Abortion, Nazism and Evangelism Meet, and It is Good!

This has been advertised a lot, but if you haven't watched it you have been deprived!

180 The Movie

The angels proclaimed His birth, we are to proclaim His death!

Jesus taught about and emphasized His death, not His birth 

Luke 9: 21 And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

Paul said he/we are to preach Christ crucified! 

1 Cor. 1:22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 

In taking the Lord's supper we remember/proclaim His death until He returns!  

1 Cor. 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

His death is the death we earned and makes our/believers life a reality, but more than that it is the the ultimate display of God's glory in Jesus Christ!

Revelation 5:12 saying with a loud voice: “ Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” 

The popular song Noel means birth, but let's not forget to proclaim the death He suffered for His glory and our salvation! 

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

Irony of Ironies!

A couple of quotes regarding the death of a famous atheist – 

Journalist Christopher Hitchens dies, aged 62, after battle with cancer.

In a debate with Tony Blair last year over religion he likened God to a 'celestial dictatorship, a kind of divine North Korea'. The British-born journalist and strident atheist intellectual Christopher Hitchens, who made the U.S. his home, has died at the age of 62. Hitchens, whose 2007 book God Is Not Great made him a major celebrity in his adopted homeland, died yesterday in Houston of pneumonia, a complication of cancer of the oesophagus. In God Is Not Great, he argued that religion was the source of all tyranny and that many of the world's evils have been done in the name of religion. It was a belief he never lost.

                                                                                                                                                              
For reference info. and balance of the article - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2074866/Christopher-Hitchens-dead-Writer-dies-aged-62.html#ixzz1gyrphs7e 

Just a few days later the self professed "god" and supreme dictator of North Korea, Kim Jong Il is dead as well.

Hitchen's concept of god, the one he rejected, was patterned after Kim Jong Il: evil, harsh and surely the followers of such a god were responsible for the evil in the world. He was right in a sense. It is those who claim to be god outright (Kim Jong Il) and those who claim god-like status by declaring there could not be anything greater/above them in the universe (Christopher Hitchens) and those who sinfully follow such "gods" that are responsible for the evil in the world (all of us). This has been the case ever since Adam and Eve believed the Devil's lie that by sinning against God they could become gods themselves. Since then, all mankind has been suffering the consequences of our rebellion against the one true God - an evil/sinful world and death!

The atheist who was confident God did not exist and the dictator who believed he was god, are now both dead!

However, Jesus is alive!

Jesus is God come to earth to suffer, die and rise from the dead to rescue mankind from the evil/death we all chose when we rejected Him. He is willing to be our pardon, if we will believe upon His work on the cross and give Him the worship He is due!

Does God dictate/demand our worship - Yes, but it is by worshipping Him, the true God, that we can have life now and eternally! God is not evil! Jesus is not dead! He lives to provide the only solution to the evil and death which Hitchens, Il and all of us deserve!

Believe upon Him and have life!

Great song demonstrating this reality -

http://5solas4claytongarner.blogspot.com/2011/04/good-theology-in-christian-rap-yes.html

Salvation alone, is plenty enough to warrant our rejoicing!

Habakkuk 3:17 Though the fig tree may not blossom,
      Nor fruit be on the vines;
      Though the labor of the olive may fail,
      And the fields yield no food;
      Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
      And there be no herd in the stalls—
       ¹⁸ Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
      I will joy in the God of my salvation.
       ¹⁹ The LORD God ^[c] is my strength;
      He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
      And He will make me walk on my high hills.

We probably have fruit on the vine as well, but we need only understand our Lord's graciousness in salvation to have great cause to rejoice.

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

God's sovereignty in saving His people!

Micah 18 Who is a God like You,
      Pardoning iniquity
      And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?

      He does not retain His anger forever,
      Because He delights in mercy.
       ¹⁹ He will again have compassion on us,
      And will subdue our iniquities.

      You will cast all our sins
      Into the depths of the sea.
       ²⁰ You will give truth to Jacob
      And mercy to Abraham,
      Which You have sworn to our fathers
      From days of old.

Do we see Him as the one who subdues our iniquities and gives us truth, according to His promises and His timetable?

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

This is excellent!

Charles Spurgeon Movie - Enjoy!

New site under links I enjoy

I am generally a Facebook user out of obligation only. However, I have been interacting on a Facebook page devoted to Reformed Theology - The Reformed Baptists Facebook Page. You might want to check it out if you enjoy discussing such matters with others.

Discussion of passages that might seem to refute a reformed view of salvation

First, is it possible and OK for God to require/command repentance of those who will never repent?

God “…commands all men everywhere to repent,” (Acts 17:30b)

Can God rightly command us to do what we are unable to do, or does the command for all men to repent, guarantee that is it something we are able to do?

First, I hope we would agree that if the Bible actually teaches all are commanded to repent, and also says we are unable because of our sin nature, we would have to accept that as OK and true, becasue we cannot hold our ideas of fairness/justice above what God’s word actually teaches.

Second, I think we must affirm that God commands we do many things that we can’t do on our own: “…Be Holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:16b), ^“Jesus said to him, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matt. 22:37), “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48).

Clearly all of these commands are right/good and God should promote what is right and good. However, it seems clear that in our natural state, without the work of the Holy Spirit, we would never do any of them as prescribed. So the idea that God cannot require of us what we cannot do, is clearly false from a biblical standpoint. If we did repent and believe the gospel, He would save us, as that would be in keeping with His promises, the fact that we won’t unless He changes our hearts first, does not change the rightness of His command.

Next, a couple of passages that can cause confusion –

First let us consider 2 Pet. 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Now, consider it in conrtext (My coments in blue)-

2 Pet. 3:1 Beloved, (Written, like all the epistles, to believers or at least those assumed to be. The church is the audience of the letter!) I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), ² that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, ³ knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, ⁴ and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” ⁵ For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, ⁶ by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. ⁷ But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

OK, so we se that the "Beloved"/church is the audience and the scoffers are the problem being addressed. These scoffers mock the church regarding its belief in the return of Christ. The (church), under these circumstances, would likely ask, how can God let them mock Him and His people? Answer, they (mockers), “Willfully forget”, as is typical of carnal/mind nature, the history of God’s judgment in OT! Just as those who doubted the coming judgment in the days of Noah eventually perished by the promised flood, these present scoffers will suffer eternal judgment/punishment by fire. In Noah’s day God had promised provision for Noah and his family and after a very long time all those who were promised provision entered the ark and were saved. Noah may have told people to repent and be saved, but only those God planned on saving from the beginning entered the ark. Now, the church is told judgment is being delayed “by the same word” God’s word/His plan is responsible for the delay, but why, on whose account? –

⁸ But, beloved, (same audience in next verses) do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

First, we must affrim that God is not sadistic, He does not punish for pleasure, but out of His just/Holy nature, and if any did repent as He commands - He would save them, but we won’t unless reborn as seen in the discussion of Acts 17:30 above.

With that said is the “us”/usward (KJV) or you (NIV) to whom He is longsuffering, not willing for any to perish and giving time for all to come to repentance, those who are reserved for judgment/perdition the “scoffers” or is it the beloved/elect/church? Is God delaying in case some of those reserved for judgment repent, and He can only return once they all have their chance and He sees what they do? Or is He waiting until He calls and saves all He chose for salvation? It makes much sense in context that He is unwilling any of “us” church/beloved/elect to perish, so He will see all of “us” come to repentance, before he returns!

Consider the comparison with the days of Noah in the passage. Did God delay judgment in Noah’s day for the sake of the lost, in hopes they would repent, or for the sake of Noah and his family? God said Noah and his family would be saved, so He delayed the flood until the ark was built, and all God said He would save, were then actually saved.

Is Jesus return delayed until every single person who has lived or ever will live has had the gospel presented and can reject or receive it? Will God stop births for a few decades so evangelism can catch up and He can return? No, He is longsuffering toward those He is definitely going to save - the beloved/elect/church and will put up with His enemies mocking Him and us, and delay their destruction until He saves all those He has chosen. Not willing that any of the His children should perish. Still not convinced look how it concludes:     

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. ¹¹ Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, ¹² looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? ¹³ Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Why would we be told to “hasten” or “earnestly desire” the coming judgment, if God is trying to save every single person? Would we be told to hasten/desire it while He does not? Should we feel guilty for wanting Christ’s return? If it meant lots of people who might have been saved, won’t be saved, because He did not delay coming, then we should probably feel guilty for wanting Him to return soon. However, He says we should look forward to it, the sooner He comes the sooner we know His plan is done, our heavenly family is complete, and His glory will be seen in both the judgment of His willing enemies and those equally undeserving who He chose for redemption in Christ!

Exegesis of 1 Tim. 2:4.

1 Tim 2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

Greek - πάντας “all” can mean every one or all kinds; the context must help decide which. Does he mean prayers for every single person in the world – go get the Ephesus phone book! No, prayers for all kinds of people even Roman kings, those who you would think God would be against. The god’s the gentiles believed in were unique to culture/race and position was often associated with god’s favor. One God, who can save Jew/Gentile/rich/poor and even these evil rulers, is something quite new and amazing for this time/people. Now take that idea into the following verses -

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

All men period or all kinds - from all cultures/positions like the verse above? God is not sadistic, takes no pleasure in the destruction of lost, calls all to repent and if we would He would save us, but scripture says we won’t unless born again! I would hold that this is referring to all kinds of men – more reason follows for this understanding -

5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,

Point, there is one way for anyone to be saved – Jesus Christ/gospel - He is the mediator and pays the ransom for “all” those who will be saved out of every tribe, tongue, people and nation! Probably no controversy in that, but does this mean He is the actual ransom and mediator for every single person who ever has or will live? Would that make salvation universal, most would say no, but a case could be made that if the price for everyone’s sin is already paid, why should anyone ever be made to suffer/pay for it themselves?

I will assert that Jesus took the wrath of God and is the mediator for all those He elected/called to be saved and exactly who they are is to be “testified”/revealed in due time, ss they are born again and believe!

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

There was a man sent from God...

John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. (NKJV)

Jesus is the true Light! He is the only source of spiritual rebirth unto salvation. We look at John's call to come before Jesus, as prophesied in Isaiah 40:3, to bear witness to the light/Jesus and we can easily see it as a unique and very special call. It is that, as even Jesus said:

Luke 7:28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” (NKJV)

However, is it really very different in nature than His call for us to bear witness of the Light after He has come?

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (NKJV)

OK, I realise this may be a little different, as we are not individually/specifically identified in OT scripture like John the Baptist, but aren't we just as much part of God's eternal, pre-conceived plan to make the Light/Jesus known in the world?

Eph. 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (NKJV)

We are called to do good works for the sake of Jesus Christ and that according to God's "prepared beforehand" plan. Not very different from John's call when you see it this way! Surely our bearing witness to the only Light that can save sinners, Jesus Christ, is the thing our good works and entire lives are meant to do as His now redeemed workmanship!

There was a man/woman/youth/church sent from God - YOU!

Could anything be better?

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

Feel my wrath Christmas Shoes!

I have already become weary of Christmas music. The Christian radio station I listen to has shifted to all Christmas music all the time (at least it seems that way). I would be more OK with it if they played a greater variety of songs. I know it is an exaggeration, but it seems like they play Charlie Brown Christmas, some synthesized/techno Christmas song and my nemesis Christmas Shoes over and over and over.

I am sure Christmas Shoes is a sweet and touching song, but I am 100% annoyed with it. I am not sure if it is just the poster song for over-repetition of songs, but here are my primary complaints against it:

First, who would want to risk being in line at Payless Shoes at the moment a loved one passed from this life?

Second, having been around many people in their last moments of life, I have yet to see anyone wearing attire that would lend itself to fine footwear.

Finally, would you really need the boy to explain the entire situation before "laying your money down". It says he "counted pennies for what seemed like years", don't you think you would cough up some money, even if only to get the line moving?

I like lots of Christmas music, but I am partial to songs about Jesus. Much Christmas music I hear fails to give any information on what Jesus was born to do! 

Matt. 1:21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” (NKJV)

The sweetest of sentimental lyrics and the most sacrificial good works won't accomplish what Jesus came to accomplish - it takes the blood of Jesus Christ to atone for our sin so we can enter heaven - fine footwear is nice, but optional!

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

Nominal Christians and the Diagnostic Power of the Word

By "nominal" (name only) Christians, I am referring to those who call themselves Christians or are outwardly associated with Christianity by church participation, but in reality are not followers of Jesus Christ. I also must admit I cannot be absolutely sure who these people are. However, the word of God offers some diagnostic help. I still may not know the deffinite salvation status of others, but at least the word gives me great encouragement when under attack by these seemingly "nominal" Christians.

John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. (NKJV)

I have had several instances when alleged Christians have opposed changes in the church even when clearly supported by the scriptures. When asked to give a reason for thier fighting against the changes and church leadership the answer is typically something like, "I just don't think it is right". To this the appropriate response is, "can we sit down and see what the scriptures say about it". To my surprise the answer is almost always something like, "no, I just don't think it is right".

If someone is not interested in going to the word of God for answers or doesn't see their thinking as needing to be adjusted by God's word, is their any reason to think they any more than a "nominal" Christian? I have typically given people the benefit of the doubt and assumed they were simply immature, but the more I understand the connection between receiving the word and being truly saved, I am much more inclined to see these people as lost. I also can take comfort in the fact that they are not simply rejecting me and my words, but as long as the teaching is sound they are really rejecting the words of God.

I pray they come to know Jesus Christ and love His word. I also thank God that I was once blind and now see and that purely by His gracious choice!

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

Make a religion that suits you!

I found this quote on a Buddhism promoting website - http://www.bffct.net/id71.html

"Imagine a religion without original sin, judgment, a wrathful God, a multitude of gods and saints, an eternal hell, Satan, a sense of guilt, a personality cult, idolizing a book, a blood sacrifice for atonement, a rejection of personal experience, holy wars, hypocritical rules, sexism, a cultish mindset, and money and power obsessions. Luckily, a religion without all of this negative core baggage does exist and it is called Shin Buddhism." 

For comparison -

Imagine a place without absolute truth or morals. A place without laws, police, jails or justice. Imagine a place where everyone did whatever they wanted and they never felt any guilt or paid any consequences, even if they hurt others. Imagine their was no one powerful enough to save us from such a place. If such a place did exist, I assume it would be called Hell! Are we lucky if we find it?

Christ centered preaching?

I have great concern for those who are seeking "christian" ministry/teaching from those whom focus on health, prosperity and self-esteem. I want to speak with some knowledge of what these folks are preaching so I listened to another message by Joel Osteen this morning. I was mostly wondering how a prosperity preacher preaches on Thanksgiving, because their whole message requires being less than completely satisfied. Although not a Thanksgiving message, I found the following message on the website this week.

The Power of I AM

Link to the message  - http://www.joelosteen.com/Broadcast/Pages/ThisWeeksMessage.aspx

Foolish me, I would assume a message on the power of I AM would be about the unlimited power of God, who refers to Himself as "I Am" (Exod. 3:14, John 8:58). I can't help but think how worthy of our worship God is when I consider His totally independent existence as expressed in this name for Him! All of us now are, but once were not, God was and is and is to come! To be the all powerful creator is so much more important and worthy of our attention and praise than anything He has created!

Yet the message was not about God at all, He was mentioned as a means to an end a couple times, but the message was about us! It focused on how when we use "I am" words - "I am rich", "I am beautiful" and "I am young" and we can actually attract those things to us or create them in our lives with our words.

I would challenge anyone to look up the couple scriptures mentioned in the message and find that any were used in their right context to communicate the intended message. The worst offender had to be a bizarre account of the life of Sarah. It went something like this - In order for God to give Sarah a child in her old age, He first had to change her attitude about herself. To do this God changed her name to Sarah, which means princess. As Joel tells it, as she heard people call her princess over and over, her self-image changed and it was that change which enabled God's promise to come to pass. Her "I am" changed and brought God's blessing upon her.

Not only is this completely speculative, as the word never says anything about Sarah's self-esteem improving before she gave birth. The great and dangerous error is it puts the focus on Sarah's words/power and not God's words and power! God is the I  AM, when He makes a promise, He does not need the cooperation of anyone to bring it to pass. If we read the story, the message we will get is that God did this great miracle, not in recognition of Abraham and Sarah's positive attitudes and actions, but in spite of them - to show His power, for His glory! Sarah thought it laughable that she would conceive in her old age, but the Lord says to her - "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Gen. 18:12-14).

As natural idolaters, it takes very little prodding to get us to listen to encouraging words that are all about us and tell us we have great value and power. Unfortunately, when this is done, the creator, the one due all our focus, worship, respect and even fear, is reduced to second place and as we miss His greatness we fool ourselves into thinking we are the "i am" that makes things happen! It just is not true and a lie, no matter how good it feels, is still a lie!

Oh Glorious Day!

Simple, but profound lyrics from Casting Crowns - 

Living He loved me, dying He saved me
And buried He carried my sins far away
Rising He justified freely forever
One day He's coming, oh, glorious day, oh, glorious day

How to love Jesus much!

Luke 7:36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.

39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.”

41 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.”

44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Until we realize we are sinners needing a savior we are lost and still under the punishment due a debt we cannot pay. However, even as believers it is easy to minimize our sin, act like we are pretty good or focus primarily on the sins of others. In doing so we are doing ourselves and others a great disservice. Just as Jesus teaches in this narrative, our love for Him will be directly proportionate to how much we understand the size of our sin debt and our need for a savior. We don't need to commit more sin of course, but simply be willing to see our sinful thoughts and actions in light of God's word in the power of the Holy Spirit. When we do this, rather than feeling like a victim of other sinners or feeling sorry for ourselves for not getting what we deserve, we will be thankfully loving and serving our savior. Then when we have contact with other sinners, as we constantly do, rather than being annoyed by them, we can tell them about the one who graciously forgave such a big time sinner as us!

 "Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved." (NKJV)

Not a fan of Joel, but credit where credit is due!

I have been very open in my evaluation/opinion of Joel Osteen's messages. I believe they often promote a form of idolatry with Jesus tacked on as an afterthought.

Link to a blog on this topic - http://5solas4claytongarner.blogspot.com/2011/10/replacing-holy-spirit-with-health-and.html

However, I must say he did at least an OK job of standing against great pressure form Piers Morgan to change his stance on homosexuality. Joel taking the biblical high ground is pretty surprising to me, but listen to who Piers compares Joel to when he will not adjust the Bible to the times (3:05 in the video)!

This is a glimpse of what is coming for those who dare believe the Bible is true and authoritative.

The “Unpardonable Sin” - Conclusion

Last post I suggested the following statements were true -

A. Blasphemy is an “unpardonable sin" according to OT Mosaic law.
B. No sin, of any kind, is forgivable except by grace through faith in Jesus Christ!                      

C. The Holy Spirit is the initiator and guarantor of our salvation.

D. All scripture, including the teaching on the “unpardonable sin”, is written primarily for the instruction of born again believers in Jesus Christ.

E. It is at least reasonable to assume that the “unpardonable sin" teaching is meant to be a source of assurance/comfort for believers.

F. Since a house divided against itself cannot stand, it follows that the recognition of Jesus as Lord and the desire to be saved by Him are evidence of the presence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and demonstrate that an “unpardonable sin” - blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, has not occurred.

I would now like to give an example of what I believe to be "unpardonable sin" in the post Pentecost New Testament, as well as an example of the amazing pardonability of sin in Jesus Christ.

First, consider the fact that the Holy Spirit had yet to "come" in the full sense when Jesus rebuked the scribes and warned them about speaking against or blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. If this is true it could be that they did not even commit this sin at the time, but had spoken in such a way that Jesus felt it appropriate to use it as a teaching opportunity for the future when the Holy Spirit would be fully manifest. This would be especially relevant for the family or "people" of Jesus who said He was crazy right before this teaching and I assume are still in the audience (Mark 3:21).

When Jesus speaks of the coming of the Spirit in John 16, we read the following regarding His role: 

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. ⁸ And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹ of sin, because they do not believe in Me; ¹⁰ of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; ¹¹ of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. (NKJV)

Surely this is a description of the Spirit's work in the unbeliever (v. 9). It follows that the one who is exposed to the Spirit's convicting work and is not converted is lost and judged.

Now as we read a little further we see the work of  the Spirit in those who are converted: 

John 16:12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³ However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵ All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. (NKJV)

For this group the Holy Spirit's work is quite different, as they are guided and taught by Him for the goal of glorifying Jesus. 

In these two works of the Holy Spirit, I propose we see a work of convicting/judging leading to eternally irreversible state - "unpardonable sin". In contrast, by the same Spirit, those who are converted are guided/empowered to glorify Jesus and can't be guilty of or capable of the "unpardonable sin".

Example of unpardonable sin -

Heb. 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶ if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. (NKJV)

As I have already established that the Holy Spirit's work in saving God's people is irreversible (Eph.1:13-14), this must be a person who was never actually born again. The text suggests that the person was a partaker of the Spirit and yet has now turned from the truth in an irreversible way. Whatever work of the Spirit they were to have, they have had and  it did not result in salvation, but rather judgement! Is this not then an example of "unpardonable sin"?

Some might think this is a picture of a backslidden believer, but if compared to John 2:19, regarding those who went out from the church/"us", that "it might be made manifest that none of them were of us" and consider the language just three verses later in Heb. 6:9, regarding those who are truly saved, my point seems quite valid.

Heb. 6:9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. (NKJV)

Clearly the work of the Holy Spirit is the issue here - in the first case bringing judgement to those who had the Spirit's testimony of Jesus and chose to reject it, leading to being beyond repentance/salvation = "unpardonable sin". In the second group, the ones who's salvation is held with confidence, it is because it is a work of the Spirit unto salvation!

A example of the amazing pardonability of sin in Jesus Christ -

1 Tim. 1:12And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, ¹³ although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. ¹⁴ And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. ¹⁶ However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. ¹⁷ Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise,be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (NKJV)

Paul's blasphemy was in "ignorance and unbelief" , but he is now fully pardoned - what happened? The amazing grace of God, working through the Holy Spirit brought conviction, conversion, and belief upon Jesus Christ into Paul's formerly blasphemous heart. He was called by God/Holy Spirit, saved through the blood of Christ - all for the glory of God in Jesus Christ!

Even Paul, the chief of sinners, is pardonable by the work of God through the sacrifice of Christ and regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.

The natural man, unless born again, will find his sin unpardonable if the conviction of the Spirit does not lead to being born again into faith in Jesus Christ! For the believer in Jesus' work - praise the Lord that the Holy Spirit's house (us), will not be plundered and our sin is forever pardoned to God's glory in Christ!

So, is this teaching about the "unpardonable sin" meant to let the scribes no just how hopeless they are? Is it to keep Christians forever guessing if they will miss salvation because they had committed this sin? Or is it a source of hope and assurance for those who believe and are sealed with the Holy Spirit for redemption!

This is a fantastic truth - Jesus' family who said He was crazy (part of the audience of the original "unpardonable sin" teaching, Mark 3:21), Peter who denied Him three times, the crowds who yelled crucify Him, Paul who persecuted Him, and I who once did not believe in Him and still falls very short as a follower of Him, can believe and rejoice in the amazing pardonability of sin available in Jesus Christ!

Yes, I know pardonability is not an actual word!

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

The “Unpardonable Sin” Part 5

Part four was a short reading assignment, I had ended part three with the assumption that I had demonstrated the following conclusions from scripture -

A. Blasphemy is an “unpardonable sin" according to OT Mosaic law.

B. No sin, of any kind, is forgivable except by grace through faith in Jesus Christ!                      

C. The Holy Spirit is the initiator and guarantor of our salvation.

D. All scripture, including the teaching on the “unpardonable sin”, is written primarily for the instruction of born again believers in Jesus Christ.

E. It is at least reasonable to assume that the “unpardonable sin" teaching is meant to be a source of assurance/comfort for believers.

Now I will try to show how specifically this assurance is found -

I can’t say I am 100% sure what would qualify as “the unpardonable sin” today. Many say it was only possible for those who were walking the earth at the time of Jesus and related to the specific acts He did then and the scribes response to it. Others would say this sin is still possible and could be committed by anyone who attributed the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan or a demon. An example could be God healing someone through the prayer of a believer and someone saying “God doesn’t work that way, so it must be of the devil”.
Another popular understanding is that rejecting the saving work of the Holy Spirit, conviction unto salvation, would be the “unpardonable sin”. I will not say either of the first two are wrong and I would be very careful about attributing things done in Jesus’ or Holy Spirit’s name to the Devil.  However, I believe the last view has some merit, at least as it relates to who needs to be concerned about having committed or committing this sin.

It is my belief that the “unpardonable sin” can’t be something any current believer in Jesus Christ could have done in the past or could do in the future. No matter how anti-God the Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit we may have been, we can have absolute assurance that it won’t keep us from experiencing the redemption we are promised in Jesus if we continue to believe upon Him and His work. The reformed doctrine, generally called “perseverance of the saints”, would likely support this belief, but I think there is a specific reason to take comfort from this teaching in particular.

Here is how I arrive at this point -

When Jesus teaches/rebukes the scribes for their accusation against Him, He uses simple logic – “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand and if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand” (Mark 3:24-25, Matt. 12:25 parallel).  Just as Jesus teaches that Satan’s work in the demon possessed won’t be undone by Satan, we can know that God’s work in us won’t be undone by God!

Believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit in a similar way to how the man Jesus exorcised was indwelt by a demon. The demons won’t work against Satan or vice versa, because they are of the same house and kingdom. These evil powers will be forever working together under Satan’s authority unless they are overcome by a stronger power (Mark 3:27).  Jesus and the Holy Spirit prove to be the stronger power in the narrative as Satan, the “strong man,” is bound and his goods/house are plundered (Mark 3:27).  We can know for sure that within the Trinity - God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are fully unified/one in all things and more powerful than Satan and any other things they have created.

Now consider the born-again believer who is indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit for salvation (Eph. 1:13-14). The Holy Spirit who dwells in us will “guide us in all truth”; “He will glorify Him”/Jesus (John 16:13-15); He will ensure our continuation in the faith (1 John 2:19-23); He alone is the reason we can/do confess that Jesus is the Son of God (1 Cor. 12:31); and it is the rejecting of Jesus as Lord that proves one was never of God’s house and kingdom at all (1 John 4:12-16).

With this understanding in mind, will the Holy Spirit in us ever be party to us rejecting Jesus? Can Satan, us, or anyone else bind up the Holy Spirit and undo His work? Never! Will the Holy Spirit in us be divided against Himself and the rest of the Trinity and allow us to blaspheme to the point of lost salvation?  No!

With that said, the only ones who are concerned about missing salvation, while acknowledging and wanting Jesus as Lord, are those with the Holy Spirit. Only those indwelt with the Spirit and part of God’s kingdom and household, are concerned about finding salvation through Jesus or would likely to be concerned about having committed an “unpardonable sin”. It is this very concern, in the case of a believer, that almost certainly assures they have not committed the “unpardonable sin”

So we can add this to our list of truths -

A. Blasphemy is an “unpardonable sin" according to OT Mosaic law.

B. No sin, of any kind, is forgivable except by grace through faith in Jesus Christ!                      

C. The Holy Spirit is the initiator and guarantor of our salvation.

D. All scripture, including the teaching on the “unpardonable sin”, is written primarily for the instruction of born again believers in Jesus Christ.

E. It is at least reasonable to assume that the “unpardonable sin" teaching is meant to be a source of assurance/comfort for believers.

F. Since a house divided against itself cannot stand, it follows that the recognition of Jesus as Lord and the desire to be saved by Him are evidence of the presence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and demonstrate that an “unpardonable sin” - blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, has not occurred.

 Next - I will present what I believe to be a biblical case of post Pentecost, New Testament "unpardonable sin" and an example of the amazing pardonability of sin in Jesus Christ!

The “Unpardonable Sin” Part 4

I have been very busy and I am not yet quite ready to post the next piece in this series. In order to help understand where I am going, please take a look at the passages preceding the "unpardonable sin" teachings - Mark 3:23-27 and Matt 12:25-30. Consider the concepts of a divided house not standing and what it takes to plunder a house, but rather than thinking in terms of those inhabited by Satan/demons consider it in light of those inhabited by Christ through the Holy Spirit?

I should get the next part up over the weekend!

The “Unpardonable Sin” Part 3

So far I have hoped to established the following from scripture:

A. Blasphemy is an “unpardonable” sin according to OT Mosaic law.

B. No sin, of any kind, is forgivable except by grace through faith in Jesus Christ!

C. The Holy Spirit is the initiator and guarantor of our salvation.

Now we must consider the intended audience of the teaching on the "unpardonable sin". 

Clearly Jesus’ words are directed toward His immediate audience as recorded in the narrative. His audience includes “the multitude” (Mark 3:20), Jesus’ family/people (Mark 3:21) and the scribes (Mark 3:22). However, like other narratives about Jesus and teachings from Jesus found in the gospels, the ability of people to fully grasp Jesus’ identity and message is minimal at best and often non-existent. Clearly it takes the hindsight of looking back after the resurrection to fully get who Jesus is and what He accomplished. This is evidenced by the teaching Jesus did about Himself to the disciples between His resurrection and ascension (Luke 24:13-27, 44-49, Acts 1:1-3). Even post resurrection, having good information about Jesus is not enough to bring understanding or belief. In fact the Scriptures tell us that without the Holy Spirit in us, it is impossible to understand or accept the things of God (John 3:3-5, 16:13-14, Rom. 8:5-9, 1 Cor. 1:22-24, 2:12-14, 1 John 2:19-21). If that is true, then it follows that this passage and any other is primarily for future born-again believers in Jesus Christ to learn about Him and His will for them (2 Tim. 3:16, Heb. 4:12, Rev. 2:7). 

So we see –

A. Blasphemy is an “unpardonable sin" according to OT Mosaic law.

B. No sin, of any kind, is forgivable except by grace through faith in Jesus Christ!                      

C. The Holy Spirit is the initiator and guarantor of our salvation.

D. All scripture, including the teaching on the “unpardonable sin”, is written primarily for the instruction of born again believers in Jesus Christ.

These truths now can be brought back and considered in relation to Jesus’ immediate audience in the narrative. In Mark’s account we have a mention of Jesus’ own “people” or family (in some versions) coming to take Jesus away saying He is “out of His mind” (3:21). Now we will assume Jesus’ family meant well and acted out of ignorance and unbelief in Jesus’ Messianic identity. We also have the scribes who accuse Jesus of having a demon and driving out demons by Beelzebub (Mark 3:22). Jesus’ true identity was not grasped well by the people, but it had been made known in several ways prior to this event including: by John the Baptist (John 1:29-34), by the Father (Mark 1:11), by Himself (Mark 2:10-11, Luke 4:18-21), by the demons (Mark 3:11), not to mention the witness of His miracles and various teachings that pointed to His identity as the promised Messiah. Neither those following or those opposing Jesus could plead complete ignorance of His identity, even if it was an excuse for blasphemy, and we know it is not (Rom. 1:18-20).

Mark’s gospel says Jesus’ teaching on the “unpardonable sin" is in response to the charge the scribes made that Jesus had “an unclean spirit” (Mark 3:30). This would be blaspheming against God under OT Mosaic law and they are justly condemned, even eternally, for attributing the Holy Spirit (God's) work to the Devil. However, this does not necessarily mean the scribes were the target audience of Jesus’ teaching regarding these statements. 

What would be the more shocking truth, the one that needed an explanation/teaching for future believers – the fact that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (God) was unforgivable and deserving eternal condemnation or the fact that blasphemy against Jesus (God) can be forgiven?

Now, if we put ourselves in the place of these family members that suggested Jesus was crazy, add the three-time denial of Him by Peter, consider the shouts of the people to crucify Him before Pilate, and finally consider Saul/Paul the persecutor of the church who is asked by the resurrected Jesus, “Why are you persecuting Me”! We must ask - who would look back on this story and wonder if they had crossed a line that made them un-savable? 

Did God have this recorded for the sake of the scribes so they could look back and know for sure they were condemned? Did He want believers to be forever wondering if they had committed this sin and doubting their salvation? Or, is it a source of assurance for future born-again believers who would look back on their own blasphemous, pre-salvation lives and their less-than-perfect following of Jesus and struggle to believe God could/would forgive such sinners as they! 

Based on what we have seen so far, all of the following points are validated - 

A. Blasphemy is an “unpardonable sin" according to OT Mosaic law.

B. No sin, of any kind, is forgivable except by grace through faith in Jesus Christ!                      

C. The Holy Spirit is the initiator and guarantor of our salvation.

D. All scripture, including the teaching on the “unpardonable sin”, is written primarily for the instruction of born again believers in Jesus Christ.

E. It is at least reasonable to assume that the “unpardonable sin" teaching is meant to be a source of assurance/comfort for believers.

Next I will attempt to demonstrate how we get assurance/comfort from this teaching specifically?

Remember, as I stated in part 1, I am working toward seeing this passage as a lesson about “The Amazing Pardonability of Sin in Jesus Christ”

The “Unpardonable Sin” Part 2

In part 1, I hoped to establish that blasphemy is an “unpardonable” sin according to OT Mosaic law. In addition to the information I included there, it is worth considering that in the Ten Commandments, referring to taking the Lord's name in vain, it says "the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain."(Exod. 20:7, Deut 5:20). This is a type of blaspheme which is extremely common and might seem harmless from a human relationship/justice perspective (no one gets hurt), but it is very serious to God and He promises to personally hold guilty the one who commits it. All sin is against God, but sin that is directed toward/against God (blasphemy), is treated with a special seriousness.

Before we can go further, we must clear up any misconceptions about who is or can be forgiven for any sin, let alone the unpardonable sin. Salvation is found in Christ alone (John 14:6), by His grace alone (Eph. 2:1-10) and received through faith alone (Rom. 3:21-26). Further, it is the Holy Spirit who is given credit for our initial salvation and assurance/completion of salvation (John 3:3-5, John 6:37-40, John 10:26-29, Rom. 8:8-11, 1 Cor. 12:3, Titus 3:3-7, I John 4:13-15). While I will hold that all sin, including that of OT saints, must be atoned for by Christ at the cross, for this argument I desire only to prove and move forward on the assumption that for NT post-resurrection people, salvation requires faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, is possible only through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, and is secured forever because it is the work of the Holy Spirit. 

So far we see – 

A. Blasphemy is an “unpardonable” sin according to OT Mosaic law.

B. No sin, of any kind, is forgivable except by grace through faith in Jesus Christ!

C. The Holy Spirit is the initiator and guarantor of our salvation.

In part 3, I will consider who is the intended audience of the teaching about the "unpardonable" sin.

The “Unpardonable Sin” Part 1

The “Unpardonable Sin” or should it be “The Amazing Pardonability of Sin in Jesus Christ”. Before accusing me of heresy, remember the titles given to chapters and shorter sections of the Bible were not original to the text, but have been added to aid us in locating passages and giving us a preview of their subject matter.

I will attempt to prove from Scripture that the passage(s) below, regarding the “unpardonable sin”, is/are not for the purpose of teaching those who are lost just how lost and hopeless they are, or to cause doubts in the mind of believers about their salvation, but rather to give assurance of salvation to born again believers who may doubt God would save such as them.

Mark 3:28 “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; 29 but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”— 30 because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Matt. 12:31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

The issues at hand are clear – it is possible for all sins and blasphemies man commits to be forgiven, including speaking a word against the Son of Man. However, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit or speaking against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven - ever! What does blasphemy mean?

Greek blasphémia: slander or abusive language against God. To call what God calls right wrong and vice versa. Dictionary definition: Blaspheme – To show contempt or disrespect for God. (World English Dictionary)

Biblical example of how serious God takes blasphemy –

Lev. 24:10 Now the son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel; and this Israelite woman’s son and a man of Israel fought each other in the camp. 11 And the Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the name of the LORD and cursed; and so they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.) 12 Then they put him in custody, that the mind of the LORD might be shown to them. 13 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 14 “Take outside the camp him who has cursed; then let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. 15 “Then you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. 16 And whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the LORD, he shall be put to death.

Is there any more serious sin we could imagine than showing contempt for God? If there were only one unforgivable sin, we could see how disrespecting God could be it! We still might think a warning is in order or God should take circumstances into account. This may be a young man called a “son” and he may have less sound teaching about God since his father was Egyptian. Maybe God would give some slack for the boy’s age and the bad influence of his Egyptian father, and since God isn’t visibly standing right in front of him, surely he could get a break.  “No,” God says, “whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death”! This sin was still treated seriously at the time of Jesus as He was condemned to death for blasphemy (Mark 14:62-64) as was Stephen, even though he was not officially charged or put on trial (Acts 7:54-60).

Summary up to this point – blasphemy is to be punished by death; there are no amends or animal sacrifice to set aside the penalty!

Therefore, blasphemy is an “unpardonable” sin according to OT Mosaic law.

More to follow -

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

Replacing Jesus and the Holy Spirit with health and prosperity!

I was listening to a very popular TV "preacher" the other day and noticed a point in his message when he stood at the crossroads of Biblical truth and idolatry. After some welcomes, calisthenics involving raising bibles above their heads and a couple pretty funny jokes, the speaker came to a pivotal moment. I will paraphrase what he said as - God does not want you going around discouraged and defeated, but rather wants you to live a joyous and victorious life!

To this I say amen! The turning point comes with the next words that leave the speakers mouth. One choice is to say all hope, joy, peace and victory are available in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit and require nothing else on this earth to change.

We see this in the scriptures clearly -

Jesus said - John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

The Holy Spirit spoke through Paul saying: Phil. 4:11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Col. 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Being satisfied/thankful is actually commanded for Christians - 1 Thess. 5:16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit.

And of course we have a clear word form the Lord about the Holy Spirit's role in these things - Gal. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Any alternative emphasis, besides the biblical one, any suggestion that joy, peace, hope or the victorious life require things on earth to change is idolatry. These things (Joy, peace, etc.) come from the creator not the creation, they are in Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit!

Unfortunately, the speaker I was watching spent the rest of his time teaching that we should not be satisfied with our current situation, but rather we should seek other things from God to make our life better (give us joy, peace, victory, etc.). He did this by taking a scripture or two out of context and telling many stories of healing and financial gain of those who had faith. I got the impression that he would have been very offended at any Christian who suggested they could be content with Jesus Christ and salvation alone! We would have to be ignorant, lacking faith or both to be content with that, according to his teachings.

The evidence is in - health and prosperity preachers are simply idol peddlers who encourage the worship of the created things over the creator.

If you have been continually seeking "the blessings" through these TV ministries, I pray you will believe the gospel and live in the blessing you have in Jesus Christ! There are Bible teaching and Christ exalting churches out there to help you keep the creation centered idolatry that comes so natural at bay, while you grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ through the word and Spirit.

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

Hope and Change?

It occurred to me today that this is a great slogan for idolatrous people. I think what it really means is that there is hope, but it will require change and our guy can do it. Maybe "hope in change" would more accurately communicate the intent of the slogan. It would be just as useful for any other political party, if not for copyright laws, as they could say our hope is in different changes or maybe in not changing things!

The bottom line is that this is an idolatrous, creation worshipping notion, that suggests hope lies in people and their ideas/plans/policies, rather than in the person and work of Jesus Christ!

Excellent Biblical Counsel from Elyse Fitzpatrick!

I became acquainted with Elyse Fitzpatrick through my Biblical Counseling courses in Seminary. Although she primarily deals with women's issues, she has much to offer all believers through her Christ/Gospel centered counseling approach! Follow the link below to the source of the interview and click on the "audio" tab on the left side near the bottom - enjoy!

Elyse Fitzpatrick interview

Teaching is for Disciples!

Matt. 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 10:26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.”

Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Eph. 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

If someone desires no teaching, regardless of how much other "Christian" stuff they do, it is quite appropriate to assume they are lost. This is good to know as they can be treated/evangelised as if lost. Also, the ones teaching them need feel no guilt for their lack of response to teaching any more than a doctor should feel guilty when a dead patient does not respond to their medical treatment.


"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

True Church vs. Entertainment Church

It is an undeniable truth that young children will pick what is not good for them over what is good for them much of the time. Disney or dentist? Peas or pie? Spelling or swimming? It is not too hard to predict their choices if these were the options!

It is a good thing God has provided parents to help make sure children get what they need. It would be quite a bad thing if children could pick and/or change their parents at will, especially if there were other parents in the neighborhood who believed all that mattered was giving the children what they want. They may say they are acting in love and point to their large number of children as proof their way is best. However, any good parent would see the truth and know that this is not love at all and it will do the child great harm in the end.

Such is the current state of church in America. I don't believe new ways of doing things are necessarily bad. I think we need to be always open to how we might best achieve the purposes for which the church was instituted. It is at this level that I take issue with so many new and some old churches that have departed from the basic call for the church and replaced it with a goal of increasing numbers by doing whatever works.

I don't want to oversimplify the work of the church, but surely some of the commands in the great commission in Matt. 28:18-20 are worthy of our highest priority - "make disciples", "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you"! If teaching the word and calling folks to obey are the foundational/primary work of the church, then all attraction methods must be aimed at getting folks to the place where that mission will be accomplished.

Now, I would be glad to make the trip to the dentist as comfortable as possible, cook the peas with some seasoning and we can go swimming after school, but it does not take looking very deeply into the teachings of many numerically "successful" churches that say they are Bible teaching to see they are really just entertaining people with coffee, happening music and preaching psychology/health/wealth/stories without ever making the church a place to learn and apply the whole of the scriptures.

As a pastor who cares about the children of God - I hate this situation! We live in a day when to teach and apply the scriptures clearly to the life of the church is to be met, even by those who say they believe the Bible, with something like - "that can't be right, the big church down the street does....". Shame on them if they are growing by giving pie and withholding peas!

I can understand the temptation to want to feel successful and have a big church, but I pray this trend would come to a quick end and that God would call and provide strength to many men who would stay the course and do church as intended - even when most people will see it as an oddity! We must pray for each other!

To the church leader who uses entertainment to lead sheep away from the word - for the sake of having more sheep, I warn you to repent as you are doing exactly what Jesus warned about in Matt. 18:6-7. To the one who leads one of His children astray Jesus says - “it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea”

Christ exalting preaching!

I have watched this several times on other people's blogs. I hate to copy, but this is such a refreshing contrast to the man centered and Christ minimizing stuff that passes for preaching in so many places today. To God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen! (Rom 16:27 NKJV)

What do we get to contribute to our salvation?

Pay particular attention to verse 30 and what God has provided in Christ so that such foolish, weak, and base beings as us could be His!  

1 Cor. 1:26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. ²⁷ But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; ²⁸ and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, ²⁹ that no flesh should glory in His presence. ³⁰ But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— ³¹ that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.” (NKJV)

Rather than wanting to have a  part in our salvation - how about we just be satisfied with worshiping Christ for doing absolutely everything for us!


 "Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

Interesting Inconsistency

I watched a sermon from a church that sends invites by mail to my home regularly. They claim to be about reaching people with the Gospel, teaching them the Bible and sending them out to impact the world. I watched the forty minute sermon (see link below) on the movie Avatar and all the ways we need to be like the star in the movie. I heard the "preacher" say how their church will do whatever it takes to reach the lost including doing very loud music and strange sermon series (such as the one under discussion), because people were dying without Jesus and going to hell.

Agreed, but I wonder if anyone will really find out who Jesus is, let alone learn His word so as to be able to spread the truth about Him from listening to a sermon without the word, Jesus or His work as the focus. I fear that when he asked his listeners to invite Jesus into their hearts, they could not possibly have known what it means to repent and believe the gospel - unless they had been taught it elsewhere! If you want to be purely evangelistic, at least get that right by defining the Gospel and making its purpose/importance clear. If you want to make disciples (be a church), you need to actually teach the Bible. I fear what we have here and at so many "seeker" churches is really just the world gathering on Sunday morning to discuss and imitate the latest cultural trends while trying to be "good people" and earn their way to heaven.

http://www.benjikelley.com/

Heaven - Idolatry in Overdrive?

I am amazed  that many seem to look forward to everything in Heaven but Jesus. Someone shared some song lyrics with me the other day that made much of the sweet smelling flowers and the streets of gold in heaven, but Jesus was an after thought at best. This seems sadly appropriate when we have had decades of pray a prayer and we'll see ya there evangelism.  If Christ is portrayed as needy and just pleased as punch if we will only say yes to Him, then we could certainly draw the conclusion that we can live as we like here, and when we get there He will help us enjoy an even more self-gratifying life.

Here we may have a  gold watch, ring or tooth, but there we can walk on streets of gold! Here we may have a nice yard, there we will have much lovelier plants and flowers to enjoy. That may be good, but to love or desire anything more than Jesus Christ, whether here or in heaven is idolatry!   

I know what the response would likely be  "well loving Jesus is a given, we're just singing about all the good things He will provide", well maybe we think we believe that, but don't we think about, talk about and of course sing about the things we really do love the most.

What if Jesus is not the needy,  just glad to have you and see you in heaven savior many preach. Suppose He is not desperate for our acceptance of Him, but rather due our absolute worship with every breath of our being and has redeemed us so we can fulfill that very purpose!

Our condemnation is for not worshiping Him, being unthankful and worshiping the created things-

Rom. 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23  and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. (NKJV)

He should have preeminence in everything, especially in the church and I assume this includes music - 

Col. 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.(NKJV) 

Even in Heaven it seems that the street of gold and almost unimaginable beauty of everything, including the foliage/flowers are underwhelming when compared to the glory of God in Jesus Christ!

Rev. 21:22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (NKJV)

If we don't want Him most now and desire Him above all we look forward to in Heaven later - are we truly of those for whom heaven is made?

 "Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."