Settle It in Your Hearts/Sin and Grace

#1 · June 11, 2004, 11:56 am

Quote from Forum Archives on June 11, 2004, 11:56 am
Posted by: ba <ba@...>

Forthright Magazine
www.forthright.net
Straight to the Cross

----
Settle It in Your Hearts by Tim Hall
Sin and Grace by Greg Tidwell
----

COLUMN: Heavenly Connection

Settle It in Your Hearts
by Tim Hall

The conditions Jesus predicted to His disciples
were nothing short of crisis. The movement that
saw Christians "having favor with all the people"
(Acts 2:47, NKJV) would take a dramatic turn. In
the not-too-distant future, "... they will lay
their hands on you and persecute you, delivering
you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will
be brought before kings and rulers for My name's
sake" (Luke 21:12). To these timid followers, such
words were sure to instill fear.

But they would not be alone in their trials, Jesus
went on to say: "Therefore settle it in your
hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will
answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom
..." (Luke 21:14,15). Their ability to testify
before hostile courts would not come from quick
wit and deep intellect, but from God above. This
assurance they were to settle in their hearts.

That's an interesting phrase: "settle it in your
hearts". The word for "settle" is often used in
the New Testament, referring to a deliberate act
of placing something in a certain location. It is
used, for example, of the placement of Jesus' body
in the tomb by Joseph of Arimathea (Luke 23:53).
Jesus' body didn't just happen to be in the tomb;
Joseph, acting upon his will, placed it there.

Jesus' meaning, therefore, is clear: God's
promise, which would answer a strong need (how to
answer charges brought by murderous enemies),
could calm their fearful souls. But for the
promise to be of any value, they would have to
"settle it in your hearts". They would have to
deliberately meditate on God's promise, reminding
themselves of His offer over and over again.

Another occasion of something placed in a person's
heart is recorded by John: "And supper being
ended, the devil having already put it into the
heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray
Him ..." (John 13:2). The result in both instances
was the same: Something that had not previously
been in a person's heart now resided there. In
Judas' case, however, Satan was the one
responsible for placement. The word for "put" in
this verse is "ballo", a word often translated as
"cast" or "throw". It suggests a more careless
act, perhaps done with impulsiveness. Nonetheless,
the thing cast is now located in the heart, the
very seat of emotions, desires and will.

Here's our point: Our minds are receptacles into
which many things can be placed. We can allow
God's word to be placed there and the result will
be peace, joy, love and faith. On the other hand,
those who do not diligently watch the gates of
their mind may discover things that the devil has
flung there. The potential for damage from such
devil-inspired thoughts is seen in Judas, an
apostle of Christ who fell to the depths of a
traitor!

A battle rages for the hearts and minds of us all.
Paul warned: "For the weapons of our warfare are
not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down
strongholds, casting down arguments and every high
thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of
God, bringing every thought into captivity to the
obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:4,5).

God has provided each of us with the armor we
need; it's up to us to put it on. He has provided
us with promises that will secure our hearts and
minds; it's up to us to work to settle them in our
hearts. Those who are careless in what they allow
to enter their minds may discover -- too late -- a
serious deficiency in strength when their time of
battle comes.

----
Read this article online, tell us what you think,
see who's commenting, click here:
forthright.antville.org/stories/816554/
----

COLUMN: Outlines of Faith

Sin and Grace
by Greg Tidwell

Human nature wants to scale sin down, to make sin
more palatable. We like to think that the sins we
commit, or that are commonly committed by people
we like, are not so very bad. But sin is not
measured by our standards. God's judgment against
sin is what matters. He is the one who is
offended, and God is the one who must be appeased.
God's hatred for sin is seen in the horrible price
that had to be paid because of our sins. Jesus
Christ died because of our sins. Sin is always an
affront to God. Sin is never all right.

But Christians do sin. We all need a Savior. Not
only someone to make us right, but someone with
the continual power to keep us right with God. And
we have the perfect Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son
of God. Through the saving work of Christ our sins
are forgiven. Through His death on the cross,
Christ became our sin offering, the payment which
makes us right with God. Salvation is only in
Christ, and is complete in Christ.

Receiving this salvation, our lives should be
directed, guided, and empowered by Jesus. If we
understand who Jesus is and what Jesus came into
the world to accomplish, we must be opposed to
sin. Sin is in direct contradiction to the gospel
of Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul uses baptism as an illustration
of the transformation which is to come (Romans
6:1ff). The death, burial and resurrection of
Christ are mirrored in baptism. The victory which
Jesus perfectly obtained over sin should likewise
be reflected in the "newness of life" lived out
daily by Christians. Christ died to overcome the
power of sin. Baptism into Christ signifies our
unity with the Savior in this victory.

This new life in Christ, being born again of water
and the Spirit, is a continual affirmation of the
faith spoken in the good confession. The salvation
we receive in Christ must be expressed in the
loving obedience that God expects of all
Christians. The gospel of Jesus Christ provides
the substance of our confession, it gives saving
power to our baptism, and it produces continual
joy in the assurance of salvation. As God's
children, we are enriched and empowered by the
Lord's grace. The gospel initiates salvation, and
keeps us in a right relationship with God. We must
continually look to Jesus, our Savior and our Lord
to keep our lives going in the right direction.

----
Read this article online, tell us what you think,
see who's commenting, click here:
forthright.antville.org/stories/814944/
----

You can help us get the word out. Here's how:
forthright.antville.org/stories/340415/

Posted by: ba <ba@...>

Forthright Magazine
http://www.forthright.net
Straight to the Cross

----
Settle It in Your Hearts by Tim Hall
Sin and Grace by Greg Tidwell
----

COLUMN: Heavenly Connection

Settle It in Your Hearts
by Tim Hall

The conditions Jesus predicted to His disciples
were nothing short of crisis. The movement that
saw Christians "having favor with all the people"
(Acts 2:47, NKJV) would take a dramatic turn. In
the not-too-distant future, "... they will lay
their hands on you and persecute you, delivering
you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will
be brought before kings and rulers for My name's
sake" (Luke 21:12). To these timid followers, such
words were sure to instill fear.

But they would not be alone in their trials, Jesus
went on to say: "Therefore settle it in your
hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will
answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom
..." (Luke 21:14,15). Their ability to testify
before hostile courts would not come from quick
wit and deep intellect, but from God above. This
assurance they were to settle in their hearts.

That's an interesting phrase: "settle it in your
hearts". The word for "settle" is often used in
the New Testament, referring to a deliberate act
of placing something in a certain location. It is
used, for example, of the placement of Jesus' body
in the tomb by Joseph of Arimathea (Luke 23:53).
Jesus' body didn't just happen to be in the tomb;
Joseph, acting upon his will, placed it there.

Jesus' meaning, therefore, is clear: God's
promise, which would answer a strong need (how to
answer charges brought by murderous enemies),
could calm their fearful souls. But for the
promise to be of any value, they would have to
"settle it in your hearts". They would have to
deliberately meditate on God's promise, reminding
themselves of His offer over and over again.

Another occasion of something placed in a person's
heart is recorded by John: "And supper being
ended, the devil having already put it into the
heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray
Him ..." (John 13:2). The result in both instances
was the same: Something that had not previously
been in a person's heart now resided there. In
Judas' case, however, Satan was the one
responsible for placement. The word for "put" in
this verse is "ballo", a word often translated as
"cast" or "throw". It suggests a more careless
act, perhaps done with impulsiveness. Nonetheless,
the thing cast is now located in the heart, the
very seat of emotions, desires and will.

Here's our point: Our minds are receptacles into
which many things can be placed. We can allow
God's word to be placed there and the result will
be peace, joy, love and faith. On the other hand,
those who do not diligently watch the gates of
their mind may discover things that the devil has
flung there. The potential for damage from such
devil-inspired thoughts is seen in Judas, an
apostle of Christ who fell to the depths of a
traitor!

A battle rages for the hearts and minds of us all.
Paul warned: "For the weapons of our warfare are
not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down
strongholds, casting down arguments and every high
thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of
God, bringing every thought into captivity to the
obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:4,5).

God has provided each of us with the armor we
need; it's up to us to put it on. He has provided
us with promises that will secure our hearts and
minds; it's up to us to work to settle them in our
hearts. Those who are careless in what they allow
to enter their minds may discover -- too late -- a
serious deficiency in strength when their time of
battle comes.

----
Read this article online, tell us what you think,
see who's commenting, click here:
forthright.antville.org/stories/816554/
----

COLUMN: Outlines of Faith

Sin and Grace
by Greg Tidwell

Human nature wants to scale sin down, to make sin
more palatable. We like to think that the sins we
commit, or that are commonly committed by people
we like, are not so very bad. But sin is not
measured by our standards. God's judgment against
sin is what matters. He is the one who is
offended, and God is the one who must be appeased.
God's hatred for sin is seen in the horrible price
that had to be paid because of our sins. Jesus
Christ died because of our sins. Sin is always an
affront to God. Sin is never all right.

But Christians do sin. We all need a Savior. Not
only someone to make us right, but someone with
the continual power to keep us right with God. And
we have the perfect Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son
of God. Through the saving work of Christ our sins
are forgiven. Through His death on the cross,
Christ became our sin offering, the payment which
makes us right with God. Salvation is only in
Christ, and is complete in Christ.

Receiving this salvation, our lives should be
directed, guided, and empowered by Jesus. If we
understand who Jesus is and what Jesus came into
the world to accomplish, we must be opposed to
sin. Sin is in direct contradiction to the gospel
of Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul uses baptism as an illustration
of the transformation which is to come (Romans
6:1ff). The death, burial and resurrection of
Christ are mirrored in baptism. The victory which
Jesus perfectly obtained over sin should likewise
be reflected in the "newness of life" lived out
daily by Christians. Christ died to overcome the
power of sin. Baptism into Christ signifies our
unity with the Savior in this victory.

This new life in Christ, being born again of water
and the Spirit, is a continual affirmation of the
faith spoken in the good confession. The salvation
we receive in Christ must be expressed in the
loving obedience that God expects of all
Christians. The gospel of Jesus Christ provides
the substance of our confession, it gives saving
power to our baptism, and it produces continual
joy in the assurance of salvation. As God's
children, we are enriched and empowered by the
Lord's grace. The gospel initiates salvation, and
keeps us in a right relationship with God. We must
continually look to Jesus, our Savior and our Lord
to keep our lives going in the right direction.

----
Read this article online, tell us what you think,
see who's commenting, click here:
forthright.antville.org/stories/814944/
----

You can help us get the word out. Here's how:
forthright.antville.org/stories/340415/