If I’d actually owned anything besides my ’68 Ford Mustang, I surely would have wagered it.

Because when I was twenty-two years old, nothing could have convinced me that I’d someday write a post about the impact my new bride’s doting older brother has had on my life.

He was a burr in my saddle. A nice enough guy for sure. 

Just too nice for me.

Now Denny wasn’t the typical Jesus freak, forever throwing cold water on the party by scolding bad behavior he deemed inappropriate to Biblical teaching. And he was never the kind of guy to get in your face. In fact, I think that’s what made him tolerable for me. I already had plenty of friends and relatives willing and able to admonish my inconsistent Christian lifestyle.

But he kept his eye on me. I’d hooked up with someone very special to him.

He found a way to keep his mouth shut in spite of my hypocritical profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When my penchant for playing live music in a band morphed into full scale idolatry leading to questionable conduct for a married man with children, he didn’t call me up or write me a letter demanding an explanation. When I lost my shirt in more than one business venture, he never sat me down to reprimand me for having been unprepared or lacking perseverance and maturity.

He’d pray for me. I never asked him if he did, nor did he ever mention that he did.

I just knew he did.

For so long, I never looked forward to be around him. It seemed like he never really wanted to have fun. But there was a voice inside me that wouldn’t leave me alone. Something about him made me think that The One who began a good work in me would continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

I couldn’t ignore the voice. I knew it was there. He knew it too. 

And it used to drive me crazy.

We didn’t know all of his friends. But he had a lot of them. He always had a church family, and they’re the ones he’d usually talk about. Whenever we’d come to visit him, it was usually on a weekend, and it was a foregone assumption that we were expected to accompany him to Sunday morning worship. And I’m ashamed to say, that used to really annoy me.

But he never gave up on me.

I remember one such Sunday morning when I was attempting to defend my right to stay at home. He looked at me and said, “You know, you’re not always supposed to want to go to church, you just do. ’’

And only in the past few years have I grown enough to be able to sit down with other men and encourage one another to persevere in a Godly lifestyle in the spirit of brotherly love. And I’m grateful that one of those few people who weren’t always looking to change the subject included not only my brother-in-law, but my brother in Christ, Denny Watkins.

Like me, he wasn’t without his annoying habits and flaws. I’ll never forget the laughs we all had when my wife bought him a birthday mug labeled “Big Bother.” He never married, but remained steadfast in a lifestyle which attempted to demonstrate, defend and proclaim the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And he was never ashamed to belong to Him.

The untimely death of those we love stir our emotions and our fears, causing us to reflect on the value of those relationships and the impact they had on our lives, hopefully restoring some semblance of that love from a different and perhaps richer perspective.

Now Denny sleeps in Christ, waiting for the day of His return and the raising of the righteous dead.

Good guys really do win in the end.

It’s not enough for me just to acknowledge that evil exists in the world.

Because I’ve learned that ignorance is often what breeds reprehensible conduct. As a result, many arguments in support of allowing unborn children to be killed is very likely rooted in a flawed understanding of exactly what a living, breathing human being consists of.

In spite of the warped logic insisting that a woman has the right to destroy life being developed in her womb, perhaps the most tolerant argument in defense of this behavior is the belief that a human fetus is nothing more than a hunk of flesh, devoid of intellect, emotion or comprehension.

Of course, if the fetus is indeed lacking these critical capabilities, the logic would follow that no semblance of human worth could exist in it either. It wouldn’t even have a “soul” at this point. So, if this “soul” had not yet been given to it by its Creator, it couldn’t qualify as human life, and no offense could be imputed to the sustainer [mother] of its development.

Hence, this clump of fetal tissue could be discarded like an unwanted malignancy.  No worries.

Interestingly enough though, the issue of ensoulment is nothing new. The matter of exactly when a human fetus becomes a living person [or somehow “receives its soul”] was the subject of passionate debate among many early church leaders. However, it seems there was no lasting consensus.

But how could there have been?

To say that a “soul” actually is some distinct immaterial part of the human makeup would only complicate matters for anyone attempting to document exactly when it comes into existence. More importantly, what mortal wisdom or cutting edge technology can redefine what has already been clarified in the Scriptures?

“Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and [the] man became a living being.” [Gen.2:7] [my emphasis] [נֶפֶשׁ nephesh: a soul, living being, life, self, person]

[Do I have a“soul?” see: Everybody’s got one?]

A common argument is that a human fetus doesn’t possess the ability to breath on its own and, as such, cannot really be considered to be alive. In other words, there’s no evidence of the “breath of life” having been given by God as it was to the first man, Adam. But the breath of life is indeed present in the human fetus. Its ability to sustain life through its heart and lungs is generated and maintained through the mother’s blood supply—who already is a living, breathing “soul.”

I’m saddened to suggest that ignorance about what makes up a created human being is just one of many accelerants fueling the wholesale tolerance of killing unborn babies.

But Biblical literacy is the tool of effective resistance to evil.

And we would do well to remember that our voices resonate much louder in defense of innocent life than they do over petty squabbles about verb forms, semantics or doctrinal differences.

The men of Jesus Christ’s church are called to lead and protect, yet helpless, unborn voices continue to cry out from the womb.

Are any of them listening?

It just keeps getting better.

There’s only one thing better than uncovering the truth—that’s building on it.

And every time I read and study the Scriptures inductively, I invariably come across something which reveals God’s truth in a way I never saw before.

For example, the letter from the apostle James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who [were] dispersed abroad, caught my attention;

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking In nothing.” [Ja 1:2-4]

Consider it joy? Where was the sympathy?

But then, I remembered a familiar saying: “If it don’t kill ya’, it’ll make ya’ stronger!” Now I’d be hard-pressed to actually deny this principle as a Biblical concept because James wasn’t vague about why it’s in my best interest to meet difficulty head-on and give it my best shot:

“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial, for once he has been approved, he shall receive the crown of life which [the Lord] has promised to those loving Him” [Ja. 1:12]

[What’s the “crown of life?’’ see: The Precious Pearl of Life.]

So, I kept reading.

And, as he rebuked the practice of partiality in the second chapter, he also exhorted the scattered brethren to be aware of this need to persevere, perhaps something they’d either forgotten or were never cognizant of in the first place:

“Listen, my beloved brethren: Did not God choose the poor of this world [to be] rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who loving Him?” [Ja.2:5]

So, after observing this sentence carefully, two questions appeared to be very relevant to understanding what it meant:

1. Who were “the poor.”
2. Who were the “heirs of the kingdom?”

The context of the Greek Substantival Adjective πτωχός [meaning poor, perhaps pitiful or inferior] in this sentence lies below what is obvious. Of course, showing preference to anyone based solely on his outward appearance was a transgression before the Lord. [see; vs. 2:9] But the the gospel authors also recorded this term as Jesus’ own words in more than one instance, describing what seemed to be a lack of understanding and hope in the human consciousness. [see: Matt. 5:3; 11:5]

So, is it possible that some of God’s people were “poor” [or lacking] in their ability to both comprehend and accommodate the promises He’d given to their ancestors?

[What were the promises? see: Common Threads are Common, It’s All About Also.]

The idea of being an heir is rarely spoken about in Bible studies or sermons. That’s because many congregational doctrines are based upon a certain pastor’s seminary or Bible college curricula which have been grounded in mid-Nineteenth Century Dispensational logic for decades.

But that certainly doesn’t mean it’s not relevant.

[What does it mean to be an heir? see: BIRTHRIGHT THROUGH REDEMPTION: Was it “lost in the translation?”]

By definition, “poor” demonstrates a position of need, or a yearning for something better. James’ inspired metaphor, “the poor of this world [to be] rich in faith” depicts a starving man seeking to fill himself with something that would last. [Ja. 2:5]

If anyone claims to be content in his ignorance, he’s living in bondage. The Good News of the Bible is about being raised from the dead and inheriting the crown of life.

It’s a soup kitchen for those who are hungry for truth.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.”   [Matt. 5:3]

Sometimes I wonder if the concept of becoming a new creation in Jesus Christ is really acknowledged for what it means.

Recently, a good friend made an interesting observation concerning what seems to be a serious human character flaw. While seeking the Lord’s forgiveness through repentance is sufficient enough to establish a legitimate relationship with Him, many feel the need to take it a step further:

They have to forgive themselves too.

This seems like a noble enough gesture from a worldly perspective. After all, everyone loves humility. But, if I need to include myself in the process, I’d be attempting to resolve a problem outside of the authority of God’s Divine prerogative. And by doing that, I’d be diminishing His sovereignty.

If the individual who stole my twenty-gallon Red Wing crock from my front porch were to repent and return it to me, asking for forgiveness, I’d not only be willing to accept his settlement, but I’d also be authorized to do so under the law.

I’d also be very surprised…

On the other hand, if the same regenerate soul then proceeded to rob the gas station up the street, confessed his guilt and asked for my forgiveness once again, I might even choose to empathize with him, but I’d have no legal or moral authority to pardon his guilt if he’s charged with a crime. That would have to come from the very authority which established the infracted law at the onset. The only legitimate authority to either dispense justice or pardon through natural law lies in its original source—that is, we the people!

In the same manner, no man or woman is authorized to pardon my offenses against the Lord—not even me.

So it seems to me that any reasons I might have for needing to forgive myself for my sins would be self serving, because, as one who belongs to Christ, whatever violable convictions I hold are no longer mine, but His.

The potential to be made new again is available to everyone the Lord has chosen to have ears to hear of His life-giving, redemptive miracle. There is no “newness” in anyone except through the Only One Who is qualified to define it:

“Therefore if anyone [is] in Christ, [he is] a new creature; [the] old [things] passed away; behold, new [things] have come.” [2Cor. 5:17]

I testify to the reality that only Christ can forgive the things I once considered forever unforgivable. I’m simply not capable of forgiving myself. This remarkable renewed nature of the repentant man or woman reveals itself through obedience to the Only Source of real life. And I can tell you that being unshackled from the penalties of my past transgressions goes along way toward overcoming the periodic sting of their lingering consequences.

But, more importantly, the ultimate prize of being made new lies in a contingent promise that the human mind simply cannot fully comprehend—that is, eternal life.

[What’s “eternal life?” see: The Precious Pearl of Life.]

The value of being made new is incalculable. But I can’t do it myself.

“What no eye has seen, or what no ear has heard, and what has never come into a heart is what God has prepared for those loving Him.” [1 Cor.2:9)

I’ve always tried to stick to a personal, unwritten rule to never quote anything in The Carpenter’s Journal other than the word of God. But this statement by N.T. Wright in his book, Surprised by Hope, is nothing short of profound:

“From Plato to Hegel and beyond, some of the greatest philosophers declared that what you think about death, and life beyond it, is the key to thinking seriously about everything else—and, Indeed, that it provides one of the main reasons for thinking seriously about anything at all.”

And it’s been on my mind this week as I reflected on the life of my mother, who drew her last breath ten days ago. Because she actually did think seriously about her death. And it did affect her behavior.

Mom wasn’t a social icon in the local congregation. She was always pleasant, though often reserved in her conversation. While she seldom sought the opportunity to interact with others, she always seemed to enjoy the occasion if someone twisted her arm a little bit. And even though her greatest joy was to simply be around her children, I can tell you that she always stood in awe and reverence to the Lord.

She taught me years ago that what was written in the Bible was infallible and was never to be profaned—that it was absolute truth. And, I regret that, for so many years, her words went in one ear and out the other. By the life she lived, she taught me that honesty, strength of character and purity were recognizable attributes of the Godly lifestyle.

And I’ve reminded myself the past few days just what she’d come to believe—that is, what she hoped for after she would die. These memories were based on anumber of conversations she and I had in the more recent years of her cognizant existence.

She was eager to read and discuss the Bible—with me, anyway. She was drawn to try to understand God’s written word without error or bias as a result of my teaching and encouraging her to do so. By her own acknowledgement, she came to agree with the authenticity of the Biblical texts—that is, that her hope of a new life would be realized through the return of Jesus Christ to the Earth.

She came to understand that God’s promise to His people would reveal itself through a resurrection of His righteous dead—-a regeneration of life in the coming age, along with an opportunity to share in Christ’s inheritance in God’s fully revealed Kingdom.

This was really good news to her.

I’m convinced she learned to accept the Bible for what it said, and gained a newfound clarity in certain passages :

“…for if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless. You are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men, the most to be pitied. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also—the resurrection of the dead. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that, those who are Christ’s in His presence…” [see: 1Cor. 15:16-23]

She understood from the apostle Paul’s testimony that death will not be done away with in this age, but the age to come. But what brings me the most comfort is that any uncertainty she had about the mystery on her doorstep was greatly diminished by his reassuring words in his letter to the Romans:

“…for I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [Rom. 8:38-39]

How pleased I am that her unfailing devotion to Jesus Christ’s truth in the Bible during my childhood was probably part of the reason I was privileged enough to be able to help her find the solace she sought in her final years.

So rest in peace, Mom. It must surely be just that.

Because the Psalmist David also assured us that time doesn’t exist from the perspective of the dead, because their thoughts have perished. [see: Psa. 146] And Solomon reminded us that the breath of life— that animating force that God breathed into you over 98 years ago—has left you and returned to Him. [see: Eccl. 12:7]

But since you remained “in” Him, you’ll be raised again and live with Him in the age to come.

What more could you ever have hoped for?

I have to say that, the many thoughtful comments from my friends suggesting Mom to be happily looking down have resonated deeply with me over the past week, encouraging and strengthening me in a manner from which only genuine friendship and compassion can be expressed. I’m truly grateful.

But I respectfully suggest there to be a more Scriptural perspective of Mom’s protracted state—that is, rather, that she’s safe…asleep in Christ.

After all, the last time I saw her, she was definitely looking up.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” [Titus 2:11-14]  [my emphasis]

I’ve certainly been skeptical about a lot of things, but I’ve never doubted what the word “if” meant.

In other words, I’ve learned that, if I didn’t meet the conditions required to either correct or achieve the desired result of any stipulation, then it wasn’t gonna’ happen.

But when I used to read the Bible, seeing this word in the text never raised any flags for me, because I’d never heard anybody preach about its significance to any of the principles Jesus Christ or His apostles taught. However, after learning to study the Scriptures inductively, I developed a skill for extracting its meaning based completely on the text rather than on any particular doctrine.

And if I can learn to do that, anybody can.

[How are the Scriptures studied inductively? see: Inductive Study? Sounds Like a Plan.]

The Greek Particle “εἰ” [meaning “if,”or sometimes “since”] forms the basis for First Class Conditional sentences in the Greek New Testament. Of the over 500 occurrences of “εἰ,” approximately 300 function as the protasis of those conditional sentences. The protasis is the “if” in a conditional sentence that reads, “If…then…” “Then” is called the apodosis in the conditional sentence, and is commonly implied rather than actually used.

In his epistle to all who [were] beloved of God in Rome, called as saints, the apostle Paul’s use of the word “if” was fundamental to establishing the significance of the concept of “Christ being in you” for the reader:

“However, you are not [then] in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells In you. But if anyone does not possess the spirit of Christ, then], he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, [then] the Spirit [is] alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead shall also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” [Rom. 8:9-11] [brackets mine] [my emphasis]

[Is being “in” Christ that important? see: [Getting the Most Out of In]

He then exhorted the saints in Rome, reminding them they were not in debt to their flesh, that their actions must bear witness to their ownership in the Lord:

“So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, [that is], to live according to the flesh. For if you are living according to the flesh, [then] you are destined to die. But if, by the Spirit, you are putting to death the deeds of the body, [then] you shall live. [Future tense, meaning “you shall be raised from the dead”] For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” [Rom. 8:12-14] [brackets mine] [my emphasis]

So why is it important to be able to recognize conditional sentences in the Bible?

Because conditional expectations aren’t exclusive to this life only. Note the conditions that Paul places upon the brothers in Rome for “belonging” to Christ, or the penalty awaiting them if they continued to live “according to the flesh.”

And remember that his letter was written to the saints. [ἅγιος, a saint; someone set apart to or by God; consecrated; holy; morally pure; upright]

Conditional sentences in the Bible are important because the future resurrection of the righteous dead is guaranteed to no one.

It’s conditional.