Listen to Jesus, not Theologians

Listen to Jesus, not Theologians

Centuries ago, theologians decided that little children are sinners, and therefore they must be baptized so their sins can be forgiven. When one believes this false idea, the obvious conclusion is that an infant who dies in his infancy and has not been baptized (usually by having water sprinkled on him) cannot go to heaven. This is not what the Bible teaches but is what theologians convinced many Christians to believe. Are children who die in infancy doomed to go to an eternal hell?

To see that this doctrine is not found in the Bible, consider the Bible definition of sin which separates one from God (Isa. 59:1-2). How does the Bible define sin? Listen to the words of God. “Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4, KJV). Using this definition, the obvious question to be asked is what sin had a newborn baby committed? Has he put some other God ahead of Jehovah God? Has he created a graven image to worship? Has he taken the name of the Lord in vain? Has he dishonored his parents? Is he guilty of being a thief? Has he committed adultery? Has that newborn told a lie or coveted anything? The answer is obvious. What law of God has a newborn broken?

The theologians realized that a helpless newborn could not actively violate God’s teaching, so as they developed their theology, they came to the conclusion that babies inherit the sins of Adam and Eve. They created a new concept—one not found in the Bible—that a baby’s sin is not an action but an inheritance.

What does the Bible say about this? God so clearly gives us the answer. The Jews in Ezekiel used a proverb about how a father ate sour grapes and his children had that bitter taste in their mouth. God rebuked them saying, “As I live you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel” (Ezek. 18:3). The father’s actions do not determine the destiny of the child. The theologians were wrong! “The soul who sins shall die…The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son” (Ezek. 18:4, 20). Ancient Jewish theologians were wrong as are more modern “Christian” theologians. The very basis of infant baptism is destroyed. Babies have no sin, and therefore do not need to be baptized for the remission of sins.

How does Jesus describe the spiritual nature of little children? “Of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:14). To enter the kingdom of heaven we must “…become as little children” (Matt. 18:3). The greatest in the kingdom is the one “…who humbles himself as this little child” (Matt. 18:4). Oh, how our world would be drastically changed if religious people quit listening to theologians, priests, bishops and pastors as they tell their thoughts and just listen to Jesus!

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We Need Faithful Fathers!

We Need Faithful Fathers!

The Bible teaches that families need fathers (Ephesians 6:1-4). Many in society today contradict the Bible’s teaching. They claim that fathers are not needed. The result is children who grow up without a father in their life, but children need both father and mother in order to develop well. Mothers nurture, comfort, and cherish. Father’s balance things out with discipline, order, and grit. God’s design to have both mother and father in the home reflects the complementary nature of the husband/wife relationship. We need faithful fathers!boys father

Abraham was a faithful father. God said of Abraham, “For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him” (Genesis 18:19). The father is the spiritual leader of the home. He is to impart spiritual truths to his children so that they may learn God’s ways. He is the chief implementer of justice and righteousness in the home. When children have no father, they will lack some understanding regarding righteousness and justice. We need faithful fathers!

Jesus had a faithful Father, and I’m not speaking about Joseph. His Father taught Him (John 8:28). The Father gave Jesus a good example (John 5:19). The Father gave the Son life (John 5:26). The Father loved the Son (John 5:20). The Father works (John 5:17), and the Father gave the Son work (John 5:36). All of the wonderful traits that we find in fathers were first found in the Father. Earthly fathers will fail. Their lives will come to an end someday, but our eternal Father in heaven will always be there for us (Ephesians 4:6). Thank God for faithful fathers!

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Clear Statements of the Final Judgment

Clear Statements of the Final Judgment

That there will be final appearance before God and a final judgment is obviously taught in the Bible. It is not that in some vague way, open to various interpretations, that somehow men might be brought into His presence. The Scriptures are filled with clear statements which leave no doubt about that final judgment.final judgment

Listen to the finality of these words from heaven. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Cor 5:10). “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (Rom. 14:10). “He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:31).  It is an eternal truth that it will happen.

In view of how sick and spiritually depraved our world has become, why has He not already come? There were those in the first century who thought He should have come and concluded that the Lord had made a promise to return and failed to keep it. In Peter’s second epistle, he writes about this and then gives the reason why He had not come in their day. It is the same reason He has not returned in our day.

There were those who looked around them and concluded that “…since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were” (2 Pet. 3:4). Peter said that those who were saying this had forgotten what had happened in the past. They had done it on purpose (v. 5). It is so easy to fail to see the big picture of God’s dealings with man. The apostle pointed them to the flood in Noah’s day. God’s view of that ancient world was vastly different from those who heard Noah’s preaching. God kept His promise, and the flood came!

Why did He delay? Read God’s words about this question, and you will have a better understanding about the reason He has not come even in our day. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). Think of it in these terms. There was room on the ark for many more than Noah and his family, but not one single person wanted to “purchase the ticket.”

The implication of these truths? We live in a world where it is widely believed that the world has nothing to do with a Creator but is the result of an evolutionary process. God has made us, and we live, walk and have our very existence because of Him (Acts 17:28). Why does He delay of the final judgment? Because He is not willing that any should perish. He waits as we try to teach those around us. He has delayed His return because He is waiting for us to tell others about sin and salvation. He is counting on us. We must not fail to be part of saving just one more soul for Him.

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The Immune System – It’s Intelligently Complex!

The Immune System – It’s Intelligently Complex!

I have been reading a book lately called “Darwin’s Black Box” by Michael J. Behe. The book is about how Darwin himself set the conditions for how his theory of evolution could be proven false. In his own words Darwin said, “If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.” In his book, Behe demonstrates with several examples at the molecular level how gradual evolutionary change fails because of the need for multiple things to evolve simultaneously, which is mathematically impossible.

Complex immune system

We have a complex immune system.

Part of his research involves studying the complexity of the immune system in the human body and how the body responds to foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. It is an incredibly complexly designed system the details of which could not be explained in this short article. One interesting thing about the system is that each antibody has a unique protein “key” that matches the unique protein “lock” on the invading organisms. One would wonder how the antibodies could “match” up. There are so many of these different antibodies in our bodies that the diversity of “keys” is guaranteed to match up with the unique “locks.” Once the body finds the correct “key,” it then immediately begins to manufacture millions of these antibodies with the correct “key” to attack the invading organisms. The result is that the bacteria or virus is attacked and destroyed by the body’s defenses. (I apologize to our medical people for my crude description of this system. I know it is much more complicate than this!) This system demonstrates tremendous intelligence to anticipate the numerous invaders that could destroy the body. God’s design is truly amazing.

 

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A Proper View of What God Treasures

A Proper View of What God Treasures

It is foolish to fail to think soberly about what really matters. Our secular world focuses on misguided values and attributes while failing to see that heaven’s value system is so different from theirs. Far too many Christians suffer from low self-esteem simply because we have embraced a secular view of how we measure ourselves. The worldly view of importance is determined by the job we have, our educational attainments, how we look in the mirror measured by Hollywood’s standard of beauty, and by the awards and honors we have received.

The proper view of beauty and outward appearance. If our value is determined by how beautiful or handsome we appear as we look in the mirror, we may all be in trouble. Answering one question can help us see that outward appearance does not show our value. How handsome was Jesus? “And when we see Him, He has no beauty that we should desire Him” (Isa. 53:2). His worth, and more importantly ours, is not determined by beauty. It’s alright to be ugly!

The proper view of the kind of work we do and where we are employed. Our world says that the closer we are to making minimum wage the less important we are. How true is this? When Jesus came, what kind of job did He do? He was a laborer, a carpenter like His father. His worth, and more importantly yours, is not determined by the place you work. It is alright to have an insignificant job!

The proper view of your bank account. When God sent His Son into the world, how rich was He? If wealth really matters, then surely God would allow the King of the world to be wealthy. Those wise men from the east sought to find the new king in Herod’s place—they were not that wise. Ignorant shepherds found Him with Divine guidance. “You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12). How wealthy was He in His adult life? “Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has no place to lay His head” (Matt. 8:20). It’s alright to be poor!

The proper view of education. The same question shows one’s worth is not determined by the degrees he has earned. The educated men of His day said of Jesus, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied” (John 7:15)? It’s alright to never have finished high school!

What are you worth? Let God answer the question for He alone knows what really matters. You matter—just ask God! “Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him” (James 2:5)? Just love God with all your heart and let Him determine what you are really worth!

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