Approved to God

Suffering is one of those things that challenges our concept of a good and wise God. This is because we fail to understand just who God is. He is infinite in all His attributes. That means infinite goodness, infinite wisdom and infinite sovereignty. A God like this cannot help but do things (and allow things) that are the very best, for the very most number of people and for His own glory. As created creatures we cannot know the mind of God so we cannot understand how a certain tragedy fits into His sovereign plan and will. Even when we do hold this high view of God suffering is hard to accept, but He promised that He works all things for the good of those who love Him. Through suffering He refines our faith, deepens our hope, and advances the gospel all for His glory. What others mean for evil, God can turn for good. One day He will wipe every tear, and the present pain will not compare with the coming glory. See Romans 8:18–30; 1 Peter 1:6–9; Genesis 50:20.

Start with who God is. This is important. God is infinitely good, infinitely wise and infinitely sovereign. He knows what He is doing in your pain. Trusting Him requires knowing that even when it feels like He is against us He is indeed on our side. This is the struggle Job had after God allowed everything to be taken from Him. We can morn faithfully and we can lament as Job did. God may never tell us why, but He is worth of our love and devotion at the end of the day. Teach His promises to your soul. Open His word daily. Pray honestly – telling God what and how you feel. Remember the cross. If He gave His Son for you, He will not abandon you. See Psalm 56:3–4; Isaiah 41:10; Romans 8:31–32; 1 Peter 5:7. I have been here. I know the pain. The article “When Your World is Turned Upside-down” tells the story of my own suffering and pain and how God brought me through it.

Jesus is our merciful High Priest who knows our weakness. He suffered, was tempted as we are. He knows how frail we are as humans. That is why he draws near us in pain and trials with real help, not mere sympathy. By His Spirit He comforts us so that we may eventually comfort others. Through Him we have access to the throne of grace, where we find mercy and help in time of need. See 2 Corinthians 1:3–5; Hebrews 4:14–16.

Yes. God uses trials like a refiner’s fire. As metals are heated impurities surface. This is the dross and it is skimmed away. What remains is purer – in the case of our Christian life it is a stronger and steadier faith. Pressure reveals what we have been trusting besides Jesus. Control. Money. Approval. Comfort. Suffering shakes our life and we feel it. That shaking is God’s mercy. It shows those idols cannot hold us, and it turns us back to Christ. As we endure, the Spirit pours God’s love into our hearts. God is not trying to crush you. He is purifying you so your faith will shine at the revelation of Jesus. See James 1:2–4; Romans 5:3–5; 1 Peter 1:6–7; Malachi 3:2–3.

Spiritual warfare is the daily struggle to stand firm in Christ against the devil, the flesh, and the world. Our enemy is real, but our Lord is greater. We fight in the Lord’s strength. We put on the whole armor of God. Truth guards our minds. Righteousness protects our hearts. The gospel readies our feet. Faith shields us from flaming darts. Salvation steadies our hope. The word of God is our sword. Prayer keeps us alert and dependent. See Ephesians 6:10–18; 2 Corinthians 10:3–5.

Submit to God first. Then resist. The devil will flee. Draw near to God with clean hands and a humble heart. Be sober and watchful. The enemy prowls and lies. Stand firm in the faith, not in feelings. Use Scripture to answer temptation. Standing together with an accountability partner in life helps us to remain faithful to God and worthy of our calling. Stay close to your church family. Isolation makes you vulnerable. See James 4:7–8; 1 Peter 5:8–9. Read the article “How Now Shall We Live”

Test every spirit by Scripture. Ask what a message says about Jesus: His deity, His true humanity, His cross, and His resurrection. False teachers twist the gospel and feed pride or license. False teaching often combines some truth with the lie. Compare teaching with the apostolic word. Search the Scriptures daily like the Bereans did as mentioned in the book of Acts. Look for fruit that matches sound doctrine and holy living. See 1 John 4:1–3; Acts 17:11; Matthew 7:15–20.

Both prayer and the scriptures are central in spiritual warfare – they are not optional. Jesus answered Satan with “It is written.” quoting scripture each time. So should we. For this reason we hide God’s word in our hearts. Memorize it. Pray it. Speak it when tempted. Pray at all times in the Spirit. Ask for strength, boldness, and endurance. Spiritual battles are often fought on holy ground so pray for your pastors and your church. The word gives light. Prayer gives power. Together they keep us standing. See Matthew 4:1–11; Psalm 119:11; Ephesians 6:18.

Baptism is a public act of obedience for those who repent and believe in Jesus. It signifies union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Going under the water pictures dying to sin. Rising from the water pictures new life in Christ. It also marks entry into the visible church and identifies us with the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. See Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 2:38–41; Romans 6:3–4. See the article “Understanding Baptism and Salvation”

No. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ, not by works or rituals. Baptism does not earn forgiveness. It follows salvation as a commanded sign and seal of our discipleship. The thief on the cross was saved without baptism, yet baptism is still important as an act of obedience and a public confession of faith. See Ephesians 2:8–9; Luke 23:42–43; Acts 10:44–48. See the article “Understanding Baptism and Salvation”

The Lord’s Supper is a memorial and a proclamation. We remember Christ’s body given for us and His blood shed for us as a sign of the new covenant. Christ was faithful to do His Fathers will and become a sacrifice for all sin. His body was crushed and his blood ran freely. The price paid was monumental. Before He died He asked us to both remember Him and to proclaim His death until He comes again. See 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; Luke 22:19–20; 1 Corinthians 10:16–17.

We must examine yourself in light of the gospel – are we right with God? Have we confessed sin to Him. Are we reconcile with other believers where possible. Come in faith, discerning the Lord’s body and remembering His sacrifice. Do not come lightly or carelessly. Come with reverence, gratitude, and love for Christ and thankfulness for His sacrifice. Scripture warns that careless or hypocritical participation brings discipline from the Lord – He does not want His table dishonored. Therefore it is better to judge ourselves and offer honest repentance than to be judged later. If you are not trusting Jesus, refrain from partaking and seek Him first. See 1 Corinthians 11:27–32; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Matthew 5:23–24.

The prosperity message promises health and wealth now if you have enough faith or give enough money. It trades the cross for comfort and treats God as a means to our desires. This teaching reduces God to a genie who grants your every wish and promises you success in all that your do. Scripture warns that some will accumulate teachers who tell them what they want to hear. These teachers preach a gospel that is easy to live with and requires no cross to bear. When we read scripture we find that Christ calls us to deny ourselves, trust His wise providence, and treasure Him above all. The true gospel gives eternal life, not guaranteed luxury. See 1 Timothy 6:9–10; 2 Timothy 4:3–4; Luke 9:23.

No. Universalism says that God loves everyone so much that all will be saved and go to heaven in the end. Jesus spoke plainly of eternal life and eternal punishment. He painted a picture of two paths – a wide and easy path leading to eternal destruction and a narrow one leading to salvation. He told us that few would chose the narrow path. Those who reject the Son remain under God’s wrath. Salvation is offered to all but it is only truly received by those few who repent and believe. God’s mercy is wide and real, but it does not cancel His justice. See John 3:36; Matthew 7:13-14; 25:46; Revelation 20:15. Read the article “Hell is a Real and Terrible Place” to further explore this subject.

This is a serious question that goes back to the earliest Churches. Paul cautioned against false teachers in almost all of his epistles. In the years that followed the church codified solid doctrine in creeds. There are several going all the way back to the first century, but one of the most comprehensive is the Nicene Creed of 325. This creed encapsulates the teachings of the New Testament in a few succinct paragraphs and can be used to test the message of prophets and teachers against. Of course the authority is Scripture itself. As with the Bereans in Acts 17 – we must test the teachings we receive against God’s word. If their words contradict the Bible or pull hearts from the Lord, reject them. See Deuteronomy 13:1–5; Matthew 7:15–20; 1 John 4:1–3; Acts 17:11.

Legalism adds human rules to the gospel or uses obedience to earn favor with God. License twists grace into permission to sin freely. Both deny the power and purpose of Christ’s work. The gospel frees us from trying to earn salvation, and it trains us to say no to sin and yes to godliness. We stand firm in freedom, walk by the Spirit, and keep in step with Scripture. See Galatians 5:1, 13; Titus 2:11–12; Galatians 5:16.