How do you build up treasures in heaven?

Sincerely,
Investor

Dear Investor,

Christ taught that we should invest in heavenly riches, not earthly ones (Matt 6:19-21).  He later went on to say that the way we do that is by seeking Christ’s kingdom before all other things (Matt 6:33).  Christ’s kingdom (His kingdom is the church) is a spiritual kingdom (Jhn 18:36).  Every day we can choose to live selfish lives that are focused on our earthly desires, or we can choose to live lives that are focused on eternity (Col 3:2).  Jesus said that we should trust in Him, and He will take care of our burdens (Matt 11:29).  We store up treasures in heaven when we trust in Christ and keep His commandments (Jhn 15:14).  Jesus’ commandments can be found in the Bible – specifically the New Testament.  Christ tells us that the way of salvation is narrow, and few enter it (Matt 7:13-14).  Being a christian means living faithfully in Christ… a life that trusts that Christ will reward us for our faithfulness (Heb 11:6).  We begin that faithful life by believing in Christ (Jhn 3:16), repenting of our sins (Acts 3:19), confessing Christ as our Savior (Matt 10:32), and being baptized for the forgiveness of our sins (1 Pet 3:21, Mk 16:16, Acts 2:38).  Once we become christians, we will spend the rest of our lives growing and learning from God’s Word (1 Pet 2:2).  As we grow and serve in Christ, we store up treasures for ourselves in heaven.

Matthew 12:40 says, “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

My question is how can Jesus Christ have died on a Friday and rose from the dead on a Sunday?  That's not three days and three night.

Sincerely,
Doing The Math

Dear Doing The Math,

Jesus was technically buried for only one full day (Saturday) and part of two other days (Friday and Sunday), but when talking in common language, we would say that He was buried three days – because we round numbers when speaking about time.  In fact, the habit of counting part of a day as a full day is found throughout the Scriptures as a common way of talking.  Here are some examples:

1. Esther said that she would fast for three days and nights before approaching the king… but she went to see the king on the third day (Esther 4:15-17, Esther 5:1).

2. A sick and famished Egyptian said that he had gone without food for three days and three nights… but it was the third day when he told his story to David (1 Sam 30:12-13).

3. Joseph kept his brothers in prison for three days (Gen 42:17), but he also let them out on day three (Gen 42:18).

4. The Jews were camped against Syria for seven days before attacking, but the Scriptures say they attacked on the seventh day (1 Kgs 20:29).

Each of those examples points out that when Jesus was speaking about being in the heart of the earth for three days and nights, He was talking in a way that made sense to every Jew.  He wasn’t being technical about the length of His burial (it didn’t have to be literally 72 hours, 0 minutes, and 0 seconds), but He was rounding up for clarity… just like we do today.

What does it mean to be a high-maintenance believer?  I need help with understanding all this.  I just read about falling away from God in Heb 5:12-13.  Could I be spiritually dry/dull?  Help… thanks.

Sincerely,
Running On Premium

Dear Running On Premium,

Every believer is high-maintenance (it took the blood of God’s Son to save us… we’re pretty sure that counts as being high-maintenance)… but falling away from the faith goes beyond maintenance – it means someone is once again lost and dead in their sins.  Heb 6:4-6 says that those who continue to live sinful lifestyles (or return to sinful lifestyles) after receiving salvation, re-crucify Christ.  Heb 6:7-8 goes on to state that christians are supposed to take the blessings of salvation and change their lives for the better.  God sent His Son, so we could be free from sin, not revel in it (Rom 6:1-2).  We should present our lives and bodies as instruments of righteousness and service to God (Rom 6:11-13).  Heb 5:12-13 makes it clear that we should press forward and grow from being babes in Christ to full-grown and mature adult christians.

(This is a follow-up to “New To Us”.)

     What are the exact Scriptures that spell out the new laws Christ established?  If I had a list of the laws, it sure would be easier to make sure I'm following them.  It seems like every time I visit services, my preacher finds something in Scripture I must follow that I didn't see before.  If he weren't delineating all the laws for me to follow, I'm sure I would be lost. How do I know when a principle has been followed well enough and followed to absolute truth?  Seems like doing my best isn't good enough when I'm told I can always be more right.

Sincerely,
A minus

Dear A minus,

The whole New Testament is the compiled set of laws that Christ established.  Christianity isn’t just a short set of rules that can be quickly mastered.  The Bible is a life-changing book that you will spend a lifetime applying to your heart, mind, and actions.  The apostle Paul said that it was like an athlete carefully preparing his body for a match – we must shape our entire being around Christ (1 Cor 9:25-27).

Ps 119:160 says that the sum of God’s Word is truth.  If there were a short list of things you needed to do to be like Christ, we wouldn’t need the whole Bible.  The Bible is exactly the size it needs to be to convey all the ideas and principles God knows we need.

But don’t despair!  God understands that you don’t know everything and that we are all works in progress.  Being a Christian is like growing up – we start as babies and take baby steps until we get stronger (1 Pet 2:2).  Instead of feeling dismayed at all the things you don’t know yet, think of every new principle you will learn like a precious gem that God gives us along the way to heaven.

Please let me know if there is any Scripture(s) in the Bible when Jesus told anyone, “I love you.”  I am being challenged by a friend who says that Jesus never told anyone while He was on Earth directly that He loved them.

Sincerely,
Affectionate

Dear Affectionate,

There are several examples in the Bible where it is clear that Jesus loved someone.  Mk 10:21 says that Jesus loved the rich young ruler who asked Him what it takes to be saved (Mk 10:17).   Jesus told His disciples that they should love one another the way He loved them (Jhn 13:34).  The book of John refers to “the disciple whom Jesus loved” on multiple occasions (Jhn 20:2, Jhn 21:7).  Jesus says that He loves us like the Father does (Jhn 15:12).  There is no doubt that Jesus loves us and specifically told His apostles that He loved them.