Be Careful What You Drink
Introduction
To say that the Bible is merely a human book without any supernatural component to it, is to reveal a superficial acquaintance with it and with its divine author. The Bible is fully human and it is fully divine without any contradiction or compromise of either aspect. As human beings we need to be guided into it and through it by a divine docent who is fully aware of all of its subtleties and wonderful nuances. On our own, we will major on the minors and miss the pure substance that Jesus Christ desires to pour into our hearts and spirits. Jesus Christ himself is the Central theme of the entire bible. From Genesis to Revelation each book points to Him and to His Finished Work. Once one begins to allow each book of the Bible to share its particular portion, the Bible becomes a fascinating and glorious picture of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev 19:16). As 1 Timothy 6:15-16 says; ……, “He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see,” i.e. no one can see Him without being brought (Ps 65:4) into His marvelous light (1 Pet 2:9). Only the entrance of the word of God gives this special frequency of light (Ps 119:105) and that particular wavelength of light will shine on Him who is the light of the World (John 8:12).
Our purpose today in this booklet, is to edify the reader in the divine authorship of the bible, to show that it is a book that points to the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, and His Finished Work and finally to inspire each reader to read afresh the pages of the word of life for his own enrichment and growth in the true faith.
Chapter One
Divine Authorship of the Bible
John 17:14
I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
John 17:17
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
Revelation 3:8
“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
As these verses proclaim, Jesus Christ knew that what He had brought to mankind was the Word of God or the “Word from God”. “I have given them Your Word” are words from one of His last prayers. Because of the perfection of His walk with the Father, he could say without apology and wavering, “I have given them Your” very Word. He brought wisdom from above in James 3:17 which “is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” He brought the word from God which is able to build us up (Acts 20:32) and make us wise in 2 Timothy 3:14 because it is living and imparting supernatural life (Ps 119:25, Col 3:16). In Him alone there is immortality and His life was the light of men (John 1:4). Jesus knew that what he had brought to mankind would outlast everything else here on the earth. In Matt 25:35 he stated it quite emphatically, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away”. Jesus Christ knew that he was building on and building with something that is bedrock to all of reality, the word of the Living God (Ps 119:89). He knew that he and other "holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21) and that the result was not just what men desired to say. He knew that God was speaking to all mankind in and through Him in Hebrews 1.
Hebrews 1:1-2a
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
has in these last days spoken to us by His Son,
Jesus knew that the Father was the author of this word and that without the Father, He could do absolutely nothing of eternal value:
John 8:28
Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.
John 5:19
Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
John 5:30
I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
Space does not allow us to present all the testimony that the Scriptures gives to the fact that it is indeed the Word that God himself has given to all of Mankind.
Chapter Two
A Book that points to the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ
John 5:46-47
For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.
But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”
Hebrews 1:1-2
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
1 Corinthians 1:30
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—
This is an exhaustive subject and a comprehensive treatment of it is not possible here. What I would like to focus upon is one example that is very edifying to my heart.
In Numbers 5:11-31 there is a detailed explanation of what is called the Law of Jealousy. In it there is a provision made to settle a dispute between a husband and his wife. Should the husband suspect sexual misconduct by his wife and not be able to prove it, he could bring his wife to the tabernacle. There the priest would apply this process and the matter would be settled. The determination of guilt came by having the accused wife drink a cup of water which had dirt from the floor of the tabernacle and the ink from the document which detailed the accusations with their consequential curses. After drinking this potion, if she were guilty of adultery, her abdomen would swell and her thigh would waste away. If she were innocent, no symptoms would result and the husband would know that he was captive to excessive jealousy. The guilt for the conflict would then be on him.
Seen by itself this Law seems to be just another example of the barbaric practices by male chauvinistic tribes that has no relevance to our “modern” society with its liberated values. Don’t misunderstand, I’m not an advocate for turning back the clock or a return to the abuse of women and children etc. I am just a simple person who wants to hear what God is saying through His Word, so I must allow this part of the Bible to share its particular portion. When I do, a fascinating and glorious picture of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev 19:16) is the result.
What I find uniquely pertinent to us today is that the Numbers 5 passage shows the importance of the need for the determination of guilt to be left to God himself. For only God knows the heart, and only He can search it out with any accuracy (Jer.17:10).
Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits.
Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts.
In the New Testament, John 8:1-12 gives us the only example of a situation where Jesus Christ handles an incident any where close to the one described in Numbers 5. Here a woman, caught in adultery, the very act, is brought to Jesus Christ to see how He would respond. In the midst of the discussion, Jesus stoops down, and writes on the ground. He wrote on the dirt with his finger.
John 8:4-5 They said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. "Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?"
I have heard a great deal of speculation over the years as to what he wrote and what He was thinking. Although no one can be dogmatic, this is what I think.
He was thinking about Number 5:11-31. As He put his finger into the dirt he was thinking of the bitter cup with the curses which had been written and scraped off and put in the water. Does Justice require that this dirt be put into a cup of water? Does a formal document with charges and testimony need to be prepared and the ink scraped off into that water? Does this scene demand that her guilt be formally established? Should we wait to see if her abdomen swells and her thigh wastes away? Or do we stone her now on the testimony of these men? What does Justice require?
John 8:7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first."
Chapter Three
The Cup of Wrath
Jesus Christ was not neglecting justice, or the law, far from it, for he came to fulfill it, exalt it, and make honorable (Matt 5:17; Isaiah 42:21). He was thinking of the full cup of God’s wrath and anger.
Isaiah 51:17
Rouse yourself! Rouse yourself! Arise, O Jerusalem, You who have drunk from the Lord’s hand the cup of His anger; The chalice of reeling you have drained to the dregs.
He knew the reality of the price that this sin and all sin would require. He also knew that not one of the persons standing before Him could drink that cup without eternal consequences. He further knew that His purpose for living was to drink that bitter cup for all the sins of mankind (Numbers 5:23, 24).
Matthew 26:39
And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”
Matthew 26:42
He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
John 18:11
So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”
He knew that in “His hour”, he would be reeling and staggering and stumbling. He knew that God’s justice would require that he drink that bitter water with all of its dregs. All the dirt of mankind and all the curses that man’s sin had brought were in that bitter cup. He understood that sin’s full price must be paid, and that he was to drink it. “The cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”
John 18:11
He also discerned that His death would once and for all satisfy God’s justice. With Justice thus satisfied, Mercy could rejoice against Judgment (here a sentence of condemnation, damnatory judgment, condemnation and punishment). This judgment would fall on him, and justice would be liberated. Mercy never rejoices against Justice. Rather Mercy and Justice would now be free to say the same things, speak with the same voice and fully love individuals without restraints. Justice and Mercy together could say:
Isaiah 51:22
Thus says your Lord, the Lord, even your God Who contends for His people, “Behold, I have taken out of your hand the cup of reeling, The chalice of My anger; You will never drink it again.
Both mercy and justice contend for His people, not contends with or against but contends for His people! In accusations or prosecutions, He is our defender against such a case.
Both mercy and justice now proclaim together: You will never drink the chalice of My anger again.
Both mercy and justice joyously say: You are free from the curses of accusation:
John 8:10-11 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."
Thank God because of the Finished Work, God does not put His finger in the dirt of our humanity nor does He ask us to drink a cup such as this cup of His wrath.
Chapter Four
The Cup of Blessing
Psalm 116:12-13
What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the LORD.
1 Corinthians 10:16
Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?*
Psalm 16:5-6
The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,
AMP Romans 8:1 THEREFORE, there is now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus,
AMP Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a strong (loud) voice in heaven, saying, Now it has come--the salvation and the power and the kingdom (the dominion, the reign) of our God, and the power (the sovereignty, the authority) of His Christ
(the Messiah); for the accuser of our brethren, he who keeps bringing before our God charges against them day and night, has been cast out!
Because Mercy and Justice are on the same page and speaking with one voice and heart, as believers we are free to partake of the cup of God’s blessings, the cup of Salvation.
Gone are the dregs of accusations and guilt; removed are our sins (Psalm103:12). My thighs have had their strength restored; my emotions are no longer infected. I am out of wound care. If my heart condemns me, God is greater than my heart. (1 Jn 3:20) My thoughts are falling into places of blessing and contentment. The Lord is my portion and my cup. He is both the vessel and the drink.
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free -- and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
John 4:14 "whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."
John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Thank God that He requires us to simply and fully drink from that cup of blessing and nothing else. Thank God that as we do there is a walk and a provision for us to receive so that we can walk in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ (Rom 15:29).
Psalm 116:12-13
What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the LORD.
John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
Conclusion
Be careful what you drink!! Make sure it is God’s water of life. Listen to the invitations from Jesus Christ Himself.
Revelation 21:6 And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
Revelation 22:1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires let him take the water of life freely.
Without this cup, on our own we have nothing but iniquity and our personal sinfulness to offer and draw from.
Job 15:14-16
"What is man, that he could be pure? And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous?
If God puts no trust in His saints, And the heavens are not pure in His sight,
How much less man, who is abominable and filthy, Who drinks iniquity like water!
Remember the goodness of God and his gracious offer to all who desire something more:
Revelation 21:6 And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
Which Cup will you drink from? The Cup of the Wrath of God? Or The Cup of God’s blessing?
Romans 10:8-11 (NASB95)
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,
that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”
How Do You Get To Heaven?
For our survey, please check all of the points which you believe you are required to fulfill in order to go to heaven:
1. Attend Church
2. Be Baptized
3. Keep the Ten Commandments
4. Perform Good Works
5. Go to Confession
6. Be a Good Moral Person
7. Receive the Free Gift of Salvation
Please check next pages for the right answer to this very important question.
1. Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, attended church with the Savior Himself on a daily basis for at least three years. However, Judas committed suicide and went to hell (Matthew 10:4; 27:3-5; John 17:12; Acts 1:16-19). Attending church with Christ Himself did not get Judas to heaven.
2. The thief on the cross simply believed in Jesus as his Savior and was promised eternal life by Jesus (Luke 23:40-43).
That thief was never baptized and still went to heaven. Therefore, baptism is not a requirement to enter heaven.
3. The Bible tells the story of a Pharisee (a religious leader) who was in the temple thanking God one day because he had kept all of God’s commandments (Luke 18:9-14). There was a publican in the temple at the same time just asking God for mercy. God did not justify the Pharisee because he was proud of his own accomplishments. Yet, God justified the publican because he was humble before God and remorseful over his mistakes. Keeping the Ten Commandments will not allow us to enter heaven either.
4. There was a rich man in the Bible who fed the poor beggar at his gates. Both died. The rich man went to hell and the beggar went to heaven (Luke 16:19-31). Isaiah 64:6 says that apart from God, our own righteousness (our best deeds of rightness and justice) are as filthy rags to God. Good works did not give the rich man entrance to heaven.
5. The Bible tells us to confess our sins only to God and not to a man (1 John 1:9). Therefore, confessing our sins to anyone other than God will not result in God’s forgiveness and will not get us to heaven.
6. Jesus said that He had come for the sick and not for those who considered themselves to be good (Matthew 9:10-13). Although there may be some good in ourselves, it is not good enough for God. Psalm 39:5c says that man in his best estate is but vanity. Our own morality and goodness will not give us access to heaven.
7. Jesus died for the sins of the whole world because He loved us (John 3:16). After He died and shed His blood for all of our sins (1 Peter 2:24), Christ went to heaven to reconcile us to His Father (2 Corinthians 5:19). Therefore, Christ has done everything needed for our salvation. It says in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that (salvation) is not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” According to the Bible, the free gift of salvation is the only right answer. God’s salvation is free because Christ has finished the work (John 19:30). Paul commended the believers in Ephesians 1:13 because they believed this good news after they heard it. For a gift to be yours, you must first accept it. Won’t you accept God’s free gift of salvation to get you into heaven? Simply believe and pray, “Dear Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I receive you as my personal Savior, and I accept the free gift of salvation. Thank you for loving me so much that you died for me so I can have eternal life with you. Amen.”
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