Author: BTP

The Son

“Honor the SON” (John 5:23).

His Incarnation: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a SON is given” (Isaiah 9:6).

His Life: “For He received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is My beloved SON, in whom I am well pleased” (2 Peter 1:17).

His Death: “He that spared not His own SON, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

His Resurrection: “And declared to be the SON of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4).

His Ascension: “We have a Great High Priest, that is passed into the Heavens, Jesus the SON of God” (Hebrews 4:14).

What a glorious subject! “The SON of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Example or Savior

Nicodemus, came to the Lord one night and said, “We know that Thou art a teacher come from God” (John 3:2). He was looking to the Lord as a great teacher and example. But the Lord answered him to show that what he needed was not merely good teaching, but a new life. Twice He plainly stated. “Ye must be born again” (John 3:3, 7). The following account illustrates this need in a simple but powerful way:

After a service in Germantown, Pennsylvania, a stranger accosted the preacher and said, “I don’t like your preaching. I do not care for the cross. I think that instead of preaching the death of Christ, it would be far better to preach Jesus, the teacher and example.”

“Would you then be willing to follow Him if I preach Christ, the Example?” replied Dr. Stearns.

“I would. I will follow in His steps,” the stranger replied.

“Then,” said the preacher, “let us take the first step. ‘Who did no sin.’ Can you take this step?”

The stranger looked confused. “No,” he said. “I do sin, and I acknowledge it.”

“Well, then, your first need of Christ is not as an Example, but as a Savior. And this is every man’s need.”

Moment by Moment

“I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10).

I am in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island this week. As always, I am staying with a brother in Christ who has had multiple sclerosis for 35 years. He is now 70 years of age, and to me he is a real example of an overcomer. During our evening conversation, he mentioned that old hymn written by Annie S. Hawks, I Need Thee Every Hour. His comment was, “I need the Lord every moment, not just every hour.” It is amazing how cheerful and happy he is in the Lord, and although he is longing for the Lord’s coming, or to be with the Lord through death, yet he takes everything moment by moment, realizing that all comes from the good hand of his God and Father. What a lesson! What an example! It caused me to pen the following lines:

Moment by moment, Lord I plead,
For mercy, grace, and help in need;
There is no moment I can be,
Without Your strength assisting me.
Strength for the day, strength for the hour,
Strength for the moment to empower.

The World — Part 2

“They are not of the WORLD, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth … . Love not the WORLD, neither the things that are in the WORLD … . The WORLD passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever … . Be not conformed to this WORLD … . God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the WORLD is crucified unto me, and I unto the WORLD … . In the WORLD ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the WORLD … . Having loved His own which were in the WORLD, He loved them unto the end … . According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the WORLD … . My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you: not as the WORLD giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid … . Go ye into all the WORLD, and preach the gospel to every creature … . Ye are the light of the WORLD … . Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the WORLD. Amen.” (John 17:16-17; 1 John 2:15,17; Romans 12:2; Galatians 6:14; John 16:33; 13:1; Ephesians 1:4; John 14:27; Mark 16:15; Matthew 5:14; 28:20).

The World — Part 1

“The God of this WORLD hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God should shine unto them … . God that made the WORLD and all things therein … . He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the WORLD in righteousness … . Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the WORLD … . Christ Jesus came into the WORLD to save sinners … . I am come a light into the WORLD, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness … . For God sent not His Son into the WORLD to condemn the WORLD; but that the WORLD through Him might be saved … . He was in the WORLD, and the WORLD was made by Him, and the WORLD knew Him not … . For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole WORLD, and lose his own soul … . I have manifested Thy name unto the men which Thou gavest Me out of the WORLD … . I pray not for the WORLD, but for them which Thou hast given Me … . I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the WORLD, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” (2 Corinthians 4:4; Acts 17:24, 31; John 1:29; 1 Timothy 1:15; John 12:46; 3:17; 1:10; Matthew 16:26; John 17:6, 9, 15).

Youth

“O Lord God: Thou art my trust from my youth … . Thou hast taught me from my youth” (Psalm 71:5, 17).

Life here on earth is short,
Youth soon will fade and fold;
Your Lord desires you live for Him,
Not wait till you grow old.
Don’t waste your youthful years,
Your best and brightest days:
Your Lord desires to use you now,
In many fruitful ways.

Youth lived for Christ is joy,
Many have proved this truth;
To wholly follow in His ways,
Brings much reward in youth.
We do not know how long,
Our life on earth will be,
We only know we have today –
“Lord let us live for Thee!”

Dear Young Christian:

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

Timothy was a young man who had been saved and had a real desire to live for the Lord and serve Him. Paul tells him to be an example of the believers by showing Christ in every aspect of his day-to-day life. He was to be careful what he said and what he did, as well as what he didn’t do, indicated by the word, “purity.” If Timothy’s service and ministry was to be effective, he would have to live his life as a model Christian. Sad to say, many believers, both young and old, mar their testimony through failing to exhibit these beautiful qualities of Christ that are listed in this verse. If what we say does not affect and shape our own lives, how can we expect it to affect and shape the lives of others?

Live for Christ this week, “keep thyself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22), and you will be a blessing to others, as well as having the joy and peace of the Lord in your own heart.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

He Laid Down His Life

“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit: and having said thus, He gave up the ghost” (Luke 23:46).

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

No one else could ever give up their life in this way. Only the divine Son of God could say, “I lay down My life” (John 10:15). He then could further add, “Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father” (John 10:17-18).

It is a wonderful thing to meditate on the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus at Calvary, and to realize that it was all for the glory of God His Father and for our eternal blessing. It is a precious truth and an awesome reality to be able to say, “He laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16). And it is a marvelous thing to be able to echo with the Apostle Paul, “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Safe

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10).

When traveling in the Caribbean, you see all kinds of sayings, and even Bible verses, decorating vehicles. Recently, on the back of a taxi van on the island of Saint Vincent, I saw the following:

Christ’s work makes one safe!

Yes, to be saved is to be safe. Safe from the judgment that is coming on this world, and safe from eternal punishment in hell. It brought to mind the words of a hymn I grew up singing. Here is a part of it:

Safe in Christ, the weakest child
Stands in all God’s favor;
All in Christ are reconciled
Through that only Savior.
Once their sins on every side,
Seemed to tower o’er them;
Christ has stemmed the angry tide;
Been through death before them.

Are you “safe in Christ?”

Monthly Question Page

Q. Can you please explain why in Matthew it says, “They stripped Him, and put on Him a SCARLET robe” (27:28), but in John it says, “a PURPLE robe” (19:2)?

A. The answer is really very simple. There is no contradiction here, and no mistake in translation. There could easily have been two robes in which the Lord was arrayed and mocked at different times during His trial. In keeping with the character of the inspired writers each only mentions the color that is in keeping with their presentation, and aspects of the Lord Jesus which they are called on to record.

Matthew presents the Lord as the Jewish Messiah, the King of the Jews. As scarlet was the Jewish color of royalty, he is the one that records that particular robe.

On the other hand, John writes from the Gentile perspective. Purple being the royal color of the gentiles (particularly the Romans in this case), he records the incident of the purple robe.

In these two robes, as well as other numerous indications, we see both Jew and Gentile united in their rejection of the Son of God. Thankfully, there is a day coming when He will be universally owned as “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16).