The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry Newsletter
&
Bible Study
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Dear fellow officers,
sheepdogs, servant-
warriors (and our spouses and supporters):
In this week's Bible study (scroll down), we'll take a fresh look at a passage of Scripture that is central to the "GPS" of EVERYone who seeks to know "the way" to come to a genuine saving faith in Christ. Already a believer? Then this is study will serve as a biblical, "Google Maps" roadmap to help you lead others to a saving faith as well.
Miss last week's edition? Here again is "
The War on Cops
" (ultimately, it is a spiritual one). As always, I re-post our past editions on my social media feeds (buttons below) and on our
website
as well.
Once again, please take the time to review the new resources, prayer requests and upcoming events I've posted for you here below.
MC
_____________________
RESOURCES
I am once again recommending Jonathan Hickory's "
Break Every Chain
" as a resource for every cop and police spouse. FYI, Jonathan has graciously donated a case for our Police Week outreach "cause" (to be given away in Tent City in DC this May).
PRAYER REQUESTS
(1) A brother officer in CT is asking that we be in prayer for the
Bridgeport Police Department
. They are dealing with another police suicide and spiritual warfare on multiple fronts.
(2) Pray for an officer seeking to lateral to an agency in FL so as to be closer to his family. God knows the details -- please pray.
(3) Pray is again requested for CO Deputy
Michael Pino
(severely injured in the line of duty) -- lots of issues that don't need to be aired here but please pray.
*Have a prayer request or announcement you would like included here? Need help/prayer?
Email me
!
I also post prayer requests on
my personal Facebook page
("friend" and message me).
UPCOMING EVENTS
(2) Time to start getting the word out about the
2019 Breaching the Barricade/Officer Appreciation Day
events (October 18-19 in northern Indiana). Incredible training for cops and a "bucket list" event for officers and their families. Mark your calendars and plan on joining us in Indiana in October, and pray for
Jim Bontrager
and his team...the effort is massive and the challenges overwhelming ("but God").
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Understanding THE Way, THE Truth & THE Life
John 14:6
Jesus
said
to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
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..how can we kn
Of late, I've not been sharing the recaps of our twice-monthly Denver-area FCPO chapter verse-by-verse Bible studies through the
Gospel of John
in this format (a time issue). However, inasmuch as we've landed on one of the most pivotal and hotly debated passages in God's Word (the Bible), I'm pressed to re-share a fresh perspective here.
First off, let me state for the record that the "debate" surrounding this verse is not based on any factual basis from God's Word (thus from God Himself) but is rather the product of our current "progressive" <sigh> culture that demands "inclusiveness" at all costs, regardless of the facts. Accordingly, please remember that our focus here is
TRUTH
-- God's "truth and nothing but the truth" from which I will not depart, "so help me God" (regardless of any
last days
cultural demands to do otherwise)!
Police officers and the public alike know and understand what a
ONE WAY
sign means. Sadly, there are still those who will try to get away with going the wrong way on a ONE WAY street or will seek to go around a barricade and officers directing traffic. Now the consequences of such a violation might just include a citation, but it could also be a semi that is not going to be able to stop in time, a bridge that has been washed out, or -- especially here in Colorado of late -- an avalanche that has taken out the highway (all leading to disaster). Clearly, a
ONE WAY
sign is meant both to inform and to warn. Likewise, this week's Bible study does the same in the form of a "GPS"-esque roadmap to get us safely "home." Let's dig in!
For context, open your Bibles to
John 14
and read verses 3-5:
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
Clearly, Thomas is seeking to know "the way." Jesus then lovingly lays it out for us in a clear,
Waze
app format (the Bible -- there's an app for that):
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
Especially today, many insist that Jesus' way can't be the only way, or that insisting that He is the ONLY way is just not "inclusive" enough. But is it possible for there to be any other way? What is THE "truth" of the matter?
Some will argue that the original Greek of
John 14:6
actually says, "I am
a
way,
a
truth and
a
life." But the context of New Testament Greek reveals just the opposite: "way," "truth," and "life" are each preceded by the definite article, "
the
" (and not "a"). Clearly, John, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is definite in his use of
THE
(no "other" meaning is possible).
So then what about the last part of the verse in which Jesus says, "
No one comes to the Father except through me
"?
First, the word "no" used here is both emphatic and means exactly that --
NO
! The other key word, "except," is the English translation of an original Greek phrase which literally means "if not" which in turn is idiomatically translated, "except." The Greek meaning could not be more clear: to get to the Father in heaven, a person MUST first have a genuine saving faith in Christ alone (no "other" way).
Despite overwhelming evidence (including the whole context of Scripture), many will still argue, "
Why not?
". Let's explore that! God reveals to us in His Word that for
sinful human beings to join THE holy and sinless God in heaven, our sins must be paid for in advance. The due payment is the death penalty, to be paid by either the sinner or on behalf of the sinner by someone who is sinless and does not have his own sins to die for. Only Jesus was sinless (1
Peter 2:22, 1 John 3:5
) and only Jesus died for our sins: "
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is everlasting life in Christ Jesus our Lord
." (
Romans 6:23
)
So then what about all the other religions that claim there are "other" ways? Friends, it comes down to this: either Jesus is lying (thus a sinful liar) and all those other religions are right, or Jesus is right and the others are lying. So why (or how) could they all be lying (wrong)? The context of Scripture reveals that Satan's endeavor to draw people away from THE Way, THE Truth and THE Life (all Jesus) includes putting up as many fake "road signs" (or removing the ONE WAY signs) as possible in order to lead people to disaster.
Likewise, others will argue that they should not have to go through Jesus in the first place. Let me be clear: those pointing you in another direction (the
wide
way --
Matthew 7:13-14
) are contradicting Jesus Himself. In fact, just a few chapters earlier in
John 8:44-45
, Jesus addressed this very issue: "
He
[the devil]
was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me."
Yet even in the face of what is essentially overwhelming evidence to the contrary, the devil continues to influence unbelievers and "make believers" alike to insist that there "has to be other and easier ways." Accordingly, let's dig deeper into
THE Truth
of God's Word:
But I'm a "Good Person!"
God, through His Word, says this is decidedly
not
the case (a lie from the pit of hell itself):
"
As it is written: 'There is no one righteous, not even one
'" (
Romans 3:10
).
"
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we became conscious of sin" (
Romans 3:20
).
"All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.' Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, 'The righteous will live by faith'" (
Galatians 3:10-11
)
.
Clearly, since no one is good enough to get into heaven (if they were, then Christ's sacrifice would have been meaningless, and the entire Christian religion is empty and void), then we must rely on our faith in the One True God, and allow ourselves to be saved by His grace alone. His grace is conditioned on choice (acceptance) on our part:
"everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved" (
Joel 2:32
;
Acts 2:21
;
Romans 10:13
).
But What About That Dude in "the Jungle?"
[Why is it always someone in a jungle -- LOL?]. When we Christians say that Jesus is the only way to God, we base this on the words of Christ in Scripture. From Scripture, we also know that God will judge our hearts. Accordingly, see "
What happens to those who never hear the Gospel?
".
Secondly, Jesus gave believers a COMMAND to "
go and make disciples of all nations
" (
Matthew 28:19 --
AKA,
The Great Commission
). What He's commanded us to do is tell the world about the God that saved us, be used of Him to lead the unbeliever to faith (like rescuing someone out of a burning building), and then
disciple
(field training) new believers to go out and "repeat" (see
WIN, DISCIPLE, SEND
). That said, our God is such that He will present Himself to all in a way that they (we) will be "...
without excuse
" (
Romans 1:20
).
Clearly (it should now be "
crystal
"), Jesus is in
fact
(the overwhelming, indisputable kind) THE only Way unto salvation, THE ultimate Truth, and THE Life (and any "other" way ultimately leads only to death -- the eternal kind). But, if you're like Thomas and still
doubting
, please take the time to read and watch,
Is Jesus the only way to Heaven?
from our friends at Got Questions Ministries (Biblically rock solid).
So now, after all this -- and with a huge
ONE WAY ONLY
sign in front of your face -- do you still not know "
the Way
?" you should go? If not, it is again with a
Code 3
(lights and siren) sense of urgency that I implore you to dig into the following:
(1) Still think you can "earn" or otherwise "badge" your way into heaven and escape hell (a just and unending "death sentence" for your wickedness -- aka "sin") because you are a so-called "good" cop or "good" person? Take the
Good Person Test
and see how you do!
(2) Jesus' first recorded words in His earthly ministry were and remain, "
Repent and believe in the Good News
" (
Mark 1:15
). To
repent
is a "180" -- a complete, radical change of mind and heart as it relates our sin (wickedness as God defines it). To believe (
pisteuo
in the original Greek) as Jesus intends it here is to cry out to Him for your salvation and wholeheartedly
surrender
your life to Him in faith in the same way we have "faith" that our body armor will do its job against the rounds it is intended to stop, that a well-maintained weapon will function properly when used against criminals intent on destroying us or others, or that a parachute will open when it is supposed to (we stake our very lives on it)! And the "Good News"? It is simply
the gospel of Jesus Christ
!
(3) This same concept of "believe" (the saving kind) is further revealed in
John 3:1-21
where Jesus says, "
... you must be born again
." Again, note our Lord's emphasis on the word "
must
" (not "may" or "should"): this is ultimately the life-saving/life-changing personal relationship (and NOT "religion") with Jesus Christ that I stress here every week (see
What does it mean to be a born again Christian
? [hint -- there is no other kind]). Folks, it is only through this miraculous event that we can be made "righteous" before a just and Holy God and thus become part of His family.
(5)
Need more? Then check out this powerful, short video message by my friend, fellow officer and noted trainer,
Travis Yates
:
Cops and Salvation
.
(6)
Have you now said "yes" to Jesus but are wondering what to do next? Then click on,
Now what?
Understand that the "Now what?" MUST include regular "iron sharpens iron" fellowship with other believers, including (for us cops) other mature Christian officers who can help support you, encourage you, disciple (help you grow) you in the faith and yes, hold you lovingly accountable. Message me for how you can do that!
MC
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ABOUT US
The
Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry
is
a national, FCPO-affiliated, evangelical Christian outreach to our own in law enforcement. These newsletters and profession-focused Bible studies are part of this effort and past editions can be found on our website and our social media feeds. Our desire is (1) to be used of God to lead the lost in our profession to a saving faith in Christ; and (2) to disciple the Christian officer, support police marriages and impact (reduce) police suicides and PTSD with the Cure found in Jesus alone. As always, feel free to adapt these messages for your own individual or group use and please share them with others. We also seek both your prayers and your
financial support
for this outreach at the Lord leads.
The
Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers
(FCPO-USA)
exists to provide biblical support ("backup"), accountability and iron sharpens iron fellowship for Christian officers first in the U.S. and throughout the world as well. Our metro-Denver FCPO chapter --
FCPO Chapter 217
-- is a
Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry
affiliate. Locally, we meet approximately twice a month in the south Denver-Metro suburb of Highlands Ranch for profession-focused and life-relevant Bible study, prayer and servant-warrior/sheepdog fellowship (the
iron sharpens iron
kind). Spouses are both welcome and encouraged to attend with their LEO.
Contact me for details!
You can also give to our ministry by designating "
FCPO Chapter 217
" on the
FCPO donation page
.
The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry and FCPO-Denver (Chapter 217) are led by Police Officer, Chaplain and Evangelist
Michael "MC" Williams
, an active (32-years and counting) sworn police officer/investigator and sought-after instructor and speaker at churches (including the popular
Centurion Church Security Seminar
), retreats and both police and civilian training conferences and seminars around the country. Contact MC via
email
for details on how to book him for your event.
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