Does God Hear the Prayers of Sinners?

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

This is not a question which can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” The terms need to be defined before answering.

What is meant by “hear”? The word “hear” can mean “to hear a sound without understanding” (e.g. Acts 9:7), or it can mean “to hear with understanding” (e.g. Acts 22:9). It can mean “to hear with understanding whether favorably or unfavorably received” (e.g. Acts 17:32), or it can mean “to hear favorably or receptively” (e.g. Matthew 18:15; 1 Timothy 4:16).

God certainly hears with understanding all that men say. Consider: 1) Job 42:7, “The LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” God knew what they had said. 2) Psalm 139:4, “There is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.”   3) Matthew 12:36-37, “Every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” 4) James 2:12, “So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.”

Therefore, let us clarify the issue. The issue is – does God favorably receive the prayers of sinners? Do sinners have a welcomed audience before His throne? Are they favorably received?

What is meant by “sinners”? Some may mean “those who sin, or have sinned” (e.g. Luke 18:13-14). However, the term “sinner(s)” is frequently used in the Bible in contrast with the righteous (e.g. Psalm 1:5; Proverbs 11:31; Matthew 9:13; Luke 5:32; 15:7), and in contrast with those who are sons of God (Luke 6:32-36).

It must be clarified that the term “sinners” is being used in the second sense. If not, who could pray (Romans 3:23)?

1.  The Bible is clear that the unrepentant sinner will not be heard (Psalm 34:15-16; 66:18; Proverbs 15:8; 15:29; Isaiah 1:15-17; 59:12; John 9:37; 1 Peter 3:12). Do not pursue a life of sin and rebellion before God, and then think that you can petition Him in prayer. A child of God needs to repent and pray for forgiveness when he sins (Proverbs 28:13; Acts 8:22; James 5:16). Such is the only kind of prayer which should be given. One will not have a successful prayer life so long as he refuses to repent and confess his sins to God.

2.  The Bible warns the Christian that a bad home life will hinder prayers before God (1 Peter 3:7). A good home life is not just about tranquility in the home. It is about maintaining a good relationship with God.

3.  The Bible teaches that it is the prayer of the righteous which avails much (James 5:16). Man today can be counted righteous only in Christ (Philippians 3:8-9). The alien sinner is never instructed to pray for salvation. There is no example of “the sinner’s prayer” in all of the New Testament. The alien sinner’s pray for salvation will not be heard. One must believe, repent, confess and be baptized to be saved (Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:36-37).

Is God receptive to any prayer offered by the alien sinner? Wayne Jackson speculated, “If an alien sinner sincerely seeking to know and do the will of God, and praying that somehow he might come in contact with the truth so that he could ascertain the Lord’s will relative to being saved, it is surely possible that God, consistent with His providential means, could work matters out where the individual would be exposed to the preaching of the Gospel” (A Question From A Reader, Christian Courier, Dec. 1981). Perhaps so (cf. John 7:17; Acts 10:1-6). However, the fact remains that prayer alone will not save the alien sinner.

What about Cornelius? Didn’t God receive his prayers before he became a Christian? Yes, he did (Acts 10:3-4; 30-31). I believe that Cornelius lived in a transitional time. Michael Hatcher has written, “The application of what Jesus did was not seen for the Gentiles until Cornelius (Acts 10). During that time (between Christ’s death and Cornelius), if a person was faithful to the Law of God given through the fathers (Patriarchal Law), then he would have been in a right relationship with God and thus have a right to pray… Now the Law of Christ was coming into effect for the Gentiles he needed to hear the word of Christ and obey it…” (2000 Bellview Lectureship, p. 303-318, quoted in Apologetics Press article, Does God Hear and Respond to the Prayers of Alien Sinners?)

4.  The Bible teaches that God cares about one’s attitude (Psalm 51:17; Luke 18:10-14), motive (Matthew 6:5), and genuineness (Matthew 6:7) in prayer. He is not impressed with self-righteousness. He does not want a performance for men. He does not want vainly repeated words.

May we, at the Youngsport church of Christ, truly be a people of prayer. Let us offer the kind of prayer that ascends like incense before Him (Psalm 141:2).

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Hospitality

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

Three men appeared before Abraham in the heat of the day, as he sat in the door of his tent (Genesis 18:2).  These, though they had the appearance of men, were no ordinary men.  At least two of these men were angels (Genesis 19:1 cf. 19:12-ff.). It seems that the third man was a Theophany, visible appearance of a member of the Godhead, in this case in human form (Genesis 18:1,2,13,22 cf. 19:1), though I do recognize that this may simply be language of agency whereby the LORD is said to have said or done something when actually He performed through the agency of another.

How would we behave if we knew that before us stood was an angelic being, or even God Almighty Himself?  Abraham, without even knowing Who stood before him, demonstrate himself to be a man of hospitality (Genesis 18:1-8).  Lot likewise did (Genesis 19:1-4). We would do well to emulate them in this regard.  We are to be hospitable people (Romans 12:13; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8; Hebrews 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9). Jesus said that how we treat our fellow-man is how we treat Him (Matthew 25:31-46).  “In as much as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me… In as much as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me” (Matthew 25:40, 45).

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Sent Feet, Beautiful Feet

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

“And how shall they preach, except they be sent?  As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15).

Let’s look more closely at this text.  In the first part of this verse, it speaks of the sending of preachers.  Man does not need to take an odyssey to some far away place, nor does man need to journey into the spirit realm to learn the Truth (Romans 10:6-7; Deuteronomy 30:11-13).  God has sent forth inspired preachers to reveal the Truth of His will (Matthew 28:18-f; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 1:8; Acts 9:15).  God made sure man had the opportunity to hear (cf. Romans 10:18).  This is the context.   Listen to brother Franklin Camp, he says, “The question Paul asked in Romans 10:15… was not ‘How shall one preach unless a church sends and supports him?’  He is speaking of chosen, selected ones commissioned by God and inspired to preach or proclaim the word of God.  This kind of preaching had to do with receiving the revelation of God’s Word.  Suppose Christ had not selected the twelve and endued them with the power of the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel?  Who would have been able to call upon the name of the Lord?” (The Work Of The Holy Spirit In Redemption, p. 203). I do believe such to be the true context; But still, it should cause us to think about those in foreign lands.  We still should ask, “How shall they hear without a preacher?” and “How shall they preach except they be sent?”

Now, let us continue by looking on to the second part of the verse.  Let’s discuss beautiful feet.  It too, primarily in context, concerns inspired preachers of the first century. However the words may have originally had to do with some thing else.

When Jerusalem fell to Babylon, one Israelite made that long arduous journey to those who had already been taken captive in order to break the bad news (Ezekiel 33:21 cf. 24:26-27).  No one likes to hear bad news.

However, when Babylon fell, some escaped out of Babylon to declare these things to those still in Zion (Jeremiah 50:28).  What joyous news.  Babylon had fallen!  No doubt the people must have thought that these bearers of good news had beautiful feet, in bringing such good news. Isaiah 52:7-8 reads, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation… Your watchman shall lift up their voices,  with their voices they shall sing together… When the LORD brings back Zion.”  Paul applies this to the apostolic message.  However, it seems to me that the original meaning refers to those bearers of good news long ago. A return was made possible!  Curtis Cates has written, “No obstacle would deter or obstruct God’s messengers… not even mountains.  Just as the runner’s feet would be beautiful who would announce  to captive peoples that deliverance had been secured,  just so would the running, sore and dusty feet of the apostle be beautiful as they brought the message of complete freedom (possible) through the grace of God from the taskmaster of sin… Now what makes beautiful feet?  Is it not the message they bear?” ( 1996 Denton Lectures, Studies In Romans, p.345).

Are your feet beautiful?  You may have corns or bunions on your feet.  You may suffer from athlete’s foot, or from toe fungus.  You may have a club foot, or no feet at all.  But if you have helped convert a sinner, if you have told someone of the good news (the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, and that they need not remain in the land of captivity, if you have helped them return home to God – no doubt to them your feet are beautiful!   And to God also!

Let us all strive to have beautiful feet!

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The Devil Tempts Jesus

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

“We do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

Let us consider how the devil tempted Jesus and how Jesus handled the temptations.  This may well help us to overcome temptations which we face.

1.  The lust of the flesh (fleshly appetites).

“And the devil said to Him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread'” (Luke 4:3).

Jesus had fasted forty days and forty nights.  He was hungry (cf. Matthew 4:2).  The devil used His natural, God-given bodily appetite to tempt Jesus.

We live in a physical world.  We have physical bodies.  Our physical bodies have bodily appetites, involuntary bodily appetites.  This is how we were made.  The devil will use such to tempt us to do things contrary to God’s will.

Jesus responded by saying, “It is written ‘man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God'” (Luke 4:4).  God evidently had communicated to Jesus that He was not to feed Himself this way.  Very likely, the issue was that God did not want Jesus to use miraculous powers for self benefit.  Never did Jesus or the apostles use miraculous powers for self benefit.

Application for us – “Man’s craving for food is an inherent drive.  Wish though he may that this drive did not exist, man cannot escape the need for food.  But though the desire itself is not of man’s choosing, his response to it is.  In fact, how man handles physical hunger is indicative of whether he exercises a basic Christian virtue: temperance or self-control.  God places appetite within man and expects him to control it” (Kerry Duke, God at a Distance, p. 87).  Doing God’s will is even more important than caring for the physical body.

2.  The lust of the eyes (earthly ambitions).

“Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  And the devil said to Him, ‘all this authority I will give to You, and their glory… if You will worship before me, all will be Yours” (Luke 4:5-7).

I believe that the temptation is for Jesus to take a different path to Kingship than the cruel cross.  James Snowden commented, “What does this mean but that Jesus was tempted to use the devil’s means and methods of getting the kingdom…?” (The Coming of the Lord, p. 90).  If Jesus chose to abandon God’s plan including the cross, and to become an earthly king, no doubt such would have been immensely popular.  After all, He could feed the multitudes.  Moreover, the Jews were desiring a king (John 6:15). The devil used that which was appealing to the eyes to tempt.

However, Jesus responded – “Get behind me Satan!  For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve” (Luke 4:8).  Jesus answered Peter similarly when Peter tried to keep Jesus from His own death (Matthew 16:21-23).  Thus, many conclude that Satan, like Peter, was trying to interfere with God’s plan of the cross.

Application – If we are going to successfully deal with temptation, then we must determine whom we will worship and serve.  This must be clear in our minds.  Moreover, we must be bold enough to respond “Get behind me Satan!” to anyone who would stand in our way of serving our God (cf. Matthew 16:21-23). “Satan” means “adversary.”  Anyone oppressing our service to God is an adversary on that point.

3.  The pride of life (ego).

“Then He brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the Temple and said to Him, ‘If you are the Son of God throw yourself down from here. ‘For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over You, to keep you.’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone'” (Luke 4:10-11).

Satan quoted scripture.  He said in effect, “Show me how God protects You,” or “Let’s test Him.  Let see if God will rescue You.”  This is an appeal to pride.

Jesus responded, “It has been said, “You shall not tempt the LORD your God'” (Luke 4:12).  He responded by quoting Scripture.  Three times Jesus was tempted.  Each time He responded by quoting Scripture (Luke 4:4 cf. Deuteronomy 8:3; Luke 4:8 cf. Deuteronomy 6:13; Luke 4:12 cf. Deuteronomy 6:16).

Scripture must be taken together.  “The sum” of God’s word is truth (Psalm 119:60 ASV).  Dave Miller has written, “Psalm 91, though intended to convey the care and concern which God manifests for the faithful, was not intended to apply to deliberately placing oneself in peril in order to force God to come to one’s rescue… Satan inferred that Psalm 91 implied divine care under every possible circumstance.  But this inference was unwarranted and incorrect.  Jesus, therefore, gathered additional scriptural evidence to show that Satan’s inference was incorrect.  In the context of Deuteronomy 6:16, God was referring to the kind of testing/tempting which the Israelites did when they murmured, grumbled, and challenged Moses to produce water – as if God was unable or unwilling.  For Jesus to have complied with Satan’s challenge would have placed Jesus in the same condition as the weak, unbelieving Israelite” (On Inferring What the Explicit Statements of the Bible Imply, p. 8).  H. Leo Boles commented, “The quotation of the devil was a scriptural quotation and applicable to himself (Jesus B.H.) and would be fulfilled in due time, but to throw oneself into unnecessary danger in order to ‘tempt’ (test B.H.) God would be a sin..” (Gospel Advocate N.T. commentary series, The Gospel According to Luke, p.95)

Furthermore, the ESV Study Bible comments, “Such a spectacular display as jumping from this great height unharmed would have gained him an enthusiastic following, but it would not have followed the Father’s messianic and redemptive plan of suffering and proclaiming the Kingdom of heaven” (Notes on Matthew 4:6-7).  What He did needed to be in harmony with God’s will.

Application for us – If we are going to successfully deal with temptation, then we must know the book, and be able to properly reason from Scripture.  The Psalmist said, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11).

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“When It’s Your Time to Go…”

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

At times, I have been in a conversation with someone talking about death, and they say, “It was just his time to go.  When your time is up, it’s up,”  This is fatalism.  Fatalism is a doctrine that God has an exact set time for each person to die, and if they didn’t die the way they did, they still would have, somehow, died at that exact time.  It was all predetermined.

Now, it certainly is true that if God wants to bring someone down, He, through His providence can do so. Man can’t escape if such is what God wishes (cf. Ahab in 1 Kings 22:28-35 or look at Amos 5:19).

But, where is the passage that teaches that God has an exact time that He has preset for each one of us?  Where is that passage?

If fatalism is true, why is it that smokers die on average 5 – 8 years before non-smokers?  If fatalism is true, why is it that people who wear seatbelts are less likely to die in an automobile crash than those that don’t?  And I am certain that blind-folded jay-walkers trying to cross major streets and highways at night in dark clothing are more likely to die than others!! Consider the words of  Psalm 90:10, “The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they be eighty years…”  Watch the fact that the passage says strength, not God’s preset timetable!  Why is it that the Bible tells us how to avoid shortening our lives (Exodus 15:26; Proverbs 3:1-2; Proverbs 4:10; Proverbs 9:10-11; Proverbs 10:27; Proverbs 13:2-3; Proverbs 14:30; Proverbs 16:24; Proverbs 17:22; Proverbs 18:21; Proverbs 19:23; Ephesians 6:1-3;  1 Peter 4:15)?

God is all-knowing.  But, His all knowingness does not take away man’s ability to make wise and unwise choices, even righteous and sinful choices.  I find no passage in the Bible that teaches fatalism.  Let’s not be foolishly reckless. Let us be good stewards of our lives, and let us use such for His glory.

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Onward Christian Soldier

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

In the tenth chapter of Matthew, Jesus sent the twelve out on a mission that is commonly called the limited commission.  He told them that for their preaching they would be: hated (v. 22), verbally abused (v. 25), rejected and ostracized by family (v. 21, 34-37), persecuted (v. 23), delivered up to councils and government authorities (v. 17), beaten (v. 17), and even put to death (v. 21).  In other words, there will be difficulties in this life after Christ (cf. 2 Timothy 3:12).

How were they to handle these difficulties?  First, they were instructed to recall what Christ endured (v. 24-25).  He has asked them to endure nothing above what He Himself had endured.  Second, they were called to remember that they were valuable to God (v. 31).  Regardless of how difficult things might have been, they were asked to remember that God loved them.  Third, they were to be alert and wise, yet gentle even in persecution (v. 16-17).  Four, they were to remember that this life is not all there is to man (v. 28).  There is a part of man that survives, even physical death itself.  There is an unending afterlife. Five, it was pointed out to them, that if they endured these difficulties to the end, a reward would be given them in Heaven (v. 22, 32-33).  Sixth, they could find encouragement from the fact that those that did receive them, would be rewarded (v. 41-42 cf. 1 Timothy 4:16).  “How shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14) was their battle cry and motivation to go on.

When we face difficulties in life, let us remember these six points.  God has not promised to remove all difficulties in this life, but He certainly has given us abundant principles to help us go onward.  These seven points still apply to us today.  “Onward Christian soldier, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before. Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; forward into battle see His banner go!  Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before” (Song: Onward Christian Soldier by Sabine Baring-Gould).

 

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What Do I Say? (2)

Posted on November 1, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

The Muslims try to use certain Bible verses to say that the Bible foretells of Muhammad. For example: Deuteronomy 18:15, 18 – “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren.  Him you shall hear… (The LORD said) I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren…”  The context is talking about an Israelite. The reference is to Jesus (Acts 3:22-23), and not to Muhammad.  However, the point I am making is that they are reliant on the Bible when they think it helps them.

However, when one appeals to the Bible to defend what he believes as a Christian, Muslims will quickly dismiss such, claiming that the Bible has been corrupted.  They do not tell you when it was corrupted.  They do not provide you with evidence of the passage in question being corrupted.  They simply assert such without proof.  This is actually a relatively new approach.

What do you say?  (1) Ask them, if they believe that the Bible was God’s word, but has now been corrupted.  They will affirm such.  Then read from the Quran 18:27, “Proclaim what is revealed to you in the Book of your Lord.  None can change His words.”  Can man change His words?  (2) Ask them if they would agree to view the Bible as Muhammad and the Quran does.  Most likely they will not object.  Then read from the Quran 5:46-47, “We sent forth Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming the Torah already revealed, and gave him the Gospel, in which there is guidance and light, corroborating what was revealed before it in the Torah, a guide and admonition to the righteous.  Therefore, let those who follow the Gospel judge according to what God has revealed there-in.  Evil doers are those that do not base their judgments on God’s revelation.”  5:68, “Say ‘People of the Book, you will attain nothing until you observe the Torah and the Gospel and that which is revealed to you from the Lord.”  6:48, “We send forth apostles only to give good news to mankind and to warn them.  Those that believe in them and mend their ways shall have nothing to fear or to regret.  But those that deny our revelations shall be punished for their misdeeds”  Muhammad did not view the Bible as corrupted.

Do not misunderstand.  The Bible and the Quran have irreconcilable differences.  Consider a couple of differences: (1) The Bible indicates that the Messiah was God in the flesh (John 1:1, 14).  The Quran denies this (5:17, 75).  (2) The Bible indicates that He was crucified for us (1 Peter 2:24).  The Quran denies the crucifixion (4:157).

However, Muhammad did not attack the Biblical text.  The only way around this is to say that it was corrupted after Muhammad.  However, such will not hold up to the textual evidence.

Why should one believe the Quran?  Consider: (1) According to the Quran Jesus provided sign, miraculous evidence (5:114; 19:29-f; 61:1-8).  This evidence confirmed that Jesus’ message was from God.  However, the Quran seems to deny such evidence for Muhammad.  Quran 29:46: “They ask: ‘Why have no signs been given  him by his Lord?  Say: ‘Signs are in the hands of God.  My mission is only to give plain warning.'” (cf. 17:90-91).  (2) The Quran claims that Jesus prophesied of Muhammad (61:1-8).  However, all we have is the Quran’s word for this.  The Bible never mentions such a prophecy from Jesus. Extra-Biblical writings from near the time of Christ do not mention this.  (3) The Old Covenant spoke of a coming New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34 cf. Hebrews 8:7-13). Where does the New Covenant ever speak of another system to come?  The Bible is complete.  The apostles were “guided into all truth” (John 16:13).  Hundreds of years before Muhammad the Bible indicates that man had been given “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).

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A Few Seconds of Attention

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

Have you ever watched American Idol?  In the early rounds, one can hear truly horrible sounds.  In some cases it is so funny that it will quite literally cause one to roll on the floor with laughter.

Maybe, some do not know how badly they sound.  Many people are like this spiritually.  They think that they are so religious and so spiritually minded.  Even so, God is the ultimate judge (cf. Proverbs 16:2).  It is indeed possible to be self-deceived (James 1:22, 27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Corinthians 15:33; Galatians 6:3, 7; 1 John 1:8), but this is a lesson for another time.

I think that it is possible that others are simply wanting to do something outrageous in order to get on television.  They clearly have no chance of winning, but they are on television receiving a few seconds of notice and attention.

This thirst for notoriety, appetite for attention, is also seen in skimming The Guinness Book of World Records.  Some of the records within the book are legitimate feats of accomplishments; while, others seem to have no purpose other than a few seconds of attention.

Whose attention are you seeking?  The fame of the world passes away.  “He who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17).  Paul made it clear his aim was not to please men, but God (Galatians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:4 cf. Matthew 6:1-ff).  Let us “make our aim… to be well-pleasing to Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9).

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Do You Exercise?

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

 One report indicates that 49.6% of American adults get physical exercise at least 30 minutes per day, three days per week; and 18.5% get physical exercise one or two days per week. (statisticsbrain.com, source WedMD, research date: 1-1-2014).  Perhaps, you are one of these – but do you exercise spiritually?

1 Timothy 4:8 says, “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.”  Brother Roy Deaver has put it this way, “If there is a life after this life – and there is; and if every accountable person shall stand in judgment before the Christ – and each shall; and if this life is given us that we may prepare for the life to come – and this is the case; and if the Bible is our only and all-sufficient guide in making preparation for the judgment, and the life to come – and it is; then, it has to be the case that a knowledge of the Bible is the most important factor in the life and education of an individual” (How To Study The Bible, p. ix)  Certainly, our spiritual needs are infinitely more important than our physical (Matthew 4:3-4).

And so, I ask, “Do you exercise spiritually?”  How often do you read and meditate upon God’s word?”

As the Psalmist said, so should we, “More to be desired are they than gold, yea than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:10).  And as Job said, so should we, “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12).  And notice the words of Psalm 1:1-2, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the paths of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.”  1 Timothy 4:13 instructs, “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”

May we all develop a love for the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10), so that we may present ourselves “approved unto God” (2 Timothy 2:15).

 

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