Signs Teach
An octagon painted red with four white letters is called a sign and it exists to teach a truth – STOP! or be in an accident or be ticketed.
If you come unto a shadow – beware! NOT of the shadow as it can’t hurt you, but there is an object making the shadow which should be of concern. There are a lot of “shadows” or signs in Christianity that exist to reveal a truth but often the sign gets more attention than the truth for which it exists.
Here are some examples:
1. Baptism
Baptism is very important per Jesus: make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them..., Matthew 28:19. But more critical is repentant, confessional and humbling faith in Jesus’ work on the cross which made salvation possible. Acts 8:36-37, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Acts 2:41, Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. They first were believers and then baptized – baptized the very same day which identified them to the radical, executed Rabbi – Jesus! To be baptized was a huge statement in the face of people who had the power to kill and they used it!
2. The Resurrection
Matthew 16:4, "A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” Jesus declared that He would be buried and rise in three days (Matt. 12:40) and He declared that the resurrection was a sign. The sign (shadow) of resurrection points to the cross where Jesus paid the sin debt owed by men that they could not pay. How can a person know that “Calvary covers it all, my past with its sin and stain; my guilt and despair, Jesus took on Him there…” [Mrs. Walter G. Taylor]? The gospel, according to I Corinthians 15, is that Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and rose from the dead. The sign is very important, but not it doesn’t save - only the cross!
3. Religion
It is often heard “I’m about relationship, not religion”. The order is right – relationship first, BUT you cannot escape the sign – religion. Religion is the physical church which is very, very important as are baptism and the resurrection, BUT true religion is a sign of a relationship with God. Religion can’t and won’t save - only a relationship with Jesus does. II Timothy 3:5, Having a form of godliness but denying its power - from such people turn away! If saved, religion is important and even critical. Acts 2:41-42, Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship... Religion followed relationship, but it did follow!
4. The Rainbow
While a beautiful marking of the end of a rain, it is a sign from God that never again will He destroy mankind with water for their rebellion. The rainbow is a sign that God sees and deals with sin and rejection and mockery of His goodness. Genesis 9:13, I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. Don’t adore the sign for its beauty and miss what it is a sign of – God judges sin!
5. Tongues
Similar to the rainbow are the tongues of the disciples recorded in Acts 2. Tongues were a sign of God’s putting Israel and Jerusalem aside and turning to the nation of other languages.
Tongues spoken in Israel was a sign that God was to punish the Jews. Jeremiah 5:15, "Behold, I will bring a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel,” says the Lord. “It is a mighty nation, It is an ancient nation, A nation whose language you do not know, Nor can you understand what they say. Tongues were a sign to the Jews of God’s anger and of His beginning a new dispensation – a new group – the church.
6. Sunday
While Sunday is a powerful and important event called for by God, it is a sign of a truth. Exodus 31:13, Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. Doing Sunday is of little value when kept void of the truth it marks – that God is to be honored and served. Sunday keeping is a statement of belief in God, Jesus and His Word – the Bible.
Too often the sign - the shadow - is the focus of attention rather than what it is marking. Be wise!
If you come unto a shadow – beware! NOT of the shadow as it can’t hurt you, but there is an object making the shadow which should be of concern. There are a lot of “shadows” or signs in Christianity that exist to reveal a truth but often the sign gets more attention than the truth for which it exists.
Here are some examples:
1. Baptism
Baptism is very important per Jesus: make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them..., Matthew 28:19. But more critical is repentant, confessional and humbling faith in Jesus’ work on the cross which made salvation possible. Acts 8:36-37, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Acts 2:41, Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. They first were believers and then baptized – baptized the very same day which identified them to the radical, executed Rabbi – Jesus! To be baptized was a huge statement in the face of people who had the power to kill and they used it!
2. The Resurrection
Matthew 16:4, "A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” Jesus declared that He would be buried and rise in three days (Matt. 12:40) and He declared that the resurrection was a sign. The sign (shadow) of resurrection points to the cross where Jesus paid the sin debt owed by men that they could not pay. How can a person know that “Calvary covers it all, my past with its sin and stain; my guilt and despair, Jesus took on Him there…” [Mrs. Walter G. Taylor]? The gospel, according to I Corinthians 15, is that Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and rose from the dead. The sign is very important, but not it doesn’t save - only the cross!
3. Religion
It is often heard “I’m about relationship, not religion”. The order is right – relationship first, BUT you cannot escape the sign – religion. Religion is the physical church which is very, very important as are baptism and the resurrection, BUT true religion is a sign of a relationship with God. Religion can’t and won’t save - only a relationship with Jesus does. II Timothy 3:5, Having a form of godliness but denying its power - from such people turn away! If saved, religion is important and even critical. Acts 2:41-42, Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship... Religion followed relationship, but it did follow!
4. The Rainbow
While a beautiful marking of the end of a rain, it is a sign from God that never again will He destroy mankind with water for their rebellion. The rainbow is a sign that God sees and deals with sin and rejection and mockery of His goodness. Genesis 9:13, I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. Don’t adore the sign for its beauty and miss what it is a sign of – God judges sin!
5. Tongues
Similar to the rainbow are the tongues of the disciples recorded in Acts 2. Tongues were a sign of God’s putting Israel and Jerusalem aside and turning to the nation of other languages.
Tongues spoken in Israel was a sign that God was to punish the Jews. Jeremiah 5:15, "Behold, I will bring a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel,” says the Lord. “It is a mighty nation, It is an ancient nation, A nation whose language you do not know, Nor can you understand what they say. Tongues were a sign to the Jews of God’s anger and of His beginning a new dispensation – a new group – the church.
6. Sunday
While Sunday is a powerful and important event called for by God, it is a sign of a truth. Exodus 31:13, Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. Doing Sunday is of little value when kept void of the truth it marks – that God is to be honored and served. Sunday keeping is a statement of belief in God, Jesus and His Word – the Bible.
Too often the sign - the shadow - is the focus of attention rather than what it is marking. Be wise!
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