Happy is the man that findeth wisdom (the fear of the Lord)*, and the man that getteth understanding (departs from evil)*.

For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

She (wisdom) is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth (holds fast to) her.

Proverbs 3:13-18

*Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

…let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

Romans 13:1-7

…let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.             Ephesians 5:21

The first three or four characteristics of a Spirit filled believer given in verses 19 & 20 of Ephesians 5 are fairly simple to understand.  However, the characteristic of submitting to one another raises a question or two.

How does a husband, who is designated by God to be the spiritual leader in the home, submit to his wife?  How does a father submit to his children?  How does a boss submit to his employees?  The answers are dealt with in the remainder of chapter five and into chapter six of Ephesians.  We will examine these in the order that Scripture presents them.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord (vs 22).

Submit in this context is from the Greek word hupeiko.  Hupo means under and eiko means to yield.  To subject or the word subjection is from hupotasso, a military term – hupo meaning under and tasso meaning to rank under, to arrange.  The word picture heard most often as an illustration of this is that of a knight kneeling before the king with his weapons arranged before him signifying his allegiance and dedication to the king.

The Spirit filled believer listed first in this passage of explanation is the wife.  This does not indicate that she is being singled out for ill treatment or that she is inferior to her husband.  Submission being one of the characteristics of a Spirit filled believer applies to believers in whatever role they find themselves, whether child, parent, husband, employer, etc.   Being mentioned first may simply mean that the wife’s submission is the most important.  Leadership is meaningless without followers.

Submitting to another does not mean that the one submitting is inferior to the other.  The culture takes offence because that is what the culture thinks it means, but Christians are to think biblically.  I Corinthians 11:3 says; But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.  The head of Christ is God.  Does that mean that Christ is inferior to God?  Of course not!  Jesus Christ is God.  The Son is simply carrying out the will of the Father.  That is His role.

What does submission look like in a Spirit filled Christian wife?   Submit yourselves in the middle or passive voice means to subject oneself, to obey, to be subject to.  This is a willing submission.  It is not forced or demanded by the Spirit filled husband.  It is voluntary.

The culture with its mouth agape will pretend that the wife’s role of submission is shocking.  Look around you.  Every day you and I are required to submit, to subject ourselves, to obey.  If you disagree, try telling your boss what you will do and not do tomorrow.  Try driving to work in half the time it normally takes.  Try telling the traffic cop that you make your own rules.  Without submission, yielding and obedience, our society would be in complete chaos.  Where there is no order and/or respect for roles and authority there is chaos.  The Holy Spirit is not the author of confusion.

By the way, this role for wives is the remedy for the conflict resulting from the fall of man (man’s disobedience in the Garden).  One of the results of the fall is the struggle for control between the husband and wife.  God’s solution, the Spirit filled solution, is for the man to assume the leadership role and to take the responsibility that goes with it.  The wife should support him in that role.

Subject yourselves unto your own husbands.  This submission is limited.  Somewhere, sometime, somehow, either the culture or “Christian” men not walking in the Spirit, fomented the idea that  the woman’s role is that of submission to all men because women are inferior.  The Bible doesn’t teach that women are inferior.  They are different from men, but not inferior.  The Bible says specifically in verse 22 that this Spirit filled role of submission is to her own husband.

The attitude of this submission is as unto the Lord.  The unbelieving wife is incapable of this type of submission because it is made possible only by the Holy Spirit who indwells believers.  A Christian wife should meditate on the characteristics of her submission unto the Lord.  Thought should be given on how to make these characteristics true of her relationship with her own husband.

Definitions are taken from Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words.

Note:  In light of this teaching on submission, Christian women who are considering marriage should note the seriousness of marrying according to God’s will.  An unbeliever cannot be Spirit filled.  This submission is produced by the Holy Spirit who indwells believers only.

If the husband asks the wife to violate a clear command of Scripture, she should respectfully obey God rather than man.  If the “Christian” husband breaks the law she should call the police.  Covering for him for sake of testimony is simply enabling him.

Spirit filled submission does not mean the wife should follow the husband into doctrinal heresy.  She should stand firm in a respectful way.

If the husband is involved in activities that bring reproach upon the cause of Christ, the husband should be dealt with according to Matthew 18.  He should be held accountable regardless of what position he may occupy in the church, even if he is the pastor.   

I Peter 3:7 KJV instructs the husband to give honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel.  The word for weaker does not mean inferior.  It is used in a comparative sense to the husband who, as a general rule, is physically stronger and able to provide the protection and security that she deserves.

…let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…

A well known pastor/teacher said the following:

I’m not responsible for who gets saved, and neither are you.  I refuse that responsibility.  Then who is responsible?  “No man comes to Me,” Jesus said, “except the Father draw him.”  God has that responsibility, not us.*

What then is the Christian’s responsibility?  The Christian’s responsibility is to sow the seed.  The seed is the Word of God.  It is all good seed.  As we sow the seed, we should be asking God to let it fall on good ground.  Good ground is ground that has been prepared by the Holy Spirit.  Seed that falls on good ground brings forth fruit.

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  Matthew 13:23

The question, therefore, is not: how many souls have you won, but have you been sowing seed?

Here are some personal observations concerning sowing seed:

If you do not want to sow seed, then you probably shouldn’t.  If you do not want to sow seed, it will likely be obvious to the recipients of your efforts.

If you are to sow seed, it must be deliberate and intentional but not forced.  Write out your testimony of salvation and begin to share it in conversation as God gives the opportunity.   Ask God for opportunities to sow seed and ask Him to help you recognize the opportunity when it comes.

There will be many opportunities to share the gospel but personally, I would be hesitant to share my testimony verbally with a cashier and a long line of shoppers behind me.  Use instead a gospel tract or  a business type card with a blog address or short message on it.

Witnessing to a police officer who has pulled you over for speeding or reckless driving is probably not a good opportunity.  If you habitually break traffic laws, you should probably remove the Christian bumper stickers from your car. 

Witnessing to someone to whom you owe an unpaid bill is probably not a good idea either.   Paying a tithe while not paying your bills is in my view hypocrisy.

If a person is not interested in spiritual things then respect their wishes.  Respecting their wishes may get you another opportunity to witness later.  Not respecting their wishes will most likely get the door shut on you permanently and possibly anyone else that comes behind you.

Whenever I present My Testimony to someone,  I tell them that I would like to share how God worked in my life to bring me into a relationship with Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Whether I share My Testimony in person,  by letter, or emaiI; I usually say that it contains religious material and if they think they would be offended by it, they should not take it, and/or read it.  However, if sharing by mail, I may ask them to keep it around in the event that one day they should change their mind.  I also try to tell them in person that I will not be offended if they do not care to read it.  

You may be wondering why I would include these things from the preceding paragraph because they almost seem to be discouraging the individual from reading the message.  The reason I try to include these statements is to make the presentation of the gospel manipulation free.  The presentation of the gospel is not a sales call.

If you are traveling, plan ahead.  Take some gospel tracts or your written testimony along to sprinkle along the way.  Personally, I would not pick up a tract left in a public restroom.   Be discreet and don’t litter!

 Giving a generous tip when leaving a tract for a waitress or hotel maids is a good idea.  If a tip is expected, never leave a tract without a tip.

Remember, sowing seed is not about you or your success or failure at sowing.  Sowing seed is about obeying God.  The results belong to Him.

Note: The personal advice above is just that, my personal views.  It is how I do it.  Feel free to disagree as long as it is my opinion and not a biblical command that you are disagreeing with.  Do not accept anyone’s opinion unless you are personally convinced or persuaded of it in your own mind.

*John MacArthur – Hard to Believe (workbook) pg. 160

What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?  For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.  How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision?  Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.  For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.  Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he (God) had promised, he was able also to perform.  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

…let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…

 

Who Is God?
He Is the Eternal One, Our Creator.

Who Is Jesus?
He Is God.

Who Are We?
Created Beings Separated from Our Creator by Our Sin.

What Is Sin?
Sin Is the Failure of Man to Obey God. Sin Brings Death.

What Is Death?
Death Is the Result of Sin.
Physical Death Is Separation from the Body.
Spiritual Death Is Separation from God.

Why Did God Send His Son?

To Pay Our Sin Debt in Order to Reconcile Us to Himself, so that We May Have Forgiveness and Life More Abundantly.

How May We Have Eternal Life?
Repentance is a Changing of the Mind Which Leads Us to
Trust in the Work and Merit of Christ Alone and to
Rest in the Work of Salvation that He Has Finished.
We are Saved from the Penalty of Sin by Grace through Faith.

                                                          What Is Grace?                                                            God’s Enabling

                                                            What is Faith?                                                                         Faith Is a Firm Persuasion or Conviction Brought About by                                                        Hearing the Word of God.*

*W.E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words

…let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…

Jesus speaking:

He that is of God heareth God’s words (Scripture): ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

• Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;  Ephesians 5:19

This characteristic is inward.  No one knows what scripture you are quoting or what spiritual song you are singing in your heart.  Only God knows.  A psalm or song in the heart is worship.  It is between you and the Lord.

Take note of the quality of this content in the heart. The Psalms are Scripture.  Christians are to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly.  The songs are spiritual songs.  Spiritual songs are songs that are biblically correct and that promote biblical thinking.  Making melody speaks of a spiritual song with a particular quality.

• Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;  Ephesians 5:20

This characteristic of the Spirit filled believer is upward.  It is the expression of gratefulness to God that is continuous.  Giving thanks always because God is sovereign and there is never a time that He is not in control and accomplishing His purpose. 

The gratefulness expressed here is for all things both good and bad.  It includes the bad because the God of Scripture is able to bring good out of the bad.  Satan means to destroy, but God means it for good.  Good is that which accomplishes God’s purpose.

• Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.  Eph. 5:21 

This characteristic of the Spirit filled believer is outward.  It characterizes our relationships with others.  Submission identifies with serving.

The rest of Ephesians chapter five and part of chapter six illustrate how  Spirit filled believers submit to one another.  If you are a wife, husband, child, father, servant (employee) or master (employer), there is information in this passage on what submitting looks like in your particular role.

Of particular interest is how a leader such as a husband, father or employer submits to those under him.  Spirit filled submission in the above mentioned roles will be considered in the next article of this series.

…let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…

The book of Proverbs sometimes gives varying advice on the same subject.  For instance, it says to rebuke a fool and it also says not to   rebuke a fool.  How are we to know when to rebuke and when not to?  The book of Proverbs says not to rebuke a scorner lest he hate you.  It also says if you rebuke a wise man, he will love you.  How are we to know which is which before hand?  The truth of the matter is that we don’t always know ahead of time.  These instructions are truisms and we may not know the results until we are engaged with the individual.

Many years ago, in another part of the country, I was delivering a load of water heaters to an apartment building job site.  As we unloaded, I moved the water heaters to the back of the truck and our crew then distributed them to the individual apartments.  A construction worker from another trade walked up and began talking in filthy terms to one of our men who was a bit shy and a little awkward.

This other tradesman was enjoying his own filthy talk and was quite amused by it.  So, as I grabbed another water heater, I spoke up and said; I don’t appreciate what you are saying!  Apparently he either didn’t hear me or he was ignoring what I said, so I said it louder.

This time he heard me and he became very angry.  He climbed into the back of the truck with me and went from filthy conversation to profanity.  He wanted to fight.  I made an effort to say more, but the more I said, the worse he got. When I shut up he climbed down and went back to his truck. 

During all this I had two short pieces of pipe in my hands which I would screw into the openings in the top of each water heater to use as handles.  One of our men told me that this man was watching my hands as he shouted at me.  He was apparently thinking that I might try to use the pipe on him.  I couldn’t have hit the man.  I was in my  twenties and he was old enough to be my father.

As he went back to his truck, we finished unloading.  I then followed him and attempted to talk with him again.  He had cooled off somewhat and said to me; Just leave me alone!  He knew that he was wrong, but it also proved to be a learning experience for me.  When you back a man into a corner in front of other men, one of two things will happen.  He will either admit that he is wrong or he will come out fighting.  I didn’t know it at the time, but this episode was preparing me for another such experience.

I was working in Florida as an estimator for a commercial plumbing company in the late 1980’s.  I had put together an estimate on a hotel, which at that time was to be the largest hotel under one roof in the state of Florida.  Our bid was over 7.6 million dollars for just the plumbing on this project.

Our company was invited to a meeting with the general contractor to review our bid and to present some cost saving alternatives.  As the estimator for the project, I attended the meeting with our company president and executive VP.   Also in the meeting was the president of the general contractor’s Florida division, his project engineer, and a representative from a foreign company who was partnering with the general contractor on this project.  

After we reviewed our bid and I presented some value engineering alternatives, we were congratulated as the successful bidder. The atmosphere quickly lightened up with laughter, congratulatory remarks, and a considerable amount of profanity, while I sat quietly at the opposite end of the conference room table.

At a certain point, the GC’s president looked at me and said; Monty, why are you so quiet at a time like this?  This is a time to celebrate!  I didn’t want to embarrass this man or my bosses, but neither did I want to lie.  So I said to him; After the contract is signed and you visit the job site, we can walk the site together, and I will tell you then what is bothering me today.  To which he replied with a smile; We have no secrets here.  Go ahead, tell us what is bothering you.  Hesitatingly, I answered him as slowly and as humbly as I could.  I said; Sir, when you use Jesus’ name that way, it hurts me right here, and I put my hand on my heart.

I had tried not to put this man on the spot.  I tried to skirt the issue.  I did not want to embarrass him, but he would not be dissuaded.  Well, he backed up and apologized profusely.  He even admitted to his own religious background and when we walked out of that conference room, it was with his arm around my shoulder.

When we got in the car to leave, my company’s officers were blown away.  Our executive VP said that he had wanted to put his hand over my mouth.  We still got the contract.  

As I have recalled this experience over the years, I have wondered whether or not this experience might have been just for the foreign representative who sat immediately on my right during the meeting.  He never said much through the whole thing, but he wouldn’t have been there had he not understood.  His country was not known for its Christianity, so I have since trusted that my brief testimony for Christ was for him.

These experiences have demonstrated to me the truisms of Proverbs.  The scorner will hate you.  The wise man will love you.  The fool, well, trust the Holy Spirit to guide you.  

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.  Proverbs 15:1

…let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…

Is the Soul of the Unbeliever Annihilated at Death?

The answer to this question is very simple and it is based on the same reasoning given to those who believe they can lose their salvation.  How is the life that a Christian receives from God described?  What is it’s description or quality?  This life is described as eternal or everlasting.  Can you lose something that is everlasting?  If you can, whatever kind of life you may have is certainly not everlasting life if it can cease to be.

The same reasoning applies to annihilation of the soul.  How does the Bible describe the torment or punishment applied to those who reject Christ?  It is described as everlasting.  If one’s soul ceases to exist, how can an unbeliever experience eternal punishment or eternal torment?  In order for an unbeliever to experience eternal torment, there has to be a conscious existence.

---

Then shall he say also unto them (unbelievers) on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: Matthew 25:41

Then shall he answer them (unbelievers), saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Matthew 25:45&46

Note: The same word used to describe the type of life for the righteous is used to describe punishment for the wicked. Both are described as eternal.

---

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt (abhorrence). Daniel 12:2

In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction (ruin) from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; II Thessalonians 1:8&9

Note: The same word for destruction is used in I Timothy 6:9 speaking of the consequences of the indulgence of the flesh, referring to physical ruin…….WE Vine pg 165 #3, olethros. This word for destruction is not referring to obliteration of the soul.

---

The same (unbelievers) shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Revelation 14:10&11

Note: In order to experience everlasting torment, there has to be conscious existence.

---

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:10-15

Note: The torment of the devil and his angels lasts forever and that punishment includes the punishment of those whose names are not found written in the book of life.

---

There are other concerns regarding the teaching of annihilation of the soul.  Many unbelievers already believe that when they die, that is it.  They already believe that they will cease to exist.  What is to be feared about death (separation from God), if the soul ceases to exist?

This false doctrine is also widely held by the cults.  Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah Witnesses both endorse this teaching.  If we didn’t have any other argument, this should be a red flag to warn us away.

The Scripture teaches that there are degrees of reward in heaven and that there are degrees of punishment in hell.  If the unregenerate soul ceases to exist, the unregenerate cannot experience degrees of punishment in hell.

Most importantly, this false teaching minimizes the suffering of Christ on the cross and the payment He made for our sins.  This is a price that sinners cannot pay and is shown to be such by the eternal nature of unbelievers paying it themselves.  Rejecting God’s provision for our sin will one day unleash His wrath against all ungodliness.  Those who would minimize the payment Christ made for the sins of mankind lack a biblical understanding of the holiness of God and the consequences of sin.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:31

…let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…

Note: The Scripture references are from John MacArthur’s NKJV Study Bible notes on Matthew 25:46.

The following is a comment that I received a few weeks ago concerning this article:

You don’t seem to be aware of the Biblical language of what a “soul” is. The Hebrew word (sometimes translated soul) is nephesh. Its Greek equivalent is psuche. Both words are applied Biblically to both humans and animals. In fact animals are called living creatures (nephesh) before humans are in the Genesis account.  So whatever you argument contains about “souls” you need to take that into account. Next scripture speaks of nephesh and psuche that die. Jesus himself speaking of his own death says he came to give his psuche as a ransom. Biblically speaking “souls” (nephesh or psuche) do not live on after their deaths. In addition to this scripture repeatedly states that man is mortal, he dies. God describes what death is in Genesis 3:19 a return to the dust from which we came. Scripture also states that only God is immortal.  Even if the teaching of annihilationism was false (which its not) your argument does not logically follow.   You argue everyone will live forever after the resurrection either in heaven or hell.  Even if I granted that this was true this does not necessitate an intermediate state of existence because as Christians we believe in the resurrection of the living.

My response:  The answer is still very simple. Everlasting is the same word used to describe the believers reward of eternal life.  

The torment reserved for the devil, his angels and unbelievers is described in Scripture as lasting forever and ever.  The unbeliever’s reward is everlasting fire, everlasting punishment, everlasting contempt and everlasting destruction.  An unbeliever can only experience this kind of punishment through conscious awareness.  

More could be said, but the guiding principle here is that God’s Word never contradicts itself.  If an interpretation of Scripture results in a contradiction, the interpretation is incorrect.

If an unbeliever’s soul ceases to exist, then he or she will not experience everlasting torment, everlasting fire, everlasting punishment, everlasting contempt, or everlasting destruction as the Scripture states.