Month: July 2023

I’ll never stop reading my Bible and neither should you if your immortal soul is important to you. I’m well aware that I need to listen to God every day if I want to maintain a strong and lasting relationship with God. This requires a commitment from all of us who seek to know God. God speaks to man through the pages of the Bible and we speak to God in prayer. That’s how our two-way communication with God is supposed to work. God is always ready, willing and able to speak to us. The problem is not with God. The problem is with man. When we don’t find God it’s entirely our fault because God has provided the Bible for that purpose. The simple truth is the vast majority of us aren’t looking for God and those who are don’t bother listening to God when they do find him. I read the Bible most days because I love it! I love God’s word and his revelations to me through the Holy Spirit. Not that I’m anything special; I’m not. God imparts his wisdom and shares his revelations with any believer who will immerse themselves in God’s word. All God’s children are equal in his eyes. Scripture confirms that God is just and impartial.

Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joint and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Genesis 14:13 – Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner; and they were allies with Abram.

Aside from prayer and witnessing for Christ, I can’t think of a better use of our time than reading God’s word, our Holy Bible, on a daily basis. I can’t think of a more worthy goal for our life than studying the Bible for knowledge, understanding and wisdom. It’s a journey that takes us a lifetime and the earlier we start the greater the wisdom and rewards. It’s always best to start reading and listening to the Bible at an early age and then never stop doing so during our lifetime. Those are the lucky ones. It’s sad that very few people ever get the opportunity to grow spiritually this way from childhood so they can reach their full fellowship potential with God. I didn’t have that opportunity but I’m at peace with where God has put me. We can’t worry about missed opportunities and what might have been. All of us live with regrets. The main thing is each of us needs to start serving the Lord wherever we find ourselves when we discover the truth of God. Begin your walk with the Lord with fear, humility and obedience to the commands of God as you understand them.

Hebrews 1:1-3 – God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

1 Timothy 2:3-4 – For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Philippians 4:19 – And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

I’m reading the New Testament now and I’ve just finished the book of Hebrews. I don’t know about you but reading the book of Hebrews always gives me a thrill. I don’t know what it is exactly. It’s just such a feeling of joy. There’s just so much spiritual meat in Hebrews it enriches my soul every time I read it. It’s well worth our time to discuss this important epistle of the New Testament. My first question is, “who wrote the book of Hebrews and why did he write it?” Biblical scholars tell us the author of Hebrews is unknown but I dispute that. I don’t believe everything that Bible scholar says just because they have a PhD and I don’t. Earthly education doesn’t impress God or me that much because it doesn’t always give us the spiritual wisdom we need. Don’t be lazy about your Christian faith and let yourself be spoon fed someone else’s spiritual wisdom when you can go to the Bible and seek God’s spiritual wisdom for yourself. I use other believers and Bible reference materials as a sounding board to help guide my study of God’s word but any spiritual understanding and wisdom I have is from the indwelt Holy Spirit of God. I’m one of those lucky believers that God has blessed by allowing me to feel the physical presence of the Holy Spirit inside me (on one occasion). I know I’m indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God by faith and also by personal experience. You have my testimony. The Holy Spirit is called our “helper” for this reason; the Holy Spirit will reveal the truth of God to believers who are ready to receive it through prayer and immersion in the Bible.

Romans 8:9 – But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

Hebrews 12:2 – Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Romans 8:11 – But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

The Jewish people (Jews) are also called Hebrews. God first called Abram a Hebrew in Genesis 14:13. Hebrew means, “the one who crossed over the river (i.e., the Euphrates River),” enroute to the promised land. Hence all the descendants of Abram (whom God later renamed Abraham) are referred to as Hebrews. We know Hebrews was written some time between 64 AD and 69 AD in Rome. How do we know this? Hebrews makes no mention of the destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem by the Roman general Titus in 70 AD and it surely would have if it had been written after this event. If the Temple had been destroyed at the time Hebrews was written it would have influenced the development of the author’s overall argument in the epistle. Christians in Rome were first persecuted in 60-62 AD and later on a second more severe persecution of Christians occurred under the rule of the Roman Emperor Nero who blamed Christians for the burning of Rome. Many Christians were killed during this second persecution. We know from history that Nero ruled Rome from 64 AD to 68AD and Nero’s persecution of Christians is referenced in Hebrews so we know Hebrews was written during the five year window between 64 AD and 69 AD. The writer of Hebrews makes it clear he is writing his epistle from Rome and the target audience is the Jewish Christian community in Rome.

Galatians 2:16 – Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

Galatians 1:11-12 – But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel that was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Acts 10:43 – To Him (Jesus) all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.

We know the writer of Hebrews had to be Jewish because he was very familiar with Old Testament Scriptures as well as the practices of first century Jews. A Jewish audience at that time would only have listened to a Jewish writer and the same could also be said of the Gentiles. In the first century very few people could read or write. Only the rich could afford to educate their children. The writer of Hebrews was not only well educated he was well versed in the Torah and Jewish law which suggests he was a Pharisee by training. Who do we know who fits this description? I posit that the Apostle Paul wrote the book of Hebrews. Paul came from a wealthy Jewish family in Tarsus (present day Turkey). Paul was well educated and a Pharisee. The Apostle Paul was acknowledged as an expert in Jewish Law because he sat under Gamaliel, one of the greatest teachers of Jewish Law in the ancient world. The Apostle Paul was also in Rome when the book of Hebrews was written there. We know from historical records that Paul was imprisoned in Rome by the Emperor Nero starting in 64 AD and Paul remained in prison there until he was beheaded in 68 AD.

Hebrews 2:17 – Therefore, in all things He (Jesus) had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Galatians 3:13 – Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.

2 Timothy 4:6-7 – For I (Paul) am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

The book of Hebrews has been accepted as part of the New Testament canon since the first century because of its sound theology, eloquent presentation and other intrinsic factors. Hebrews has been described as an intricate New Testament book and it has earned the reputation of being a masterpiece. Even though Hebrews doesn’t have a declared author all the early Christians and church fathers acknowledged that Paul wrote the book of Hebrews and it remained that way for 1200 years. In fact, the original King James version of the Bible titled the book, “The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews.” So what changed? During the Protestant Reformation of the 1500’s the Roman Catholic church suddenly decided that Paul didn’t write the book of Hebrews. The church decided to give credence to flimsy evidence that disputed Paul’s authorship of the book of Hebrews and that’s where we are today. One of the reasons given by the church was that Paul didn’t claim authorship of Hebrews at the beginning of the epistle like he did in all thirteen of his other letters. The church also claimed the book of Hebrews deviated from Paul’s normal style of writing and the purity of the Greek text was not consistent with Paul’s other letters. The church incorrectly assumed that Paul didn’t have the ability to change his writing style to fit his target audience (Jewish Christians). These were all minor differences in my mind when compared to the major considerations that I think do confirm Paul’s authorship of the book of Hebrews. It’s like throwing the baby out with the bath water!

Ephesians 4:10-12 – He who descended is also the One who ascended far above the heavens, that He might fill all things. And He Himself gave some to be Apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

Hebrews 6:19-20 – This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered before us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 – For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In most of Paul’s other epistles he’s in one location writing to one of the churches he has established during one of his missionary trips. Problems in the churches have come to Paul’s attention and he writes his epistles as guidance to the congregation. Paul’s letters are meant to be read before the faithful on his behalf so therefore Paul adds his name, authority and a greeting to each letter. Paul is aware each letter he writes becomes a part of the holy Scriptures from God. Paul was already in Rome when he wrote Hebrews for the Jewish Christians in Rome to argue against their apostasy; returning to the Jewish faith to avoid the persecution of Christians by the Roman authorities. Hebrews was written by a Jew to convince the Jewish Christians in Rome that the blood covenant of Jesus Christ was vastly superior to the Abrahamic covenant of the Jewish faith. The writer of Hebrews argued that Jesus Christ is our High Priest in heaven and Mediator between God and man through which man has access to God 24/7. Jesus’ death on the cross eliminated the need for Temple sacrifices and an earthly High Priest because the shed blood of Jesus washed away the sins of all men, past, present and future.

Galatians 4:4-5 – But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Galatians 3:28-29 – There is neither Jew nor Greek (Gentile), there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heir according to the promise.

Galatians 2:21 – I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.

Hebrews was originally a sermon from Paul to the Jewish Christian community in Rome and not a letter, therefore no introduction was needed. Paul knew them and they knew him. Paul was also in prison at the time and couldn’t deliver his sermon in person to the Jewish Christians in Rome. Paul didn’t have access to pen and paper like he did in 60-62 AD when he was only under house arrest and was able to pen many of his epistles during that time. Paul probably dictated Hebrews to a scribe so that the sermon could be delivered by someone else on his behalf. The language style and Greek of Hebrews may be that of a scribe but the contents of Hebrews could only have come from the mind of the Apostle Paul. The real clincher for me was the writer of Hebrews referred to Timothy as his brother and traveling companion. We all know Timothy was a disciple of Paul who accompanied him on many of his missionary trips. The obvious familiarity with Timothy indicates the author of Hebrews is none other than the Apostle Paul. When I read Hebrews it feels like an epilogue to Paul’s forty year ministry. It’s as though Paul is summarizing God’s dealings with man from start to finish.

Hebrews 8:6 – But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also a Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

Ephesians 1:11 – In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 – Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s look at this logically. God appointed Paul to preach the gospel to the Gentiles and share with them the mysteries of God as God revealed them to Paul. God doesn’t identify anyone else to do this, only Paul. Half the New testament was written by Paul. The parts of the New Testament not written by Paul were minor books written by the Apostles Peter and John or Jesus’ brothers James and Jude. I divide the New Testament into two parts. We have the four gospels and the acts of the Apostles (which was originally combined with Luke) and then we have the epistles. While Revelation is technically an epistle I put it in a separate category because it’s the end time revelation of Jesus Christ. Hebrews is the only book of the New Testament without a named author and it’s also a major book that explains the mysteries of God. Only a prophet appointed by God for this purpose would have received this information. Paul is the only prophet and Apostle God has identified who has the spiritual knowledge, understanding and wisdom to have composed the book of Hebrews.

Colossians 2:9-10 – For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

1 Timothy 2:5-6 – For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Hebrews 4:14 – Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.

Let’s don’t make this any more complicated than it has to be. If we look at the dozen or so people who supposedly could have written Hebrews not a single one of them has Paul’s pedigree nor were any of them chosen by God to receive his revelation or preach the gospel of Christ to both Jew and Gentile. Only Paul had that authority from God. If there were any others God would have said so. Only Paul had the credentials to have written Hebrews based on his education and God-given ministry to the Gentiles. Anyone who writes a New Testament book speaks for God and is, by definition, a prophet. So we’re supposed to believe the book of Hebrews, a masterpiece of spiritual wisdom from God, was written by an unnamed prophet of God? I don’t believe it one bit. God always identifies his prophets so that rules out all the individuals that other people think wrote Hebrews. Every other New Testament book except Hebrews was written by named prophets of God who were either an Apostle or one of Jesus’ two brothers. The book of Hebrews is an important epistle of the New Testament and it won’t be the exception by winding up being written by someone other than a prophet or an Apostle; and we know who they are. Hebrews stresses that those who hear the truth of God should have faith. As believers we need to have faith that Paul wrote the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 10:28-29 – Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

Hebrews 10:10 – By that will (of God) we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

When you look at all the evidence Paul is the only person who could possibly have written the book of Hebrews because God chose him as his spokesperson, an Apostle and prophet, to share the mysteries of God with man. What a tremendous honor that was for Paul. The Apostle Paul is the greatest Christian who ever lived. Do you really think God is going to leave Paul on the sidelines while an unknown person writes the New Testament book of Hebrews? Not a chance in hell. There’s no one else even remotely qualified to write the book of Hebrews other than the Apostle Paul. Period! I also don’t put any credence in what the Roman Catholic church has to say about who wrote Hebrews. Whatever the church says I tend to go the opposite direction. What we have to remember is that Satan started corrupting the church early on it its history so that by the time of Pope Gregory the Great in 600 AD Satan owned the Roman Catholic church lock, stock, and barrel, and probably well before then. It’s to Satan’s benefit to try make us doubt Hebrews as Scripture. Satan wanted to dispute Paul’s authorship of the book of Hebrews and its inclusion in the New Testament canon but he has failed miserably on both counts in my estimation because the Lord’s will cannot be thwarted by demon, angel or man.

Hebrews 9:11-12 – But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats or calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Hebrews 8:1-2 – Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.

Hebrews 7:24-25 – But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Sharing the gospel message of Christ is difficult for most people because of the rejection they face. As a believer, wear your faith proudly and just make it known you’re available if anyone wants to hear your witness. You’d be surprised by the number of people that are dying to hear a witness for Christ but they won’t advertise it. You’ll never know who they are if you don’t cast out your line once in a while. Keep throwing your line out there in the water of life occasionally and when you do get a nibble then set your hook. That’s why Jesus called believers, “fishers of men.” Fishing and witnessing are seen as being very similar experiences. The main thing we need to do is bait our hook with knowledge about God, keep our hook in the water, and then let God do the rest. God will bring the fish to you. Jesus filled Peter’s net with fish on the Sea of Galilee as an example for us to follow. Peter fished all night and caught nothing but persevered and finally had a good harvest with God’s help. You don’t have to get in people’s faces and be pushy. That’s not my personality either. God will bring people to you when you’re ready to fish for them.

Philippians 2:9-11 – Therefore God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on the earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1 Corinthians 8:6 – Yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

2 Corinthians 5:18 – Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

In previous blogs I’ve shared in detail how to share your witness using the “Roman Road” to salvation. That works great for the nonbeliever but not for the Jew. Jews already know and serve the one true God Jehovah. The Jews rejected Jesus Christ as the Messiah and for that sin they’ll go to hell along with the nonbeliever because Jesus really is the only way to heaven. The New Testament contains two books written primarily for a Jewish audience; the gospel of Matthew and the book of Hebrews. Lean on the Scriptures from both books when witnessing to a Jewish person, especially Hebrews. Jews must be shown that the blood covenant of Jesus Christ ends the Abrahamic covenant. Jews need to understand that Jesus Christ is our High Priest who is always making intercession with God on our behalf and that the new temple is the body of each believer which is indwelt by Jesus forevermore. The book of Hebrews explains things clearly so the Jews can see they erred in rejecting Jesus Christ as the Messiah. It’s not too late for the Jewish people to receive redemption through faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Our job is to be the messenger who brings the truth of God to the Jews when we can. The rest is up to them.

Ephesians 1:4-5 – Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.

1 Corinthians 3:17-17 – Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

2 Corinthians 6:2 – In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

All human beings no matter where they’re born or what their ethnic background is they all want to have a happy and successful life. It’s what makes us human. Different cultures may define “happiness” and “success” differently but our basic human needs are all pretty much the same. Everyone wants to be loved and respected and have a sense of self-worth. Everyone wants to be financially secure. Everyone wants to be happy in their own skin. Everyone wants to be wise and live their best possible life. Every person has a picture of their ideal life in their head and that vision never leaves them. Unfortunately the reality of their life never really quite matches their expectations. Our lives never play out as we want it to or expect it to; not even close. Jehovah, the one true God of creation, defines a successful human life as one in which man seeks out his God, accepts God’s saving grace, and then is obedient to commands of God for their entire life. A successful life cannot be lived apart from God nor can anyone find true happiness without God. Common sense tells us there can be only one God but which one is real? There is overwhelming evidence that proves that Jehovah is the one true God; the Lord of both heaven and earth.

1 John 2:25 – And this is the promise that He has promised us – eternal life.

1 John 5:11-12 – And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Romans 10:13 – For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 4:12 – Nor is there salvation in any other (except Jesus), for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

I know this is true; the only truly happy and successful people in the world are believing Christians. Christians are happy because they have the peace of God in their spirit and they are successful because they know they can count on eternal life in heaven in the presence Jesus because God has promised it to the saints and God cannot lie. Nobody else can make that boast. All the followers of fake religions and false gods aren’t happy or at peace no matter how much money, fame and power they have. They’re also not happy because they don’t have a personal relationship with their god because they can’t; they are all false. The life of the nonbeliever is not successful because their fake religions give no assurance of heaven because they can’t. The life of the nonbeliever is ultimately a failure because when they die they will suffer eternal death in hell forever. The proof of the Christian God Jehovah is self-evident for anyone who takes the time to look at the body of overwhelming evidence. In the Scriptures when God talks about profit he’s referring to eternal life in heaven and heavenly treasures stored up for the saints based on their works.

Isaiah 48:17 – Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go.

Titus 3:8 – This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works (primarily witnessing for Christ). These things are good and profitable to men.

Job 22:2 – Can a man be profitable to God, though he who is wise may be profitable to himself?

Isaiah 33:6 – Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the Lord is His treasure.

God gave us his word, our Holy Bible, so that we might know God and know ourselves. God gave us the Bible so we might know how to be saved unto eternal life in heaven through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior because Jesus died on the cross for our sins. God gave us the Bible so we might know how precious we are in his sight and that believers are indeed royalty in heaven and children of the Most High God. If God and the host of heaven loves and respects believers then we should love and respect ourselves. If God thinks every believer is priceless so should we. If everyone knew that there would be less suicide in the world today. If God thinks the life of the believer has been successful because they have the righteousness of Christ Jesus who are we to argue with that? Jesus Christ is the righteous judge of the living and the dead on the last day. Everything we pictured in our head about an ideal life can only be realized by having a right relationship with the God who made us. God made us with a void in our heart that can only be filled by God. The Scriptures say God put eternity in the hearts of men so we would seek out God. Think of our lives as a big jigsaw puzzle with God as the missing piece.

Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, O man, what is good: and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 – Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

1 Timothy 4:13 – Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Proverbs 23:12 – Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge.

The Bible is the truth of God. The Bible is God’s wisdom. Without reading and studying the Bible we cannot fully know the truth of God nor can we gain true wisdom. We may be smart and we may go out and earn three PhD’s but knowing ” earthly things” is not the same as being wise about spiritual things or having wisdom. Having money, power and fame is all well and good but it’s a known fact that none of these things will bring true happiness. True happiness is only possible through a right relationship with God. Never believe anything I tell you, or anyone else for that matter, without first running it through the filter of God’s word to make sure it’s true according to the Scriptures. If what I’m telling you doesn’t agree with Scripture then discard it. Beware of those who teach church doctrine that’s not biblical. Let’s examine the Bible to see the revealed truth of God’s word.

Romans 11:33 – Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

Psalm 104:24 – O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions.

Proverbs 3:19 – The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens.

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.

The Old Testament books of Job, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes are traditionally known as the wisdom literature books of the Bible. If the entire Bible is God’s wisdom then then these three books are God’s wisdom on steroids because they have a higher wisdom content than the other books of the Bible. The book of Psalms and the Song of Solomon are considered Bible poetry but they also contain much wisdom and they are often grouped with the other three to make five Bible books of God’s distilled wisdom. The book of Job may be the oldest book in the Bible. We don’t know who wrote Job or when it was written. Job deals with the problem of evil and why would God allow evil to seemingly triumph over good. Why is there an uneven distribution of suffering and success in the world? The answer is that God doesn’t tell us why he does what he does nor does God owe us any explanation. God doesn’t tell us everything he knows; but only what he wants us to know about the kingdom of God. I’m sure God will tell us everything in heaven. Even without knowing everything about God we can still be wise by fearing God (showing God awe, reverence and respect) and also by turning from evil (by trying not to sin and by being obedient to God). Remember that God’s glory is served even when evil is permitted.

Ephesians 6:19 – And for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel.

Ephesians 5:15-16 – See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 – But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 9:6 – But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

The dictionary defines “wise” as having or showing experience, knowledge and good judgment. The suffix “dom” is used to form nouns and denotes a state or condition of being. The definition of wisdom is “the quality or state of having experience, knowledge and good judgment. Wisdom essentially deals with knowing the way the world works and who knows that better than the God who made the world and established the physical laws that govern the universe. It’s just common sense that man can gain only a limited amount of wisdom on their own. God created the world and only he can give true insight into the way the world works, because God’s wisdom is seen in the light of eternity which man has no knowledge of.

Job 28:28 – And to man He said, behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.

Proverbs 14:27 – The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death.

1 Corinthians 3:19 – For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness.”

Deuteronomy 17:19 – And it (God’s law) shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes.

The book of Proverbs is the primary book of Bible knowledge and it was written mostly by King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived. Proverbs contains the basic principles of wisdom on how we are to live our lives. In a perfect world our children would be taught the Proverbs at an early age and all adults would know all the Proverbs by heart and fully incorporate them into their daily lives. If this were true we wouldn’t be seeing all the evil in the world today. However, that’s only wishful thinking. Satan is the god of this world and he has put blinders on the eyes of nonbelievers so they cannot see the truth of God. Satan has also set stumbling blocks before believers so they don’t read and study the Bible as they ought to. Proverbs should be read every day by the believer because in it God tells us how the world works and how we should live our lives. Proverbs views God’s wisdom from his perspective and if we want to please God we’ll do the same thing. God’s wisdom will sometimes only make sense to us when viewed from the perspective of eternity.

Psalm 19:7 – The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

Psalm 119:97-99 – Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.

2 Corinthians 4:6 – For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:2 – Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

The word “wise” appears in the Bible 247 times and “wisdom” 234 times. Of the 481 times the Bible uses one of these two words, 25% of the time the use occurs in the book of Proverbs. Another 25% of the time the words wise and wisdom occur in the other four books of wisdom literature (Job, Ecclesiastes, Psalms and Song of Solomon). Fully half of all biblical references to being wise or having wisdom occurs in these five books out of the 66 books of the Bible (less than 10%). That should tell us that anyone wanting to gain the wisdom of God would do well to focus their study on the wisdom literature of the Bible. There are 150 psalms, all examples of wisdom literature that are prayers and/or songs of worship to God. The psalms have many authors but primarily King David and King Solomon. Many of the psalms deal with the difficult problems of life. God tells us how to handle all situations in life. A theme that runs through the psalms is that while God allows his children to suffer he’ll never abandons them. God makes it clear in the Scriptures that when believers suffer like Christ both they and God are glorified. God will explain why that is when we get to heaven. We just have to trust God in the meantime.

Psalm 145:19 – He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and save them.

Psalm 33:18-19 – Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

Psalm 53:1 – The fool has said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.

Psalm 90:12 – Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

The book of Ecclesiastes was written by King Solomon near the end of his life. King Solomon observed that living life on a horizontal level (under the sun), without God, is meaningless. King Solomon came to the conclusion that our life gains meaning only through a right relationship with God. This insight from a man who was king of Israel for 40 years with all the power that entailed. This testimony from a man who had 300 wives and 700 concubines. This declaration from a man who owned 40,000 horses and commanded a great army. This understanding from a man who had more gold and silver than any man in history. And still it wasn’t enough to make King Solomon happy. King Solomon departed from his right relationship with God late in life by worshipping false gods so he knows what he’s talking about. You have the personal testimony of the wisest man who has ever lived or who will ever live. The Song of Solomon shares King Solomon’s wisdom on maintaining a good marriage which all married couples should read.

Isaiah 55:11 – So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 – But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption – that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 5:10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.

King Solomon argues that his wisdom, or the wisdom of anyone else, is pointless unless one lives in fear and obedience to God. Therefore, the ultimate wisdom is to fear and obey God. The message is clear. Don’t waste your life in pursuits that mean nothing and gain nothing in the light of death and eternity. Enjoy your life but fear God because he is our creator and our judge on the last day. In the end we can’t discover life’s meaning on our own; it can only be revealed to us by a loving and gracious God through his word. How we live our lives is of eternal significance otherwise God wouldn’t have put us here on earth in the first place and he wouldn’t have left us here after our salvation. Obviously we have work to do for God on this earth and God is very clear in the Bible what that work is. We are to do the number one good work for God which is to witness the gospel message of Christ to all nations and all peoples. We are also to do other good works that glorify God. This message from God is abundantly clear to us if we open the eyes of our spiritual understanding by reading our Bible regularly. Our primary focus in life should always be on God’s revelation and on eternity because they are what define the true meaning and lasting outcome of life.

1 Thessalonians 1:5 – For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 – But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.

2 Timothy 4:1-2 – I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

1 Peter 3:15 – But sanctify the Lord your God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

Wisdom presupposes the fear of God because without fear there can be no wisdom. True wisdom goes beyond a set of memorized do’s and don’ts. True wisdom is to live according to God’s way by following God’s commands in his word until such time as it penetrates one’s thinking, values and actions. It’s a process that takes time; and sometimes a lifetime. The wisdom literature of the Bible deals with how to live well. Wisdom is needed for those who want to have harmonious relationships with friends, co-workers, family and God. Wisdom is needed to accomplish God’s plan for your life because you cannot “do” until you “know” what to do. Wisdom is needed for those who wish to avoid foolish mistakes in everyday life. Wisdom is needed for those who desire to raise their children in the fear of the Lord and everyone needs to go to the Bible’s wisdom literature for advice. God’s word is the wisdom of the ages and it has been around for 2000 years for a reason. The Bible is given to us for our edification so use it! Anyone who wants to be wise should read the Bible daily for knowledge, understanding and wisdom. It’s unfortunate that very few people take advantage of God’s wisdom as they should and they’ll regret it on the last day. Don’t be one of them! Go be wise, happy and successful by studying the Bible in depth.

Proverbs 1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 14:25 – A true witness delivers souls, but a deceitful witness speaks lies.

Proverbs 11:30 – The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Daniel 12:3 – And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

God’s wisdom literature features a lot of parallelism, which is a literary device using two statements to reiterate and reinforce each other. Daniel 12:3 is a perfect example. We can’t fully understand either line of this verse on their own but when read together as a single thought both lines become crystal clear. In the second line of the verse we learn that believers who witness the gospel and save many for the kingdom of God will shine like the stars forever. In the first line of the verse we learn that those who shine like the firmament God calls “wise.” In this one verse God has defined “wisdom” as the act of witnessing the gospel of Christ to all nations and all peoples. God has declared that those who save souls are “wise.” That confirms to me that my mission on this earth is to save as many as people for the kingdom of God as I can through witnessing the gospel of Christ to nonbelievers for as long as I’m able. You would be wise to do the same thing. Nothing is more important to God than our witnessing for Christ because it saves lost souls who are priceless in the eyes of God. Believers who fulfill the Great Commission that Jesus gave his disciples build up treasure in heaven and they also please God by their obedience.

Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek (Gentile).

2 Corinthians 4:4 – (nonbelievers) Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

2 Corinthians 4:3 – But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

Ephesians 1:13 – In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

God’s word is the wisdom of the ages and man becomes sanctified and wise when he reads the Bible daily. Man gains a heart of wisdom when he dedicates himself to studying the Bible for knowledge, understanding and wisdom. Fear of the Lord is maintained when we meditate on the magnitude and majesty of Almighty God often and by going before the throne of grace daily in prayer. If we believe on the name of Jesus Christ then we get to go to heaven but if we want to please God and earn treasure in heaven we must do more; we must witness the gospel of Christ to nonbelievers and save at least one more person for the kingdom of God. We enter heaven through faith but we earn treasure by our works. Fully 90% of the people who go to heaven will be there through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; not having saved even a single soul for the kingdom of God by witnessing for Christ. Can you see God giving heavenly treasure to a believer who has never done the one thing closest to God’s heart, which he has commanded we do? I can’t see God giving treasure to believers for their disobedience. I hope I’m wrong but that’s how I see it.

On the other hand, I can’t see God withholding treasure from any saint who has saved at least one other person for the kingdom of God because each person is priceless to God. God is all about quality not quantity. When my eyes open in the morning the first thing I think about is God and how I can save one more person for heaven, hence the name of this website, “www.onemoreforjesus,net.” To be “wise” in the eyes of God we need to save many by our witness for Christ and then God will make us shine in heaven like the noonday sun. God doesn’t quantify what he means by “many” but to me the number is 1000 saved souls. Make it your goal to first save 100 lost souls for the kingdom of God because in the Bible God calls a hundredfold a good harvest. If that number is good enough for God it’s good enough for me. Then shoot for 1000 saved souls or whatever number you decide is “many.” The important thing is to set a goal you can strive for and then persevere. Look, I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer but I do know the truth of God when I hear it. God made salvation so simple that anyone can understand it and do it. When I first heard and understood God’s salvation plan for man my soul said, “this is perfect.” I have told you the truth of God so you have no excuse when you stand before Jesus Christ on the last day.

Isaiah 45:5 – I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God besides Me.

Isaiah 42:8 – I am the Lord, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another.

2 Peter 1:2 – Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Isaiah 1:18 – Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.