Tag: jesus

Signs of the Hell-Bound – Luke 16:27-31

The rich man in this passage is depicted as suffering intensely in hell, tormented not only by his own anguish but also by the dreadful realization that his family may share the same fate. His misery is compounded by the awareness that those he loves remain on the same path of destruction. Within this account, Scripture reveals several indicators that led to his eternal ruin—signs that characterize those who are bound for judgment.

The hell-bound take the Word of God lightly.

One defining mark of the hell-bound is a dismissive or indifferent attitude toward the Word of God. Though the rich man was a Jew and therefore regularly exposed to the preaching and teaching of Scripture, his heart remained unmoved. He showed no genuine concern for applying God’s Word to his life. Rather than esteeming Scripture as primary, he relegated it to a secondary place beneath religious tradition and outward expressions of piety. External religiosity replaced heartfelt obedience.

When Jesus refers to “Moses and the Prophets,” He is affirming the authority of the Old Testament—what we now understand as both the Old and New Testament that make up the Bible. This principle extends to the whole of God’s Word. Scripture possesses ultimate authority because it proceeds from God Himself; it stands above all human opinions, traditions, and philosophies as the final standard for truth and morality. When Scripture speaks, God speaks. It reveals who He is, who we are, and how we may be saved. It confronts sin, corrects error, and calls for obedience. God’s Word is not merely theological in abstraction; it is personal and demands response. Just as Noah obeyed God’s command to build the ark in faith, so every hearer is called to trust and obey. The hell-bound, however, resist this authority through deliberate lawlessness—an inward rebellion that eventually manifests outwardly.

Jesus further emphasizes that the Word of God is sufficient to save. No miraculous sign, not even a resurrection, can persuade a hardened heart apart from Scripture. The doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture teaches that the Bible contains all that is necessary for salvation and for a life of faithful obedience. It clearly reveals God’s plan to reconcile sinners to Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ. No additional spectacle or human innovation is required to accomplish what God has already provided in His Word.

Scripture is sufficient because it is effective. As Isaiah declares, God’s Word accomplishes His purposes and does not return void. The Holy Spirit, who inspired the Scriptures, works powerfully through them to convict and regenerate. If the Spirit does not move upon the sinner’s heart, that person remains governed by self-will and spiritual blindness. The fundamental problem, therefore, is not lack of evidence but resistance of the heart.

True hearing of God’s Word produces faith, understanding, submission, and trust. Many may listen outwardly, but few receive the gospel with humility and openness. Without divine revelation, sinners cannot rightly grasp God’s holiness or the depth of their own sin. The rich man’s tragedy was not ignorance but indifference. A heart filled with pride and love of sin grows increasingly hardened over time. Salvation ultimately hinges not on the extent of knowledge but on the posture of one’s heart before God.

The hell-bound is natural and earthly.

Another defining characteristic of the hell-bound is a natural, earthly mindset. The rich man’s request that Abraham send someone to appear before his brothers reveals his belief that visible proof would be more persuasive than Scripture. For him, seeing would produce believing. Yet Scripture teaches that the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are spiritually discerned. Human reasoning, pragmatism, and sensory evidence often take precedence over divine revelation in the natural mind.

The rich man’s proposed solution is centered on spectacle rather than Scripture. In doing so, he reflected a worldview grounded in human creativity and showmanship. If his brothers relied on such methods, they too would follow him into judgment. Signs and dramatic experiences cannot create genuine repentance. Even Judas Iscariot witnessed countless miracles performed by Jesus, yet his heart remained unconverted. Abraham’s response makes clear that salvation does not come through visible wonders but through the faithful proclamation of God’s Word.

The hell-bound does not live by faith.

Finally, the hell-bound are marked by an absence of true faith. Hearing the Word of God is essential, for it is the ordained means by which saving faith is granted. Through Scripture, the spiritually dead are made alive. Genuine repentance produces outward change because it flows from inward transformation. No one is brought to saving faith apart from God’s revealed Word, and those who reject it will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead. The raising of Lazarus demonstrated this sobering reality, as many still refused to believe despite witnessing extraordinary power.

How, then, can we know whether we are heaven-bound rather than hell-bound? Jesus teaches that true disciples abide in His Word, know the truth, and are set free by it. Authentic conversion bears fruit in a life of ongoing sanctification. Christians are not sinless, but they are marked by a growing hatred of sin, a continual struggle against the flesh, and an increasing love for and conformity to the Lord Jesus Christ.

The reality of hell carries eternal weight. If hell exists—and Scripture affirms that it does—it should profoundly shape our priorities and our concern for others. This parable calls us to sober self-examination and earnest compassion for every soul we encounter. After death, the opportunity for repentance is gone. As R.C. Sproul solemnly warned, a true understanding of hell’s reality should drive us urgently and humbly to the cross—the only refuge for sinners and the only path to eternal life.

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Urgent Request from Hell – Luke 16:27-28

Living righteously rather than comfortably carries eternal consequences. Our daily pursuits reveal whether we seek to honor God or merely secure worldly ease. In Jesus’ parable, the rich man represents a life compromised by comfort and self-interest, while Lazarus exemplifies faithful endurance. Though outwardly religious and materially blessed, the rich man lacked genuine spiritual life. Like the warning in Matthew 16:26, he gained the world yet forfeited his soul. As John MacArthur observes, his wealth likely reinforced his false assurance of divine favor. In contrast, Scripture teaches that those bound for heaven live by God’s grace, denying ungodliness and pursuing righteousness (Titus 2:12). From the rich man’s urgent plea to Abraham, several sobering truths emerge.

First, hell is depicted as a place of conscious agony and irreversible separation. The rich man experiences intense torment with no relief (vv. 24–26). His suffering underscores divine justice: there is no crossing the chasm fixed between heaven and hell. Separation from God is not trivial; it means the absence of all goodness and the presence of unending judgment.

Second, the rich man becomes an unexpected evangelist. Realizing the horror of his condition, he pleads for his family to be warned (vv. 27–28). His request highlights the urgency of evangelism. Christians, who know the biblical truth about judgment, are called to proclaim the gospel and warn others while there is still time. Like the Apostle Paul in Romans 9:3, believers should feel deep concern for the lost and urge repentance and faith in Christ as the only way of salvation.

Third, the parable teaches the finality of eternal separation. Though dialogue appears between the rich man and Abraham, Jesus uses this imagery to emphasize the permanent divide established by God. Communication between the living and the dead is not possible, countering beliefs such as necromancy. Scripture alone provides sufficient revelation about death and judgment. The responsibility to proclaim truth rests with the living; the dead cannot return to call others to repentance.

Finally, the only opportunity for repentance is in this life. Any notion of a second chance after death contradicts biblical teaching. Eternal separation affirms God’s justice, while eternal life reflects His mercy toward those who repent and trust in Christ’s finished work on the cross and His resurrection. Genuine faith results in transformed living. While believers continue to struggle with sin, true conversion produces visible fruit through the Holy Spirit’s work.

Salvation is urgent. Many postpone repentance, assuming there will be more time. Yet life is uncertain, and death brings judgment (Hebrews 9:27). As R.C. Sproul warns, God’s mercy has a boundary—the end of one’s earthly life. After that, it is too late. A right understanding of hell should compel sinners to flee to Christ and motivate believers to share the gospel earnestly.

The rich man’s plea remains a solemn warning. May Christians pray and labor so that those around them hear and respond to the good news of salvation found only in the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Hell Is Hellish – Luke 16:22-26

In today’s text, Pastor Paul will explore the biblical description of hell, with the hope that believers will be compelled to proclaim the gospel to sinners so that they might avoid going there. Hell is real. Hell is hellish. Though this passage may be presented as a parable about Lazarus and the rich man, the reality it conveys is sobering—many are entering hell today and will remain there for eternity. On Earth, people receive second chances and opportunities to recover from failure. But once someone enters hell, there is no return.

Hell is described here as Hades. Hades is the general dwelling place of the dead. Broadly speaking, it consists of two realms—the place of blessing and the place of torment. The rich man, in torment, looked up and saw Lazarus in comfort. In Hebrew, Hades is referred to as Sheol, the realm of the dead. In this intermediate state, the righteous and the unrighteous are separated. What is experienced in Hades anticipates the final reality of hell.

Hades foreshadows hell. The dead await the return of Christ. After the millennial kingdom and the final judgment, those in Hades will be cast into hell (Gehenna), the lake of fire. In other words, sinners are presently confined in Hades awaiting their final sentencing. Revelation 20:14 declares, “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.”

Hell is a conscious state of existence following physical death. In hell, they experience real suffering rather than ceasing to exist. Some deny consciousness after death, but Scripture clearly teaches otherwise. “In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom…” (Luke 16:23–25, 27–28). Both the rich man and Lazarus are conscious. They remember their lives, their identities, and even their families.

Although sinners are conscious in Hades, they are consciously separated from God. Their awareness intensifies their suffering. The rich man cried out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me… for I am in agony in this flame” (Luke 16:24). He was fully aware of his pain and helplessness.

Jesus depicts several sobering images of hell in this passage:

  • Torment and fire. The agony never ends. Hell is the outpouring of God’s righteous wrath. It is divine justice. In hell, sinners are utterly separated from God and from all that is good.
  • The undying worm. This imagery conveys relentless, unending torment without relief.
  • Unquenchable thirst. The rich man longed for even a drop of water to cool his tongue (v. 24), but God’s judgment would not permit it.
  • Memory and awareness. The rich man remembered the comforts of his earthly life, which only deepened his anguish. The torment is not merely physical but also psychological and spiritual.

The torment of hell is just. God’s justice demands full accountability. Hell is the consequence of a sinner’s decision to remain in unbelief. Even in torment, there is no repentance. As C.S. Lewis wrote, “The gates of hell are locked from the inside.”

  • Christopher W. Morgan describes it this way:
  • “Those in hell suffer intense and excruciating pain—emotional, spiritual, and physical. Hell is worse than being drowned in the sea. It is worse than any earthly suffering. The suffering never ends… The intensity of the suffering corresponds to the wickedness of the person’s behavior. Hell is utterly dreadful; the suffering is constant.”
  • Revelation 14:11 declares, “The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night.”
  • Hell is eternal because the soul does not die, and sin is committed against an eternal, holy God. The infinite worth of the One sinned against explains the eternal weight of judgment.

There are several impossibilities in hell:

  • Irreversible unbelief. The rich man cried, “Father Abraham,” revealing his Jewish heritage. Yet lineage and religious background cannot save. There is no repentance after death.
  • No transformation. If the heart is not changed on earth, it will not be changed in hell. The rich man sought relief, not repentance.
  • Unbridgeable separation. A great chasm separates the righteous from the unrighteous. This division is fixed by God Himself.
  • No mediator. The rich man appealed to Abraham, but there is no mediator in hell. The only mediator between God and man is Jesus Christ.
  • No annihilation. Scripture does not teach that hell is temporary or that its inhabitants cease to exist. The language of “destroy” often refers to ruin and ongoing torment. Revelation describes the torment as “forever and ever.” Hell is a present and continuing reality.

Understanding the permanence of hell and the impossibility of escape should drive every Christian to examine their faith and urgently proclaim the gospel. None of us knows when our last day will be, yet most live as though we have unlimited time.

R.C. Sproul warns:
“Two words you never want to hear from God are ‘too late.’ God is merciful beyond human comprehension. But His mercy has a boundary—the end of your life. ‘It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment’ (Heb. 9:27). If we cry for mercy after we’re dead, it is too late. If you truly understand the reality of hell, you would crawl over broken glass to the cross—to the only One who can bring you safely home for eternity.”

Do you desire to be saved? Nothing is more important. Nothing should come before your salvation. Delaying your salvation is dangerous. Today is the day of salvation. If, by God’s grace, you understand the gospel, then repent of your sins and place your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness and eternal life.

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The Sobering Truths – Luke 16:19-22

Introduction

Death is a sobering reality; everyone lives on God’s borrowed time. Death comes for everyone, to anyone, at any time, and no one can stop it. In Genesis, Methuselah lived 969 years, and he died (Genesis 5:27), but on average, just as the amazing Bible explains, our days are seventy or eighty years (Psalm 90:10). It is a mistake to believe that death is extinction, unconscious nothingness, or the end of personhood. Death is not annihilation; rather, it ends one mode of existence—the earthly and fleshly—and transitions the individual into a new mode of existence, either in Christ or outside of Christ.

There are three types of death: physical death, where the soul and body separate; spiritual death, which is separation from God; and eternal death, the second death, where one remains in heaven or hell forever. Death was brought into the world by the curse of God as a judicial response to the consequences of sin. It is the natural effect of humanity’s rebellion, conformed by God’s law and tied to the curse. As Romans 5:12 states, sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, affecting all humanity. However, not all death is equal. The quality of death is different for every person because how one lives today determines the kind of death they will experience.

Living Well is Not Enough

The first sobering truth is that living well is not enough to result in being separated unto God. A person can be respected, wealthy, and successful in the eyes of the world without a guarantee of going to heaven. Jesus describes the rich man in this passage with vivid detail, noting he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. Purple fabric represented royalty, luxury, and power, and this man feasted sumptuously every single day, not merely occasionally (Luke 16:19).

Jesus did not charge the rich man with a specific crime or dishonest character, but his habitual life of luxury revealed a life full of sin and an orientation centered entirely on self. It is not a matter of perfection but orientation; the rich man turned blessings into self-service rather than stewardship for God. He did not deny himself; he avoided the cross (Luke 9:23) and, while he gained the whole world, forfeited his own soul (Luke 9:25). Those who live blindly and recklessly for themselves, ignoring Jesus, will eventually hear the ultimate response: “Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23).

Living Right is Essential

The second sobering truth is that living right is essential to being separated unto God in death. No one is born to live right, and if life were fair, everyone would be hanging on a cross (Romans 3:10). Living right is impossible through human trials or inventions; it is only possible through being justified by faith and having peace with God through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). Jesus specifically names Lazarus, whose name means “God helps,” showing that while many are called, few are chosen.

The life of Lazarus reflects a spirit in complete poverty; he had nothing to offer God and relied entirely on His mercy. True Christians are “poor in spirit,” possessing a humility that knows they need only what God provides (Matthew 5:3). Lazarus was content even with crumbs, showing that living right is the fruit of salvation, not the root. This orientation of total dependence on God’s mercy is the most necessary fit for being separated unto God.

Everyone Dies and the Consequences Follow

The third sobering truth is that everyone dies, and the consequences follow. Both the rich man and Lazarus died, but their deaths were not equal. When Lazarus died, he was carried away by angels to Abraham’s side. This royal escort language implies that after a Christian dies, it is a grand homecoming where God notices and initiates a glorified transition. For the believer, death is a relocation, not a loss; because they have been crucified with Christ, they have already gone through the first death and only eternity remains. Death loses its power to harm and becomes a gateway to Chris,t where no more tears or sin exist. Abraham’s side is a place of comfort, safety, and rest, where the believer is a companion of the righteous in the joy of God.

In contrast, the rich man also died and was buried. His death was miserable and empty because he had no Jesus. He was not carried by angels; he was simply buried, which represents the emptiness of a final earthly end. While a non-Christian might have an impressive funeral with beautiful eulogies, they enter a state of conscious separation from God and immediate regret. They must face the final Judge, and for them, death is not a gateway but a wall. For the non-believer, eternal suffering starts at death because they have no hope in Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

Everyone is living on God’s borrowed time, and this precious time must be used wisely for salvation. If a person is not yet saved, they must repent and trust the Lord, not testing God’s patience. If saved, the call is to worship, love, and obey Him in all circumstances, enjoying the transformation God has provided. God can transform those who used to be like the rich man into those like Lazarus, who totally depend on the Lord. While life on this earth will end, those in Christ have a guarantee that it is not the end, but a gateway to a perfect and eternal home because Jesus did everything perfectly.

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BCC Vision 2026, Part 2 – Selected Scriptures

Having a clear vision as Christ’s church is essential. For Bible Community Church, this vision guides members to live out the church’s core commitments, which are rooted in Scripture and intended to bear fruit. In last week’s message, Pastor Paul addressed the first two visions: to be mighty in the Word and mighty in worship. In this week’s message, the remaining visions are covered: to be mighty in prayer and mighty in evangelism.

Mighty in Prayer

Prayer is a means of grace given by our Heavenly Father and reflects a genuine relationship with Him who lovingly calls us His children. Prayer is not primarily about gaining something from God, but about communion between God and the believer. The Father has bestowed upon us a great love and calls us His children (1 Jn. 3:1). Therefore, our first response in every circumstance must be prayer—coming before our Father in dependence, as enabled by the Spirit. To be mighty in prayer is to be a man of prayer.

E.M. Bounds and George Müller, who were praying men, have defined prayer as follows.

  • “Prayer is the believer’s intense, persistent, dependent, and Spirit-empowered communion with God, through Christ, seeking God’s will and power for life and ministry” (E.M. Bounds).
  • “Prayer is the believer’s simple, earnest, and faith-filled communication with God—asking, trusting, and depending on Him for every need, while seeking His will above all” (George Müller).

Prayer is the normal posture of a believer’s relationship with God. The Christian understands that apart from the Lord, they can do nothing. As faith increases, prayer deepens. Our intimacy with the Father grows as our reverence for Him and recognition of who He is increase. The health of our relationship with God is revealed by whether we are characterized as men of prayer.

Prayer is commanded by the Lord. It is as vital as breathing. When we cease to pray, we spiritually collapse. Prayerlessness is a rejection of God’s authority and a reliance on self or something other than Him.
“The worst sin is prayerlessness. Overt sin, or crime, or the glaring inconsistencies which often surprise us in Christian people, are the effect of this, or its punishment. We are left by God for lack of seeking Him” (P.T. Forsyth).

Prayer is the hallmark of dependence on God and a channel of His grace. The Father graciously grants His children direct access to Him. Prayer does not earn grace; it receives grace. Life on this side of glory is often difficult, yet our gracious God has provided prayer as a sustaining means of grace.

To examine whether we are men of prayer, we can ask ourselves these questions:

  • Do we pray daily, voluntarily, and privately?
  • Do we intercede for others?
  • Do we pray in all circumstances, according to God’s will, when the Spirit prompts us, and even when we do not feel like praying?

Mighty in Evangelism

Evangelism is the proclamation of the gospel so that sinners would repent of their sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Evangelism is the seed, prayer is the root, and discipleship is the fruit. A sinner cannot come to Christ apart from hearing the gospel through evangelism. “How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?” (Rom. 10:14).

Evangelism is possible because of our identity in Christ Jesus. God calls us to Himself as Christians and then calls us to call others to follow Christ as His disciples. A common misconception among believers is that evangelism is reserved for pastors, missionaries, or church leaders. This could not be further from the truth. All Christians are qualified and called to evangelize and must always be ready to give an answer (1 Pet. 3:15). The distinction is not between trained and untrained, but between qualified and disqualified. The disqualified are unbelievers and believers living in deliberate sin. Since our new identity in Christ is a gift of grace, our primary purpose is to proclaim who Jesus Christ is and that He alone is the way of salvation.

God commands all Christians to evangelize. This is one of the clearest commands in Scripture. In the Great Commission, Jesus—who possesses all authority in heaven and on earth—commands us to go and make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:18–19).

The Christian life is simple:

  • Do all things for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31)
  • Winning the souls of sinners to Christ (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8)

The goal of the Christian life is to become more like the Lord Jesus Christ. We come to know Christ by reading the Word and living as He lived. Everything Jesus did in His earthly ministry was for the redemption of sinners.

We must examine our own hearts to determine whether we are merely theoretical Christians or men of action who live in genuine obedience to the Lord. The Apostle Paul bore on his body the marks of Christ (Gal. 6:17) and declared that he had the mind of Christ, having been shaped by the cross. Are we content to be armchair Christians or theologians only in theory? May it never be so.

The health of a local church is determined by its members’ passion for sharing the gospel of Christ. When a church lacks a heart for evangelism, it becomes ingrown. Growth without outward expression leads only to internal pain. Paul warns of this in 2 Timothy 3:7: “Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Evangelism is ultimately a matter of the heart and sanctification. When we possess a heart for evangelism, God opens doors of opportunity.

Our readiness for evangelism begins with prayer. We must pray for the salvation of sinners and ask the Lord to awaken their hearts to repentance and faith.

Mighty in Discipleship

Discipleship is the fruit of evangelism. Christians plant the seed through evangelism and wait upon God to bring forth fruit through prayer and faithful labor. It is important to distinguish between a Christian and a disciple. Christians receive a new identity in Christ at conversion. Disciples enter through the narrow gate, following Jesus and living as He lived. Genuine salvation naturally bears the fruit of discipleship. Being a disciple is the expected stage of growth for every believer and involves far more than merely knowing or believing facts.

Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Lk. 9:23).

If Bible Community Church is filled with genuine Christian disciples, then disciple-making will naturally follow. Biblical discipleship is not a program but a way of life cultivated by the Holy Spirit. To be a disciple is to live under Christ in a lifelong process of learning from Him, bearing His fruit, and making other disciples.

Below are four marks of a true disciple:

  • Seriously considers their identity and calling as one chosen by Christ
  • Abides in Jesus by abiding in the Word of God, with prayer central to that abiding
  • Values faithfulness over quick results
  • Does not fear failure

We do not make disciples by being perfect, but by walking daily with Christ and being sanctified through that walk. A church that emphasizes evangelism without discipleship is ultimately dead.

As members of Bible Community Church, we must continually remind ourselves of the church’s vision: to be mighty in the Word, worship, prayer, and evangelism (discipleship). As we grow closer to the Lord and mature in Him, we will be able to fulfill the vision and purpose God has given us as a church. Let us labor together faithfully and seek to build Christ’s church for His glory alone.

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BCC Vision 2026 – Selected Scriptures

Part 1: Mighty in Word and Worship

Every United States president captures their vision in a short, powerful slogan to project their policies and shape the nation. From Roosevelt’s promise of happy days to Reagan’s “Morning in America” and the more recent call by President Trump to “Make America Great Again”, these slogans provide direction. While the church does not need a mere slogan, a vision is helpful to know the direction of our labor and how we work together. The vision for this church is to be mighty in four areas: Word, Worship, Prayer, and Evangelism,.

Proverbs 29:18 warns that where there is no vision, the people are out of control. Like the Israelites in the time of Judges, “Doing whatever is right in their own eyes”. Vision in the church is not a matter of personal inspiration or special dreams, but God’s revelation through His Word. In the book of Acts, the early church prioritized the Word and prayer, risked their lives to worship, and shared the gospel across every boundary to make disciples. To be mighty does not mean possessing superhero powers but being simply faithful, biblical, and truthful according to what the Bible says.

Mighty in God’s Word

There is a significant difference between Word using Christians and Word centered Christians. Word using Christians treat the Bible as a tool or a proof text to support their own arguments and reasoning, rather than accepting it as the final authority. To a Word centered Christian, the Bible is a supernatural book that breathes out the Word of God to those who love and obey it. Being a Christian means being liberated from blindness to see that the Word of God is the greatest gift given to man.

A Word centered Christian is a believer whose life, faith, and obedience are shaped and governed by the Word of God rather than feelings, culture, or human logic. As Martin Luther noted, a layman with the Scriptures is more powerful than a Pope without them. The Word centered Christian realizes that the Bible is what they need most. When Jesus spoke hard truths and the crowds left Him, Peter remained because he recognized that Jesus alone had the words of eternal life (John 6:68).

The Word of God must dwell in the believer richly, serving as a lamp in the darkness (Psalms 119:105) and a source of delight day and night (Psalm 1:2-3). Even the apostle Paul, while imprisoned in a Roman prison awaiting potential execution, sought the parchments because he needed the Word of God until the very end (2 Timothy 4:13). William Tyndale similarly requested a Hebrew dictionary while facing death, proving that men of faith never let go of the Book.

The Word is the chosen instrument to create, convict, convert, and conform God’s people. It is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, and capable of judging the thoughts and intentions of the heart where no human psychology can reach (Hebrews 4:12). When it comes to the Bible, a common challenge for the Christian is familiarity, which often dulls wonder. The prayer of the believer must always be for God to open their eyes to see wonderful things in His law (Psalms 119:18). “Whether you’ve been anchored in the Scriptures for fifty years or fifty days, our prayer remains the same: that God would open our eyes, so that we may behold wonderful things from His Word” – Abner Chou.

Main Point II: Mighty in Worship

Worship is giving God the honor, love, and reverence He deserves; it is the heart’s response to who God is. If the heart is not planted in the Word, worship becomes poor, weak, or even wicked. Weak worship is shallow and routine, focusing on style and emotion rather than substance. Wicked worship is false and artificial, much like Nadab and Abihu who brought strange fire and ignored God’s regulation.

True worshippers are those with whom God dwells, like Joseph and Moses. In the New Testament, we have Emmanuel, God with us. Jesus is not a homeboy; He is the Holy God who spoke frequently of eternal judgment. True worship happens in Spirit and truth because the Holy Spirit has made the believer’s spirit alive to God. This results in a hunger for the Word. True worshippers have a deep inner peace that does not depend on circumstances and can worship God in all circumstances.

Ten points about worship:

  • Do you fear God? More than your circumstances?
  • Do you have a humble heart? (Luke 18:13)
  • Do you have faith in the Lord? Worship is an act of trust. (Hebrews 11:6)
  • Do you love God with all your heart and mind? Is God first in all areas of your life?
  • Do you live your life before God?
  • Do you get sincere with God?
  • Do you thank God?
  • Do you live with repentance? Isaiah 66:2 contrite spirit
    • Repentance is brokenness. The end of self rule. All christians are broken. Brokenness is not striving against God but resting in Christ
  • Are you joyful? Joy is the natural fruit of true worship
  • Do you live holy? – this is the most critical. God says, “Be holy for I am holy.” Worship is only possible for those in Christ. He made us holy.
    • Sanctification must happen to those who are in Christ. It means dying to self and living for Christ.

The ultimate purpose of worship is transformation and sanctification. Worship is the charging station where the believer is filled up to live a sanctified life. Through the Word and the Spirit, we are placed in God’s refinery of worship to be changed into the likeness of Christ. After we worship, the test is whether we love God more, obey Him more, and resemble Christ more in our daily lives. We must be mighty in God’s Word so that we may truly be mighty in our worship.

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Do All Things for God’s Glory – 1 Corinthians 10:31

The overarching command for the Christian life is found in the conclusion to the apostle Paul’s instructions regarding the Corinthian church conflict over meat sacrificed to idols. While mature Christians understood that idols were nothing, they were called to limit their own freedom for the sake of the weak to build them up and prioritize the honor of the Lord. We should view our resolutions not as temporary goals but as ongoing eternal resolutions. Whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, we are commanded to do all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). To live for anything else is sin, for sin is fundamentally failing to live for the glory of God.

The glory of God refers to His splendor, reputation, and infinite perfection manifested visibly. In Hebrew, the word Kavod (כָּבוֹד) signifies weight or worth, while the Greek doxa (δόξα) implies honor and brilliance. God is glorious by nature regardless of whether anyone recognizes it. In the Old Testament, the departure of God’s glory was viewed as a spiritual catastrophe, exemplified by the woman who named her son Ichabod because the ark of the covenant was captured (1 Samuel 4:21). We cannot truly live without the presence of Immanuel, which means God with us.

Today’s church often feels boring or powerless because it has lost interest in seeking the glory of God while remaining too busy with the world. The glory of God is actually a threat to the self-seeking nature of fallen man. In the scriptures, whenever people encountered the true glory of God, they feared they would perish. When the apostle John saw the glorified Jesus, he fell at His feet as though he were dead (Revelation 1:17). We also see the danger of failing to give God praise in the account of Herod, who was struck down because he did not give glory to God (Acts 12:21-23).

We glorify God even in the smallest actions, such as receiving a cup of coffee with thanksgiving and gratitude. True contentment acknowledges that God is enough, recognizing that He provides the strength and the desire even for simple daily pleasures. This practice extends to our suffering as well. Glorifying God in pain does not mean calling evil good or suppressing our tears. Instead, it means trusting Him even when He feels silent (Job 13:15) and knowing His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Like Jesus in Gethsemane, we must submit our will to the Father (Luke 22:42). When we display Christlike character under pressure, we witness to the world that Christ is enough.

Jesus is the ultimate model of a life lived for God’s glory, as He did nothing by Himself but lived in total dependence on the Father (John 5:19). He revealed the Father perfectly (John 1:18) and sought only the Father’s will (John 4:34). Our salvation is designed so that Jesus alone is glorified, for we are saved by grace and not by our own works (Ephesians 2:8-9). True believers will have a continual desire to be holy and separate for Christ. They would abide in Christ and love Christ for He is with them and know they are loved by Him (John 14:23). To love Him is to obey His word, as the Father is glorified when we bear much fruit (John 15:8).

We cannot fulfill this command through self-discipline, which often glorifies the self and leads to legalism. Instead, we must live in total dependence on the Word and the Holy Spirit. Even Jesus offered prayers with fervent cries and tears (Hebrews 5:7). The modern church has lost its tears, so we must cry out in repentance over our sins and weaknesses. By abiding in Christ and surrendering daily, we align ourselves with His Word and allow God to do what pleases Him through us.

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Damning Spiritual Wickedness – Luke 16:16-18

In Luke 16, Jesus gives a serious indictment of the Pharisees. While they appeared righteous on the outside, Jesus, who knows the heart, exposes their true spiritual deadness. Our current passage leads directly to the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, warning us that those who appear “nice” but remain spiritually wicked will face eternal damnation.

Spiritual Blindness

Spiritual wickedness is not just an outward moral failing; it is evil that operates in the realm of faith, worship, and authority. It is the willful corruption of what is holy, often masquerading as righteousness. The Pharisees would argue over the minutiae of the Sabbath as a pretense of righteousness while they would challenge Jesus, the Lord of Sabbath. Spiritual wickedness is sin against God. Like Eli’s sons who “did not know Yahweh” despite being priests and committed horrible sins in the name of God, spiritual wickedness is a sin primarily against God rather than man (1 Sam 2:12, 25). This wickedness leads to spiritual blindness, where one can no longer recognize the truth of God’s Word or the person of Jesus Christ.

The “Law and the Prophets” refers to the entire Old Testament. The Law means the books of Moses and the Prophets means the rest of the books in the Old Testament. All of them, starting in Genesis, tell of the coming Messiah. They could not see the role of God’s word and the role of John the Baptist and ultimately could not recognize Jesus ChristThe Pharisees spent their lives studying these scriptures, yet they missed the “real thing” standing before them.

  • The Old Testament is not inferior; it is God-breathed (2 Tim 3:16). God used human authors like musical instruments to play His melody.
  • From Moses (Deut 18:15) to Isaiah (Isaiah 9:6-7), the scriptures clearly pointed to Jesus.
  • Even today, we can be spiritually blind if our Bibles gather dust or if we lack “spiritual perception”. We must tremble at the Word (Isaiah 66:1-2) rather than treating it as a common or familiar thing.

Spiritual Insensitivity: Failure to repent 

John the Baptist served as the bridge between the old and new eras. His role was to prepare the way for Jesus by calling people to repentance. John the Baptist cannot be separated from Jesus Christ. The Law shows us our sin and weakness, and John the Baptist points us to the Lamb of God who takes away that sin. The Pharisees hated John’s message because the spiritually blind hate to repent; they think they are already pure based on their own self-righteousness. Do you know your heart condition? How wicked and sinful you are? If you really knew, there is nothing you can do but repentance in Jesus. The wicked are blind to this desperate need. They think they can be blessed without repentance.

Spiritual Arrogance

From the beginning (Genesis 3:15), the good news of Jesus has been provided. The promise was given to Eve that her offspring would defeat the serpent. This promise is proclaimed loudly and clearly all through the Old Testament. It is impossible to miss the good news. The Kingdom of God is “good news” because Jesus is a righteous and life-giving King. It is good news because the Kingdom is not just a political entity; it is a “family business” where we are co-heirs with Christ. However the Pharisees’ kingdom was political. They had their own kingdom, separate from the Kingdom of God. They could not get into God’s kingdom because they were not willing to repent. No one in hell will say, I tried so hard to get saved by Jesus but it didn’t happen. It is because you refused to repent. (Matthew 3:2)

The Cure to Spiritual Blindness 

For the non Christian, you are spiritually blind if your salvation and Jesus is not the most urgent need in your life. Psalm 90:3 says your life is fragile and temporary. Today must be the day of salvation. For the Christian, if your transformation and godly character are not your priority then you might be spiritually blind. We need signs of love and growing holiness and mortifying sin. The cure is the same. Repentance

How do we know if we are no longer blind? We find ourselves “forcing” our way into the Kingdom (Luke 16:16).

  • Holy Zeal: This is not salvation by works, but a “pressing hard” with intensity and determination. It is the mark of someone who sees the light and pursues it like a person lost at sea rowing toward a lighthouse.
  • Pressing On: Like the Apostle Paul, we must reach forward and “press on toward the goal” (Phil 3:13-14).

Jesus loves us and He shed his blood for us. He showed His love for us. We must reciprocate that love with our passionate pursuit of Him. If you claim to see but do not strive, your sin remains. We must acknowledge our blindness, turn from our self-righteousness, and desperately pursue Christ through repentance and faith.

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One of the Worst Sins, Part 3 – Luke 16:15

God sees and knows every human heart. Nothing is hidden from Him. Jesus speaks in this passage about the inner person—the heart—which God examines fully. As He exposed the hearts of the Pharisees, so He knows ours.

The idolatrous heart is detestable in the sight of God.
The heart is the center of thought, desire, and moral decision-making. It reflects who we truly are and how we respond to God. God’s knowledge of the heart goes beyond outward behavior to inner motives and intentions. We cannot conceal our hearts from Him.

What does God do with man’s heart?

  • He exposes what is within it.
  • He breaks the heart (mind and will) through suffering, frustration, circumstances, and failure.
  • He purifies and renews the heart through new life in Christ.

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

For believers, this truth is comforting. God knows our weaknesses and invites us to approach Him humbly for grace, comfort, and peace.
“A bruised reed he will not break…” (Isaiah 42:3).

Yet Scripture also teaches that evil flows from the human heart.
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts…” (Mark 7:21–23).

The Bible describes hearts that are hardened, divided, proud, or unbelieving. The greatest barrier to spiritual growth is not merely sin, but an unwilling heart. A spiritually dead heart requires God’s intervention and renewal.

Jeremiah 17:9 declares:
“The heart is deceitful above all things and extremely sick…”

Because the human heart is deceitful, people cannot fully understand themselves. Unbelief and hypocrisy grow from this self-deception. Only the Holy Spirit can convict, lead to repentance, and bring saving faith in Christ.

Modern culture encourages people to “follow your heart,” but Scripture warns that this leads to destruction. Apart from God, the heart cannot be healed. Only the light of the gospel reveals the true human condition.

Jesus, the true Light, exposes the heart and brings salvation to those who receive Him (John 1:9–12). He revealed the Pharisees’ idolatry—they loved money and power more than God.

“To be free of idols you must live with God…” (J. Douma).

The proud heart is detestable in the sight of God.
The Pharisees were not only idolaters but also proud. Pride places self on the throne rather than God. All sinners possess pride because God is not central in their lives.

Even believers can harbor subtle pride, often revealed through anxiety, discontentment, frustration, or a victim mentality. This mindset resists correction and avoids repentance. Pride is especially offensive to God because it is a vertical sin against Him and damages all relationships. Scripture records God’s severe judgment against the proud (Acts 12:22–23).

Believers must remain vigilant, for “a proud heart is Satan’s throne” (Charles Bridges). Pride separates people from God, as seen in Adam, Eve, and Moses. Pride relies on self and rejects God’s word.

Jesus Christ is the supreme example of humility.
“Have this way of thinking in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3, 5).

Pride is destroyed only through union with Christ. When the old self is crucified, Christ reigns in the heart. Humility marks those who truly abide in Him.

The Pharisees refused to die to self and were therefore an abomination to God. This warning remains true today. We must examine our lives for idolatry and pride and repent.

Let us ask whether idolatry or pride characterizes our daily lives. If so, may we repent and walk humbly before our Lord.

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One of the Worst Sins, Part 2 – Luke 16:14-15

We sin every day, but we usually only count the sins that are made in the sight of man. We must remember that sin is always committed in the sight of God. While all sin is sin, not all sin is equal. Scripture clearly distinguishes between sin in ignorance and intentional sin. God considers motivation, impact, and their heart of rebellion when evaluating sin. (John 19:11). In our text, we see some of the worst sins.

The Love of Money

Money is a tool, but when you love money, it is an abomination. The love of money is the root of all sorts of evil (1 Tim 6:10). When money is loved, it replaces love for God, leading to idolatry. The love of money motivates sinful behavior, creates spiritual blindness, and aligns our hearts with worldly values instead of Godly virtues. You cannot serve God and money together.

Unbelief

Unbelief is demonstrated by scoffing, turning up the nose, and holding Jesus in contempt. Even with Christ’s miracles, great teaching, and genuine character, those who practice unbelief refuse to believe. This refusal stems from a corrupted heart—morally ruined, spiritually diseased, and possessing a darkened mind. Unbelief is the suppression of the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18-19). Healing from this deep corruption requires God’s regeneration and new life, revealed through the Holy Spirit’s correction and rebuke.

Undenied Self

The third severe sin is the outcome of the undenied self. Self is the root of human problems; it is the source of pride, self-seeking, and rebellion, ruling our hearts and decisions apart from God. Inside, we are all born full of robbery and wickedness (Luke 11:39).

Self-justification is when a person defends their own actions and motives instead of acknowledging their mistakes. In a spiritual sense, this practice is extremely dangerous because it:

  • Prevents Repentance: It keeps us busy defending the self, leading to no confession of sin.
  • Hardens the Heart: It blinds us to spiritual reality, causing repeated sin without remorse.
  • Blocks Grace: Self-justification makes one proud and unable to receive the grace offered through Christ (Luke 23:39).
  • Opposes Christ: It is the ultimate rebellion, denying the cross and rejecting the grace of Jesus. Self-justification claims we do not need Christ, who alone is the antidote for sin (Galatians 2:21).

We must embrace being crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20). This is not physical death but the daily, spiritual mortification of the self. It means surrendering self-centered pride, letting Christ’s life govern our actions, and yielding to God’s will over self-control. We live by faith, trusting Jesus who died for us. A Christian should obey before understanding. That doesn’t mean we don’t understand but we obey even if we don’t understand.

Seeking Human Approval

This is another worst sin we practice often. Seeking human approval means valuing the praise, acceptance, and recognition of people more than what is God-honoring. The Pharisees were trapped in this sin, seeking to justify themselves “in the sight of man” (Luke 16:15). They seek popularity and attention (Matthew 23:5).

Seeking human approval is devastating because it:

  • Replaces God: It is a form of idolatry, replacing our loyalty to God with loyalty to people.
  • Produces Hypocrisy: It corrupts motives, turning worship into performance and sincerity into showmanship (Matthew 6:1-2, 5).
  • Suppresses Obedience: Fear of man’s disapproval leads to silence regarding the truth and the rejection of God’s will.

A key cause of people-pleasing is a lack of fear of God. When people look strong, and God seems weak, the fear of man becomes a snare.

Cure for Human Approval: We must find our identity in Christ. Your worth is rooted in being loved and adopted by Him. We must grow in the fear of God, knowing He judges perfectly, seeing the inside, while man only sees the outside. Make it your daily aim to please God, because pleasing people leads only to slavery. We are called to live for eternal evaluation.

Remember, we are all God’s kingdom priests. The work of salvation is finished by Jesus. There is no room for self. We are called to seek His kingdom and His righteousness, defeating these worst sins by choosing simply to trust and obey Him every day.

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