mrtonyfrench

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6

Jesus is the truth. That is a powerful statement. Jesus simply doesn’t just tell the truth—He is the truth.

Christians believe in truth. We, as God’s people, believe that truth has been revealed in God’s Word. The Scriptures are given by divine inspiration and we are accountable to believe and obey what the Bible says (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  The “truth” that is found in Bible is profitable for us as God’s covenant people. We cannot cast it aside simply to fit in with the crowd. It does not change and it will not change.

We, as Christ-followers, believe in “objective truth.” We trust that the Bible reveals truth that is true for people, for all time periods, and in all places. The truths of Scripture applied to the church in the time of the apostles and they still apply to us today. The Bible may not be popular in our day. But, it is the truth given to us by God and we are bound to obey it realizing that we will be judged by its standards someday.

Society has individualized truth. In some ways, there is no universal truth in our country any longer. We speak of “my truth” and we assert ourselves as the ultimate authority. Such an approach to truth leads to chaos and dystopia. And we are seeing evidence of that break down every day.

God has called us to a better way. The truths of God’s revelation are not easy to obey. They require sacrifice, humility, and God’s grace. God’s truth is not always easy to hear, but, it is the only truth that will save you, restore you, and set you free.

Have you accepted this truth into your life? We have all sinned and fall under God’s just condemnation. There is nothing we can do to earn God’s favor. But, Jesus came to this world to live for us, die for us, and rise again so that you and I might have eternal life.  He lived for our righteousness and He died to pay our sin debt. As a result, all who turn from their sins and receive Christ’s forgiveness are saved and reconciled to God. This truth is true for all people, all times, and all places. And it’s the greatest truth that has ever been told!

Tony French

You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

Matthew 5:21-22  

Many in Christ’s day had misapplied and misinterpreted the Scriptures to fit their own agendas.  Jesus brought His hearers back to the true intent of the law in order that may hear it and apply it appropriately.

Let us think in this lesson about proper human relationships. Jesus deals with various areas of human existence in this Scripture passage. Let us examine them with our Bibles open and our minds engaged.

Exodus 20:13 tells us murder is wrong. God’s command in the Decalogue is clear. Even those who reject Christianity consciously know that murder is immoral.

Jesus takes this command to the next level. He declares that not only is physical murder sinful, but, He equates thoughts of hatred with murder and declares that those live in hatred will be judged. 

Jesus teaches us an important principle about interpreting the Law of Moses in this Sermon. He heralds the fact that the law not only judges our outward actions, it also judges our inward thoughts. Our private thoughts are subject to God’s adjudication as well as our outward actions.

Anger will happen in this life. We are called to deal with it quickly so that it doesn’t become a stronghold of sinfulness. (Ephesians 4:26) Crying “Raca” (which means empty-headed one) may make us feel good in the moment. But holding on to anger can damage us greatly in our life with Christ. Deal with it.

Tony French

The Holy Spirit is God. He is the third person of the Trinity. As Believers, we belong to Him and He lives in us. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)  The Holy Spirit is a person. He is not an “it” or an impersonal force. He has attributes that mark Him as a personal being. Let us examine three of His personality characteristics in this article. 1)      He is intelligent. He has all knowledge at all times of all things. What can be said of the Father and the Son can also be said of the Holy Spirit. He is omniscient in every way. 10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.   2 Corinthians 2:10-11  2)      He has emotions. He is not detached from our struggles, cares, and trials. He feels our pain and knows us by His power. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is genuine and robust to all Christians in every circumstance of life. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Ephesians 4:30 3)      He has a will. He gives spiritual gifts by His power and might. The Holy Spirit is all- powerful and omnipresent and He works His purposes through the events of history in order that God may be glorified. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.   1 Corinthians 12:11 Let us give thanks for the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He knows, He cares, and He works on our behalf. What a mighty God we serve! Tony French

Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:19

Greatness in the kingdom of heaven will not be found in prestige, power, money, or fame. Many of the kingdom’s citizens labor in anonymity. Instead, it is found in teaching and practicing the truth of God’s Word.

Jesus warns that those who lead people astray from the God’s truth would be considered the least in the kingdom. We know that false shepherds and teachers are prophesied and predicted in the Holy Scriptures. We ought to be on the lookout for these unsavory tares to appear among the wheat.

Those who teach and live the Word of God will be blessed for their efforts and pursuits. The blessing may not be of a material nature and that is okay. The greatest blessings are spiritual anyway.

We are called to teach and live the Word of God. This command is not only for preachers or Bible teachers. God has placed people in our lives that we can influence with the gospel message.  A parent, a friend, and an employee can be used by Christ to tell others about Jesus and give an example of what it truly means to be a Christian.

Tony French

For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.  2 Timothy 1:12

We believe that 2 Timothy was Paul’s last sacred, inspired writing including in Scripture. According to church tradition, Paul was martyred soon after this epistle was composed. There is a great deal of comfort found in this letter. I want to focus on the latter half of chapter 1, verse 12 today.

“For I know whom I have believed”

Paul was totally confident in His belief in Christ even as he faced the end. No amount of persecution could shake his trust in Jesus. Even death itself could not cause him to lay aside his beliefs. He knows who he believes in and he will not let it go.

We have the some hope today. We can trust Christ no matter the persecution and trials we face. We should be confident that Christ has saved us, sanctified us, and will secure us for the rest of our lives and for all eternity.

“and am persuaded that He is able”

Paul has an unshakeable trust that God will keep His promises. He had experienced the resurrected Christ and it changed his life forever.  He was totally sure that God was able to do what He said He would do.

Our faith should be just as strong. God is able to keep His commitments to us. We need not give in to fear and worry. He is able!

“to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day”

Paul understood that God could keep His covenant of grace until the very end. On the day of judgement, Paul know He would be vindicated for what He believed.

Our day of vindication will come as well. We will see Him face to face and it will be worth it all. Trust in the Lord and live for Him dear Christian. You will not be ashamed or regret it!

Tony French

For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

Matthew 5:18

The Word of God is enduring. The Words of our Savior make this point clear. Not even the smallest part shall pass away, “all will be fulfilled.”

When we say the Bible is inspired, we mean that, while God used human writers, He directed His Word, guarded His Word, and guided the biblical writers to give us His eternal truth. It is a miracle revelation of God to us.

The Bible is authoritative and binding upon us because it has God as its final author. We may not always like what it says. Nonetheless, we are all accountable to what it says. Let us give thanks for the enduring, inspired Word of God.

God bless you and have a great week!

Tony French

For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.  Ephesians 2:14-16

The cross is key to our theology as Christians. We are saved by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. We are reconciled to God through the cross. We are brought into Christ’s body through the cross. The cross is central to our faith.

As we observe this week, may we never forget what Christ accomplished on the cross. He died for us so that we may be forgiven. Even though we have sinned and deserved nothing, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).  God’s love was shown in the greatest possible way at the cross. May we ever be grateful for the cross of Jesus Christ.

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame,
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best,
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross.
Till my trophies at last I lay down.
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

George Bennard

Tony French

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

Matthew 5:17

The Bible is our foundation for belief and the rule of our faith.  The Scriptures are miraculous, inspired, and authoritative in our lives as kingdom citizens. (2 Thessalonians 3:16-17) 

Jesus teaches us about the importance of the Word of God in this lesson. We will only examine four verses in this study. But, they are chocked full of eternal truth that we need to learn. Be excited about the truth of God’s Word this week!

Jesus is the fulfillment of the law. Jesus is the fulfillment of the entirety of the Old Testament.  It all points to Christ.

Jesus fulfilled the ceremonial law by actualizing all of its types, symbols, sacrifices, and religious activities. Christ is our Passover Lamb. Christ is the Scapegoat who removes our sin. Jesus is the Lamb of God. He is the bread of life, the light of world, and the water that fulfills our spiritual thirst.

Jesus encapsulated the civil law for us as well. Jesus suffered the punishment for our sins and our crimes against God. Jesus absorbed God’s holy justice for us so that we could receive salvation.

Jesus fulfilled the moral law by abiding by it perfectly when He was here on earth.  He knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) and achieve the perfect morality that allowed Him to the perfect sacrifice that would propitiate our sin. (1 John 2:2)

The Old Testament has value for Christians in our time. It speaks of Jesus. He is the perpetual fulfillment of the Old Testament.

Tony French

¹² But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,¹³ so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;¹⁴ and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. ¹⁵ Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill:¹⁶ The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; ¹⁷ but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. ¹⁹ For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,²⁰ according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.²¹ For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.²² But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.²³ For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. ²⁴ Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.²⁵ And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,²⁶ that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

Philippians 1:14-26

In this passage, Paul is thankful for the preaching of the gospel. The Apostle is thankful and grateful for gospel proclamation no matter the motivation of the preacher. We ought to be thankful as well.

Let us pray for the preaching and teaching of the gospel message. May Christ’s life, death, and resurrection be trumpeted from the rooftops until everyone has heard the good news. Three prayer requests for the preaching and teaching of the Bible shall end this post.

1) Christian, let us pray that Jesus will be preached faithfully. We pray that the pulpits of God’s church will resound with truth week after week as the people of God gather and worship. We pray that the preaching and teaching of the church will be faithful to the Scriptures and faithful to the truth of God’s Word.

2) Believer, may we pray that Jesus will be preached powerfully. Nothing should overshadow the proclamation of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul tell us in 1 Corinthians 1:18, For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. May God’s power rest upon all who announce the good news to every sinner.

3) Child of God, we ought to pray that Jesus will be preached purposefully. Paul said He sought to preach nothing but Christ and Christ crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2) May Jesus be lifted up deliberately by His people so that all sinners can be drawn unto Him. (John 12:32)

Tony French

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” 

Matthew 7:24-27

Building on the right foundation is vitally important. The foundation determines the strength and durability of the structure. The same is true for our lives as well.

You are building your life on a foundation. We all are. Jesus said there are only two foundations on which to build your life. One is the solid rock of Christ while the other is the shifting sands of the world. Upon which foundation is your life being constructed? The contrast could not be clearer.

**One foundation is steady, the other is unsteady.

**One foundation will withstand the storms, the other will succumb to the storms.

**One foundation is eternal, the other is earthly.

**One foundation leads to eternal life, the other leads to eternal ruin.

Are you building your life on the foundation of Jesus Christ? Have you turned from your sins and received salvation through the forgiveness Christ gives? Do you believe that Christ lived for you, died for you, and rose again just as He promised? If not, believe and trust in Christ. Begin to build your life on the solid rock. You won’t regret it.

Tony French