Driving Like a Madman

And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.

II Kings 9:20

The watchman on the walls of Jezreel could tell who was coming towards them from the way the chariot was being driven. As the King James says, “furiously.” The NIV reads, “The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi--he drives like a madman." It's easy to imagine the scene as Jehu approaches. We are given idea of the speed and apparent recklessness of Jehu's chariot. And apparently, he was well known for this. It made him conspicuous and visible.

As Christians, we should be just as visible. Not for driving like a madman, hopefully. But for doing as the Lord wills. We should be obviously Christians.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16

I'm sure you have driven at night before and seen lights in the distance. Have you ever noticed how far away the light is visible? From many miles away, it is possible to see even a relatively dim light when all else is darkness. How bright of a light are you? Are you the dim light? Or are you a blazing reflection of Christ's light?

If we, as Christ's servants are not obviously Christians, then what are we recognized as? Truthfully, the only other alternative is to be recognized as worldly.
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

John 15:18-20

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

I John 3:1

Are you known by and as the world? Or as a follower of Christ? Those are the only two choices available to us. We will be recognized by those around us as one or the other. More importantly, we will be recognized by God as one or the other. If you've been living a worldly life, there's a solution:
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

I Peter 4:1-4

The solution is to simply stop doing the things of the world. We have all spent more than enough time doing the things of the world. Let us each strive to be obviously Christians. Let us make sure that our lives leave no doubt as to whether or not we follow the Lord.

Doctrine

Doctrine (Gr. didache – denotes teaching, that which is taught, the act of teaching). It's a loaded word these days, isn't it? It's a word that people often try to shy away from. A word that people don't like to hear. A word that people don't want to use. And often someone says something like, “Just preach the gospel, and less doctrine.” Let us then consider what the Bible has to say about doctrine, and use that as our guide.

Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

I Timothy 4:13-16

Paul, in giving instructions to Timothy on preaching and teaching, exhorts him to spend time teaching and following doctrine. In fact, there are more occurrences of the term “doctrine” in Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus, in instructing what to teach, than in any other section of scripture. This seems to indicate that understanding and teaching doctrine is pretty important. If it was important for Paul, Timothy, and Titus, it is important for us as well.
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

Titus 1:9

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 2:42

The early Christians continued in the doctrine taught by the apostles. If you recall, the apostles taught what Christ had taught (Matthew 28:18-20) and by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. They certainly didn't shy away from such things. And neither did the early Christians as they continued in fellowship. They observed proper doctrine. So must we.
For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

I Timothy 10:10-11

This is another interesting passage: doctrine and the gospel are tied together. Sound doctrine is according to, and included in, the gospel. They cannot be separated. Doctrine, whether on salvation, worship, marriage, fellowship, or any other topic, is a part of gospel. If we reject the doctrine of Christ and the apostles, we reject part of the gospel of Christ. If we turn away from the gospel, we find ourselves in opposition to God (Galatians 1:6-9).

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Ephesians 4:13-14

We see three things in this passage in dealing with the subject at hand. First, doctrine is necessary for having unity in the faith. Second, that a mature Christian has knowledge of doctrine. Third, it is possible to follow after false doctrine. God gave one doctrine, and one doctrine only. We must adhere to it.

Doctrine was important to Christians from the very beginning. The doctrine, the teachings, of Christ and those men who the Holy Spirit worked through to give us the scriptures, must be important to us as well. We cannot turn from it. We must strive to know it. We must strive to follow it. We must strive to teach it.

Salvation

Salvation is presented in several different tenses in the New Testament. In some cases, it is spoken of as being in the present. In other cases, it is described as being in the future. Let us take a few moments to consider each of these ways salvation is presented, and see why this important subject is described in this way. It is also stated as being something God has done, and something we must do for ourselves. It is spoken of as being available. It is also offered as being conditional.

The Present:
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

I Corinthians 1:18

There is a sense in which those who have put on Christ (Gal. 3:27) are saved. We can have confidence that our soul is in a good standing with the Lord.

The Future:
But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

I Thessalonians 5:8

Paul writes here, to those who are already Christians, that their salvation is a hope. You don't hope for something that is currently assured. There is very much a way in which we are not saved until judgment day, and are found to be following the Lord's will.

By God:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God

Ephesians 2:8

We cannot be saved by our own virtue or hard work: only God has the power and ability to save us. We must be duly grateful for what the Lord has done for us.

By Ourselves:

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."

Acts 2:40

Although we cannot be saved without God, we are still required to put forth effort. God requires that we fear Him and do works of righteousness (Acts 10:34-35) as the conditions for receiving His gift.

Available:
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.

Titus 2:11

Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.

Romans 11:11

God has made salvation available to all. It has appeared/come to all men. Nonetheless, we know that not all men are in a saved condition (Matthew 7:13-14).

Conditional:
Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.

I Corinthians 15:1-2

In this, and other passages, we see an “if,” a condition attached to salvation. We can forfeit our salvation if we choose something over following Christ.

The Lord's Supper

And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
Mark 14:22-25

On the night Christ was betrayed, He instituted for us a memorial. We usually refer to this as the Lord's Supper or Communion. It is a solemn time for us to consider the sacrifice that was made for each one of us as individuals. It is an occasion to reflect on our lives, our spiritual condition, and our relationship with the Lord.

We see the physical elements of it, the bread and the fruit of the vine. Because it was during the feast of unleavened bread prior to passover, the bread would have been unleavened. The fruit of the vine indicates, well, juice made from grapes. As these are the things that Christ uses in instituting the Lord's Supper, they are what we continue to use to this day.

We also see in I Corinthians that it is possible to abuse the Lord's Supper.
When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
I Corinthians 11:20-34

We must be careful to have the proper attitude and mindset when we partake. It should be one of reverence and dedication. It is not something we do lightly.

We can also see the example set for us in the New Testament of partaking on the first day of the week in Acts 20:7.
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
This makes perfectly good sense, as the first day of the week is the day on which Christ rose from the dead. It is fitting then, that it is on that day that we remember the sacrifice Christ made, and the gift that resulted from it: salvation.