There are some things that continue to be a mystery to me among "so-called" Christians. I think of these often and ponder the mystery of them, thus the title, "Mysterious Musings." Here we go as I begin to look at several over the next weeks.
First Mystery I muse over:
Why don't Christians share the greatest news ever given to mankind?
We have been saved by the good news of Jesus Christ and we should desire that others be as well. Do we not know how after setting in the church under Pastors and teachers whose job it is to equip the saints for the work of ministry? [Eph. 4:12]. We can say we don't know how, but that will be no legitimate excuse at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Don't we understand there is a literal hell that our unbelieving family and friends will spend eternity?
I am afraid that the reality of a heaven and a hell don't really motivate us to share the gospel. If we really believe what the Bible says about hell, then we should embrace the truth and put it into practice by our witnessing. I am afraid most don't know what they believe and why they believe it. They just give intellectual consent to a truth and it has never really gripped their heart and they have not really gripped the truth.
So, we build a false theology that will keep our lost family and friends out of hell, and thus depart from sound doctrine. We are able to live with our lack of concern and passion for souls by embracing a false doctrine fabricated in our own minds.
My question is this, "Do we really have something to share?" Jesus said, "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men" [Matt. 4:19].
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Revival Services
We at Trinity are in what we hope will be genuine revival this week, March 21-24, 2010. I know that Christians are to live in revival 365 days a year, but due to our flesh, we need to be "re-vived."
My dear friend, Pastor Joey Harris from God's Way Baptist Church in Adel is our guest preacher. I had made a commitment to have only expository preachers in the pulpit at T.B.C. He preaches the Biblical text in its Biblical context, not perverting the intent and flow of the oringinal author.
Sunday morning he preached on "How to Live a Separated Life" from 1 Cor. 6:14-18. He challenged us to the truth that you can't experience revival till you are separated from the world. In one sense we are separated at salvation in position, but we must practice separation.
Sunday night he preached a message to the lost from the demon-possessed man in the fifth chapter of Mark. He made some comparisons and contrasts to the lost man and the demon-possessed man. Our children sang Sunday night and Kaleb Smith blessed our hearts with a song about being made more like Jesus "little by little."
Monday night the Brooks family was with us and as always, sang from their hearts true Biblical songs. Bro. Joey preached on commitment and the lack of it. Many go away because they never had genuine faith. Our choices reveal what we love and what we put first in our lives.
Tuesday night Bro. Joey's wife, Missy, sang two songs and then Bro. Joey preached on how to protect your church from wolves from without and within. His text was Acts 20:28-32. If Satan can't get to the church from without, he will attack from within.
Wednesday night Bro. Joey preached on how to be sure you are saved from 1 John. Certainly an honest examination of 1 John would reveal to anyone their genuineness of salvation or lack thereof. Bro. Joey preaches the same on this subject that I do- the evidence of a changed life is a great indicator of spiritual life.
Bro. Joey has been a blessing and a source of affirmation that expository preaching is the only true Biblical preaching that fulfills the preachers command to 'preach the Word."
My dear friend, Pastor Joey Harris from God's Way Baptist Church in Adel is our guest preacher. I had made a commitment to have only expository preachers in the pulpit at T.B.C. He preaches the Biblical text in its Biblical context, not perverting the intent and flow of the oringinal author.
Sunday morning he preached on "How to Live a Separated Life" from 1 Cor. 6:14-18. He challenged us to the truth that you can't experience revival till you are separated from the world. In one sense we are separated at salvation in position, but we must practice separation.
Sunday night he preached a message to the lost from the demon-possessed man in the fifth chapter of Mark. He made some comparisons and contrasts to the lost man and the demon-possessed man. Our children sang Sunday night and Kaleb Smith blessed our hearts with a song about being made more like Jesus "little by little."
Monday night the Brooks family was with us and as always, sang from their hearts true Biblical songs. Bro. Joey preached on commitment and the lack of it. Many go away because they never had genuine faith. Our choices reveal what we love and what we put first in our lives.
Tuesday night Bro. Joey's wife, Missy, sang two songs and then Bro. Joey preached on how to protect your church from wolves from without and within. His text was Acts 20:28-32. If Satan can't get to the church from without, he will attack from within.
Wednesday night Bro. Joey preached on how to be sure you are saved from 1 John. Certainly an honest examination of 1 John would reveal to anyone their genuineness of salvation or lack thereof. Bro. Joey preaches the same on this subject that I do- the evidence of a changed life is a great indicator of spiritual life.
Bro. Joey has been a blessing and a source of affirmation that expository preaching is the only true Biblical preaching that fulfills the preachers command to 'preach the Word."
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The Perfect is Coming
1 Cor. 13:8-13
Context: After having shared that Love is permanent and will not fail [vv. 1-7], Paul now shares that spiritual gifts will cease; some gifts now and others later.
1. Spiritual gifts are temporary, partial, and elementary [v. 8].
Note that He says that tongues will cease and prophecy and knowledge shall fail or vanish away. “Vanish away” in verse 8 and 10 means to abolish gradually. Prophecy and knowledge will one day be made inoperative. The verb is passive which means something or someone will cause them to stop. That something is the coming of “the perfect” [v. 10].
“Cease” in regards to tongues means “to stop, to come to an end.” The Greek means tongues will cease in a self-causing action. God gave the gift of tongues a built-in stopping place. Many believe it ceased at the end of the apostolic age.
Prophecy and knowledge will be stopped by something outside themselves. They both will end when the perfect comes [v. 10]. Tongues are not mentioned in relation to the perfect coming [v. 10].
2. Prophecy will vanish when the perfect comes [vv. 9-10].
Both prophecy and knowledge are partial now, and represent all gifts that will be done away when the perfect comes.
We as God’s servants know and prophesy in part. When the perfect comes we will no longer need a Bible, preaching or teaching, and prophecy, because we will be in the presence of the Living Word.
3. What is the perfect [v.10]?
A. The perfect is the completion of the Scripture.
How would the Corinthian believers have understood the perfect, certainly not as the Scripture, but moral and spiritual perfection? If the perfect refers to Scripture, then prophecy and knowledge have already ceased. Prophecy will be active in the Kingdom age [Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17]. Scripture does not allow us to see “face to face” [v. 13].
B. The perfect is the rapture.
If prophecy and knowledge they are done away with after the rapture then they could not be present in the tribulation and Kingdom age. Paul clearly states that once done away with, they will end permanently.
C. The perfect is the second coming.
The Greek word “perfect” is in the neuter, which means it can’t refer to a person. You still have the problem of prophecy in the Kingdom age [Isa. 11:9; 29:18; 32:3-4].
D. The perfect is the eternal state.
If the others are not the perfect, then it leaves only one possibility. Spiritual gifts are for time, but love is for eternity. The eternal state allows for knowledge and prophecy in the Tribulation and Kingdom age. Only in heaven will we see God “face to face,” and be known as we are known.
4. Gifts are elementary [vv. 11-12].
Paul compares the believer’s earthly life to what they will be like in heaven. We will be complete and mature in heaven. Now we are spiritually childish, imperfect, and limited. We see in God’s Word dimly, but in heaven we will see completely and fully.
Conclusion: Spiritual gifts are temporary, but love is eternal. It will last in the eternal state.
Context: After having shared that Love is permanent and will not fail [vv. 1-7], Paul now shares that spiritual gifts will cease; some gifts now and others later.
1. Spiritual gifts are temporary, partial, and elementary [v. 8].
Note that He says that tongues will cease and prophecy and knowledge shall fail or vanish away. “Vanish away” in verse 8 and 10 means to abolish gradually. Prophecy and knowledge will one day be made inoperative. The verb is passive which means something or someone will cause them to stop. That something is the coming of “the perfect” [v. 10].
“Cease” in regards to tongues means “to stop, to come to an end.” The Greek means tongues will cease in a self-causing action. God gave the gift of tongues a built-in stopping place. Many believe it ceased at the end of the apostolic age.
Prophecy and knowledge will be stopped by something outside themselves. They both will end when the perfect comes [v. 10]. Tongues are not mentioned in relation to the perfect coming [v. 10].
2. Prophecy will vanish when the perfect comes [vv. 9-10].
Both prophecy and knowledge are partial now, and represent all gifts that will be done away when the perfect comes.
We as God’s servants know and prophesy in part. When the perfect comes we will no longer need a Bible, preaching or teaching, and prophecy, because we will be in the presence of the Living Word.
3. What is the perfect [v.10]?
A. The perfect is the completion of the Scripture.
How would the Corinthian believers have understood the perfect, certainly not as the Scripture, but moral and spiritual perfection? If the perfect refers to Scripture, then prophecy and knowledge have already ceased. Prophecy will be active in the Kingdom age [Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17]. Scripture does not allow us to see “face to face” [v. 13].
B. The perfect is the rapture.
If prophecy and knowledge they are done away with after the rapture then they could not be present in the tribulation and Kingdom age. Paul clearly states that once done away with, they will end permanently.
C. The perfect is the second coming.
The Greek word “perfect” is in the neuter, which means it can’t refer to a person. You still have the problem of prophecy in the Kingdom age [Isa. 11:9; 29:18; 32:3-4].
D. The perfect is the eternal state.
If the others are not the perfect, then it leaves only one possibility. Spiritual gifts are for time, but love is for eternity. The eternal state allows for knowledge and prophecy in the Tribulation and Kingdom age. Only in heaven will we see God “face to face,” and be known as we are known.
4. Gifts are elementary [vv. 11-12].
Paul compares the believer’s earthly life to what they will be like in heaven. We will be complete and mature in heaven. Now we are spiritually childish, imperfect, and limited. We see in God’s Word dimly, but in heaven we will see completely and fully.
Conclusion: Spiritual gifts are temporary, but love is eternal. It will last in the eternal state.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Eternal Security
In Phil. 1:6 we have one of the most definitive Scriptures in the Bible on the doctrine of eternal security, or what I like to call, perseverance of the saints or preservation of the saints.
"Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
Eternal life is a present possession, not something we hope to gain at the end of our life. I believe eternal security and sovereign grace are closely related. If it were not for sovereign grace our salvation would not be eternal.
There are several passages in the Scriptures that are dear to me in regards to eternal sacurity. Here are a few [John 5:24; 10:27-28; Rom. 8:1,29-30; 11:29; 1 Tim. 1:12; Heb. 7:25; 12:1-4; 1 Peter 1:5; Jude 24].
Let me make a few observations from this passage in Phil. 1:6:
1. What is the "good work?" Some would have us believe that it is a project or material work as the prosperity gospel preachers proclaim [Oral Roberts], while others believe Paul is talking about the monetary gift the Philippians' gave Paul. Neither of these fit the verse.
2. Paul is talking about the work of salvation that God began in us and will complete it till Jesus comes again and we are glorified. Regeneration, sanctification and glorification are the three tenses of salvation. Note the reference to their fellowship in the Gospel [v. 5], and confirmation of the gospel [v. 7]. Note that it is a work "in" you.
3. Salvation is God's work from start to finish. He began it and will perform it [perfect, fully accomplish it].
4. God is still doing a work in you. We have not reached the "day of Christ" yet. We are in the process of becoming like Christ [sanctification]. As the song says, "He is still working on me."
5. God will complete the work He began. No true Christian will fall away or quit believing. He began it, He gave us the faith to believe [Eph. 2:89] and He will fully accomplish His purpose in His work of salvation. I like Rom. 8:29-30, it is full of "He" and absent of "me." He begins with those He foreknew to the past tense "has glorified." Some call this the unbreakable chain of redemption. All those foreknew will be glorified.
Thank God for so great a salvation! Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
"Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
Eternal life is a present possession, not something we hope to gain at the end of our life. I believe eternal security and sovereign grace are closely related. If it were not for sovereign grace our salvation would not be eternal.
There are several passages in the Scriptures that are dear to me in regards to eternal sacurity. Here are a few [John 5:24; 10:27-28; Rom. 8:1,29-30; 11:29; 1 Tim. 1:12; Heb. 7:25; 12:1-4; 1 Peter 1:5; Jude 24].
Let me make a few observations from this passage in Phil. 1:6:
1. What is the "good work?" Some would have us believe that it is a project or material work as the prosperity gospel preachers proclaim [Oral Roberts], while others believe Paul is talking about the monetary gift the Philippians' gave Paul. Neither of these fit the verse.
2. Paul is talking about the work of salvation that God began in us and will complete it till Jesus comes again and we are glorified. Regeneration, sanctification and glorification are the three tenses of salvation. Note the reference to their fellowship in the Gospel [v. 5], and confirmation of the gospel [v. 7]. Note that it is a work "in" you.
3. Salvation is God's work from start to finish. He began it and will perform it [perfect, fully accomplish it].
4. God is still doing a work in you. We have not reached the "day of Christ" yet. We are in the process of becoming like Christ [sanctification]. As the song says, "He is still working on me."
5. God will complete the work He began. No true Christian will fall away or quit believing. He began it, He gave us the faith to believe [Eph. 2:89] and He will fully accomplish His purpose in His work of salvation. I like Rom. 8:29-30, it is full of "He" and absent of "me." He begins with those He foreknew to the past tense "has glorified." Some call this the unbreakable chain of redemption. All those foreknew will be glorified.
Thank God for so great a salvation! Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Birth Pains
I recently heard a 'religious advisor' on Fox News respond to a question he was asked, "What is happening with these earthquakes?" He responded with a simple answer, "We are not in control." This "religious advisor' missed a great opportunity to tell millions who was in control!
Jesus was asked three questions in Matt. 24:1-8, "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows."
Why so many earthquakes? I read a list on a website recently of the number of earthquakes in the last 7 days. I scrolled down on my computer screen, but got tired of counting.
I believe they happen for 3 reasons:
1. Jesus promised "birth pains" judgments that lead to greater judgments in the tribulation period. These birth pains will increase in intensity and frequency till they reach their apex in the tribulation period.
2. The creation is groaning to be delivered from the curse. Romans 8:22, "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."
3. Jesus is warning mankind of the coming judgment. Earthquakes are a sign of judgment in the Bible.
Yes, we are not in control. A Sovereign creator God is in control and he is coming again for His church [rapture] and coming again with His church [revelation], to judge and reign.
Amen! Even so come Lord Jesus
Jesus was asked three questions in Matt. 24:1-8, "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows."
Why so many earthquakes? I read a list on a website recently of the number of earthquakes in the last 7 days. I scrolled down on my computer screen, but got tired of counting.
I believe they happen for 3 reasons:
1. Jesus promised "birth pains" judgments that lead to greater judgments in the tribulation period. These birth pains will increase in intensity and frequency till they reach their apex in the tribulation period.
2. The creation is groaning to be delivered from the curse. Romans 8:22, "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."
3. Jesus is warning mankind of the coming judgment. Earthquakes are a sign of judgment in the Bible.
Yes, we are not in control. A Sovereign creator God is in control and he is coming again for His church [rapture] and coming again with His church [revelation], to judge and reign.
Amen! Even so come Lord Jesus
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Apostasy
What is the Apostasy “falling away” in 2 Thess. 2:3
The Greek word is apostasia which means “to defect or depart from the truth,” or “to forsake or revolt.” It is where we get the word “apostasy.” This falling away from the truth is an increasing departure that will culminate in full blown apostasy after the departure of the true church and only the presence of the harlot church on earth. The final act of apostasy will be the false prophet causing an image of the beast to speak in the rebuilt temple [abomination of desolation].
Jesus described this apostasy in the tribulation in Matt. 24:10-12, “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” In this passage he gives the character of man’s heart when restraint is removed. This spiritual treason reveals an unregenerate heart. They give evidence they were never saved [v. 13]. The guarantee of perseverance is built into the New Covenant promise, “I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me” [Jer. 32:40].
The Bible teaches that true Christians will persevere in the faith because they are kept by the power of God [1 Peter 1:5]. Those who fall away prove they were never truly believers to begin with [1 John 2:19]. Yet, the Scriptures do warn the believer from falling away in such passages as [Heb. 10:23, 26-29; Rev. 3:11], but true believers will persevere [John 10:28, 29; Rom. 8:28-30, 31,38, 39; 1 Cor. 1:8-9; 15:57-58; Col. 1:22-23; Phil 1:6; 1 John 2:24; 5:13].
Matt. 10:26-39 is talking about a false faith that does not continue. The people that the writer of Hebrews is talking are those who fall away or defect intentionally. Apostates hear the gospel, understand the gospel, but turn when they are on the verge of belief.
The Greek word is apostasia which means “to defect or depart from the truth,” or “to forsake or revolt.” It is where we get the word “apostasy.” This falling away from the truth is an increasing departure that will culminate in full blown apostasy after the departure of the true church and only the presence of the harlot church on earth. The final act of apostasy will be the false prophet causing an image of the beast to speak in the rebuilt temple [abomination of desolation].
Jesus described this apostasy in the tribulation in Matt. 24:10-12, “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” In this passage he gives the character of man’s heart when restraint is removed. This spiritual treason reveals an unregenerate heart. They give evidence they were never saved [v. 13]. The guarantee of perseverance is built into the New Covenant promise, “I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me” [Jer. 32:40].
The Bible teaches that true Christians will persevere in the faith because they are kept by the power of God [1 Peter 1:5]. Those who fall away prove they were never truly believers to begin with [1 John 2:19]. Yet, the Scriptures do warn the believer from falling away in such passages as [Heb. 10:23, 26-29; Rev. 3:11], but true believers will persevere [John 10:28, 29; Rom. 8:28-30, 31,38, 39; 1 Cor. 1:8-9; 15:57-58; Col. 1:22-23; Phil 1:6; 1 John 2:24; 5:13].
Matt. 10:26-39 is talking about a false faith that does not continue. The people that the writer of Hebrews is talking are those who fall away or defect intentionally. Apostates hear the gospel, understand the gospel, but turn when they are on the verge of belief.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Amazing Love
1 John 3:1-3 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. There are many great truths contained therein and I have preached on this passage several times emphasizing different words or phrases. We can know Him as Father, but we can't comprehend what this relationship will be like in the future.
In this post, I want you to consider three words. Persecution [v.1b], Promise [v.2b], and Purification [v. 3].
1. Persecution [1:1b]. The world can't know us and understand us because they don't know Him. The Bible says the natural man can't understand the spiritual things because they are spiritually discerned. No wonder the world went crazy with Tim Tebow's "Pro-Life commercial."
2. Promise [v. 2b]. Though we are sons of God now, it remains for us to see what we shall be like at the rapture and in heaven. One thing we do know, we will be like Him as He is revealed in Scripture after His resurrection. To be a child of God is great now, but our best life is later and not your "best life now."
3. Purification [v. 3]. Because of what we are and what we shall be, we should be motivated to live holy and faithful lives. We are to surrender and yield to the Spirit through obedience to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit will make us more like Christ in a gradual process called, sanctification.
Behold, what kind of love is this that the Father has given us that we should be called the sons of God!
In this post, I want you to consider three words. Persecution [v.1b], Promise [v.2b], and Purification [v. 3].
1. Persecution [1:1b]. The world can't know us and understand us because they don't know Him. The Bible says the natural man can't understand the spiritual things because they are spiritually discerned. No wonder the world went crazy with Tim Tebow's "Pro-Life commercial."
2. Promise [v. 2b]. Though we are sons of God now, it remains for us to see what we shall be like at the rapture and in heaven. One thing we do know, we will be like Him as He is revealed in Scripture after His resurrection. To be a child of God is great now, but our best life is later and not your "best life now."
3. Purification [v. 3]. Because of what we are and what we shall be, we should be motivated to live holy and faithful lives. We are to surrender and yield to the Spirit through obedience to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit will make us more like Christ in a gradual process called, sanctification.
Behold, what kind of love is this that the Father has given us that we should be called the sons of God!
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