Blessed by an Awesome God

Our God is an Awesome God

God's awesome power demonstrates how we are blessed.

God’s awesome power demonstrates how we are blessed.

Far too often we fail to realize just how blessed we are and how awesome and wonderful God really is to us. In Psalm 66:16 the writer pens, “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul.” Why is it that we do not hear many Christians loudly and proudly proclaiming what God has done for them in this life? Is it perhaps because we haven’t truly given ourselves over to his will so that we could truly experience how awesome God really is? If any of us would truly obey God, and live faithfully in him, we would sing his praises and humble ourselves before Him every day of our lives.

Paul proudly exclaims, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). It is important to remember here that the spiritual blessings of God are reserved for those who are “in Christ.” While God blesses all men physically, and gives all me the opportunity to hear, know, and obey his word (1 Timothy 2:4; Acts 17:30), only the faithful obedient Christ can receive and understand the great spiritual blessings that are reserved for his children. So again, why are more Christians extolling the wonderful gifts of God.

How has God blessed you today? Has he given you a place to belong (Ephesians 2:19–22)? A peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7)? A divine and holy purpose (Matthew 5:13–16)? A hope that those who are apart from Christ don’t know (Colossians 1:23; Ephesians 2:12)? Rest from the burdened conscience of sin (Matthew 11:28–30)? Joy (1 John 1:4)? Salvation (1 John 1:9)?

If God has blessed you spiritually, because of your obedience and faithfulness to him, then live joyful lives that exalt his awesomeness with your lives and with your lips. Thank him and live thankful, faithful lives. If you cannot praise his name because you haven’t yet experienced his loving-kindness, or you have left the table of your father, then please obey him today. Repent of your sins, confess his name, be buried with Christ in baptism. Or confess your sins and turn if you are an unfaithful Christian. Our awesome God will make it worth your while!

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AD 70 The End of the World?

AD 70 The End of the World?

The AD 70 Doctrine corrupts scripture and harms souls.

The AD 70 Doctrine corrupts scripture and harms souls.

With the coming of the AD 70 doctrine, there has been a considerable amount of confusion and heresy associated with the teachings of scripture regarding the end of the world.     The 70 AD doctrine basically holds to the belief that Jesus returned in AD 70 and judged the world at that time.  This belief entirely depends on the redefinition of words and their meaning within scripture.

The first and foremost issue which must be dealt with regarding this belief is that scripture which was written before 70 AD emphatically states that the present Christian age at the time is the last one.  In 1 John 2:18, the inspired apostle wrote regarding the then present dispensation, “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.”  The Hebrew writer wrote in Hebrews 1:2, “…Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds“.  Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:20, “…Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you“.  Other references to this can be found in 2 Timothy 3:1, 1 Peter 1:5, 2 Peter 3:3 and Jude 18.  Taken as a whole, these scriptures teach that there is only one Christian age and they were presently in it.  This age was referred to the “last time” or the “last days”.  There is not a single scripture when taken in context and understood without redefining the terms that support more than one Christian age.  The AD 70 doctrine teaches that there are two Christian ages, or Christian times, or Christian days.  It teaches a pre AD 70 Christian age and a post AD 70 Christian age.

The day of the Lord, the end of the age, the last day, the end of the world and the close of this present age are terms that refer to the same event as seen in the passages of this study.

The Earth and the Material Heavens Shall Be Destroyed

Psalms 102:25-26
25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:

Isaiah 34:4
And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.

Isaiah 51:6
“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.”

In Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33, Jesus declared:
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

Hebrews 1:10-11
10 “And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment”

2 Peter 3:10-12
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?”

Revelation 20:11
“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.”

All of these verses speak to the entire earth with the heavens being destroyed.  The inspired record used word like Perish, dissolved, pass away, fled away and burned up.  Proponents of the AD70 theory claim that the entire earth and everything in the universe/heavens passed away in AD70 with the destruction of Jerusalem.  The problem with is that the destruction of Jerusalem was a localized event while the inspired language of the scriptures related to this topic speak of a universal event.  If this were true, one would have to ask why we still have so much archeological evidence of civilizations predating AD 70?  If the earth and all that in it is were destroyed, then why do we still have this evidence with us?   In order to make their doctrine fit, they must change the meaning of the text.  In other words, the earth and the heavens in these contexts don’t really mean the earth and the heavens.

The earth and the heavens were not destroyed at the destruction of Jerusalem.  Not only do we still have archaeological evidence of earth’s existence prior to AD 70, there is not one word in the writings of Christians after AD 70 which supports the idea that Christ’s second coming happened in AD 70.  There is no evidence from history which supports such an event.  One would have to think that if Christ did indeed return in AD 70 there would be some evidence of that in the historical writings of Christians living after that event.

The resurrection of the dead is said to happen with the destruction of the heavens and the earth.

In scripture the end of the earth and the resurrection and judgment of all mankind is said to happen at the same time.

MATTHEW 13:40-50: Here Jesus declares that both the righteous and the wicked will be together until the end when the wicked will be separated from the just.

JOHN 6:39,40,44,54: According to Jesus the resurrection will be on the last day.

JOHN 5:28,29: Here Jesus says that ALL who are in the grave shall come forth, some to the resurrection of life and some to the resurrection of judgment. There are still people in their graves.  There are still people who have not been judged.

MATTHEW 25:31-46: When Jesus returns all the nations will be before Him and He will separate the just and the unjust. The unjust will be sent into eternal punishment and the just to eternal life. We see the same happening in Revelation 20:11-15. All the nations of the earth were not gathered at the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.

The universal resurrection of the just and the unjust, the judgment of all nations and the destruction of the heavens and the earth are all things that happen with one single event.

The Lord’s Supper was commanded to continue until Christ came again.

1 Corinthians 11:26, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”  Christians were commanded to show the Lord’s death through the Lord’s supper until he comes again.  This implies that the Observance of the Lord’s supper would cease upon Christ’s return.  This certainly works in perfectly with the idea of the end of the heavens and earth and the resurrection of the dead occurring at the same time.  Why would Christians today be any less obligated to remember the Lord’s death than Christians living before AD 70?

Justin Martyr, a Jewish historian that lived from 110 – 165 AD wrote of the Christians partaking of the Lord’s supper:  “Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability”.  One must ask, if the Lord’s supper was to end at the second coming of Christ, then why do we have evidence of Christians partaking of this after AD 70?  Paul said to do it till Christ came, so if Christ came in AD 70, why are Christians living after AD 70 still observing the Lord’s supper?

There are only two advents of Christ mentioned in scripture.

HEBREWS 9:25-28: Here we see the two advents of Christ; He came the first time to die for our sins, and when he comes again it will be to bring salvation to all who wait His return. If He did this in AD70 then what about all the Christians living since then who are waiting?  What are they waiting for?

LUKE 19:11-27: In this parable we see again His two appearances. He came the first time to give gifts and instructions to His servants, then He leaves to receive ‘kingly’ authority. When He returns it will be to reward and punish. Compare Daniel 7:13,14 and Acts 1:9-11.  The rewards and punishment described in these verses are universal in nature.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:35-58: In these verses and in 1 John 3:2 , we learn that at the resurrection we shall all be changed, in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye … for everything material will be gone. What we shall be like has not yet been revealed, but we do learn that flesh and blood can have no part in the Christian’s final victory over death!! We shall be like HIM!!

There are people who have not been changed.  There are things which have not been revealed.  There are people still in their graves.  The heavens and earth are still here.  All nations have not been judged.  Christians still partake of the Lord’s supper.  all of these things mentioned are inseparably connected with the second coming of Christ.  All of these things which are said to happen when Christ comes again have not happened.  The only logical conclusion that can be reached is that Christ has not come again to judge the nations, destroy the heavens and the earth and take the faithful home to heaven.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CHRIST DOES RETURN?

Suddenly, and without warning, the Lord will descend from heaven with His angels and the dead and the living will rise to meet Him in the air, their bodies transformed. The present material creation will be destroyed by fire, replaced by a new heaven and earth of a spiritual nature. All nations will appear before Him. There will be a separation between those who loved truth and followed in the light of Christ’s message and example, and between those who rebelled and rejected His words of love and mercy. Those who hid themselves behind the sacrifice of Christ will live eternally with the Lord and the redeemed. The rebellious and impenitent, along with Satan and his followers, will go into the lake of fire, the second death.

 

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What’s Your Plan?

What’s Your Plan for Today?

Our experiences in life teach us one thing—very few things in our lives work out as we plan them. In fact,  few of the plans for a single day become reality. This can be so frustrating, but take a look at the life of Paul. Look as his plans, and then look at what happened. Then, consider how Paul’s faith made it easy for him to deal with these events.

Paul’s Original Plans

For many years, Paul had wanted go to Rome. He had made plans for this to happen, but it just was not happening (Rom. 1:13; 15:22, 23). So, in Romans chapter fifteen, he wrote the church there and told them of his plans.

·   He would first go to Jerusalem to see the church.

·   He would deliver the contributions from the Gentile churches to the poor saints.

·   He would then go to Rome to spend time with them.

·   He would then go to Spain to preach there.

Paul’s Plans Changed Drastically

The book of Acts shows what actually happened. Paul was headed toward Jerusalem and wrote Romans shortly before the events in Troas and the meeting with the Ephesian elders (Acts 20). He arrived in Jerusalem and delivered the contribution from the Gentile saints (Acts 21:17-19). He was aware of the persecutions which would confront him and begged the Roman Christians to pray for his deliverance (Rom. 15:30-32). However, his original plans changed drastically. The Jewish mob attacked him and any hope of his leaving for Rome were crushed. For over two years, he was imprisoned in Jerusalem and Caesarea. He finally went to Rome but only after he appealed and was granted permission to be tried before Caesar.

The Blessings of “Foiled” Plans

Look at all that happened because Paul’s plans were changed.

·  He was able to preach to the Sanhedrin, the  Jewish ruling body in Jerusalem.

·   He was able to preach to Felix and Festus.

·   He was able to preach and almost convert Agrippa  the king the Jews.

·   He was able to appear before and preach to Nero.

·  He was able to introduce Christianity to the powerful palace guards, who in Augustus’ days numbered 10,000 (Phil. 1:13).

There is no divinely appointed plan for your life. Make your plans just like Paul did, and then leave all that happens in the hands of God. Do not forget Paul’s original plans, and then see something far better which happened. Live by faith and trust God for all the unknown future!

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Churches of Christ

Churches of Christ

What makes bodies of believers the Churches of Christ?

What makes bodies of believers the Churches of Christ?

“Church of Christ? Oh yeah; you’re one of those folks who think that they’re the only ones going to heaven.” How many times have we heard that? But the incredible and almost unbelievable irony is, that although those who make such charges will initially, violently and aggressively deny such, they will all eventually wind up at least paying lip service to belief in the same things as we do – if we can just get them to sit down long enough to really examine and honestly confess their own beliefs in light of biblical truth! Really! Because what we in the churches of Christ (Ro. 16:16) actually believe, is only exactly what the bible specifically teaches – and therefore, what no self-respecting and even semi-sincerely God-seeking denominationalist would ever dare deny – at least with their lips.

For example: we in the churches of Christ believe that Jesus Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life,” and that “No one comes to the Father except through [Him]” (Jn. 14:6). We believe that the bible is the divinely-inspired, inerrant, eternally inscribed in the heavens and therefore all-authoritative word of almighty God, which alone is sufficient to make the man of God all he needs to be to stand complete before God Himself (1 Ptr. 1:16-21; Psa. 19:7-11, 119:89; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).

Now, even most of our most consistent detractors in the denominational world (who are at the same time at least somewhat sincere in their pursuit of the Savior) will readily agree that they themselves, do indeed, in reality, believe those very same, exact things. And as a result, we can both certainly agree then, that based on our acceptance of those divine truths, we all believe that the only people who will be going to heaven, are the ones who will get there by following God’s instructions, can’t we? We can! Therefore, they find that both we, and they, can and do, actually agree on whom is going to heaven: those who get there through Jesus Christ, by faithfully following God’s word… correct? Correct!

This same group of some of our most devoted denominational detractors will, for the most part, also additionally claim that they absolutely believe, preach, teach and accept, the same biblical book, chapter, and verse truth which we also believe, preach, teach and practice, as contained in such divinely-inspired texts as 2 Ptr. 1:3, which emphatically states that: “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue…” (2 Peter 1:3). In other words, both they and we again profess to believe in common and have faith in the fact, that God has truly, absolutely, and completely given us everything we need to know that pertains to the life and godliness which He wants for us to have, live, possess, perform, and enjoy, right there in His holy word.

BUT THIS IS WHERE THE ‘RUB’ COMES IN! This is where any semblance of similarity ends, and where an entire army of absolutely illogical absurdities and common-sense contradictions come into play! Consider very closely once again… Most of our denominational friends and neighbors claim to believe: that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God; that the Bible is indeed the infallible word of God; and that in His holy word, God has given us every conceivable thing we need to know and practice in life in order to please and stand complete before Him. Now that is also exactly what we as the churches of Christ believe as well. But as stated above, that is where all such similarities suddenly and summarily seem to come to a screeching halt! Because it is at this very point that most of them who have just loudly claimed to believe: that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God; that the Bible is indeed the infallible word of God; and that in His holy word, God has given us every conceivable thing we need to know and practice in life in order to please Him, will then:

  • Continue to defend attending a church which they can’t find anywhere in what they just claimed to believe are those all-sufficient and all-authoritative Scriptures;
  • Aggressively defend entrusting their eternal soul’s salvation to a process NEVER even once found in God’s holy word (which they just claimed contained everything needed to stand complete before and with this holy God): a man-designed and defined “Sinners Prayer” which they must go outside of, above, and beyond every single example of conversion reported in the New Testament Scriptures in order to find;
  • And practice worship which, not only in many cases is never found, seen, evidenced or authorized in God’s New Testament Scriptural pattern, but is an outright and direct contradiction and flagrant violation of many of those very same Scriptures!

How is it even possible, to proclaim with one’s mouth one moment, that they truly believe with all their heart that one must follow what God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit said in the word of God in order to get to heaven; and that that divinely inspired word contains everything God wanted us to know in order to stand perfect and complete before Him; and then turn right around the very next moment, and diligently defend entrusting their eternal salvation and destination, to: attending and supporting a church never once found in Scripture; insisting and depending on a plan of salvation never once seen in Scripture; and then accepting and performing a worship doctrine never ever even once found in Christ’s New Testament church’s’ Scriptural pattern; all three of which one has to go completely outside, above and beyond those very same, admittedly “all-sufficient” Scriptures to find?!?!

We in churches of Christ, simply can’t. We live what we claim regarding the Scriptures. We believe them. We believe what God said in them. We believe He told us everything that He wanted us to know and do, pertaining to life and godliness in them. And so, we simply trust, obey, and follow them – and hence Him. Everything from His church (Matt. 16:18-19; Ro. 16:16), to getting and staying forgiven and saved (Acts 2:37-42, 8:35-38, 22:16; Ro. 6:1-23, 10:8-17; Gal. 3:26-27; Eph. 4:11-5:21; Col. 2:4-12, 3:1-17; 1 Peter 3:21; Rev. 2:10); to what God commanded He wanted from us insofar as our worship practices when we come together (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 14:33-38, 16:1-2; Eph. 5:19-21; Col. 3:16-17; 1 Tim. 2:8-15; II Tim. 3:14-4:4; Jms. 2:1-26) – these we do, due to His “book, chapter and verse” instructions. Otherwise, we would fall under the fearful and frightful condemnation Christ pronounced on the worship practices of those people in Mk. 7:6-7: “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”

You see, our denominational friends and neighbors’ problems with us aren’t really about what we believe regarding who is going to heaven at all. When pressed, most of them will probably readily admit that the only way there is following God’s word too. Their real problem, is reconciling what they claim to believe with their lips, with what they actually do with their lives!

 

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Hermeneutics: Testament Study

Accurate Hermeneutics:  Interpreting the Bible Correctly (5)

One Testament proclaims the covenant Christians live under.

One Testament proclaims the covenant Christians live under.

It is probably safe to say that most if not all casual to serious students of the Bible are aware that it is broken down into two basic parts: the Old Testament (Genesis through Malachi) and the New Testament (Matthew through Revelation.)  The Old Testament (or covenant) gives us the record of the beginning of this world, the universe, and mankind before turning its primary focus to the history and laws of the nation of Israel from the time of their patriarchs to when they were taken into Babylonian captivity.  The New Testament (or covenant) gives us the biography of Jesus Christ, the record of the earliest days of his church, and the writings of his divinely inspired apostles and prophets.  Both covenants claim to be Scripture and thus inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16-17; cf. Rom. 15:4; 2 Pet. 3:15-16), and both contain commandments, examples, and principles by which people were and are to abide.

However, did you know that one was taken out of the way and fulfilled to make way for the other, and thus its laws and precepts are no longer applicable for Christians today?  Understanding this fact is a major foundational precept to keep in mind in order to interpret the Bible correctly, which is why I want to write about it today.

The Old Testament continually points to Jesus Christ through numerous prophecies (e.g., Deut. 18:15-19)  We know these prophecies are about Jesus because the New Testament proclaims them to fulfilled by him (e.g., Acts 3:18-24).  In fact, Jesus declared himself to be the fulfillment of the Old Testament (Matt. 5:17).  However, the Old Covenant also foretold of a time when it would be replaced by the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34), something which the New Testament acknowledged as having taken place (Heb. 8:7-13).  The New Covenant replaced the Old Covenant at the moment Jesus died on the cross (Heb. 9:15-17; Eph. 2:14-16; Col. 2:13-17).

Unlike the New Testament whose laws apply to everyone (Matt. 28:18; Acts 17:31; John 12:48), the Old Testament declared itself to be written for and applicable solely to the nation of Israel (Deut. 5:1-3; Jer. 31:32).  It was done in order to serve as a “guardian”to Israel until Christ came (Gal. 3:24).  However, now that Christ and the faith which he brought has come, the Old Covenant’s laws are no longer applicable (Gal. 3:25) and Jewish Christians are now said to be free from it in the same way that a woman is no longer married to her spouse upon his death (Rom. 7:1-6).  Those Christians who would attempt to still obey some of the commandments of the Old Covenant (such as circumcision – Gen. 17:10-14) were said to be obliged to obey all of its commandments (Gal. 5:3).  More importantly, they were said to have fallen from grace (Gal. 5:4).

This is not to say that the Old Testament has no value to the Christian and should not be studied by the Christian.  The New Testament promotes the value of the Old Testament by telling Christians that it instructs, encourages, and provides hope for us (Rom. 15:4).  Some might ask how it can instruct us when we do not have to obey the commandments found within it.  It instructs us, as well as encourages us and gives us hope, by teaching us about God.  For example, it tells us about the awesome power of God as shown through his creation (Ps. 19:1).  When we read that the Lord is our shepherd who protects us when we’re in the dark valley of death (Ps. 23), we are encouraged and comforted.  When we read of the interactions God had with disobedient Israel in the Old Testament, it serves as an admonishing example for us (1 Cor. 10:1-11) by teaching us how God does not tolerate sin.  In these and many other ways, it along with the New Testament is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work”(2 Tim. 3:16-17).

However, proper hermeneutics require that we recognize that the laws given to Israel in the Old Covenant which regulated their theology, their worship, their eating habits, their holy days, etc., do not apply to Christians today unless we read of those same regulations given to us in the New Covenant.  For example, all ten of the commandments God gave to Moses at Mount Sinai are also commandments found in the New Testament except the one concerning the Sabbath Day.  In like manner, the commandment to love our neighbors the same way in which we love ourselves is found in both testaments (Lev. 19:18; Rom. 13:9).  However, while we read of Israelites commanded to worship God through animal sacrifices and instruments of music in the Old Testament (Lev. 1; 2 Chr. 29:25-30), we do not read of Christians being commanded to worship God in the same ways in the New Testament.  Rather, Christians are told that Christ is their sacrifice (Heb. 9:26) and that they are to sing praises to God while “plucking the instrument” (the literal definition of the Greek word translated “making melody”) of their heart (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).

This brings us to the final major difference between the Old and New Testaments which I’d like to cover in this article.  The New Law calls the Old Law “a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form”(Heb. 10:1), and the food regulations and holy days of the Old Covenant “a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ”(Col. 2:16-17).  If you were to see my shadow, you would be able to tell a few things about me…but not everything, not until you actually saw me in the flesh.  In like manner, the people of the Old Testament in many ways were “shadows”or “types”of people in the New Testament (e.g., Adam and Jesus – Rom. 5:14; 1 Cor. 15:45-49).  The physical emblems, places, and acts of worship in the Old Covenant were “symbolic”of the spiritual worship commanded “in the present age”to the church living under the New Covenant (Heb. 9:1-10; cf. John 4:20-24).  The Old Testament’s worship focused on the physical, while the New Testament worship focuses on the spiritual.  When we understand that, it helps us to more accurately interpret the Bible when it comes to the type of worship God wants of Christians in the church today.

Interpreting the Bible correctly is a goal which requires constant study (Ps. 1:2; 1 Tim. 4:13, 15-16).  One will not come to a proper understanding and application of accurate hermeneutics overnight; in fact, continual study and learning will always be required of us if for no other reason than we will forget some things that we have learned (2 Pet. 3:1-2).  These articles I’ve written this week only provide a generalized overview; much more would need to be written in order to “get into the meat” of the matter.  However, it is my hope that what has been written this week can serve as a good starting point for all of us in our efforts to obey God’s command to no longer be spiritual children, “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes”(Eph. 4:14).  May we all strive to get a good diet of the milk of God’s Word (1 Pet. 2:2) so that we can grow to get into the meat (Heb. 5:12-14) May we work hard to “leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity”(Heb. 6:1-2).  The study and thought required to write these articles helps me to accomplish that, and it is my hope and prayer that these writings help you to reach that goal also.  Thanks for reading…

 

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