Sunday, June 22, 2008
Loving God More Than Life
The greatest command is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. This command was given in Deuteronomy and is repeated in the New Testament. As Christians, loving God is the primary command that we are given in Scripture. It encompasses all other commands, for it sums up the ten commandments. All the commands that Christ gives in the New Testament can be summed up with the words: "Love God."
Saturday, June 21, 2008
False Prophets: Do They Still Exist in 2008?
Throughout the old testament, many false prophets abounded. False prophets would often come with flattering words that pleased the ears of those who heard it. They would not speak words from God. How could the Israelites discern if a prophet was false or genuinely sent from God? There were two tests to help one distinguish a false prophet: If the prophet's message contradicted previous revelation, it was false. Also, if the prophet's character was ungodly, he was a false prophet.
So, the question is: Do false prophets, or rather teachers, still exist today, thousands of years later? The answer to that question is a resounding yes! Not only do false teachers still exist, they are plentiful in today's Christian society. There are hordes of men teaching a false gospel and many other lies. They are deceving millions of naive listeners and leading them astray. They are even leading churches and huge "revivals." Yes, indeed, false teachers are attacking the church of God more mightily today than ever before in history.
However, it should not surprise us that false teachers are multiplying rapidly. The Bible prophesies that in the last days, false teachers will abound. The apostle Paul urged Timothy to exhort men to stop preaching false doctrine. Paul later says in his letter to Timothy: "The spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron..." Paul then lists the content of their false teaching, which is their command to abstain from certain foods.
I will finish this article soon!
So, the question is: Do false prophets, or rather teachers, still exist today, thousands of years later? The answer to that question is a resounding yes! Not only do false teachers still exist, they are plentiful in today's Christian society. There are hordes of men teaching a false gospel and many other lies. They are deceving millions of naive listeners and leading them astray. They are even leading churches and huge "revivals." Yes, indeed, false teachers are attacking the church of God more mightily today than ever before in history.
However, it should not surprise us that false teachers are multiplying rapidly. The Bible prophesies that in the last days, false teachers will abound. The apostle Paul urged Timothy to exhort men to stop preaching false doctrine. Paul later says in his letter to Timothy: "The spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron..." Paul then lists the content of their false teaching, which is their command to abstain from certain foods.
I will finish this article soon!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
The Carnal Christian- Is it Biblical?
I used to believe in the reality of a carnal Christian. I used to think that a professing Christian could speak, think, and act like the devil and still be a Christian heading toward heaven. I used to believe that a professing Christian could be living in sin, totally unconcerned about the cause of Christ in the world, and yet still be a believer in Christ. Now I realize that such thinking is dead wrong- because the Bible says it is wrong.
There is absolutely no mention of a carnal Christian anywhere in the Bible. Most people use I Cor. 3 to support their concept of a carnal Christian. However, the apostle Paul is not calling the lives of these newborn Christians carnal. He is not saying that they are living a carnal lifestyle. Paul is simply indicating that in one area of their lives, the Corinthians are acting worldly and carnal. Namely, Paul was addressing the divisions among the Corinthians and calling for them to be unified. Paul is simply addressing an area of sin, not a lifestyle of sin.
Much evidence abounds in the Bible to show that if one is truly saved, he will produce the fruits of repentance. First, Jesus said in Matthew 7:18: "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." Jesus was talking about false prophets, who claimed to be Christians. He is saying that if one claims to know Christ, but does not walk in a Christlike manner, he is a liar. A person who is truly saved will bear fruit that gives evidence of his salvation.
Also, the apostle Peter exhorts believers to confirm their salvation. Peter lists several qualities in II Peter 1:1-10, and encourages believers to produce those qualities in their own lives, for these qualities will indicate salvation. In II Peter 1:10, Peter says, "Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things you will never fall." Thus, Peter is saying, in effect, that if one does not produce these godly qualities in his life, he cannot be sure of his salvation.
Finally, the apostle John wrote the book of I John to provide believers with assurance of their salvation- if they passed the test (I John 5:13). John gave the believers several tests by which they could measure themselves to see if they possessed salvation. For example, John states, "Anyone who claims to be in the light, yet hates his brother is still in the darkness (I John 1:9)." Thus, John is saying that if one truly has Christ living in him, he will love his brother. John also says, "We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin (I John 5:18)." In this passage, John is not saying that the genuine Christian will never sin. That would contradict his earlier statements (I John 1:10). John is simply stating that the true believer will not continue to love his sin. He will fall into sin- but he will not swim in it. The true Christian is not perfect, but he strives toward perfection.
So, what can we conclude from these studies regarding the carnal Christian? There is none. One is either saved and bearing the fruits of salvation or he is not saved. There are hordes of professing Christians who claim to be in Christ, but show no evidence of Christ living in them. Also, there are numerous 'Christians' who are good people but seem apathetic toward the things of God. Would I say that these people are heading toward hell? I do not know. However, I would encourage fruitless Christians to examine themselves to see if they are in the faith, as Paul exhorted the Corinthians to do in II Corinthians 13:5. So, think about this: The problem with a lot of apathetic, fruitless 'Christians' might not merely be one of spiritual laziness. It might be a salvation problem. They might have had a false conversion experience, where they said a prayer but never truly repented. I am sure there are many false converts existing today among us, and we must encourage them to examine themselves. If you are unsure of your own salvation, just test yourself against the Biblical evidence for salvation. If your life is not showing the Biblical evidence of salvation, then repent and trust Christ, and you will be saved.
There is absolutely no mention of a carnal Christian anywhere in the Bible. Most people use I Cor. 3 to support their concept of a carnal Christian. However, the apostle Paul is not calling the lives of these newborn Christians carnal. He is not saying that they are living a carnal lifestyle. Paul is simply indicating that in one area of their lives, the Corinthians are acting worldly and carnal. Namely, Paul was addressing the divisions among the Corinthians and calling for them to be unified. Paul is simply addressing an area of sin, not a lifestyle of sin.
Much evidence abounds in the Bible to show that if one is truly saved, he will produce the fruits of repentance. First, Jesus said in Matthew 7:18: "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." Jesus was talking about false prophets, who claimed to be Christians. He is saying that if one claims to know Christ, but does not walk in a Christlike manner, he is a liar. A person who is truly saved will bear fruit that gives evidence of his salvation.
Also, the apostle Peter exhorts believers to confirm their salvation. Peter lists several qualities in II Peter 1:1-10, and encourages believers to produce those qualities in their own lives, for these qualities will indicate salvation. In II Peter 1:10, Peter says, "Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things you will never fall." Thus, Peter is saying, in effect, that if one does not produce these godly qualities in his life, he cannot be sure of his salvation.
Finally, the apostle John wrote the book of I John to provide believers with assurance of their salvation- if they passed the test (I John 5:13). John gave the believers several tests by which they could measure themselves to see if they possessed salvation. For example, John states, "Anyone who claims to be in the light, yet hates his brother is still in the darkness (I John 1:9)." Thus, John is saying that if one truly has Christ living in him, he will love his brother. John also says, "We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin (I John 5:18)." In this passage, John is not saying that the genuine Christian will never sin. That would contradict his earlier statements (I John 1:10). John is simply stating that the true believer will not continue to love his sin. He will fall into sin- but he will not swim in it. The true Christian is not perfect, but he strives toward perfection.
So, what can we conclude from these studies regarding the carnal Christian? There is none. One is either saved and bearing the fruits of salvation or he is not saved. There are hordes of professing Christians who claim to be in Christ, but show no evidence of Christ living in them. Also, there are numerous 'Christians' who are good people but seem apathetic toward the things of God. Would I say that these people are heading toward hell? I do not know. However, I would encourage fruitless Christians to examine themselves to see if they are in the faith, as Paul exhorted the Corinthians to do in II Corinthians 13:5. So, think about this: The problem with a lot of apathetic, fruitless 'Christians' might not merely be one of spiritual laziness. It might be a salvation problem. They might have had a false conversion experience, where they said a prayer but never truly repented. I am sure there are many false converts existing today among us, and we must encourage them to examine themselves. If you are unsure of your own salvation, just test yourself against the Biblical evidence for salvation. If your life is not showing the Biblical evidence of salvation, then repent and trust Christ, and you will be saved.
God's Sovereignty vs. Human Responsibility
Lately, I have been thinking deeply on the subject of God's sovereignty and human responsibility. At first glance, the notion of both God's sovereignty and human responsibility seem to be a contradiction. How can God be working everything out for his glory and purposes and yet humans still have an obligation to live for the kingdom of God? However, the Bible supports the concepts of both God's sovereignty and man's responsibility. The Bible shows that God's purposes will prevail, no matter how man acts. The Bible also shows that humans will be judged according to their actions. Thus, either the Bible contains contradictions and is not the inspired, infallible Word of God or the concepts of God's sovereignty and man's responsibility are compatible. I prefer to take the latter view, that God can be in control and working out his purposes and man can be held accountable for his actions simultaneously. If one says, "Well, I can't believe in the compatibility of these two notions because I can't understand them" -that is poor logic. There are many realities in this universe that we can't understand or fully grasp that are true. For example, how can light be both a wavelength and a particle? How can water consist of individual atoms and yet be one whole substance? We know it is true, but we cannot fully comprehend how it can be true. Furthermore, we believe in the realities of gravity, magnetism, the conservation of energy, photosynthesis, nuclear fusion, the strong force, quantum physics, and a host of other scientific realities that we cannot fully understand with our finite minds. Thus, when we are faced with Biblical truths that we cannot understand, we must be consistent in the way in which we reason about things in this world. We must not throw logic and common sense out the window.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Christ, My All-Satisfying Treasure
I have loved reading John Piper and his exhortation to make Christ your Only boast in life. I have found great encouragement in my own life from Piper's words. I am finding the truth of Christ's sufficiency and safisfaction to be more evident in my life. I am striving to make Christ my only boast, my All-Satisfying Treasure in life. When I am delighting in Christ, everything else finds its proper place in life. Everything else- friends, family, school, hobbies, matieral possessions, money, and my talents are only tools to magnify Christ and show forth his greatness. However, all these things can be stripped from my life and thus I should not make my greatest delight in these arenas. If any of these parts of my life are taken away, I should still be able to say, "Christ is my All in All- I am satisfied in Christ." I should be able to say with Job, "Whom have I in heaven and on earth but you, and there is nothing that I desire besides you."
Oh, that Christ would increasingly become my only boast, my great delight in life!
Oh, that Christ would increasingly become my only boast, my great delight in life!
A True Friend
Who is a true friend?
One who loves in all circumstances
A true friend is loyal,
sticking by your side in the midst of adversity
A true friend is honest,
applying contructive criticism
A true friend is selfless,
seeking your good before his own
A true friend is sympathetic,
feeling your hurt
A true friend is forgiving,
willing to reconcile after a mishap
A true friend is trustworthey,
able to keep a secret
A true friend is encouraging,
pushing you to do your best
A true friend is sincere,
really desiring your best
Who is a true friend?
One who listens when you speak
One who loves in all circumstances
A true friend is loyal,
sticking by your side in the midst of adversity
A true friend is honest,
applying contructive criticism
A true friend is selfless,
seeking your good before his own
A true friend is sympathetic,
feeling your hurt
A true friend is forgiving,
willing to reconcile after a mishap
A true friend is trustworthey,
able to keep a secret
A true friend is encouraging,
pushing you to do your best
A true friend is sincere,
really desiring your best
Who is a true friend?
One who listens when you speak
Consider His Greatness
Consider His Greatness
Consider His greatness, o peoples,
Gaze at the beauty of his creationwhich he spoke into being
And stand amazed at his majesty
Consider the shining sun, o peoples
It gives light to the whole earth
It keeps burning but never burns up
Consider the clouds, o peoples,
They glide swiftly through space
They decorate the skies with white patches
Consider the gentle rains, o peoples,
They refresh the earth with water,
They cause plants to arise in the fields
Consider the sparkling rivers, o peoples,
They continue flowing day and night
They pass through every nation on the earth
Consider his greatness, o peoples
He speaks, and the rain falls
He points, and the sun rises in obedience
His glory clothes the whole earth
Consider His greatness, o peoples,
Gaze at the beauty of his creationwhich he spoke into being
And stand amazed at his majesty
Consider the shining sun, o peoples
It gives light to the whole earth
It keeps burning but never burns up
Consider the clouds, o peoples,
They glide swiftly through space
They decorate the skies with white patches
Consider the gentle rains, o peoples,
They refresh the earth with water,
They cause plants to arise in the fields
Consider the sparkling rivers, o peoples,
They continue flowing day and night
They pass through every nation on the earth
Consider his greatness, o peoples
He speaks, and the rain falls
He points, and the sun rises in obedience
His glory clothes the whole earth
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