Category: Jesus' Teaching

The Golden Rule

5/2/2022

Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:7-12 NASB95
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. [8] For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. [9] Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? [10] Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? [11] If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! [12] “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Jesus talks about God, who is the good Father who gives good gifts to His children. He then pivots the focus of His teaching on "us." He said, "therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you..." This is commonly known as the "Golden Rule." It seems pretty straight-forward; a concept easy to grasp. Can you imagine the global impact if people actually applied this rule to life?

In this particular case, the "Jesus therefore" is important to note. We treat other people the way we want to be treated on the basis of how our heavenly Father has treated us. This is similar to the new commandment that Jesus gave His disciples at the Last Supper. "A new commandment I give unto you, love one another AS I HAVE LOVED YOU!" That certainly challenges my narcissistic tendencies. Love others as Christ loves me. Treat others as God has treated me.

It made the national news! Around the time of Christmas, the police department of Boise, Idaho, has started applying the Golden Rule in a very novel way. Instead of handing out tickets the two weeks preceding Christmas, they hand out large chocolate bars. “What?” (And we aren’t talking the little 1.55 oz. bars, we are talking the 7 oz. bars; which is almost ½ pound of chocolate) For minor driving violations, the guilty party receives a warning and a large bar of chocolate from the police. Talk about good will; this is indeed how I would like to be treated.

Questions to Consider:

Would applying the Golden Rule to your life require a change in your behavior?
What are some of the "things" that other people do that you personally appreciate?
How would adherence to this rule by the masses change the world?

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Explaining Healing Away

2/25/2021

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John 14:10-14 (NASB)
10 "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11 "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. 12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. 13 "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NASB)
1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

Apologetics/Theology: In addressing His disciples, Jesus declared that they would do the same works that He did and even greater works. (John 14:12) If you examine the "works" that Jesus did it is a pretty extraordinary thought to suppose that we would engage in the "same" works. I do not believe that this gives the church of today, the permission to explain away the possibility of healing through the ministry of the saints. It is difficult to maintain a cessationist view of healing and other spiritual gifts in light of Christ's declaration. Why are "we" instructed to pray for the sick if we do not expect the sick to be healed? Make no mistake, Jesus is the healer, but He uses us as His vessels that continue to administer His grace; and so, we lay hands upon the sick and pray with the expectation that the atoning work of Christ is still in force and that the sick will be restored to health.

A Sign of the Times: The Apostle Paul declares that the last days will be difficult times. One of the more subtle signs will occur in the circle of religious people. v.5 "Holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power."
The attempt to put theological limits on the power of God in and through the people of God is a dangerous proposition. So dangerous that Paul told us to "avoid such men as these." Does God heal, save, restore and transform people today? "Yes!"

Questions to Consider:

What would motivate religious people to deny the power of God working in their generation?
How would you describe, "doing the same works" as what Jesus did?
Have you ever personally experienced an event that you would describe as a miracle?

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Discipleship plan

The Golden Rule

Explaining Healing Away

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