8/27/19

Are Jesus’ Words More Important Than the Bible Writers’? by Eric Lyons, M.Min.



Are Jesus’ Words More Important Than the Bible Writers’?

by Eric Lyons, M.Min.
Occasionally, Christians will make the statement that “Jesus’ words are more important than the words of the Bible writers.” Allegedly, the words of Christ deserve greater attention, allegiance, and admiration than the inspired words of Paul, Peter, James, and every other Bible writer. Some even go so far as to say, “Jesus’ teachings must be obeyed, while the teachings of the Bible writers could be overlooked.” After all, Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 9:20). He died for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3). Hesaves us (Luke 19:10). The Bible writers were merely men—fallible men who made numerous mistakes in their lives, and whose salvation, like ours, comes only through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). So why should we consider their teachings on par with the teachings of Christ?
It clearly needs to be established that no one is equal to God. The Creator and Sustainer of the Universe is infinite in all of His glorious attributes. He alone is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. The Son of God is the only accountable person never to sin (Hebrews 4:15). It has always been wrong to attempt to put men, even Bible writers, on par with God (cf. Genesis 3:5; Ezekiel 28:1-8). Only the wicked try to elevate themselves to the status of deity. King Herod, for example, flirted with self-deification—and died in a horrific manner as a result (Acts 12:21-23). This incident stands in stark contrast to the reaction of a Bible writer, Paul, when the heathen at Lystra attempted to worship him. Rather than accept worship that is reserved only for God (Matthew 4:10), Paul and Barnabas refused it and rebuked those who attempted such worship (Acts 14:8-18).
Jesus, as God in the flesh (John 1:1-5,14,17), rightly accepted (and still accepts) His followers’ worship (John 9:35-38; Luke 24:52; Revelation 5:8-14). However, the fact that the words of the Bible writers deserve the same level of attention and allegiance as the words of Christ has nothing to do with attempting to put weak, finite, sinful humanity on par with God. To say that all of the words of the Bible deserve our utmost respect and attention is actually in harmony with what the Bible itself teaches.
First, the only reason we have the words of Christ is because God used men to write them down. Jesus did not write the gospel accounts; Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all wrote about the life and teachings of Christ years after His death, resurrection, and ascension back into heaven. The apostle Paul also quoted Jesus occasionally (2 Corinthians 12:9; 1 Timothy 5:18; Acts 20:35; 22:7-21). To say that the words of Christ deserve man’s ultimate respect, while the words of the Bible writers warrant less appreciation, is to ignore the fact that God gave us the teachings of Christ through inspired men(Galatians 1:12; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; John 17:20).
Second, at times in the gospel accounts there is no clear way to know for sure if the Bible writers were quoting Jesus or simply narrating the inspired story. As commentator Leon Morris concluded:
All are agreed that from time to time in the Gospel [of John—EL] we have the meditations of the [e]vangelist, but it is difficult to know where they begin and end. In the first century there were no devices like quotation marks to show the precise limits of quoted speech. The result is that we are always left to the probabilities and we must work out for ourselves where a speech or quotation ends.1
For example, we cannot say for sure if John 3:16—arguably the most frequently quoted Bible verse in the world—is a direct quotation of Jesus or a comment by John. The great thing is, we do not have to know this in order to know the teachings of God. Whether John 3:16 is a direct quote from Jesus ornot, it is from God, and thus divinely authoritative.2
Third, consider also the fact that Jesus quoted from the Old Testament numerous times throughout His ministry. He quoted from Deuteronomy (6:13,16; 8:3) when tempted by Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). When the conniving Pharisees asked Jesus a question about divorce (Matthew 19:1-10), the master Teacher directed their attention to God’s plan for marriage as recorded in the first book of the Bible (Genesis 1:27; 2:24; 5:2). When dying on the cross (Matthew 27:46), Jesus quoted from Psalm 22:1. Genesis, Deuteronomy, and the book of Psalms did not become authoritative when Jesus quoted from them; they were already authoritative, because they came from God. After quoting from the relatively obscure words in Psalm 82:6, Jesus said, “the Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). That is, it is impossible for Scripture to be annulled, for its authority to be denied, or its truth to be withstood.3 “It cannot be emptied of its force by being shown to be erroneous.”4 Why? Because it was the authoritative, inspired, inerrant Word of God, even before Jesus quoted from it.
Indeed, the fact thatJesus quoted extensively from the Old Testament, appealing to it as the authoritative “Word of God” (Mark 7:13; John 10:35), is further proof that all of the Scriptures—not just the words Jesus spoke while on Earth—deserve our utmost respect. It is illogical and without biblical backing to suggest that the “Word of God” (whether the book of Genesis or the book of James) is somehow inferior to the “words of the Son of God.”5
Fourth, Jesus and the Bible writers even referred to narrational comments, and not just direct quotations from God, as being God’s Word. For example, when Jesus reminded His hypocritical hearers of God’s original design in marriage (Genesis 1-2), He quoted from Moses in Genesis 2:24. Yet Jesus explained that “He [God] who made them at the beginning…said” the words (Matthew 19:4-5). How could God have “said” this statement when Moses was not directly quoting God? Answer: If it is in Scripture, it is “God’s Word” (i.e., it was given by inspiration of God). When the writer of Hebrews quoted from the words of the psalmist (95:7-11), where nothing was said about this psalm being inspired by God, the Hebrews writer noted that these words were from “the Holy Spirit” (Hebrews 3:7-11). Why? Because the Holy Spirit guided the psalmist in what he wrote.
To treat the words of Moses, Paul, Peter, and other inspired penmen as “second class” Scripture is equivalent to saying that “God’s Word is not as important as God’s Word.” The fact is, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). Paul quoted from Jesus and the God-inspired prophet Moses when writing to Timothy and elevated both as “Scripture” (1 Timothy 5:18; cf. 2 Peter 3:15-16). Therefore, whether we are reading a direct quotation from God the Father (Matthew 3:17), or a statement made by God the Son, or a truth revealed by God the Spirit through one of His inspired spokesmen or penmen (1 Corinthians 2:10-16; 2 Peter 1:20-21), all of Scripture should be respected and rightly divided (2 Timothy 2:15). “I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold!... Consider how I love Your precepts… My heart stands in awe of Your word. I rejoice in Your word as one who finds great treasure… I love your law… My soul keeps Your testimonies, and I love them exceedingly” (Psalm 119:127,159-163,165,167).

ENDNOTES

1 Leon Morris (1995), The Gospel According to John (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans), revised edition, p. 202, emp. added.
2 A person should be careful not to assume that red-letter Bibles have all of (and only) Jesus’ direct quotations printed in red. Judgment calls must be made by publishers as to which words they put in red and which words they do not. The fact is, whatever color publishers make the words of Jesus and the Bible writers, all of them deserve our utmost respect because all of them come from God. As the psalmist proclaimed: “The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of your righteous judgments endures forever” (Psalm 119:160).
3 See Benjamin Warfield (1970 reprint), The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible (Philadelphia, PA: Presbyterian & Reformed), pp. 138-140.
4 Morris, p. 468.
5 Since Jesus fulfilled the Old Law (Matthew 5:10.125 in7), taking “it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross,” God’s people have been amenable to the New Law (Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 8:7-13). Regardless of what law man is under, however, it is still proper to acknowledge that all Scripture should be respected because it is all God’s Word.

Are You A Stumbling Block? by Ben Fronczek


Are You A Stumbling Block?


Open: What is the worst possible thing that someone could do to you, or the worst possible thing that you could do to another Christian? Financially destroy someone? Smash their car? Burn their home? Torture or even murder them or even their loved ones?
As bad as theses things are, there is something that I consider far worst in the eternal sense. Today I would like to briefly discuss this.
1st, because it is so very bad. And,
2nd because I’ve seen people doing this to one another, even in
the church; and I’m not so sure these people understand the effect
of their own influence.
So what is so bad is that Jesus Himself warned His disciples about it; and did so I believe with a threatening tone in His voice?
Starting in Luke 17:2, Jesus said to His disciples, “Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for Him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of theses little ones to sin. So watch yourselves.”
It’s one thing to sin on your own, and that’s bad enough, but it’s quite another thing to entice or cause another to sin.
The word Jesus used for “causes someone to sin”, is the Greek word, ‘skandalon’, which we get our word scandal from. It was a word meaning to bait a trap, to entice an animal to. Later the word came to mean, “stumbling block’.
If you entice someone else to sin, or put a barrier in someone’s life that causes them to trip up, and maybe cause them to loose their faith, in Christ, or the church, it’s a terrible scandal in God’s eyes.
The Apostle Paul as he writes to the Christians in Rome in Rom. 14:13, writes,
“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your minds not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.”
This verse is part of a text Paul shares with on the topic. See, there are many ways that we can cause one another to stumble in our faith. In this context of chapter 14, Paul writes about those who are stronger and weaker in their faith and what they could or could not eat with good conscious.
Read Romans 14:13-23 “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.
22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.”
There are other things that we can say or do to cause others to stumble:
If another believer sees you doing something, or if they hear you say something that does not fit the Christian way of life, it may shock them, or worst yet they may think that if it’s alright for you to do, then it’s probably alright for them to do as well. They may step into sin because of your example. This is especially true in our households, like if dad does something (even if it is wrong to do) the kids think is probably ok to do as well.
Every word, every action we take has the potential to have a positive or a negative impact on another whether we want it to, or whether we recognize it or not. You WILL influence others!
So, if we are going to influence others, what kind of influence should we
have on others? Hopefully a positive, holy, loving, God glorifying influence.
In the Sermon on the Mt, Jesus said that His disciples should be like salt
and light. Salt preserves, seasons and has healing properties. Light illuminates and dispels darkness.
In Colossians 5:6, the Apostle Paul said that we are to teach and admonish
one another.
In Thessalonians letter, he told the Christians to encourage one another and build one another up. (We’d always ask our kids are building up or tearing down by what they were saying or doing.)
In the Hebrew letter, the writer basically said the same thing. He wanted his readers to to encourage one another. But he also added that we are to spur one another on to good works. These are indeed positive influences!
But unfortunately, there are people, even in the church, who for whatever reason do more harm than good in the lives of others. They say things that hurt, criticize, belittle, and make people angry if not worst; like walking away from the church and sometime Christianity all together.
Over the past couple of years in the denominational world, we’ve all heard about the scandal of how priests sexually molested children. And because of that many have left that denomination.
Some have heard of preachers and Elders having affairs with women in the church. (How does that effect the faith of the victim? What about the family of the victims, or even the church family?)
These stumbling blocks happen anytime one Christian sees or hears of, or even follows the poor example of a Christian that should know better.
We can even hurt your non-Christian friend’s potential faith, potential relationship with Jesus and His church. They shake their head and say, “What a hypocrite.” And they are right. Simply showing up on Sunday at church is not enough. We should be talking the talk and walking the walk every day.
Anytime we mislead, tempt, unduly anger, or entice a fellow believer to sin or go against God’s commands, we are putting that person’s faith and eternal destiny in jeopardy. Sad to say I have seen preachers and members of the church insult, belittle, embitter, fellow members of the church.
Anytime others see us, or anytime any time we entice a friend to do something unethical or wrong we become a stumbling block in that person’s life.
Anytime we entice another to break the law, or do something illegal, we become a stumbling block in that person’s life.
Anytime we provoke another to anger, if we embitter, if we promote gossip, or encourage them to seek revenge, or if we entice another to become unforgiving, you become a stumbling block in that person’s life.
Remember what Paul wrote in Romans, even what we eat or drink in another’s presence can hurt a weaker brother. If that is true (which is it) what will these other negative behaviors do to their faith?
Are you going to be the kind of person that builds up another’s faith, or one that tears it down? You will probably do one or the other. Yet there are so called Christians doing these kind of things despite Jesus warnings here.
If a person is not a Christian is that person going to shake their head and mock all Christians and the church because of your example, or how you talk and act? Will they forever turn their back on God’s wonderful gift because of your example and your influence? Scary thought isn’t it.
True Story. I’ll never forget when my daughter Leah was flying to Rome, she was sitting next to someone who was becoming a priest. She said that she had some good discussions with him. But as she saw him rummage through his carry on bag a pack of cigarettes fell out and he admitted that he smoked and drank regularly. Why, because everyone else did it. And so Leah very bluntly came out and asked him, “Don’t you think that you should be a better example?”
In my opinion, destroying one’s faith is far worst than destroying one financially, or hurting them physically. It has eternal consequences.
You may be the direct cause of dooming someone to an eternity in Hell!
Jesus said, if you are that kind of person who does these kind of things, you’d be better of taking a rope and tying it to a millstone and drowning yourself with it in the middle of the ocean.
And what if today you realize that you are this kind of person. What should you do? Kill yourself? Of course not rather 1st of all you need to seek forgiveness, from God for such behaviors and if possible seek forgiveness of those you have been hurting. Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up.
2nd Seek help if you can’t change on your own. Seek someone out who you trust to help, critique, even mentor and pray for you. Remember Jesus words about the millstone and the swim He suggests you should take with it if you don’t change.
Conclusion:
On one occasion, after sitting through a sermon someone asked Abe Lincoln what he though of the message. Ol’ Abe said that he thought that it was well thought out and delivered in an eloquent manner.
The other man said, ‘So you thought that it was good?’
Abe responded in a negative manner saying, ‘No’.
When asked why, Abe responded by saying something like, ‘Because he never challenged us to do anything, He never challenged us to change’
I wanted to share this lesson with you today because if you are the kind of person that tears others down or causes other to stumble, I am pleading with you to change. Jesus want you to change.
Jesus does not look favorably on anyone who causes others to stumble in their faith, I believe that we are going to feel really bad if we ourselves make it to heaven and others we influence or even hurt don’t.
I believe that why the Bible says in Revelations that God will have to wipe away every tear. It will take divine intervention to remove the tears & grief from our hearts.
So I plead with you to be very careful about what you say, what you do, or even what you don’t do when you know that you should be doing something.
I believe that the best was to act is to always act and speak out of loving heart. If you can’t say or do something constructive or positive, you are better not saying or doing something at all.
Yes, it is hard to do sometimes, but we need to remember what kind of damage we can do if we are not careful and how our negative actions will displease Jesus. I guess that’s why Jesus said that we need to watch ourselves.

True love by Gary Rose




What does it mean to be romantic? Writing love letters, sending candy or a “special” card or perhaps taking them out on a date to a fancy restaurant? Well, those are things I did as a teenager, but the world has changed a lot since the sixties. I read the other day that most kids do not place a priority on marriage or having children and I believe it. But, to not even check your smartphone while you are with your “special friend” - now that’s something! It really shows that you love them, because, today, staying “connected” seems to be everything. But, I wonder- what if the love of your life asked you to do something that you really didn’t want to do; would you do it? Samson did, and he lived to regret it (for awhile anyway).


Judges 16 ( World English Bible )
  1 Samson went to Gaza, and saw there a prostitute, and went in to her.  2 The Gazites were told, “Samson is here!” They surrounded him, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, “Wait until morning light, then we will kill him.”  3 Samson lay until midnight, and arose at midnight, and laid hold of the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and plucked them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the mountain that is before Hebron. 
  4  It came to pass afterward, that he lGoved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.  5 The lords of the Philistines came up to her, and said to her, “Entice him, and see in which his great strength lies, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and we will each give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.” 
  6  Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and what you might be bound to afflict you.” 
  7  Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven green cords that were never dried, then shall I become weak, and be as another man.” 
  8  Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green cords which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.  9 Now she had an ambush waiting in the inner room. She said to him, “The Philistines are on you, Samson!” He broke the cords, as a string of tow is broken when it touches the fire. So his strength was not known. 
  10  Delilah said to Samson, “Behold, you have mocked me, and told me lies: now please tell me with which you might be bound.” 
  11  He said to her, “If they only bind me with new ropes with which no work has been done, then shall I become weak, and be as another man.” 
  12  So Delilah took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said to him, “The Philistines are on you, Samson!” The ambush was waiting in the inner room. He broke them off his arms like a thread. 
  13  Delilah said to Samson, “Until now, you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me with what you might be bound.”
He said to her, “If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web.” 
  14  She fastened it with the pin, and said to him, “The Philistines are on you, Samson!” He awakened out of his sleep, and plucked away the pin of the beam, and the web. 
  15  She said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies.” 
  16  When she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, his soul was troubled to death.  17 He told her all his heart, and said to her, “No razor has ever come on my head; for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will go from me, and I will become weak, and be like any other man.” 
  18  When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up this once, for he has told me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her, and brought the money in their hand.  19 She made him sleep on her knees; and she called for a man, and shaved off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.  20 She said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” 
He awoke out of his sleep, and said, “I will go out as at other times, and shake myself free.” But he didn’t know that Yahweh had departed from him.  21 The Philistines laid hold on him, and put out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he ground at the mill in the prison. 


Samson knew who and what Delilah was; he should have known not to trust her, but he was in love and eventually did as she asked. In spite of all his strength, Samson was in reality, as weak as any other man when it came to matters relating to members of the opposite sex. In fact both he and Delilah took advantage of one another. Their motives were not pure, but God worked the final days of Samson to the benefit of HIS chosen people Israel. God does things like that- turning bad things into an ultimate goodness.
When I think of these things, I remember a passage from Paul’s letter to the Romans, which says…


Romans 5 (WEB)
 6 For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die.  8 But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

Now, that’s love!

And people worry about their smartphones...

Will There Be Personal Recognition in Heaven? by Wayne Jackson

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Jackson/Boyd/Wayne/1937/recognitioninheaven.html
Will There Be Personal Recognition in Heaven?

Does individual personality survive the death of the body? Does recognition of friends and loved ones exist beyond this present life?
The question is of more than passing emotional interest; it involves the very essence of the human spirit. The biblical evidence firmly supports the position of personal identity after death.
Contrary to the misguided theories of philosophical and religious materialists (i. e., those who contend that man is wholly mortal), the human being is more than simply “body.” There is an element of mankind that is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), and yet, clearly, God is not a physical Being (John 4:24; Luke 24:39; Matthew 16:17).
Logic demands, therefore, that there is something within man that transcends the fleshly level. Daniel once declared that his “spirit” was grieved in the midst of his body (7:15). Grief is an emotion of mind, not flesh. Paul affirmed that the “spirit of man, which is in him,” possesses knowledge (1 Corinthians 2:11).
Without question, there is a conscious entity within man known as the spirit (cf. John 13:21; Luke 1:47; 1 Corinthians 16:18; Ephesians 3:16; etc.). Here is a very important point. There is absolutely no evidence that the spirit of a human being is altered by death. At the death of the body, the spirit simply passes from one mode of existence into another.
That spirit, however, is just as conscious, just as capable of recognition, as before the transition. If anything, the awareness of the spirit after death will be enhanced due to its release from the limitations of the flesh. There is certainly nothing in the Bible to suggest that God’s rational creatures would be unable to recognize one another after the demise of the body. The evidence is quite to the contrary.
The question is most appropriate: “Is there recognition in heaven?” Let us consider the evidence.

Affirmative Evidence for Personal Recognition After Death

Let us reflect upon several lines of evidence — from both Testaments — regarding this important issue.

Abraham Gathered to His People

Concerning the father of the Hebrew nation, Moses wrote: “And Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years, and was gathered to his people” (Genesis 25:8).
This cannot refer to the interment of the patriarch’s body, for he was buried near Mamre in Canaan. Yet his ancestors had been entombed hundreds of miles away in distant lands.
The expressions “gathered to his people,” “going to the fathers” (Genesis 15:15), and “gathered to his fathers” (Judges 2:10), are constantly distinguished from being buried. They denote reunion with faithful loved ones in Sheol, the state of departed spirits (cf. Keil & Delitzsch, 1980, I.263).

Jacob’s Mourning of Joseph

When Jacob was deceived by his sons into believing that his beloved Joseph had been devoured by wild beasts, he lamented — “I will go down to Sheol to my son mourning” (Genesis 37:35).
He certainly was not anticipating joining Joseph in some common grave, for Joseph had no grave (from the grieving Jacob’s viewpoint). He expected to be reunited with his son in Sheol, hence, recognition is implied.
Similarly, centuries later, when David lost his infant son, he cried: “Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23). R. Payne Smith comments: “the words indicate a belief in the continued existence of the child, and even that David would recognize and know him in the future world” (1962, 4.290).

Isaiah’s Parable of the King of Babylon

The prophet Isaiah gave a parable concerning the king of Babylon. The ruler is pictured as descending into Sheol where he is tauntingly greeted by former associates of the earth in the following fashion: “How you are fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you that laid low the nations” (14:12).
“This passage demonstrates the fact of the conscious state of the souls of the dead in Hades, their power to exchange thoughts, and their vivid recollection of their past circumstances” (Vine, 1971, 55).

Jesus Prophecy of the Heavenly Gathering

In prophesying the Gentile response to the gospel, Jesus declared: “many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11).
Here is an intriguing question: will the recipients of this great promise realize its fulfillment, i.e., will they actually have association with those patriarchs in heaven? And will they know those Old Testament worthies as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?
Surely, for a promise that is incapable of being recognized as such is no promise at all! If we shall know Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, does it not inevitably follow that those venerable men (grandfather, father, and son) also will know each other? The question hardly requires a response.

The Transfiguration

There is a form of argument, used frequently in the New Testament, known as a fortiori reasoning. It suggests that where there are two similar propositions to be proved, one more difficult than the other, if the harder is demonstrated first, the easier is assumed to be established.
For instance, if God cares for the birds (lesser creatures), surely he will care for his people (the greater) (Matthew 6:26). If our Father has already given his Son, will he not supply us with other gifts as well (Romans 8:32)?
With this principle in mind, recall the transfiguration scene (Matthew 17:1ff). Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and with them ascended a high mountain, where he was transfigured (changed in form) before them. In connection with this glorious event, there appeared Moses and Elijah, who talked with the Lord.
In spite of the fact that these Old Testament saints had been dead for centuries, the apostles clearly recognized them, for Peter proposed the building of three tabernacles—one for Christ, one for Moses, and one for Elijah (17:4).
The point is this: if this context teaches that those whom we have not personally known on earth can be recognized after death, then surely it must imply that those whom we have known in time will be familiar to us in the future state.

The Great Judgement Scene

In Matthew 25:31ff, Christ spoke of the great day of judgment. He describes a conversation that might occur at that time. To the righteous he says: “Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me, I was in prison, and you came unto me.”
Those disciples are then represented as reflecting back upon their earthly sojourn, but they cannot remember personally ministering to the Savior. He then informs them that in caring for his brethren, they were serving him.
A careful consideration of the Lord’s illustration plainly implies that after death there is memory of both earthly events and persons (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10).

The Unrighteous Steward

In one of his famous parables, Jesus told of a certain “unrighteous steward” who was dismissed from his position. In anticipation of his pending unemployment, the steward reduced the debts of certain men who owed his Lord. Though the business ethics of this servant were reprehensible, nevertheless, the man’s master recognized a certain shrewdness in his action, in that he had used his present resources to make preparation for the future.
The application that Christ makes of the matter is this: “Make to yourselves friends by means the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles” (Luke 16:9).
The principle being taught is this: use your financial means to do good now [i.e., work for the saving of souls], so that when it [your money] fails [by reason of your death, or the end of time] they [your converts] will welcome you into the eternal abiding place.
This certainly indicates future recognition of present associates. As one scholar has noted:
“It is well to mark the hint we have here that we shall meet and know in heaven the friends whom we have known on earth. If those whom we have benefited on earth shall meet and welcome us in heaven, surely also will beloved friends and relatives do the same” (How, 1881, in loco).

The Rich Man and Lazarus

In the narrative concerning the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), a very important truth is emphasized. Death does not abolish earth’s memories.
First, the rich man saw and recognized Lazarus (16:23). There is personal cognizance after death!
Second, he was challenged to remember his own past.
Finally, he recalled his unprepared brothers back on earth.
R. C. Foster has observed:
“Remember indicates the survival of personality, for it required the retention of memory. If we could not remember or recognize ourselves, there would no longer be personality. Heaven and hell would no longer have significance” (1971, 959).

Our Hope, Our Joy, Our Crown

The Scriptures confidently affirm that one of the great joys of heaven will be in seeing the fruits of our earthly labors in the Lord, i.e., being with those whom we have led to Christ.
For example, reflect upon Paul’s exclamation to the brethren of Thessalonica. “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming? For you are our glory and our joy” (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20).
Surely there is future recognition here. James Macknight commented:
“The manner in which the apostle speaks of the Thessalonians in this passage, shows that he expected to know his converts at the day of judgment. If so, we may hope to know our relations and friends then” (1954, 408).

The Case of Onesimus

Onesimus was a slave who had fled from his master, Philemon, who lived in Colossae. The fugitive found his way to Rome where he came in contact with Paul. The apostle led him to the Lord and presently dispatched him back to his master, bearing the epistle called “Philemon.”
Paul commends both master and servant, but he seeks to persuade Philemon to receive Onesimus as a “brother in the Lord.” The apostle raises the possibility that “providence” was involved in this situation. “Perhaps” this slave had “been separated” (the passive voice is significant) from his master temporarily so that he might “have him forever” (v. 15).
This statement clearly implies future recognition and association. It is a thrilling affirmation! Lightfoot described it as an “eternal interchange of friendship” (1892, 340).

Objections Considered

Some, however, feel that there are objections to the possibility of recognition after death. We will consider a few of these.

No Flesh and Blood in Heaven?

It is occasionally suggested that we recognize one another only on the basis of physical features, and since we will not be flesh and blood in the future state (1 Corinthians 15:50), there could be no future recognition.
This argument is flawed in several particulars. First, it contradicts numerous other passages, such as those presented above.
Second, it would suggest that we would not even be able to know God in the future since he is spirit (John 4:24), and not physical (Luke 24:39)—a conclusion hardly warranted.
Third, it is not true that we only recognize others because of physical traits. A loved one may suffer a horrible tragedy and have their physical features completely reconstructed by means of plastic surgery. He or she may appear totally different, yet we have no difficulty in knowing the person!

No Friends in Heaven?

It is argued that the psalmist asked: “Whom have I in heaven but you [God]?” (Psalm 73:25), thus suggesting no other of his acquaintances was there.
That is a woefully weak objection. The next clause affirms: “And there is none upon earth that I desire but you.”
The writer is declaring his total dependence upon Jehovah; he is not discussing recognition.

How Can I Be Happy in Heaven, If My Loved Ones Are Not Present?

The most common concern regarding recognition after death is this. If one is able to personally know his loved ones in heaven, will he not also be aware of those not there? How could one be truly happy under such circumstances?
We may not be able to fathom everything about this matter from an emotional standpoint. However, we can logically demonstrate that the problem will be resolved.
Surely no one would dare to argue that the affection of our earthly relationships can even begin to rival the benevolent love of our Creator for humanity. Need we be reminded of Romans 5:7-8? Our love pales in contrast to divine affection.
Yet, unquestionably, God is happy! Paul speaks of the “happy” God (1 Timothy 1:11; 6:15).
If the Lord can thus be happy, even though knowing of the many that are eternally lost, we may be confident that our heartaches will be fully remedied. God will wipe away every tear (cf. Revelation 7:17; 21:4).
Moreover, no one will be in hell who does not deserve to be there. When we have passed from this life we will have a much sharper view of sin and the hideous nature of rebelling against God. Those of our loved ones who find themselves lost will not appear to us in the same sympathetic light as we saw them through the limitations of fleshly examination.
Yes, we may have perfect confidence that there will be many joyful reunions after we have passed through death’s dark valley. May we thus press toward the goal in anticipation of the glories that ultimately be revealed!
Wayne Jackson

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