There are people who look at Jesus and feel nothing but questions, questions that echo through late nights and long seasons: Is He real? Does any of this matter? Why should I believe in Someone I cannot see? Doubt can feel like a heavy fog, and for many, Jesus is little more than a distant name softened by centuries of stories.
Then there are those who say they believe… yet feel no pulse in their faith. They know the verses, they understand the doctrines, they sit in the pews, but their hearts remain strangely untouched. Jesus is a belief they agree with, not a Person they know. And that emptiness makes them wonder if they ever truly believed at all.
And finally, some don’t want to believe, not because they are stubborn, but because life has taught them to be cautious with hope. The world has disappointed them too many times. Why trust another promise? Why trust God?
But the irony of Christ interrupts all three stories.
His life was a contradiction to every expectation, God becoming human, strength expressed through humility, victory achieved through sacrifice, rejection answering with love. He did not come to impress scholars or win popularity. He came to reveal a love so persistent, so disarming, so unlike anything the world offers, that even doubters can’t help but take a second look.
This is the irony: The One many struggle to believe in spent His entire life trying to reach the very people who question Him. The One some follow at a distance walked every dusty mile so we could walk closely behind Him. And the One some refuse to believe endured rejection so no one would be rejected by God.
If you’ve ever doubted Him, misunderstood Him, ignored Him, or even walked away from Him, the story of Christ is still for you. Because everything He did, He did to make one truth unmistakably clear:
God still wants you.
If you find this inspiring and enlightening you may share to those whom you think needs this message.
There’s a quiet hunger living in many of us, a longing to see Jesus not as a distant name in a book, but as Someone who still walks into real lives with real love. Some carry that longing like an ache, whispering, “If Jesus is real, why can’t I find Him?” Others were raised in churches and can recite verses, yet deep inside they wonder why their faith feels hollow, why no one around them sees Christ in the way they live.
And then there are those who desperately want to show Jesus to the world but feel painfully aware that their lives fall short. They want their kindness to matter. They want their forgiveness to change someone. They want their patience to reveal something holy. But wanting and becoming are two different things, and the gap between them can feel impossibly wide.
The message of “Are You Jesus?” speaks into all these hearts at once. It reminds the doubter that sometimes Jesus appears through the unexpected kindness of another. It challenges the believer who hides behind empty profession to ask, “Would anyone confuse me for Christ?” And it comforts the seeker by showing that every act of compassion, forgiveness, patience, and mercy can become a window, one where Jesus still chooses to be seen.
If you look closely, you may find that Jesus has been nearer than you thought. And if you live courageously, someone else might one day ask you, “Are you Jesus?”
If you find this inspiring and enlightening, you may share to those whom you think need to be blessed too.
It was a small thing, really. A beautiful Babylonian robe, a few pounds of silver, a wedge of gold. In the smoldering ruins of a conquered city, one man, Achan, saw, coveted, and took them. He buried the treasure deep inside his tent, a secret sin hidden in the heart of the community.
Days later, an elite Israeli strike force was routed by a minor outpost named Ai. Soldiers lay dead. A nation’s confidence, once sky-high, shattered. Their leader, Joshua, lay face down in the dirt, pleading with God. The grand narrative of a promised land had been derailed not by a superior enemy, but by a single, hidden choice.
We often imagine our biggest threats come from outside: a rival company, a hostile ideology, a fortified wall. But the story of Achan reveals a more terrifying truth. The most dangerous enemy is often the one we harbor within our own ranks—the enemy of an unexamined heart.
The Anatomy of a Hidden Fault Line
The problem is not merely individual sin. It is the delusion of compartmentalization, the belief that our private compromises, our secret covetousness, our “harmless” indiscretions, can be walled off from the rest of our lives and communities. Achan’s story systematically dismantles this delusion.
His sin wasn’t a momentary lapse; it was a cascade, a precise inversion of a moral order. The biblical text uses a chilling, cumulative grammar: Israel sinned; they transgressed the covenant; they took what was devoted to destruction; they stole; they deceived; and they placed the contraband among their own goods (Joshua 7:11). This is the blueprint of a moral collapse, moving from a thought to an action to a systemic infection.
The covenant, the binding agreement between the community and God, meant that Achan’s private greed created a public covenantal liability. The entire body was infected by the sickness of one cell. We see this principle everywhere: a single unethical trader can collapse a financial institution; one leader’s hidden corruption can erode trust in an entire government; one parent’s unaddressed trauma can ripple through generations of a family. Your hidden fault line is never just yours.
What is a Covenantal Liability?
A Covenant: A formal, sealed agreement or promise.
Liability: The responsibility of a surety (a guarantor).
Covenantal liability, in this sense, is the enforceable obligation of a person (the surety) who guarantees the performance of another person’s covenant or promise. If the primary party fails to meet their obligation (e.g., fails to pay a debt or appear in court), the surety is “liable on the covenant” and must fulfill it.
Covenantal Liability vs. Contractual Liability:
Contractual Liability is primarily transactional and legal, focused on the exchange of goods, services, or money. Breach leads to financial damages.
Covenantal Liability is deeper, often relational, and can involve moral, spiritual, and communal consequences beyond mere financial compensation.
Covenantal Liability vs. Personal Liability:
Personal Liability is based on one’s own direct actions.
Covenantal Liability can be imputed or transferred based on one’s membership in a group or representation by a head (as in the theological concept).
The God Who Searches the Heart
The investigation that followed was a masterclass in divine justice and grace. God did not simply point a finger. Instead, He initiated a meticulous, narrowing process, from tribe, to clan, to family, to household, to individual (Joshua 7:16-18). This was not a witch hunt; it was a forensic uncovering, designed not only to reveal the guilty but, just as importantly, to clear the innocent.
At the center of this drama is a profound theological claim: “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind” (Jeremiah 17:10, ESV). The story posits a universe without true hiding places. The God of the Hebrews is not a distant deity concerned only with public ritual, but a penetrating consciousness aware of our most carefully buried secrets. Joshua’s address to Achan, “My son”, is laden with a tragic compassion that foreshadows a greater Judge who was “never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word” (White, 1898, p. 353), yet who also fearlessly exposed hypocrisy.
From the Valley of Trouble to a Door of Hope
The location of Achan’s sin was forever memorialized as the Valley of Achor, the Valley of Trouble. It was a place of judgment, a monument to failure. Yet, the prophetic vision of Hosea would later transform it: “I will… make the Valley of Achor a door of hope” (Hosea 2:15).
This is the story’s ultimate insight: Our greatest failures can be transformed into our most strategic learning grounds. After the sin was purged, God led Israel back to Ai with a new strategy, one that required humility, dependence, and precise obedience. The very site of their most humiliating defeat became the stage for a resounding victory. The fault line, once exposed, became a foundation.
The Counterargument: Is This Collective Guilt Unjust?
A modern reader might protest: Isn’t it profoundly unfair to punish the many for the sin of one? This is a valid objection from an individualistic, post-Enlightenment worldview. The story challenges us to adopt a more connective, ecological understanding of society. We are not isolated atoms. Achan’s sin was not a private affair because it violated the foundational trust and shared mission of the entire community. His action changed the spiritual and moral reality for everyone. The punishment was not for a thought crime, but for an act that actively sabotaged the collective destiny. The system, to be healthy, had to expel the toxin.
A Call to Excavation: Becoming Archaeologists of Our Own Hearts
So, what do we do with this ancient story? We are all, in a sense, camped on the border of our own promised lands, our potential, our relationships, our careers, our spiritual destinies. And we all have our hidden “Achans.”
For the Individual: Conduct Regular Excavations. We must become curious, not defensive, about our motivations. When you feel a pang of envy (covetousness) at a colleague’s success, don’t just dismiss it. Examine it. What does it reveal about your own fears and desires? This is not about self-flagellation, but about ruthless self-awareness. As Jordan Peterson might say, confront the dragon of chaos within to win its gold.
For the Community: Foster Radical Transparency. In our families, workplaces, and churches, we must create environments where failure can be confessed without immediate annihilation. Joshua’s “my son” is the model. Leaders must balance unwavering standards with profound compassion, understanding that a community’s health depends on its ability to identify and heal its dysfunctions, not just hide them.
For Our Witness: Understand the Stakes. The pagan nations were watching Israel. Their perception of God was shaped by the behavior of His people (Deuteronomy 4:5-9). Today, our neighbors’ perception of truth, justice, and love is often shaped by our collective integrity. Achan’s sin didn’t just hurt him; it damaged the reputation of Yahweh in the world. Our hidden sins do the same. Our obedience, conversely, becomes the most powerful argument for our faith.
The treasure you bury in your tent, the resentment, the greed, the pride, the secret addiction, will not remain hidden. It will shape your destiny and the destiny of those connected to you. The choice is not whether your heart will be searched, but whether you will have the courage to search it first.
Reflection Questions
The Modern “Achan”
Can you think of examples today where one person’s actions affect a whole group, like online, at work, or in families? Do you think this is fair or unfair? Why?
The Archaeology of Desire
Think of a time you really wanted something. How did the desire grow—from noticing it, to wanting it, to convincing yourself it was okay? What fear or belief about God or yourself fed that desire?
From Trouble to Hope
Remember a time when you or your community failed. How did facing the real cause of the problem help open a path to healing and a better future?
The Cascade of Compromise
Think of a past mistake or moral failure. Can you trace the steps from the first temptation to the moment you tried to hide it? When did you ignore your conscience, and what excuse did you make?
Covetousness as Unbelief
The story says that coveting comes from not trusting that God gives what we need. What is something you are tempted to want right now, and what does that desire say about your trust in God’s timing and care?
The Myth of Private Sin
We often think secret sins don’t hurt anyone. What is one area in your life where you are hiding a wrong habit or attitude? How might it affect your family, workplace, or faith community?
On Examining the Heart
The Divine Interrogation
If God narrowed down your life, friend groups, family, and personal choices—to find the main source of spiritual struggle, what would He find? Be specific.
Motivation vs. Action
Are you more focused on fixing your outward behavior, or on addressing the deeper motives behind it? What examples in your life show this?
The Grace of Exposure
Achan had time to confess before he was exposed. Is there a failure or struggle in your life right now that may be God’s warning or opportunity to come clean before things get worse?
On Secret Sin & Its Consequences
The Cost of Your Treasure
Achan buried stolen treasure that ended up costing him everything. What “hidden treasure” (habit, desire, object) are you keeping that is actually damaging your relationships, character, or faith? Is it worth the cost?
The Community Impact Audit
Which of your ongoing, unaddressed behaviors, like constant criticism, laziness, lust, or love of money, hurts the people closest to you the most?
The Idol in the Tent
Achan hid a “beautiful cloak” from a culture Israel was told to avoid. What modern cultural idol, such as status, success, or political identity—have you brought into your life even though it conflicts with God’s kingdom?
References
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version.
White, E. G. (1890). Patriarchs and Prophets. Pacific Press Publishing Association.
White, E. G. (1898). The Desire of Ages. Pacific Press Publishing Association.
Harari, Y. N. (2014). Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. Harper.
Harari, Y. N. (2016). Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow. Harper.
Harari, Y. N. (2018). 21 Lessons for the 21st Century. Spiegel & Grau.
Gladwell, M. (2000). The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference. Little, Brown and Company.
Gladwell, M. (2008). Outliers: The Story of Success. Little, Brown and Company.
Gladwell, M. (2013). David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants. Little, Brown and Company.
Peterson, J. B. (1999). Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief. Routledge.
Peterson, J. B. (2018). 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos. Random House Canada.
Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, Fast and Slow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Duhigg, C. (2012). The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business. Random House.
Brown, B. (2012). Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. Gotham Books.
This study follows the biblical model of sanctification: the past foundation, the present process, and the future fulfillment.
1. The Foundation: Positional Sanctification (Our Standing)
This is the completed act of being set apart for God, which occurs instantly at the moment of salvation. Our position is secured “in Christ” based on His finished work.
Declared Holy: Believers are immediately called “sanctified” and “saints” (holy ones) because of their union with Christ.
“To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints…” (1 Corinthians 1:2).
A Past-Tense Reality: Sanctification is listed alongside justification as a completed part of our salvation.
“But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).
Based on Christ’s Offering: Our holy standing is not based on our efforts but on the “once for all” sacrifice of Jesus.
“By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).
2. The Journey: Progressive Sanctification (Our Walk)
This is the ongoing, lifelong process of becoming in our daily practice what we already are in our position. It is the work of growing in practical holiness and Christlikeness.
God’s Will for Us: Sanctification is not an optional extra; it is God’s stated will for every believer, involving practical purity.
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality…” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
Insight: “True sanctification means perfect love, perfect obedience, perfect conformity to the will of God” (White, The Adventist Home).
The Means of Sanctification:
By the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the divine agent who empowers this change, transforming us from within. This is not self-improvement but the implanting of Christ’s nature.
“…God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
“But we all… are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Insight: “The sanctification of the soul by the working of the Holy Spirit is the implanting of Christ’s nature in humanity” (White, The Desire of Ages).
By the Truth: The Word of God is the primary tool the Spirit uses to transform our character.
“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17).
Insight: “The Scriptures are the great agency in the transformation of character” (White, Christ’s Object Lessons).
Our Participation:
Active Pursuit: While God works in us, we are commanded to actively “pursue” and “follow” holiness.
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
Active Dependence: We participate by “walking in the Spirit,” consciously depending on His power rather than our own.
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).
The Evidence of Sanctification:
A Lifelong Work: This is not a one-time event but a daily process encompassing our entire being.
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless…” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Insight: “Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, a day, but of a lifetime” (White, The Acts of the Apostles).
Visible Fruit: True sanctification is revealed in our character and conduct—the “fruit of the Spirit.”
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Insight: “Those who are truly sanctified will not be satisfied with an empty profession. Their lives will reveal the grace of Christ” (White, The Sanctified Life).
3. The Completion: Future Sanctification (Our Hope)
This is the final fulfillment of our sanctification, also known as glorification. It is the moment we are made perfectly and completely like Christ, presented faultless before God.
Made Like Him: The process will be finished when we see Christ at His return.
“Beloved, now we are children of God… we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).
Presented Faultless: God’s power will complete the work He began in us.
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 1:24).
The Ultimate Goal: This is the culmination of our journey—the moment the character of Christ is perfectly reproduced in His people.
Insight: “When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own” (White, Christ’s Object Lessons).
Questions for Reflection
On Positional Sanctification: How does the truth that I am already “sanctified” and “holy” in my position (1 Corinthians 1:2; 6:11) change how I view my identity and motivate my fight against sin, compared to feeling I must earn holiness?
On Progressive Sanctification (Means): Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by Your truth” (John 17:17). Am I engaging with God’s Word primarily for information (knowledge) or for transformation (holiness)? What is one practical change I can make to allow the Word to be a greater “agency in the transformation of character” in my life?
On Progressive Sanctification (Process): Galatians 5 presents a contrast between “walking in the Spirit” and “fulfilling the lust of the flesh.” In what specific area of my life am I relying on my own self-control and “white-knuckling” it (flesh), instead of actively surrendering and depending on the Holy Spirit’s power to produce His fruit?
“My angel will go ahead of you and bring you to the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, and I will wipe them out. Do not bow down to or worship their gods or imitate their practices. Instead, demolish them and smash their sacred pillars to pieces.” – Exodus 23:23-24 –
Imagine an archaeologist carefully brushing dirt away from a large clay jar. Inside, there’s no gold, just the tiny, crushed skeleton of a child. An inscription on the jar confirms the grim truth: this was a child sacrifice, an offering to a god named Molech.
This isn’t a horror movie. It’s a real discovery from ancient sites like Carthage. This single jar forces us to ask a really tough question: Why would a loving God, in the Old Testament, command the destruction of the Canaanite nations who did things like this?
The answer isn’t simple. It forces us to look at justice, patience, and what happens when a whole culture gets consumed by darkness.
Now, picture this different scene.
The Syrian army surrounds a city, ready to capture one man: the prophet Elisha. Elisha’s servant wakes up, sees the enemy army, and panics. “What are we going to do?” he cries.
But Elisha is calm. “Don’t be afraid,” he says. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then he prays, “Lord, open his eyes so he can see.”
God opens the servant’s eyes. He looks up and sees the hills full of invisible horses and chariots of fire, protecting them (2 Kings 6:16-17).
This story shows the major conflict in the Old Testament. On one hand, a God who commands war. On the other, a prophet who, instead of calling for his enemies to be destroyed, prays for their eyes to be opened.
So, which is it? A God of war or a God of peace? Answering this is key to understanding one of the Bible’s most challenging topics.
What’s the “Divine War” Concept?
“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.” Deuteronomy 18:9-12
When we read passages like Deuteronomy 18:9-12, we run into the difficult concept of herem, or “Divine War.”
It’s crucial to understand this was not Israel deciding to grab land or gain power. The Bible presents it as a unique, one-time command from God for Israel to act as His instrument of judgment.
This was God’s war against sin, not Israel’s war against people.
Canaanite society was built on practices like child sacrifice, ritual prostitution, and extreme idolatry. It was like a spiritual cancer that threatened to corrupt the whole region. The main goal wasn’t just to kill people; it was to remove this deeply corrupt culture and its influence from the land.
So, to just call this “genocide” misunderstands the biblical point. The Bible frames this as a final judgment on a society’s actions, not its ethnicity.
Why Does This Ancient Story Even Matter Today?
This story is like a mirror, forcing us to look at our own lives and our society.
For You: The story shifts the question from “Why did God command that?” to “What sinful patterns in my life is God at war with?” The call to “drive out” the inhabitants becomes a metaphor for our own lives. What “Canaanites”, like bad habits, addiction, pride, or jealousy, is God asking you to “drive out”? It shows God takes sin seriously because He wants to restore you.
For Teachers & Leaders: This story teaches us to read the Bible carefully, looking at the whole picture, not just one verse. It shows God’s justice and mercy working together.
For Society: The story is a warning. A society built on corruption, violence, or worshipping the wrong things (like money, power, or fame) won’t last. A society that “sacrifices” its kids, whether on literal altars or on the “altars” of convenience and ambition, is in trouble.
“You must not do the same to the Lord your God because they practice every detestable thing the Lord hates for their gods. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.” – Deuteronomy 12:31 –
What Was The Root of the Problem?
“You are not to make any of your children pass through the fire to Molech. Do not profane the name of your God; I am Yahweh… Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices, for the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves by all these things. The land has become defiled, so I am punishing it, and it will vomit out its inhabitants.” Leviticus 18:21, 24-25
The severe judgment only makes sense when you see how decayed the Canaanite culture had become.
A Corrupt Religion: Their religion was based on the idea that they could control the gods through rituals, including sexual acts and divination. As one writer said, “A nation can’t be more moral than the gods it worships.” When your gods are corrupt, your society will be too.
The Ultimate Sin: Child Sacrifice: The most horrific proof of this decay was child sacrifice. Archaeologists have found jars filled with the skeletons of infants, sacrificed to gods like Molech. This was a central part of their faith.
God’s Patience Ran Out: This judgment didn’t come out of nowhere. Genesis 15:16 says God waited centuries for the Canaanites. He gave them a long period of mercy and time to change, but they didn’t. His patience finally ran out. This wasn’t a random rampage. The Bible presents it as a “surgical removal” of a moral cancer to stop it from spreading.
But… How Could a Loving God Command This?
This is the most important question. It feels wrong. How can a loving God order the destruction of entire populations?
Let’s break down the counter-argument.
1. Why Not Just Convert Them? If God is all-powerful, why not just change their minds?
A Way Out Existed: The judgment wasn’t absolute. Individuals who turned to God were saved. Rahab (a Canaanite prostitute) and her entire family were saved (Joshua 2). The Gibeonites (another Canaanite group) made a treaty and were spared (Joshua 9). This shows the judgment was on their actions and refusal to change, not their race.
A “Surgical Strike” on Evil: The corruption was so total and so infectious, it threatened to wipe out the very nation (Israel) that God was planning to use to bring His ultimate rescue plan—the Messiah—to the entire world.
2. But Isn’t This Still God-Ordered Killing?
God as the Ultimate Judge: The biblical argument is that as the author and giver of all life, God has the right to judge evil on a massive scale. We see this in other places, like the story of the Flood. This wasn’t a human war; it was a divine judgment.
The Goal: Purification, Not Violence: The focus was on cleaning out a toxic, dehumanizing evil. The dividing line wasn’t race; it was faith. Remember: Rahab the Canaanite was saved, while Achan the Israelite was judged for his sin.
3. Isn’t This Out of Character for God?
This Is an Anomaly: This kind of command is extremely rare in the Bible. The main “arc” of the Bible moves away from physical war and toward spiritual peace.
The Story Points to Jesus: This temporary, terrible judgment was part of a larger plan to establish a lasting peace, a peace ultimately fulfilled by the “Prince of Peace,” Jesus Christ, who commanded us to love our enemies.
The Battle Has Changed: From Physical to Spiritual
The ancient call to “divine war” is over. The New Testament redefines the battle completely:
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)
Our mission today is not destruction, but peacemaking.
For Parents: Help your kids spot the “lies” and toxic influences in culture. Equip them with the “armor of God” (prayer, truth, peace) to stand firm.
For Educators & Students: Don’t skip the hard parts of the Bible. Teach and learn about them with their full context. Build a faith that isn’t afraid of tough questions.
For Everyone: Stand up against the real evils in our world: poverty, injustice, corruption, and hate. Be an architect of peace.
Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It
Today’s “holy war” isn’t fought with swords, but with character, conscience, and compassion.
Remember Elisha’s story? The hills around you are also filled with “chariots of fire.” The battle for your heart, your family, and your community is real. But your weapons have changed. Your sword is truth. Your shield is faith. Your strategy is love.
1. Look Inward: Identify the “Canaanite” in your own life, that grudge you won’t let go of, a dishonest habit, a consuming jealousy. Ask God to help you “drive it out.”
2. Look Outward: Be an agent of His peace. Your job isn’t to destroy your enemies, but to see them (and yourself) through God’s eyes. Bring reconciliation to a strained relationship. Bring calm to an argument.
3. Live Your Calling:
Students: Fight by pursuing truth and resisting apathy.
Parents: Fight by modeling forgiveness and faith.
Leaders: Fight by building systems of compassion and justice.
The story of the Canaanites ended in judgment. Your story is still being written. The true victory isn’t destruction, but transformation.
Questions for Reflection & Discussion
I. On God’s Character
Does thinking of the Canaanite conquest as a “surgical strike” on sin, rather than a war on people, change how you see God’s justice and mercy?
What are the modern “gods” our culture worships (e.g., money, popularity, power, comfort)? How do these “gods” affect our society?
The Bible says God gave the Canaanites centuries to change. In what ways might our culture be in a “period of grace” right now?
II. On Your Life
What “Canaanite strongholds” (like a bad habit, a grudge, or a way of thinking) do you struggle with most?
The New Testament says our battle is spiritual (Eph. 6:12). What “internal wars” (against pride, jealousy, apathy, etc.) do you need to fight to become a true peacemaker?
Think about Elisha’s story (with the invisible chariots). How can his response—seeing the hidden spiritual reality and showing mercy—change how you deal with someone you disagree with this week?
A true preacher’s mission goes beyond delivering sermons—it is to reveal the greatness of God, guide people into His Word, and help them live out His truth. Preaching is not about personal wisdom or popularity; it is about faithfully presenting Jesus Christ as Lord and leading others to experience the transforming power of Scripture. Every message should lift hearts toward God, strengthen faith, and equip believers to live out His will with understanding and conviction.
The preacher should give people a bigger picture of God.
The preacher’s message must focus on Jesus Christ, not self. True preaching magnifies the Lord and helps people see His power, love, and holiness.
“For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord” (2 Cor. 4:5).
The preacher should train people to turn to the Bible when problems arise.
God’s Word is the ultimate source of guidance, correction, and strength. Preachers must teach people to rely on Scripture when facing life’s problems.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
The preacher should show people how to read, study, and handle the Bible for themselves.
A faithful preacher equips others to read, study, and interpret the Bible correctly, developing mature disciples who can discern truth.
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).
The preacher should teach all parts of the Bible and show how unique and wonderful each section truly is.
Preaching should not pick and choose comfortable passages but present all of Scripture, showing the beauty and unity of God’s message.
“For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God” (Acts 20:20, 27).
The preacher should challenge people to own the truth by responding to the message.
Preaching must move beyond hearing to doing—challenging listeners to apply God’s Word in daily life.
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22-27).
The preacher should prove that the Bible is ancient yet it speaks to us today.
The preacher should demonstrate that Scripture, though ancient, speaks powerfully and practically to the present day.
“Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day…They are not just idle words for you—they are your life” (Deut. 32:46-47).
A preacher’s true work is to exalt Christ, build people’s confidence in Scripture, and inspire faithful living. By teaching the full message of God’s Word, guiding believers to understand it for themselves, and urging them to live it out, the preacher becomes a channel through whom God’s truth transforms lives. The goal of every sermon, then, is not to display the preacher’s ability—but to deepen the hearer’s relationship with God and His Word.
Justification means being declared right with God.
It is like receiving a pardon—complete forgiveness.
When someone is justified, God looks at them as if they had never sinned.
Their record in heaven now shows “forgiven” and “righteous.”
Justification is not something we earn. It is a gift from God through faith in Jesus Christ.
2. How justification works
Because of sin, people are separated from God.
We cannot make ourselves righteous by our own efforts or good deeds.
But when we believe in Jesus and accept His sacrifice, God credits us with Christ’s righteousness.
This means:
Our sins are wiped clean.
Christ’s perfect life is placed into our record.
We stand before God clean and accepted.
This is what the Bible means when it says righteousness was “counted,” “reckoned,” or “imputed.”
Imputed – credited to our account as if it were ours.
Reckoned – considered or declared by God as true.
Counted – treated as though we had done right, even though we didn’t earn it.
3. What justification shows about God and us
Justification is God’s work, not man’s achievement.
It shows God’s mercy and grace, not human effort.
It leaves no room for pride.
True faith produces humility and dependence on God, not self-confidence.
As one writer explained, justification “lays the glory of man in the dust.” It reminds us that salvation is completely God’s doing, and we give all glory back to Him.
4. The example of Abraham (Romans 4:1-25)
Paul uses Abraham’s story to show how justification works.
Abraham was not made right with God because of his good works or rituals.
He believed God’s promise, and that faith was counted as righteousness.
Abraham trusted God even when His promise seemed impossible—like having a child in old age.
Paul teaches that everyone who believes like Abraham is justified in the same way, by faith, not by law.
5. Faith in Jesus brings justification today
What happened to Abraham happens to us when we believe in Jesus.
When we put our trust in Christ’s death and resurrection:
Our sins are forgiven.
His righteousness is imputed to us.
We are accepted by God and given peace with Him.
Jesus’ death paid for our sins, and His resurrection guarantees our justification.
6. What justification gives us
Justification brings:
Pardon – our sins are forgiven.
Righteousness imputed – Christ’s perfect life covers us.
Title to heaven – we are accepted as God’s children.
Peace and humility – we depend fully on God, not ourselves.
A new standing – we are seen as pure, innocent, and free from guilt.
7. Summary Justification is God’s declaration that we are forgiven and made righteous through Jesus Christ. It happens by faith, not by works, and is entirely God’s gift rather than our own achievement. This gracious act produces humility, thankfulness, and trust in God, reminding us that our salvation depends on His mercy alone. Through justification, we are made ready to begin a new life of obedience and love, living in harmony with God’s will.
References:
Ellen G. White. Review and Herald, September 16, 1902; August 21, 1888.
Ellen G. White. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 6, p. 1070.
Ellen G. White. Messages to Young People, p. 35.
Ellen G. White. Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 135.
Ellen G. White. Christ’s Object Lessons, Chap. 18.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8
From the beginning of time until the end of days, one truth stands above all philosophies, doctrines, and powers: love. It is the heartbeat of heaven, the language of God, and the calling of every soul. Without love, all else fades; with love, all things find their meaning.
Love is not just an idea—it is life itself. It heals, restores, and conquers what hatred cannot. And this love is fully revealed in God, who is Love. Let us live in that love daily, sharing it freely, so that others may see His light through us. For in the end, the greatest of all is love—and in love, we will never be defeated.
The blessings of God are not just promises for tomorrow—they are assurances for today. Each blessing reveals the path of life, guiding us closer to His truth, His mercy, and His eternal kingdom. To be blessed is to be found in Him.
Those who believe, repent, and walk in God’s ways are never forgotten. His blessings are certain, His promises sure, and His reward eternal. Take courage—your choice to live for Him today will echo into eternity. Stay faithful, and the day will come when you will rejoice at the great banquet with Christ Jesus Himself.
Every day, God gives us opportunities to reveal His love through simple acts of kindness, patience, and forgiveness. Sometimes, we don’t realize that when we serve others, we are letting them see a glimpse of Jesus in us. The greatest testimony is not only in words, but in the way we live out His compassion.
When others look at us, do they see someone who reflects Christ? Our love, service, and forgiveness can make Jesus real to the people around us. May we live in such a way that someone could ask, “Are you Jesus?”—because through us, they have felt His presence. Let us continue to be vessels of His love, so that others may come to know Him more deeply.
PREPARED FOR LIFE 