to Sunday School.” I think to myself, “Really?”

A family member once said to me, “I like your method of teaching.” I think to myself, “what method is that?”

all Israel will be saved

Besides the numerous OT prophecies 
concerning the restoration of Israel as a people, 
there is Romans 11:26 that says: "all Israel will be saved."

I believe Charles Hodge, being honest with the text, 

came to the correct conclusion: 

"Israel here must mean the Jewish people, 

and 'all Israel' the whole nation. 

The Jews, as a people, are now rejected; 

as a people they are to be restored. 

As their rejection, although national, 

did not include the rejection of every individual, 

so their restoration though national,
need not include the salvation of every Jew. 

All Israel does not mean all the true people of God, 

as Augustin, Calvin, and others explain it; 

nor all the elect Jews -- i.e. all that part of the nation 

which constitute 'the remnant according to the election of grace' 

--but the whole nation, as a nation."

(Hodge's Commentary on Romans 11:26).

"For I do not desire, brethren, 

that you should be ignorant of this mystery, 

lest you should be wise in your own opinion, 

that blindness in part has happened to Israel 

until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 

And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
For this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.”
Concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, 

but concerning the election,

they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." 

Romans 11:24-29