Don’t Cause Others to Stumble
9:42
Jesus said to avoid causing others to stumble. Although the modern versions mostly say “to sin”, the Greek is literally “to stumble”. The New American Standard Bible translates it so, as does the old Young’s Literal translation. It could be that the modern translations went with “sin” since the rest of the paragraph is about sin.
The “little ones” are disciples, Christ followers. So, Jesus is warning them and us not to destroy the faith of other believers. You can tell that Jesus takes this very seriously, since he says it would be better for you to drown than to cause another to fall away from the faith. (42)
So, those who are believers, or who purport to be, but discredit the Bible or the Christian faith, face serious consequences. For example, there are ministers who say the resurrection did not happen. There are theologians who say Jesus’ miracles did not happen. There are those who say Jesus did not die for our sins. Those who do so will be picking out their own millstone.
Avoiding Sin
9:43-49
Jesus then warned the disciples to avoid sin that would cause them to fall from the faith, even if it requires dramatic action. He dramatically called for them to cut off a body part if it caused them to sin. Today, we might say get off the internet, or at least install one of those protective programs, if it causes you to sin. Do not watch television shows that cause you to sin. Get rid of the television if you have to. It is better to enter God’s kingdom without things than to be thrown into hell. Sin often drives people away from Christ.
The kingdom of God is of great value, beyond calculation. It is the “pearl of great price”. You should not allow anything to keep you from it. (Matthew 13:45-46)
The alternative to the Kingdom of God is hell. Jesus described hell as having unquenchable fire. (44) This is a reference to Isaiah 66:24, which says: “And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shell not die, their fire shell not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.” He is speaking of eternal, unending, torment for those rebel against God, including now those who did not follow Christ during this life.
Yes, Jesus taught eternal punishment. There are those who claim that those who do not receive eternal life receive death in the form of annihilation, but that is not what Jesus taught.
For example, Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus taught about the final judgment. To those he condemned, he said “depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (41) He concluded his teaching by saying they would go away into eternal punishment while the righteous go into eternal life.
Jesus could have said they would be annihilated and cease to exist, but he said they would go into eternal punishment. His reference to their being sent into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels is telling.
John picked up this theme in Revelation, saying the devil and his followers were thrown into the lake of fire and tormented forever. (Revelation 20:10)
Revelation 14:9-11 also said that those who worshipped the beast will suffer God’s wrath in full strength, tormented with fire and suffer forever, receiving no rest.
Jude 7 speaks of punishment of eternal fire also.
The parable of the rich man and the beggar, Lazarus, are also cast against this truth. The rich man died and went to Hades and was in torment. (Luke 16)
So, believing in Jesus is necessary for us to enter into God’s kingdom and receive eternal life. Those who believe in and follow Jesus will seek to live holy lives and become more like Jesus. God also works in us to accomplish this. Paul wrote that “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ”. (Philippians 1:6)
The theological term for this is sanctification.
The Baptist Faith & Message 2000 defines it this way:
“Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person’s life.”
The answer to Question 35 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism says: “Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.”
One of the means of sanctification God uses is adversity. So, in here 48, the word “fire” refers to judgment. But, in verse 49, it refers to refining in the sense of sanctification. Everyone will be salted, or refined, with fire. (49) God cares more about your sanctification than your comfort. “Salt” is used in the New Testament to refer to the believer’s affect on the world around him, preserving what is good.
So, we see that sometimes we can only function as salt to the world when we have been refined by God’s fire of adversity and suffering.
Our suffering in faith is not only our refinement, but a sacrifice pleasing to God. The old covenant sacrifices were consumed by fire to create an aroma pleasing to God. (Leviticus 1) Salt accompanied all of the sacrifices. (Leviticus 2:13) Our suffering in faith is an offering pleasing to God. Jesus’ suffering shows us this. Our suffering for Christ is a reflection of his suffering for our redemption.
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