Below is a short video series of Paul Washer, founder of Heart Cry Missionary Society, teaching a group of men entering into the ministry about the deity of Christ. A very good study. Enjoy.
Being once dead in sin, now raised by God's mere mercy, to newness of life.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Good Friday
It is truly amazing what Jesus went through for us. That He would leave His throne and humble Himself and come down here to earth, live a perfect life in our place, something we could never do, fulfilling the law of God and then take upon Himself, willingly the incredible torture of wicked humanity and then the very wrath of God the Father upon the cross. All meant for us yet all placed upon Jesus. How can anyone say no to so great a salvation.
For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2Corinthians 5:21
"He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. Isaiah 53:3-7
I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. Isaiah 50:6
All this was predicted about Christ hundreds of years before it even happened.
Below I've included a few videos of the beatings He took for us as well as being nailed to the cross. These video's are from the Passion of the Christ so they are very graphic. And as horrible as these videos portray Christ's beatings, Scripture tells us, (predicted), that He was beaten beyond recognition.
As many were astonished at you — his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind. Isaiah 52:14
WARNING: These scenes are from the movie "Passion of the Christ" and are very graphic. Please use discernment with young children.
Even as He's being nailed to the cross, Jesus cries out for the Father to forgive them. How much more should we forgive those who persecute us.
Isn't it awesome to know that in the end the enemy has been defeated. Jesus our Lord, has the last laugh. Tomorrow's post will be much more glorious. For HE IS RISEN!!
God bless
Rob
For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2Corinthians 5:21
"He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. Isaiah 53:3-7
I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. Isaiah 50:6
All this was predicted about Christ hundreds of years before it even happened.
Below I've included a few videos of the beatings He took for us as well as being nailed to the cross. These video's are from the Passion of the Christ so they are very graphic. And as horrible as these videos portray Christ's beatings, Scripture tells us, (predicted), that He was beaten beyond recognition.
As many were astonished at you — his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind. Isaiah 52:14
WARNING: These scenes are from the movie "Passion of the Christ" and are very graphic. Please use discernment with young children.
Even as He's being nailed to the cross, Jesus cries out for the Father to forgive them. How much more should we forgive those who persecute us.
Isn't it awesome to know that in the end the enemy has been defeated. Jesus our Lord, has the last laugh. Tomorrow's post will be much more glorious. For HE IS RISEN!!
God bless
Rob
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Does Every Religion Lead To Heaven?
I was working out at the gym the other day when I struck up a conversation with one of the trainers who works there. He claimed he was a Christian and I thought how neat it would be to have fellowship with a fellow brother in Christ at the gym.
However, as we talked it became clear to me that he has actually bought into the prevailing lie taught in the many liberal churches in America today. He stated that he believes in Jesus but that he doesn't push his "religion" on anyone. If they are Jews, or Buddhists, or Hindu's or even Jehovah's Witnesses, everyone eventually finds their own way.
As these words were coming out of his mouth, I felt my heart begin to sink as I realized we did not worship the same Jesus. The Jesus I admire and love is the Jesus of the Bible. The Jesus he professes to love is one of his imagination. As he continued talking my mind was screaming, "Don't you know what Jesus said?? That He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that no one comes to the Father but by Him??" "How can you call yourself a Christian and believe there are multiple ways to God?" "Don't you know that Scripture says, there is only one name under Heaven, given among men by which we must be saved?"
I know what you're thinking, didn't you say any of this to him? My answer is no; because he was talking about 100 words per second and was running to meet his next appt. So we shook hands and went our separate ways.
Then yesterday morning, I'm at the gym again and working out when one of the guys starts talking to me. I don't remember how it started but he mentioned something about God so I asked him what church he goes too. He goes to the Catholic church here in town. He then proceeded to tell me how he wished all Christians would just unite and not be so narrow minded and hung up on their doctrine.
After further dialog his main premise was that he just wanted everybody to get together, hold hands and sing kum ba ya. But at what cost? As I left the gym that day I couldn't help thinking about these two guys who think they are Christians but their faith is in the wrong place.
Satan has so effectively blinded the eyes and minds of people by counterfeiting God's truth with multiple false religions and cults that the undiscerning mind is unable to determine what is right and what is wrong.
In his book "The Kingdom of the Cults," Walter Martin states, "As the American Christian church enters the end of this century, ecumenicism has become a deadly cancer, destroying what use to be healthy Christian churches and replacing them with mutant fellowships of "new spirituality" that embrace pantheism, polytheism, goddess worship, new ageism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and agnosticism. The only "faith" not acceptable in our liberal churches today is Biblical faith that dares to make exclusive claims about Jesus Christ, the Gospel, the Bible and salvation! The 1993 Parliament of World Religions, held in Chicago, exemplified this quasi-Christianity, "Christian" spokespeople from various liberal churches embraced the faiths of the world as simply alternate ways to experience God, and both liberal Christians and non-Christians united in their condemnation of what they termed narrow-minded, fundamentalist religious bigots. When Christianity denies the biblical faith it ceases to be Christianity at all."
These are the kind of things, I fear, that my new "friends" believe. But anyone who says 'all roads lead to God' needs to be very careful because that is not what the Bible teaches. Jesus did not say, 'I am one of many equally good ways' or 'I am a better way than the others.' Instead, His claim was absolute and allegiance to Him as the Lord and Savior of the world, was to take precedence over all the claims of men and religions. Jesus says in John 8:24b, "...for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." It just doesn't get much clearer than that.
Jesus never claimed to be a good way to Heaven. He said He is the only way. And if you think about it, it makes sense. Why would God send His only Son to this Earth to live a perfect life for us, something we can never do, and then have His Son take untold beatings and mocking at the hands of puny men and then have His Son allow Himself to be nailed to a cross while God pours out His wrath upon Him, if their are other ways to Heaven?? It just would make no sense.
I believe that is why judgement will be so severe for people who reject the Savior. God suffered on that cross mercilessly at the hands of sinners to pay our sin debt so that we might receive eternal life as a free gift. And then we're going to make up all these other religions, in essence, telling God, "I'll do it my way?"
We must remain focused on the God of the Bible and remember Jesus' words, "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."
There aren't many ways to Heaven, only one. Man in his pride wants to make his own way so in his pride he creates his own ways and tells God, 'my road is really the same as yours.' Nothing could be further from the truth. I know the world hates Christians with a growing hatred every year, but what I've written here are not my words but what God has told us in His word.
Repent of your sins today and turn to Jesus, He is the only way.
God bless
Rob
However, as we talked it became clear to me that he has actually bought into the prevailing lie taught in the many liberal churches in America today. He stated that he believes in Jesus but that he doesn't push his "religion" on anyone. If they are Jews, or Buddhists, or Hindu's or even Jehovah's Witnesses, everyone eventually finds their own way.
As these words were coming out of his mouth, I felt my heart begin to sink as I realized we did not worship the same Jesus. The Jesus I admire and love is the Jesus of the Bible. The Jesus he professes to love is one of his imagination. As he continued talking my mind was screaming, "Don't you know what Jesus said?? That He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that no one comes to the Father but by Him??" "How can you call yourself a Christian and believe there are multiple ways to God?" "Don't you know that Scripture says, there is only one name under Heaven, given among men by which we must be saved?"
I know what you're thinking, didn't you say any of this to him? My answer is no; because he was talking about 100 words per second and was running to meet his next appt. So we shook hands and went our separate ways.
Then yesterday morning, I'm at the gym again and working out when one of the guys starts talking to me. I don't remember how it started but he mentioned something about God so I asked him what church he goes too. He goes to the Catholic church here in town. He then proceeded to tell me how he wished all Christians would just unite and not be so narrow minded and hung up on their doctrine.
After further dialog his main premise was that he just wanted everybody to get together, hold hands and sing kum ba ya. But at what cost? As I left the gym that day I couldn't help thinking about these two guys who think they are Christians but their faith is in the wrong place.
Satan has so effectively blinded the eyes and minds of people by counterfeiting God's truth with multiple false religions and cults that the undiscerning mind is unable to determine what is right and what is wrong.
In his book "The Kingdom of the Cults," Walter Martin states, "As the American Christian church enters the end of this century, ecumenicism has become a deadly cancer, destroying what use to be healthy Christian churches and replacing them with mutant fellowships of "new spirituality" that embrace pantheism, polytheism, goddess worship, new ageism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and agnosticism. The only "faith" not acceptable in our liberal churches today is Biblical faith that dares to make exclusive claims about Jesus Christ, the Gospel, the Bible and salvation! The 1993 Parliament of World Religions, held in Chicago, exemplified this quasi-Christianity, "Christian" spokespeople from various liberal churches embraced the faiths of the world as simply alternate ways to experience God, and both liberal Christians and non-Christians united in their condemnation of what they termed narrow-minded, fundamentalist religious bigots. When Christianity denies the biblical faith it ceases to be Christianity at all."
These are the kind of things, I fear, that my new "friends" believe. But anyone who says 'all roads lead to God' needs to be very careful because that is not what the Bible teaches. Jesus did not say, 'I am one of many equally good ways' or 'I am a better way than the others.' Instead, His claim was absolute and allegiance to Him as the Lord and Savior of the world, was to take precedence over all the claims of men and religions. Jesus says in John 8:24b, "...for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." It just doesn't get much clearer than that.
Jesus never claimed to be a good way to Heaven. He said He is the only way. And if you think about it, it makes sense. Why would God send His only Son to this Earth to live a perfect life for us, something we can never do, and then have His Son take untold beatings and mocking at the hands of puny men and then have His Son allow Himself to be nailed to a cross while God pours out His wrath upon Him, if their are other ways to Heaven?? It just would make no sense.
I believe that is why judgement will be so severe for people who reject the Savior. God suffered on that cross mercilessly at the hands of sinners to pay our sin debt so that we might receive eternal life as a free gift. And then we're going to make up all these other religions, in essence, telling God, "I'll do it my way?"
We must remain focused on the God of the Bible and remember Jesus' words, "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."
There aren't many ways to Heaven, only one. Man in his pride wants to make his own way so in his pride he creates his own ways and tells God, 'my road is really the same as yours.' Nothing could be further from the truth. I know the world hates Christians with a growing hatred every year, but what I've written here are not my words but what God has told us in His word.
Repent of your sins today and turn to Jesus, He is the only way.
God bless
Rob
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
The Heresy of the Prosperity Gospel.
Without a doubt, one of the worst things on television is the many programs posing as "Christian". They preach a gospel that is no gospel at all. Instead it is a bunch of Godless people praying on the emotions of the poor and the sick who really think that if they send these charlitans their money they will get healed or that God will drop thousands of dollars in their laps.
This kind of teaching has brought more harm to the church and the name of Christ than any athiest who runs around shouting from the roof tops that there is no God. Why? Because it is so deceptive and plays on people's emotions. These health, wealth and prosperity teachers are the wolves in sheeps clothing Jesus mentioned in Matthew 7:15:
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves."
They spew forth lies and sprinkle it with some truth, but a glass of pure water with just one drop of poison will still kill you. But people tend to flock to these TV preachers because they are desperate. Perhaps they've just been told that they have cancer or that their house is about to be foreclosed on. They're flipping through the channels and land on a "christian" broadcasting channel and the hear some guy who looks and acts like a preacher and is supposed to be a "man of God" tell them to send money and he'll guarentee that God will bless their lives.
Of course the next month their house gets forclosed on anyway, their out the money they sent the preacher, and at the same time they helped to support his lavish lifestyle, and they now consider Christianity a joke.
Unfortunately, these poor deceived people think they are hearing the true Gospel when in reality they are receiving a counterfeit. And who is the one who tries to counterfeit everything God does? Satan! That's why true Christians must be very careful in decerning the one true Gospel, from all the counterfeit's out there. Remember Jesus' words;
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14
Heresy Is Nothing New
False teachings began creeping into the church almost immediately and we see a number of the New Testament writers addressing the problems of heresey in the churches even back then. For example take a look at Jude. He wanted so much to write to his brothers about the great salvation that we all share but because of the false teachings creeping into the church, he felt it necessary to turn and, urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints."
Just like today's televangelists who lead people astray and are in it only for the money, the same was true even back in the first century. Jude goes on to say, "Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error; they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion. These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm - shepherds who feed only themselves...", "These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage." Jude 11-12a, 16
Aren't these words true today of the health, wealth and prosperity crowd today? Everything they do is for profit and to be on TV, seen by men. They are shepherds who feed themselves with other people's money. And how do they get other people's money? By flattering them with words of how good they are and how great they can be if they will just look inside themselves. These people are told they can 'have their best life now.' This is a message straight from the depths of hell. We should never look for answers from within ourselves. We are totally depraved, wicked to the core and sinful. How is looking at that going to help us?
Peter also speaks of people who are in ministry for personal gain when he says, "With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they suduce the unstable; they are experts in greed - an accursed brood! They have left the straight way and have wondered off to followthe way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. 2 Peter 2:14-15
And isn't this what marks most of these TV preachers today? Insatiable greed? Without a doubt, it is the worst kind of materialism and it prostitutes the real intent of the true Gospel.
Peter continues by saying, These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boasful words and by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaved to depravity - for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 2 Peter 2:17-19
So as you can see, these greedy false teachers had already been infiltrating the church even back in the first century. But the New Testament writers were quick to deal with it and rebuke it, exposing it for what is was, a fraudulent gospel.
What about today though? Its actually much worse today, because once this false teaching had been accepted as being Christian, it deceives the masses who no longer study God's Word to hold these leaders accountable.
The Charlitans Of Today
Unfortunately, today's health, wealth and prosperity teachers are actually much worse than the fraud found on Wall Street a few years ago with Bernie Madoff. At least the money Bernie Madoff took was from people who had money in the first place. John MacArthur puts it this way, "I think it’s far worse than Bernie Madoff, what a perfect name, Bernie Made off with everybody’s money. But, you know, those people had a lot of money and they had enough money to give to Bernie. What’s worse about the other thing...I think there’s more money involved in the fraud on Christian television than even Madoff if you added it all up through the years. But what makes this so much worse is, Bernie Madoff played on the rich. These guys play on the poor and the sick and the destitute and the desperate."
One of the big problems today though is that all this errant teaching on the airwaves is never critiqued. And why do you suppose that is? Well, if you think about it, it all boils down to money and greed. If you're a TV station owner and you're broadcasting someone like Benny Hinn or Joel Osteen and they are brining in millions of dollars to your station, are you going to call them out on their unbiblical teachings. I don't think so. If you send them a disk that exposes the truth of Benny Hinn, do you think it will ever see the light of day at that station. No way!
But any true Christian who knows anything about Scripture, about the Bible, knows deep down in their heart that the Charasmatic movement is not Biblical. This health, wealth and prosperity stuff, espoused mostly by the Charasmatic movement is completely unbiblical. Instead of being based on solid doctrine and theology it is instead based on feelings and emotion which is so easy for Satan to manipulate and lead people astray.
Once evangelicalism opened itself up and embraced this stuff, doctrine was out the window. And where do we get doctrine? The Bible. In his book, Charasmatic Chaos, John MacArthur gives a perfect example of what is happening today as people in evangelicalism replace good solid Bible study with emotiional experiences:
A woman wrote to me seething with anger; this is what she said in her letter,
"You resort to Greek translations and fancy words to explain away what the Holy Spirit is doing in the Church today. Let me give you a piece of advice that might just save you from the wrath of the Almighty God. Put away your Bible and your books and stop studying. Ask the Holy Ghost to come upon you and give you the gift of tongues. You have no right to question something you've never experienced."
Would Scripture ever tell us to put away Scripture?? What does the Bible say?
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2)
One thing that non-Christians think is that if you become a Christian you must leave your brain at the door. But nothing could be further from the truth. The Bible teaches the exact opposite.
But people today are lazy, they want wealth, health and prosperity but they don't want to have to work for these things. Why study God's word? That takes work. Instead I'll just let some preacher tell me how to turn God on when I need some money and then I can turn Him off again after that. After all I'm a Christian and God is obligated to do my bidding. Notice how it puts man on the throne and makes the Lord subservient to man. completley unbiblical.
And what do people want? Money right? Good health, power, prestiege. That’s what the unregenerate person wants, that’s not what the gospel offers. The gospel is not intended to give the unregenerate what they want. What the unregenerate want is really irrelevant to the gospel. What the gospel promises to give you is what an unregenerate person doesn’t want, deliverance from sin, holiness, the promise of heaven, godly friends, a worshiping life. People don’t want that.
So what have they done? They’ve invented a gospel that gives people what they want and makes them rich at the same time. And what we have today is what the Apostle Paul warned Timothy that would happen in the last days:
For a time will come when men will not endure sound doctrine, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."
Sound like what's happening to the chuch today? If not, just turn on the Trinity Broadcasting Network and watch in stunned amazement as these heretics tell you how to become rich by sending them your money.
God help us.
Rob
This kind of teaching has brought more harm to the church and the name of Christ than any athiest who runs around shouting from the roof tops that there is no God. Why? Because it is so deceptive and plays on people's emotions. These health, wealth and prosperity teachers are the wolves in sheeps clothing Jesus mentioned in Matthew 7:15:
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves."
They spew forth lies and sprinkle it with some truth, but a glass of pure water with just one drop of poison will still kill you. But people tend to flock to these TV preachers because they are desperate. Perhaps they've just been told that they have cancer or that their house is about to be foreclosed on. They're flipping through the channels and land on a "christian" broadcasting channel and the hear some guy who looks and acts like a preacher and is supposed to be a "man of God" tell them to send money and he'll guarentee that God will bless their lives.
Of course the next month their house gets forclosed on anyway, their out the money they sent the preacher, and at the same time they helped to support his lavish lifestyle, and they now consider Christianity a joke.
Unfortunately, these poor deceived people think they are hearing the true Gospel when in reality they are receiving a counterfeit. And who is the one who tries to counterfeit everything God does? Satan! That's why true Christians must be very careful in decerning the one true Gospel, from all the counterfeit's out there. Remember Jesus' words;
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14
Heresy Is Nothing New
False teachings began creeping into the church almost immediately and we see a number of the New Testament writers addressing the problems of heresey in the churches even back then. For example take a look at Jude. He wanted so much to write to his brothers about the great salvation that we all share but because of the false teachings creeping into the church, he felt it necessary to turn and, urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints."
Just like today's televangelists who lead people astray and are in it only for the money, the same was true even back in the first century. Jude goes on to say, "Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error; they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion. These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm - shepherds who feed only themselves...", "These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage." Jude 11-12a, 16
Aren't these words true today of the health, wealth and prosperity crowd today? Everything they do is for profit and to be on TV, seen by men. They are shepherds who feed themselves with other people's money. And how do they get other people's money? By flattering them with words of how good they are and how great they can be if they will just look inside themselves. These people are told they can 'have their best life now.' This is a message straight from the depths of hell. We should never look for answers from within ourselves. We are totally depraved, wicked to the core and sinful. How is looking at that going to help us?
Peter also speaks of people who are in ministry for personal gain when he says, "With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they suduce the unstable; they are experts in greed - an accursed brood! They have left the straight way and have wondered off to followthe way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. 2 Peter 2:14-15
And isn't this what marks most of these TV preachers today? Insatiable greed? Without a doubt, it is the worst kind of materialism and it prostitutes the real intent of the true Gospel.
Peter continues by saying, These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boasful words and by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaved to depravity - for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 2 Peter 2:17-19
So as you can see, these greedy false teachers had already been infiltrating the church even back in the first century. But the New Testament writers were quick to deal with it and rebuke it, exposing it for what is was, a fraudulent gospel.
What about today though? Its actually much worse today, because once this false teaching had been accepted as being Christian, it deceives the masses who no longer study God's Word to hold these leaders accountable.
The Charlitans Of Today
Unfortunately, today's health, wealth and prosperity teachers are actually much worse than the fraud found on Wall Street a few years ago with Bernie Madoff. At least the money Bernie Madoff took was from people who had money in the first place. John MacArthur puts it this way, "I think it’s far worse than Bernie Madoff, what a perfect name, Bernie Made off with everybody’s money. But, you know, those people had a lot of money and they had enough money to give to Bernie. What’s worse about the other thing...I think there’s more money involved in the fraud on Christian television than even Madoff if you added it all up through the years. But what makes this so much worse is, Bernie Madoff played on the rich. These guys play on the poor and the sick and the destitute and the desperate."
One of the big problems today though is that all this errant teaching on the airwaves is never critiqued. And why do you suppose that is? Well, if you think about it, it all boils down to money and greed. If you're a TV station owner and you're broadcasting someone like Benny Hinn or Joel Osteen and they are brining in millions of dollars to your station, are you going to call them out on their unbiblical teachings. I don't think so. If you send them a disk that exposes the truth of Benny Hinn, do you think it will ever see the light of day at that station. No way!
But any true Christian who knows anything about Scripture, about the Bible, knows deep down in their heart that the Charasmatic movement is not Biblical. This health, wealth and prosperity stuff, espoused mostly by the Charasmatic movement is completely unbiblical. Instead of being based on solid doctrine and theology it is instead based on feelings and emotion which is so easy for Satan to manipulate and lead people astray.
Once evangelicalism opened itself up and embraced this stuff, doctrine was out the window. And where do we get doctrine? The Bible. In his book, Charasmatic Chaos, John MacArthur gives a perfect example of what is happening today as people in evangelicalism replace good solid Bible study with emotiional experiences:
A woman wrote to me seething with anger; this is what she said in her letter,
"You resort to Greek translations and fancy words to explain away what the Holy Spirit is doing in the Church today. Let me give you a piece of advice that might just save you from the wrath of the Almighty God. Put away your Bible and your books and stop studying. Ask the Holy Ghost to come upon you and give you the gift of tongues. You have no right to question something you've never experienced."
Would Scripture ever tell us to put away Scripture?? What does the Bible say?
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2)
One thing that non-Christians think is that if you become a Christian you must leave your brain at the door. But nothing could be further from the truth. The Bible teaches the exact opposite.
But people today are lazy, they want wealth, health and prosperity but they don't want to have to work for these things. Why study God's word? That takes work. Instead I'll just let some preacher tell me how to turn God on when I need some money and then I can turn Him off again after that. After all I'm a Christian and God is obligated to do my bidding. Notice how it puts man on the throne and makes the Lord subservient to man. completley unbiblical.
And what do people want? Money right? Good health, power, prestiege. That’s what the unregenerate person wants, that’s not what the gospel offers. The gospel is not intended to give the unregenerate what they want. What the unregenerate want is really irrelevant to the gospel. What the gospel promises to give you is what an unregenerate person doesn’t want, deliverance from sin, holiness, the promise of heaven, godly friends, a worshiping life. People don’t want that.
So what have they done? They’ve invented a gospel that gives people what they want and makes them rich at the same time. And what we have today is what the Apostle Paul warned Timothy that would happen in the last days:
For a time will come when men will not endure sound doctrine, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."
Sound like what's happening to the chuch today? If not, just turn on the Trinity Broadcasting Network and watch in stunned amazement as these heretics tell you how to become rich by sending them your money.
God help us.
Rob
Sunday, December 20, 2009
The Many Certanties of Christianity
TurningPoint Community Church
www.turningptchurch.com
Palm Coast, Florida
Bible Fellowship Group Lesson
12/20/2009
1 John 5:13-21
Notes Prepared by Robert Moritz
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death. We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
The Uncertainties of This World
There is no question that today we live in a world of uncertainty and doubt. Everyone struggles with doubt sooner or later. Look at our economy today, there are many of us here who are uncertain where are next paycheck is coming from. Or whether or not we’ll be able to pay our bills next month. Or where our next meal is coming from. There are others who have health issues or family members with health issues and we’re uncertain about their future. I’m sure most of us here have relatives who we know are unsaved and we’re uncertain of their eternal destiny. And I don’t care how long you’ve been a Christian, at one time or another you’ve wondered whether or not you’re truly saved.
One of the Great Truths of Christianity is its Many Certainties.
John begins this portion of his letter, in v.13, by telling us how we may enjoy the full assurance of our salvation. He says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”
Unfortunately, there many who believe on the name of Jesus who are not sure that they have eternal life; they only hope so. Occasionally they have assurance, but there’s no real joy abiding in them.
Yet here John is telling us that we may be certain that we are partakers of this new life so that we may surely reap the benefits of it and be filled with joy and peace through believing.
Here’s what Charles Spurgeon says about assurance: “Full assurance is not essential to salvation, but it is essential to satisfaction. May you get it at once; at any rate may you never be satisfied to live without it. You may have full assurance.”
He says here that full assurance of salvation is not necessary in order for one to be saved, however, its certainly essential if you expect to have any kind of joy during your Christian walk in this life.
So what is John talking about then when he says, “I write these things to you … that you may know you have eternal life.” He’s actually referring to the whole epistle. But if we just look at the beginning of this chapter he starts off by saying: "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God."
And what about you? Do you believe that Jesus is the anointed of God? Is he anointed as your prophet, priest, and king? Have you realized his anointing so as to put your trust in him? Do you receive Jesus as appointed of God to be the Mediator, the Propitiation for sin, the Savior of men? If so, you are born of God. So how can you be sure?? If you believe that Jesus is the Christ, you are born of God. John has here positively declared the truth, that you may know that you have eternal life. Can anything be more clear than this?
I have to confess here that I used to wonder whether or not Jesus actually loved me. There are many scary passages in Scripture where Jesus separates the goats on His left and says, “I never knew you.” Passages like that used to make me wonder, ‘what if I’m one of those goats?’ What if I’m not really saved? Some of you may struggle with this very issue too from time to time. Perhaps this will help you as it did me. I read these words by Spurgeon and it really helped me to see God’s love for me and my love for Him in a whole new light. Here’s what he said:
I knew a dear Christian woman who would sometimes say, "I know that I love Jesus; but my fear is that he does not love me." Her doubt used to make me smile, for it never could have occurred to me. If I love him, I know it is because he first loved me. Love to God in us is always the work of God's love towards us. Jesus loved us, and gave himself for us, and therefore we love him in return. Love to Jesus is an effect which proves the existence of its cause. Do you love Jesus? Do you feel a delight in him? Is his name as music to your ear, and honey to your mouth? Do you love to hear him extolled? Ah, dear friends! I know that to many of you a sermon full of his dear name is as a royal banquet; and if there is no Christ in a discourse, it is empty, and vain, and void to you. Is it not so? If you do indeed love him that begat and him that is begotten of him, then this is one of the things that is written "that you may know that you have eternal life."
Will God Give us Anything We Ask For? Even When We Want It?
Lets look at v. 14-15 – “And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.”
Now, I don’t know about you, but my “prayer – to – answer” ratio is not very high. I’ve prayed for many things in my life but it seems they usually go unanswered. Yes, I’ve had prayers answered and God has blessed me enormously, but why doesn’t He answer all my prayers; the way I want; and when I want? Isn’t that what this passage is alluding too? According to John, this is supposed to be the confidence we have in Him. Answered prayer.
So if that’s the case then why do so many of our prayers seem to go unanswered? Well, for one, there are certain qualifications that must be met in order for God to answer our prayers. Now of course, God is sovereign and can certainly do anything He wants. But there are usually certain stipulations that need to be met before God is going to grant our requests.
First, lets take a closer look at v. 14. Did you notice that little qualification clause in there? ‘If you ask anything, according to His will…’
This aligns perfectly with what Jesus said in the ‘Lord’s Prayer’, “Thy will be done.” Our problem is that our prayers are not answered because we ask amiss, we ask with wrong motives. We desire our will to be done. We want God to bow down to us. Our desire is to make us sovereign and God the servant – our cosmic santa clause.
James says it best, “You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” And I like the way the KJV says it – “that you may consume it upon your lusts.”
We have to realize that God’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than ours. Although it is our privilege to approach the throne of God boldly, we still must do it with a humble heart and deep respect. Remember who you’re dealing with – this is the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Creator of the universe.
We also need to remember that just because we don’t get an answer right away does not necessarily mean that God has denied our request. He may be waiting for the opportune time by His standards or perhaps there was a demonic delay in our answer being received as in the case of Daniel. Remember the story when Daniel had seen a dream and prayed to the Lord for its meaning. He prayed, mourned and fasted for 3 weeks before he got his answer. Why did it take 3 weeks? Because the angel Gabriel who God dispatched with His answer to Daniel, was held up by the king of Persia. This is a reference to satanic powers that came against Gabriel. (Originally I was going to have us go there and take a close look at that story but because of time there’s just no way were going to be able to do that.)
So we need to keep in mind when we pray that God will answer our prayers when our will is aligned with His will. Is there any unrepentant sin in your life? If there is, don’t expect any immediate answer to prayer until you’ve straightened out that situation. Your will needs to line up with God’s and then you can have the confidence that John is talking about here in this passage.
Sin that Leads To Death & Sin Not Leading To Death
v.16-17 – Now these two verses are by far some of the toughest in Scripture and without a doubt there is no one solid answer. There is a myriad of possibilities and no two commentators agree.
I cannot certainly, in the short time we have here today, go through each of the possible meanings of what the sin is that leads to death in any great detail or we would be here for months just on this topic. So what I’ll do here is just list the main views as I’ve seen them from the commentators that I’ve read and you can decide for yourselves what John meant here.
Among the opinions are the following:
1) Some say it is the unpardonable sin against the Holy Spirit that Jesus mentions in Mark 3:22:30.
2) Some say it denotes some sin that was punishable by death in the laws of Moses.
3) Some say John is referring to “big” sins such as murder, idolatry, adultery etc.
4) Some say it refers to sin that subjected the offender to excommunication from the church or synagogue.
5) Some say it refers to sin that brought a fatal disease upon the sinner.
6) Some say it refers to crimes committed against society for which the offender was sentenced to death.
7) Some say it refers to sins committed before and after baptism. The former would be pardoned but the latter may not.
8) Some say, mostly among Roman Catholics, that it refers to sins that might or might not be pardoned after death – meaning the doctrine of purgatory.
As you can see, for us to go into an examination of all these opinions would require a volume by itself, and we could spend weeks studying just this passage and all its possible meanings.
Victory Over Sin and Satan
Another Christian certainty is the victory we have over sin and Satan in Christ. In v.18-19 - John’s emphasis falls on the conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan and how we are protected from the evil one by God.
Now as I mentioned before when talking about how the answer to Daniels prayer was delayed by the king of Persia who is non other than some high level demon, Satan’s kingdom can and often does have a direct influence on our lives here in this world and to think otherwise would be foolish.
We must not take the spirit world lightly and I fear the often times many people do – much to Satan’s delight. He would much rather have us be ignorant of his workings in our lives than if we were actively opposing him.
We need to be very aware that Satan is much more powerful than we are, both physically and spiritually. He is also much smarter than we are and is much more organized. The Bible tells us that Satan is the ruler of this world and his is the kingdom of darkness. The Bible also tells us the he is the ruler of this world, the prince of the power of the air. Eph 2:2-3
So does that mean we need to be in constant fear of the evil one? The answer is really, yes and no. We need to fear him in the sense that we should have a healthy respect for him as he once was an angel of light but has become a master deceiver and a lire. And if God allows him to, he can inflict serious damage on our lives, physically, mentally and spiritually.
However, that does not mean there is a demon under every rock or behind every tree. There is actually one good thing about Satan – he is a defeated foe. Jesus Christ defeated Satan and his minions at the cross when he died and rose again from the dead. And John tells us here that those of us who have been born of God are protected from the evil one.
John MacArthur says, “Because the believer belongs to God, Satan must operate within God’s sovereignty and cannot function beyond what God allows as in the example of Job. While Satan may persecute, tempt, test and accuse the believer, God protects His children and places definite limits on Satan’s influence or power.”
If you’re a true born again believer today you don’t have to worry. Just keep yourself bathed in prayer and washed in the blood of the Lamb and Satan will have no hold on you.
Another certainty of being a Christian is that Christians belong to God. We have been purchased out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light by the precious blood of Jesus. According to John there are only two types of people in the world: the children of God and the children of Satan.
In v.20 John tells us that we can be certain of knowing God because the Son has come and given us understanding. And with that understanding we know the Father who is true. I love that statement at the end of this verse, “He is the true God and eternal life.”
John MacArthur says, “This verse constitutes the summation of John’s whole letter. The greatest certainty of all, the incarnation, guarantees the certainty of the rest. This is the doctrinal foundation out of which comes love and obedience.
v. 21 – Keep yourselves from idols.
John ends here with a final shot at false teachers and their hearsay. He is obviously referring to those who had originally come in but were never really saved. These were people who were under the sway of the god of this world and began teaching errant doctrine so as to deceive as many as possible and thereby divide the church.
Their false beliefs and practices are the idols from which the readers are commanded to protect themselves. These false teachers taught the philosophy of the world as being superior to God’s revelation. So here, John once again highlights the importance of adhering to the fundamentals of the faith.
Now I’d like to close by going back and revisiting verses 11-13 to reinforce the fact that whoever has the Son has life.
Having All That Jesus Came to Do
If we start by looking back at verses 11 & 12 we notice John telling us that, "He who HAS the Son has life." And now we can say that having the Son means if you have the Son, then you have eternal life. If you want to spend one of the most encouraging hours of your life, take an hour and make a list under the heading: What did Jesus come to do? What does he promise to do? It will be a very long list. And then just go down the list and beside every one write: He does his thing for ME! What He can do he does for me. What He promises to do He will do for me. That is what it means to HAVE the Son.
Having Eternal Life
John then sums it all up in the word LIFE. He who has the Son has life! Eternal life is not just the extension of all the frustrations and half-joys of this life. When Jesus finishes doing his thing, every frustration will be gone and every half-joy will be full. As he said in John 10:10, "I came that they might have life and have it abundantly."
If you HAVE the Son, it means that anything that infinite love and infinite power and infinite wisdom can do for your good, will in fact be done for you.
Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus who died, yes, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. In Romans 8 the Bible says, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors."
He who has the Son has One who can take all tribulation and distress and persecution and peril and turn it so that out of it comes not just a wounded soldier—no we are not just conquerors. Those who have the Son are "more than conquerors." Which means that the Son of God takes the tribulations of your life and actually turns them for your good. You don't just escape from your enemy. He serves you.
So if you want to be more than a survivor and, indeed, more than a conqueror in the battles of life, then you must HAVE the Son. For he who has the Son has life—all the life that an omnipotent God can give.
We Have the Son by Believing in His Name
But we still haven't answered the question, "How do we come to have the Son?" This is very important because the last part of verse 12 says that "he who has not the Son of God has not life." In other words not every one has the Son and so not every one has eternal life. It is infinitely important to know how to have the Son.
The answer is not complicated or hard to find. It is implied clearly in verse 13: "I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life." Notice that verse 13 says that those who believe in the name of the Son of God have eternal life and that verse 12 says, "He who has the Son has life." The simple implication is that the way to HAVE the Son is to BELIEVE the Son.
Or another way to put it is that the Son of God does his thing for those who trust Him. You can have the Son of God if you trust the Son of God.
Passage to India
In the film, Passage to India, there was a young Indian doctor who had been arrested for allegedly assaulting a young English woman in India. The case became an explosive point of tension between the Indian people who longed for independence and the colonial English government. The whole colonialist power structure seemed to make the doctor's case hopeless even though everybody knew his integrity was above question. He was too poor to afford a lawyer.
But the most famous and able lawyer in all India got word of the case. He had a reputation of liking to take on the British and standing up for the Indian underdogs. Without a doubt, one of the most powerful scenes in the film was when two of the doctor's friends bring him word in the jail that the famous lawyer is willing to defend him—and then, as if it were too good to be true, they say, "And he's not even going to charge a fee!"
Now the doctor has a lawyer. He HAS a lawyer. The lawyer is going to do his thing for the doctor. All his reputation, all his eloquence, all his skill are now going to be used to save the doctor.
How did the doctor come to HAVE this great lawyer? He never had met him before. He had no money to pay him. He was far away from him in a different city. And yet now he could say to all his enemies, "I HAVE a lawyer!" How did he come to have the best lawyer in India?
It starts with the motivation of the lawyer. He has two goals: the liberation of India from the British, and the glorification of his own legal skills. When the camera picks him up in a tumultuous courtroom scene, he is sitting at his table utterly calm, as though in sovereign control of the situation. And to show that what he really loves is the liberation of India and the display of his skills for the helpless patriot, his services are not for sale. He will not be paid. That would call into question what he really loves.
And so how does the doctor come to have this lawyer? The lawyer makes a free offer, and the doctor hears the offer and accepts it. He trusts that the lawyer means it, and he believes he can do it. He HAS the lawyer because he TRUSTS the lawyer.
And so it is with the Son of God. He has two goals: the liberation of his people from sin and death, and the glorification of his own powers. That is the origin of salvation. That is the source of eternal life. And to show that what he loves is the liberation of his people and the magnification of his power, his services are not for sale. He will not be paid. In fact, He cannot be paid.
So how do you come to HAVE the Son of God? He makes you a free offer, and you accept His offer, you trust him. He does his thing for those who trust in him. He who has the Son has life.
God bless and have a very Merry Christmas
Rob
www.turningptchurch.com
Palm Coast, Florida
Bible Fellowship Group Lesson
12/20/2009
1 John 5:13-21
Notes Prepared by Robert Moritz
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death. We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
The Uncertainties of This World
There is no question that today we live in a world of uncertainty and doubt. Everyone struggles with doubt sooner or later. Look at our economy today, there are many of us here who are uncertain where are next paycheck is coming from. Or whether or not we’ll be able to pay our bills next month. Or where our next meal is coming from. There are others who have health issues or family members with health issues and we’re uncertain about their future. I’m sure most of us here have relatives who we know are unsaved and we’re uncertain of their eternal destiny. And I don’t care how long you’ve been a Christian, at one time or another you’ve wondered whether or not you’re truly saved.
One of the Great Truths of Christianity is its Many Certainties.
John begins this portion of his letter, in v.13, by telling us how we may enjoy the full assurance of our salvation. He says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”
Unfortunately, there many who believe on the name of Jesus who are not sure that they have eternal life; they only hope so. Occasionally they have assurance, but there’s no real joy abiding in them.
Yet here John is telling us that we may be certain that we are partakers of this new life so that we may surely reap the benefits of it and be filled with joy and peace through believing.
Here’s what Charles Spurgeon says about assurance: “Full assurance is not essential to salvation, but it is essential to satisfaction. May you get it at once; at any rate may you never be satisfied to live without it. You may have full assurance.”
He says here that full assurance of salvation is not necessary in order for one to be saved, however, its certainly essential if you expect to have any kind of joy during your Christian walk in this life.
So what is John talking about then when he says, “I write these things to you … that you may know you have eternal life.” He’s actually referring to the whole epistle. But if we just look at the beginning of this chapter he starts off by saying: "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God."
And what about you? Do you believe that Jesus is the anointed of God? Is he anointed as your prophet, priest, and king? Have you realized his anointing so as to put your trust in him? Do you receive Jesus as appointed of God to be the Mediator, the Propitiation for sin, the Savior of men? If so, you are born of God. So how can you be sure?? If you believe that Jesus is the Christ, you are born of God. John has here positively declared the truth, that you may know that you have eternal life. Can anything be more clear than this?
I have to confess here that I used to wonder whether or not Jesus actually loved me. There are many scary passages in Scripture where Jesus separates the goats on His left and says, “I never knew you.” Passages like that used to make me wonder, ‘what if I’m one of those goats?’ What if I’m not really saved? Some of you may struggle with this very issue too from time to time. Perhaps this will help you as it did me. I read these words by Spurgeon and it really helped me to see God’s love for me and my love for Him in a whole new light. Here’s what he said:
I knew a dear Christian woman who would sometimes say, "I know that I love Jesus; but my fear is that he does not love me." Her doubt used to make me smile, for it never could have occurred to me. If I love him, I know it is because he first loved me. Love to God in us is always the work of God's love towards us. Jesus loved us, and gave himself for us, and therefore we love him in return. Love to Jesus is an effect which proves the existence of its cause. Do you love Jesus? Do you feel a delight in him? Is his name as music to your ear, and honey to your mouth? Do you love to hear him extolled? Ah, dear friends! I know that to many of you a sermon full of his dear name is as a royal banquet; and if there is no Christ in a discourse, it is empty, and vain, and void to you. Is it not so? If you do indeed love him that begat and him that is begotten of him, then this is one of the things that is written "that you may know that you have eternal life."
Will God Give us Anything We Ask For? Even When We Want It?
Lets look at v. 14-15 – “And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.”
Now, I don’t know about you, but my “prayer – to – answer” ratio is not very high. I’ve prayed for many things in my life but it seems they usually go unanswered. Yes, I’ve had prayers answered and God has blessed me enormously, but why doesn’t He answer all my prayers; the way I want; and when I want? Isn’t that what this passage is alluding too? According to John, this is supposed to be the confidence we have in Him. Answered prayer.
So if that’s the case then why do so many of our prayers seem to go unanswered? Well, for one, there are certain qualifications that must be met in order for God to answer our prayers. Now of course, God is sovereign and can certainly do anything He wants. But there are usually certain stipulations that need to be met before God is going to grant our requests.
First, lets take a closer look at v. 14. Did you notice that little qualification clause in there? ‘If you ask anything, according to His will…’
This aligns perfectly with what Jesus said in the ‘Lord’s Prayer’, “Thy will be done.” Our problem is that our prayers are not answered because we ask amiss, we ask with wrong motives. We desire our will to be done. We want God to bow down to us. Our desire is to make us sovereign and God the servant – our cosmic santa clause.
James says it best, “You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” And I like the way the KJV says it – “that you may consume it upon your lusts.”
We have to realize that God’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than ours. Although it is our privilege to approach the throne of God boldly, we still must do it with a humble heart and deep respect. Remember who you’re dealing with – this is the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Creator of the universe.
We also need to remember that just because we don’t get an answer right away does not necessarily mean that God has denied our request. He may be waiting for the opportune time by His standards or perhaps there was a demonic delay in our answer being received as in the case of Daniel. Remember the story when Daniel had seen a dream and prayed to the Lord for its meaning. He prayed, mourned and fasted for 3 weeks before he got his answer. Why did it take 3 weeks? Because the angel Gabriel who God dispatched with His answer to Daniel, was held up by the king of Persia. This is a reference to satanic powers that came against Gabriel. (Originally I was going to have us go there and take a close look at that story but because of time there’s just no way were going to be able to do that.)
So we need to keep in mind when we pray that God will answer our prayers when our will is aligned with His will. Is there any unrepentant sin in your life? If there is, don’t expect any immediate answer to prayer until you’ve straightened out that situation. Your will needs to line up with God’s and then you can have the confidence that John is talking about here in this passage.
Sin that Leads To Death & Sin Not Leading To Death
v.16-17 – Now these two verses are by far some of the toughest in Scripture and without a doubt there is no one solid answer. There is a myriad of possibilities and no two commentators agree.
I cannot certainly, in the short time we have here today, go through each of the possible meanings of what the sin is that leads to death in any great detail or we would be here for months just on this topic. So what I’ll do here is just list the main views as I’ve seen them from the commentators that I’ve read and you can decide for yourselves what John meant here.
Among the opinions are the following:
1) Some say it is the unpardonable sin against the Holy Spirit that Jesus mentions in Mark 3:22:30.
2) Some say it denotes some sin that was punishable by death in the laws of Moses.
3) Some say John is referring to “big” sins such as murder, idolatry, adultery etc.
4) Some say it refers to sin that subjected the offender to excommunication from the church or synagogue.
5) Some say it refers to sin that brought a fatal disease upon the sinner.
6) Some say it refers to crimes committed against society for which the offender was sentenced to death.
7) Some say it refers to sins committed before and after baptism. The former would be pardoned but the latter may not.
8) Some say, mostly among Roman Catholics, that it refers to sins that might or might not be pardoned after death – meaning the doctrine of purgatory.
As you can see, for us to go into an examination of all these opinions would require a volume by itself, and we could spend weeks studying just this passage and all its possible meanings.
Victory Over Sin and Satan
Another Christian certainty is the victory we have over sin and Satan in Christ. In v.18-19 - John’s emphasis falls on the conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan and how we are protected from the evil one by God.
Now as I mentioned before when talking about how the answer to Daniels prayer was delayed by the king of Persia who is non other than some high level demon, Satan’s kingdom can and often does have a direct influence on our lives here in this world and to think otherwise would be foolish.
We must not take the spirit world lightly and I fear the often times many people do – much to Satan’s delight. He would much rather have us be ignorant of his workings in our lives than if we were actively opposing him.
We need to be very aware that Satan is much more powerful than we are, both physically and spiritually. He is also much smarter than we are and is much more organized. The Bible tells us that Satan is the ruler of this world and his is the kingdom of darkness. The Bible also tells us the he is the ruler of this world, the prince of the power of the air. Eph 2:2-3
So does that mean we need to be in constant fear of the evil one? The answer is really, yes and no. We need to fear him in the sense that we should have a healthy respect for him as he once was an angel of light but has become a master deceiver and a lire. And if God allows him to, he can inflict serious damage on our lives, physically, mentally and spiritually.
However, that does not mean there is a demon under every rock or behind every tree. There is actually one good thing about Satan – he is a defeated foe. Jesus Christ defeated Satan and his minions at the cross when he died and rose again from the dead. And John tells us here that those of us who have been born of God are protected from the evil one.
John MacArthur says, “Because the believer belongs to God, Satan must operate within God’s sovereignty and cannot function beyond what God allows as in the example of Job. While Satan may persecute, tempt, test and accuse the believer, God protects His children and places definite limits on Satan’s influence or power.”
If you’re a true born again believer today you don’t have to worry. Just keep yourself bathed in prayer and washed in the blood of the Lamb and Satan will have no hold on you.
Another certainty of being a Christian is that Christians belong to God. We have been purchased out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light by the precious blood of Jesus. According to John there are only two types of people in the world: the children of God and the children of Satan.
In v.20 John tells us that we can be certain of knowing God because the Son has come and given us understanding. And with that understanding we know the Father who is true. I love that statement at the end of this verse, “He is the true God and eternal life.”
John MacArthur says, “This verse constitutes the summation of John’s whole letter. The greatest certainty of all, the incarnation, guarantees the certainty of the rest. This is the doctrinal foundation out of which comes love and obedience.
v. 21 – Keep yourselves from idols.
John ends here with a final shot at false teachers and their hearsay. He is obviously referring to those who had originally come in but were never really saved. These were people who were under the sway of the god of this world and began teaching errant doctrine so as to deceive as many as possible and thereby divide the church.
Their false beliefs and practices are the idols from which the readers are commanded to protect themselves. These false teachers taught the philosophy of the world as being superior to God’s revelation. So here, John once again highlights the importance of adhering to the fundamentals of the faith.
Now I’d like to close by going back and revisiting verses 11-13 to reinforce the fact that whoever has the Son has life.
Having All That Jesus Came to Do
If we start by looking back at verses 11 & 12 we notice John telling us that, "He who HAS the Son has life." And now we can say that having the Son means if you have the Son, then you have eternal life. If you want to spend one of the most encouraging hours of your life, take an hour and make a list under the heading: What did Jesus come to do? What does he promise to do? It will be a very long list. And then just go down the list and beside every one write: He does his thing for ME! What He can do he does for me. What He promises to do He will do for me. That is what it means to HAVE the Son.
Having Eternal Life
John then sums it all up in the word LIFE. He who has the Son has life! Eternal life is not just the extension of all the frustrations and half-joys of this life. When Jesus finishes doing his thing, every frustration will be gone and every half-joy will be full. As he said in John 10:10, "I came that they might have life and have it abundantly."
If you HAVE the Son, it means that anything that infinite love and infinite power and infinite wisdom can do for your good, will in fact be done for you.
Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus who died, yes, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. In Romans 8 the Bible says, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors."
He who has the Son has One who can take all tribulation and distress and persecution and peril and turn it so that out of it comes not just a wounded soldier—no we are not just conquerors. Those who have the Son are "more than conquerors." Which means that the Son of God takes the tribulations of your life and actually turns them for your good. You don't just escape from your enemy. He serves you.
So if you want to be more than a survivor and, indeed, more than a conqueror in the battles of life, then you must HAVE the Son. For he who has the Son has life—all the life that an omnipotent God can give.
We Have the Son by Believing in His Name
But we still haven't answered the question, "How do we come to have the Son?" This is very important because the last part of verse 12 says that "he who has not the Son of God has not life." In other words not every one has the Son and so not every one has eternal life. It is infinitely important to know how to have the Son.
The answer is not complicated or hard to find. It is implied clearly in verse 13: "I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life." Notice that verse 13 says that those who believe in the name of the Son of God have eternal life and that verse 12 says, "He who has the Son has life." The simple implication is that the way to HAVE the Son is to BELIEVE the Son.
Or another way to put it is that the Son of God does his thing for those who trust Him. You can have the Son of God if you trust the Son of God.
Passage to India
In the film, Passage to India, there was a young Indian doctor who had been arrested for allegedly assaulting a young English woman in India. The case became an explosive point of tension between the Indian people who longed for independence and the colonial English government. The whole colonialist power structure seemed to make the doctor's case hopeless even though everybody knew his integrity was above question. He was too poor to afford a lawyer.
But the most famous and able lawyer in all India got word of the case. He had a reputation of liking to take on the British and standing up for the Indian underdogs. Without a doubt, one of the most powerful scenes in the film was when two of the doctor's friends bring him word in the jail that the famous lawyer is willing to defend him—and then, as if it were too good to be true, they say, "And he's not even going to charge a fee!"
Now the doctor has a lawyer. He HAS a lawyer. The lawyer is going to do his thing for the doctor. All his reputation, all his eloquence, all his skill are now going to be used to save the doctor.
How did the doctor come to HAVE this great lawyer? He never had met him before. He had no money to pay him. He was far away from him in a different city. And yet now he could say to all his enemies, "I HAVE a lawyer!" How did he come to have the best lawyer in India?
It starts with the motivation of the lawyer. He has two goals: the liberation of India from the British, and the glorification of his own legal skills. When the camera picks him up in a tumultuous courtroom scene, he is sitting at his table utterly calm, as though in sovereign control of the situation. And to show that what he really loves is the liberation of India and the display of his skills for the helpless patriot, his services are not for sale. He will not be paid. That would call into question what he really loves.
And so how does the doctor come to have this lawyer? The lawyer makes a free offer, and the doctor hears the offer and accepts it. He trusts that the lawyer means it, and he believes he can do it. He HAS the lawyer because he TRUSTS the lawyer.
And so it is with the Son of God. He has two goals: the liberation of his people from sin and death, and the glorification of his own powers. That is the origin of salvation. That is the source of eternal life. And to show that what he loves is the liberation of his people and the magnification of his power, his services are not for sale. He will not be paid. In fact, He cannot be paid.
So how do you come to HAVE the Son of God? He makes you a free offer, and you accept His offer, you trust him. He does his thing for those who trust in him. He who has the Son has life.
God bless and have a very Merry Christmas
Rob
Saturday, November 14, 2009
GLAD - Be Ye Glad
Another great song by Glad! I just love their harmonies. Hope this is a blessing to your heart.
"Be ye glad, be ye glad, every debt that you ever had, has been paid up in full by the grace of the Lord, be ye glad, be ye glad, be ye glad."
"Be ye glad, be ye glad, every debt that you ever had, has been paid up in full by the grace of the Lord, be ye glad, be ye glad, be ye glad."
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
HAPPY VETERANS DAY
HAPPY VETERANS DAY
To all the men and women who have so faithfully served in our armed forces: ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINES and COAST GUARD, my wife, DeAnne and I would just like to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! from the bottom of our hearts on this Veteran's Day, 2009!
We certainly appreciate the great sacrifices you've made to keep our country free from oppression and tyranny. And believe me when I say how grateful we are for what you've done. We certainly realize that because of your great love for and dedication to America we can sleep a lot easier at night.
We also want to recognize all those brave men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice, their lives, in defense of freedom and liberty. We pray for each family member that God wold bless you and give you His peace as you deal with the loss of your hero. And to all the military family members we give you a heartfelt THANK YOU.
On this Veteran's Day please accept and enjoy this tribute of videos as a small token of our appreciation.
God bless you and may God bless America!
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