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Who Is The God Of This World? Understanding the Kingdom of God Part 2
Many Christians believe that Satan is still the “god of this world,” or “age.”
Why would they think that?
well, the Bible clearly states it, right?
2 Corinthians 4:4 KJV
[4] “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
So, yes, scripture says that Satan is, “the god of this world.” But is there something we’re not seeing? Look at the word “world.” The Greek word is not, “cosmos,” meaning, the entire created order; rather, it is “aeon,” meaning age.
At the time that the entire New Testament was written, Satan was the god of that “age.” The temple falling in 70ad was the final marker to end the old covenant, and propel the new covenant of God. The Messiah came, lived His perfect life, died on the cross, and then directly following was the time of the “generation” that Christ promised in His Olivet discourse in:
•Mathew 24
•Mark 13
•Luke 21
•The Revelation of Jesus Christ, (John’s Olivet Discourse).
Christ specifically states in:
John 12:31 KJV,
[31] “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.”
How do you get around this? “NOW!” “NOW!”
The only way that anyone can say that Jesus Christ is not ruling His creation right now, is because they have a hidden agenda; a preconceived system that they have to make work, otherwise, they must admit their “system” is faulty.
Matthew 12:28-29 KJV
[28] But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. [29] Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
Did Jesus cast out devils? Yes. Therefore, what? Therefore, the Kingdom of God is come! It’s here now! Not sometime in the future, “NOW!”
Jesus Christ dismantled Satan’s kingdom and ushered in a new age, the Kingdom of God.
We aren’t waiting on a rapture to start the reign of Christ… The Reign of the King of kings has begun-past tense! How does He reign?
Through His saints. Through His kings, through His lords, through His priests.
“Come on-what are you talking about? Have you bumped your head,” you might be thinking?
Read on…
Mark 13:34 KJV
[34] For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
Gave authority to His servants. Who are His servants? You! If you have been born again!
Revelation 5:10 KJV
[10] And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
1 Peter 2:9 KJV
[9] But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Daniel 7:18 KJV
[18] But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
Daniel 7:22 KJV
[22] Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
Daniel 7:27 KJV
[27] And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
These are just a few verses to get your pump primed. These aren’t poetry, they are truth.
Christ has ALL authority in heaven AND earth (Mathew 28) and He has delegated that authority to His saints for the time being.
So CHRISTIAN, do you have some re-thinking to do? If so, get busy!
Revelation 11:15
The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
“Understanding the Kingdom Of God” Part 1
Luke 11:20-22 KJV
[20] But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. [21] When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: [22] But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
What is the Kingdom of God?
Where is the Kingdom of God?
When is the Kingdom of God?
Why is the Kingdom of God?
The phrase, “Kingdom of God,” and “Kingdom of Heaven,” is not found in the Old Testament. Jesus opens His ministry proclaiming, “The Kingdom of God is at hand,” and yet, not one person asks Him, “what do you mean, ‘the Kingdom of God?’”
Why is that? Were His disciples just sick of being Jewish and looking for a cool new religion?
No!
His disciples, being Jewish, knew the scriptures, they knew the Word of God, and because of this, they were waiting for Jeremiah 31:31 to take place: The New Covenant.
Jeremiah 31:31-34 KJV
[31] Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: [32] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord : [33] But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. [34] And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord : for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord : for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Like a ship getting ready to dock, these fortunate saints of this time were able to watch the Kingdom of God manifest itself in “Real Time.”
In the New Testament, the phrase, “Kingdom of God/Heaven” is used roughly 110 times; the word “kingdom” is roughly 154 times.
In perspective, the word “Gospel” is used close to 98 times. I think Jesus might be trying to make a point!
Many Christian’s in our day speak of the Kingdom of God as something that will happen in the future; it’s in the works spiritually now, but will happen physically at a later time; after the rapture, and during a thousand year reign of Christ on earth from the millennial capital city, Jerusalem.
The only problem with that is, it’s nowhere in scripture, so that’s a BIG, GIGANTIC problem. Other than that, it makes for a cool sci-Fi movie.
We live in a time when “pre-millennial-dispensational theology,” is the mass majority of teaching. But in 2000 years of church history, it’s brand new; started in 1830 by a man named Darby.
Now, pre-millennial-dispensational theology is everywhere. It permeates the land, much like a landfill that lets you know it’s close, because it “stinketh.”
The Kingdom of God is here, but only those who are born again can see it.
John 3:3 KJV
[3] Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Don’t let bad theology rob you of your rights and duties. If you have been born again, you are a king and priest under Christ.
“What does that mean?”
I’ll leave that for upcoming posts.
1789 Or Bust
We have been duped. Like Essau, we have sold our birthrights for some soup. Not even a good soup, but cheap broth from a 25 cent ramen noodle package; and we supply the hot water.
We have been taught by goons of evil, haters of liberty, and enemies of the Kingdom of the Almighty.
And here we are…
Two hundred and forty six years into this experiment, and instead of beating weapons into plowshare’s, we are debating the insane:
• children choosing to mutilate themselves by cutting off their genitals
• should we become communist’s? (But we’ll call it a shinier name)
• should we allow government representatives to decide whether or not to inject us by mandate?
• should we send all of our money to foreign lands?
• the Constitution allows Congress to allot monies to scientific advancement; does this include the study of the unnatural characteristics of the insane? Or bio-chemical study/storage in labs globally and not on our land?
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
[14] If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
We are at a time in history, where there are 3 options.
Option1
Give up. Become full on slaves. Embrace the World Economic Forum. Own nothing and be happy.
Option 2
Let the voting ballots and the courts work this out, and over a period of time, we’ll get straight again.
Option 3
Realize that options 1 and 2 are not options. Putting this back together would be as impossible as putting hairspray back in the container. We’ve arrived at this place because of a lack of education; remember, we have been taught and “represented as a people” by godless, liberty hating, goons.
So what is the solution?
Rewind to 1789 and start over. Why 1789?
Because on March 9th, 1789, year of our Lord, these United States ratified the Constitution. Scrap everything from that date until now, acknowledge the freedom of ALL men everywhere, regardless of skin color, social status, education, or wealth, and come together as one voice to proclaim, “Liberty or Death!”
True Liberty, the kind found in salvation. And those that aren’t saved will be prayed for, evangelized, and befriended. Where the Spirit of Christ is, liberty follows.
Read your Bible. Read the Constitution. Read the Puritans man! Pull your head out and live!
Or, go watch another Disney movie, they seem to be a wholesome company that produces great content… “NOT!” (My best king James impersonation…)
Why would a church be publishing this? Doesn’t this go against the Separation of Church and State?
If this is a question you are asking yourself, this post is targeted at you. This IS the responsibility of the church! If the church doesn’t proclaim it, who will?! The state?!
God has set up His authority over all governments everywhere. He has established His King. All governments are to acknowledge that their power only flows downward from the Son of God, and that they are to govern as stewards, not as sovereigns.
Psalm 2:9-12 KJV
[9] Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. [10] Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. [11] Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. [12] Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. …
FIND A CHURCH THAT WILL PREACH THE GOSPEL FULL THROTTLE.
All men everywhere are commanded to believe the gospel. Believing the gospel is shown by keeping Christ’s commands. Keeping Christ’s commands means keeping what is in the scriptures-ALONE! In the scriptures, Christ tells us to “Honour the king.” 1Peter 2:17. In these United States, our king is the Constitution, and we as freemen are to Honour our king by keeping his (the laws in the Constitution) commands.
1 Peter 2:17 KJV
[17] Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
NOTE:
I am NOT ADVOCATING OR INCITING a revolution, insurrection, or a coup of ANY KIND. I am simply pointing out that when you leave the gate open and unattended, unwanted dogs are free to roam. I’m merely suggesting that the dogs get rounded up and taken to the pound.
AS PEACEABLY AS POSSIBLE.
Because we are to be peacemakers.
Read the beatitudes.
Semper Reformanda
(Always Reforming)
The Gospel: The Only Death Blow To Racism
This will be short, sweet, and truthful.
There is not one law that will end racism.
There is no penalty great enough to scare the culture to stop racism.
There is no mob big enough to stomp out racism.
There are no stories of tragic events, as terrible as they truly are, with regards to racism that will end it.
The only remedy for racism is:
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, EMBRACED BY EVERY MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD.
There is one race, the human race, all are equal, and the ONLY THING MAN CAN BOAST IN IS IF HIS NAME IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE! What do you have that was not given to you by God? Answer: NOTHING!
What does the Kingdom of God do with regards to every tribe, tongue, nation, culture, people group, etc…?
Answer: It unites them under One sovereign King; Jesus the Christ.
Do not be fooled by ignorant man. Do you want to end racism? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved, then tell everyone you know to do the same, and don’t stop until the nations have all been discipled and follow.
Semper Reformanda (Always Reforming)
What Is A Reformed Baptist Church?
Let me start by answering that with as much clarity as possible. A Reformed Church is a church that believes in the absolute sovereignty of God, the Creator of all things, and exists to preach the excellencies of Jesus Christ to all who will listen.
We preach the grace of God poured out on sinful man!
Because the Bible is crystal clear on this subject, man is not elevated in any regard, God alone is good and all goodness flows FROM Him. The only thing that man is good at, apart from Christ, is sinning. (For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: Romans 7:18).
Historical
We are not a spin-off of the Southern Baptist Convention, nor are we a non denominational church, or a “new church with new ideas”. Our doctrine goes back to the Reformation of 1517 in Europe, and more importantly, firmly grounded in the teachings of the Old and New Testaments.
The Southern Baptist Convention was for many years, a stalwart in our country, but has eroded over the recent years into a jellyfish with regards to biblical backbone against a pagan culture. We pray that those who are believers inside those institutions would come out from among them.
Confessional
We do not look at the culture and decide how we are going to “do church.” Rather, we look at God’s word, and 2000 years of church history to navigate what we are to do as God’s people.
We have a church confession that we adhere to, the London Baptist Confession of 1689. This explains what we believe as a church on the “hard questions” that everyone has.
Scripture Alone
We are committed to biblical preaching. The opinion of the preacher or listener is not what is taught, but rather, the actual meaning of the text.
Grace Alone
This means that the salvation of any person, is completely of God and not of man in any way. Ephesians 2:8-10
Faith Alone
Faith is the gift of God, from God, only to those whom He has saved. It is offered to all men everywhere, but only those who have been saved possess the gift of God’s saving faith.
Christ Alone
Jesus Christ, the 2nd Member of the Trinity, came from heaven to the universe that He created and took on human flesh; He became a man. Did you catch that? GOD BECAME A MAN!
He became a man in order to live a perfect, sinless, life, in order to save His people from God’s wrath. He took their sin and then gave to them His perfect righteousness! Because of His death on the cross, dying for sins that He never committed on behalf of His people, God is able to allow them into His kingdom; not based on anything that they have done, but rather, what Christ has done for them. If you’ve heard the word, “GOSPEL,” that is what it means.
You are personally invited to come and worship the King of all kings with us.
Culture and Government
Reformed churches, by definition, will not waver against the culture OR the government with regards to obeying God’s word. Hence, the Protestant Reformation. We are to be peaceable, honor all men, and be submissive to government. (Note)…
1 Peter 2:17 “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.”
The “king” here does not refer to Jesus Christ, it’s referring to the king of the country in which a Christian lives.
You might be thinking, “this is the USA, we have no king.”
Yes we do.
The king of the USA, the law that we as citizens of the USA must comply to is:
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE USA.
We are to, “Honour the king,” as 1st Peter tells us. If anyone, or anything tries to usurp the king of the USA, it is our duty as Christian’s to not allow it to happen. In order to Honour our king, we must know what he expects. Only by studying the Constitution can this be possible. Being a peacemaker does not mean to be a spineless jellyfish. Jesus flipped tables, remember?
We live in a day where there is a church on every corner and it’s hard to figure out what is right when so many “churches” contradict each other.
Let me address that in a very simple way-God’s word tells us 100% how we are to live. We are commanded to repent of our sin, believe on His Son, raise up godly families, walk in humility, and to be peacemakers.
All men everywhere are commanded to believe. Those that believe are commanded by God to be a part of a church that preaches the gospel in its fullness.
If you are looking for a church and are able to attend, we’d love to have you come and visit!
One thing is for certain,
This world gets crazier by the day and does not look like it will let up any time soon.
God’s word is the only comfort in times of turmoil, chaos, and uncertainty, and His promise to His people is that He will never forsake them.
The question is this: are you one of His people?
Here is a simple test you can take.
Do you delight in His word? Do you obey His commands? Do you hate your sin that you used to love? Do you believe in the only Savior God has given to mankind?
If so, you are a new creation!
Trust in Him.
Semper Reformanda (Always Reforming)
Your Greatest Enemy Lives Inside You
If asked, “who is your greatest enemy,” most will say, Satan, demons, etc…
These are great enemies, no doubt, but not our greatest enemy.
Your greatest enemy is inside you.
•Your old self
•The natural man
•The “You,” before regeneration, that still lingers until you die
(1Corinthians 2:14 and Romans 7)
The Bible refers to this enemy as: “The Flesh.”
I’ll give you an easy example. Your flesh has the ability to keep your mind on worldly, temporal things, and not notice the big picture of reality.
Are you in a trial right now?
If you answer, “No,” you’re not looking hard enough.
Maybe your bills are paid, you have a couple months safety net under your mattress, no health issues, and your family life is pretty smooth for right now.
But have you figured out how to completely separate from your flesh?
Are you able to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself?
If you answered, “Yes,” you need to be born again!
But for those of us that know that we fail in the flesh daily, there is a war currently happening in which we must pick up arms to fight in. There is a battle for truth going on all around us, and more personally, inside of our minds, that we must fight to win!
Do you want to wake up dead men to life? You must start with killing your old self.
We must be like Samuel, hacking king Agag to pieces, but our flesh is Agag. 1Samuel 15:33
You have an enemy living within you that desires at all times to pull you away from godliness. 100% of your day is spent with a battle for truth in your members (mind).
Until you breathe your last breath, your flesh will fight against the Holy Spirit non stop.
Your flesh is a relentless, maniacal, psychopath, that hates all of the things of Christ, with one motive: to take you to hell with him.
Your only hope is to:
•KNOW THE GOSPEL
•BELIEVE THE GOSPEL
•PREACH THE GOSPEL TO YOURSELF CONSTANTLY
•RESOLVE IN YOUR WILL TO FIGHT FOR TRUTH AT EVERY WAKING MOMENT
The truth of God’s word is the only weapon you have in this fight, and if you aren’t a journeyman in the word, strive to get there fast; your eternal state, and the eternal state of those in your circle of influence is what is at stake.
Your alternative?
Be apathetic towards the things of God and just “hope” that He’s nice enough to let you into His Kingdom.
(Hint: He’s not and He won’t).
His justice is on the line. Romans 3:23-26
You are either, In Christ, or you will end up In Hell.
There is no middle ground.
He is “The Rock Of Offense.” 1 Peter 2
Choose this day whom you will serve…
Semper Reformanda (Always Reforming)
A Duel At High Noon
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. Romans 1:19
Debating is nothing less than a duel; back to back, fifteen paces, the accurate shot wins, rigor mortise incoming on the slacker.
When a Christian is armed with the proper weapons, the athiest shows up to a gun fight with nothing more than a toothbrush.
Saint, you need to make sure that YOU show up with a Gatling Gun.
“How do I do that,” asks Faithful?
You show up with a Gatling Gun, by knowing who the duel is against. It’s NOT against a man that is truly settled in his mind that God does not exist. He “SAYS” with his mouth, “God does not exist,” but his will informs him otherwise.
You’re dueling with a liar.
Do not waste one second of your time in debate trying to prove the existence of the Creator, he already knows, 100%, that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is in fact, God Omnipotent.
You do not have to give ANY proof of God by explaining the intricacies of the eyeball, the Architect and His created matter, the obedience of natural laws to the Divine Will of God, etc… All of these proofs are great to consider with other believers, but will be of no use to you in an argument for truth.
During this debate, you are reclaiming real estate for the Kingdom of God. Satan, for four thousand years, was given authority over the created order. God allowed Satan to be the “principality” over His creation. Don’t be fooled, Satan is not now, nor has he ever been, Gods equal; the devil, is God’s devil, and God allowed him dominion for a time.
But that time is gone! On the cross, Jesus Christ defeated the enemy; sin and death, and rendered Satan IMPOTENT! Christ bound the strongman and took his throne from him, and now Satan is in retreat.
He had 4000 years of a system that is presently being dismantled, by the preaching of the gospel, and the discipling of the nations. This world system is the factory default setting written on every heart/mind/will of everyone born under Adam.
This system is what you are debating when you debate an athiest. He starts the debate with the premise of a lie: THERE IS NO GOD. This tactic worked on your first mother, Eve, in the garden.
Christian, it is up to you to declare truth. Start by not allowing lies to be assumed. Dismantle unbelief with the truth of Gods word.
IN THE BEGINNING, GOD!
God is not on trial, the unregenerate are. Don’t put God on trial by giving evidence; God does not need evidence to prove anything, He’s God.
Be copious in the word, a full storehouse of scripture. With all humility, declare the laws of your home; the Kingdom of God!
Let them know that, unless they repent of their disobedience, and believe on the only Saviour that God has given for mankind, that they are trespassing on the King’s property and will be punished eternally.
Soli Deo Gloria
Debating Atheism
Christian,
Debating, by definition, is the act of arguing for a truth claim. You believe this way, I believe another, and we engage in a war for the truth.
But how do we decide the winner?
The winner is decided by the one who declares God’s truth, plainly stated, cover to cover, throughout the 66 books of the canon. Pretty simple.
“Okay, but how does that look in real time,” asks one?
The one who is arguing for the God of creation, has won the debate by default.
It may not appear that way, but in arguing for truth vs fairy tale, the truth wins. The atheistic worldview is total absurdity on every front. Your task is to expose that absurdity and let them have no right to any truth claim.
Why? Because random chance and chaos cannot produce order. Every kid has taken a bunch of firecrackers and set his kid sister’s dolly on them and blown it up. There’s your Big Bang theory. The dolly is in chaos, not order. No matter how many times you do this, it will never produce a better dolly, rather, it will only cause disintegration.
Before any debate takes place, terms need to be defined, and parameters need to be set. Establish the topic, and stick to it.
Worldviews are clashing in a debate, facts, no matter how clearly proven, will not make the other person say, “you’re right, I’m wrong, I’m going to follow Christ.” The heart must be changed. You’re not there to just win the debate, that’s easy, Let God be true and every man a liar, but rather, you are there to present God’s truth.
“You don’t defend a lion, just let him loose, he’ll take care of himself.” [Martin Luther]
Isaiah 46:9-11 KJV
[9] Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, [10] Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: [11] Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. …
Let God be true, and every man a liar.
Any “truth claim” that the athiest gives, that is actually truth, is stolen from the Christian worldview. Do not let them claim any absolutes; their worldview does not allow for any.
In a worldview where morality and justice are governed by the whimsical emotions of man and society, rather than the solid word of the living God, nothing is absolute and cannot be taken as serious.
An athiest declaring something to be absolute is as stupid as trying to nail cottage cheese to the wall. It’s nonsensical.
[What This Looks Like In Real Time]
Ask the athiest, if murder is wrong in his worldview.
After a lot of word salad, he will say, “yes, I believe murder is wrong.”
Why is murder wrong in your worldview?
“Because it brings harm to another person,” he’ll say.
Why is it wrong to bring harm to another person? What standard are you using to declare that to be wrong?
His reply will be something like, “It is wrong to inflict harm on others because we are a society, and inside that society, it is for the better good to have peace among one another. People should be free to live with the comfort that murder is not acceptable in society. The standard I’m using is the standard that every people group collectively accept, it just stands to reason, that murder is wrong.”
But what if your neighbor thinks it’s ok to murder? What in your worldview says that he’s wrong?
“Well, the law will let him know he’s wrong,” he’ll say.
So, the law of the land is your standard? Do laws ever flip? Less than one generation ago, the law of our land stated marriage was between one man and one woman, now two men or two women can marry and it is recognized by the state. Did wrong become right by a vote? What if tomorrow, there is a vote that murder is acceptable, does it magically become acceptable by vote?
Man is whimsical and his morals are guided by personal wants.
Truth is discovered, not invented.
Truth is existential, not an internal mechanism.
Why would murder be considered wrong by an athiest if all we are is “matter in motion?”
Didn’t Darwin say, “Survival of the fittest?” It stands to reason, that if this worldview is worked out to the fullest, the murder victim wasn’t “the fittest,” and so it goes.
The only thing the unregenerate can do is rot and stink, there is no goodness in them, only death. God, by His grace and mercy, saves man from this wretched state, to those that believe on His Son for salvation. The moral good they do does not come from their worldview, but is stolen from God.
[44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully ai use you, and persecute you; [45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. [46] For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans ak the same? …Matthew 5:44-46
”for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Romans 14:23
Romans 1:22 KJV
[22] “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” Romans 1:22
[31] Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, ag unmerciful: [32] Who knowing the judgment ah of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. …Romans 1:31-32
Soli Deo Gloria
The Word Of God Is the Gatekeeper Of All Truth
Let me explain what I’m NOT saying.
I’m not only saying the word of God is true, I’m declaring, on the authority of scripture, that if anything is true, it is because the word of God has declared it to be.
The implications of this will make the athiest lose his mind and the Christian to
re-think apologetics.
Let me be perfectly clear:
All truth, intelligence, logic, reason, anything that is sure, anything that is constant, anything that is stable, any axiom, all absolutes,
ARE ONLY TRUE BECAUSE THE WORD OF GOD ESTABLISHES THEM AS SUCH.
There is no truth or source of truth apart from the word of God.
The word of God defines truth.
“How can you prove that,” asks one?
Because the Bible is the word of God,
and it says so.
“But that is circular reasoning,” cries another.
It’s not circular reasoning,
the Bible is Self authenticating.
It proves itself. It’s the very breath of God. Anyone that denies this, has not read.
They’ll say they’ve read, but never under any honest labor. If they had searched for truth, God would bless them with it, but the lost man does not seek wisdom.
I didn’t when I was lost, and neither did you.
You cannot approach science apart from
the word of God.
The word of God establishes “constants” in creation; the sun comes up, gravity is real, water is wet, and so on.
Atheism has no claim to any “constants.”
In atheism, everything is a random chance of molecules in a mosh pit with no idea where to go, and only by chance does order come from this.
Does this thinking make any sense?
No.
Only the word of God allows anyone to observe the creation and make an hypothesis.
Because the word of God is true,
science makes sense.
Constants make sense!
You can form an hypothesis because,
(say it with me…)
THE WORD OF GOD IS TRUE!
Axioms are axioms because Gods word
establishes them.
Explain how an atheist can form an hypothesis!
“This water froze when I put it in the freezer set at 32 degrees, but since everything is random chance, I can’t be sure I will get the same result next time.”
Absurd! Atheist’s don’t do science that way, even though that’s how they explain the creation. They live life enjoying “constants” like the Christian.
Atheist’s form an hypothesis with the understanding of universal constants/laws that they steal from the word of God.
The concrete is solid, so I can walk in it. But with the mindset of random chance, and nothing is constant, how can the atheist be sure that the sidewalk will be solid as he takes his next step? He can’t.
He’s irrational.
The atheist must steal
from the Christian worldview
in order to make any sense in his world.
Scripture is not only truthful in what it says,
IT IS THE SOURCE OF ALL TRUTH!
“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools…” Romans 1:22
Soli Deo Gloria
“Thy word is truth.”
John 17:17
Facts Will Not Change Them
Christian,
As you engage the culture, you are to share the truth. We bring lights to dark places. Your job is to be steeped in the word, ready to declare, “thus SAITH the Lord God Omnipotent.”
As hard as it is to grasp, scripture does not say that: FACTS WILL CHANGE THEIR MINDS.
The only reason you understand Gods truth, is because God gave you sight; FAITH. Had He not, you wouldn’t understand truth either.
Do not waste your energy wondering how the unregenerate do not understand your arguments.
Declare the truth. God is the one who illuminates them, not you.
We are to bring light, God will supply the salvation.
Be copious in Gods word, full, like a warehouse, your weapons aren’t 9mm or clubs, it’s the word of the Ancient of Days.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, rather, show him his foolishness with the word.
Do you want to prove the point that a branch is straight rather than crooked? Don’t argue over it, find a straight edge and lay it next to the branch in question, there’s your answer.
The lost man will not agree with Gods word, even though the truth is BLATANTLY up in their crawl, until the Holy Spirit did what He did to you;
Ezekiel 36:26-27 KJV
[26] A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. [27] And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. …
Do this with all humility, and a cheerful heart.
And have fun!
You’re advancing the Kingdom of God!
Is Your Community Condemned Already?
Jesus Christ.
In your understanding, Who/What is He?
Fairy tale?
Good Teacher?
Philosopher of morality?
Israel’s version of Ghandi, Buddha, or Mohammed?
How about this, He is God. Not only is He God, you know that He is God. Even the atheist knows this. Why do you think they gnash their teeth at Him constantly?
I truly don’t believe in Bigfoot, but I don’t make it my life’s goal to stop the world in following after him. Why? Because I don’t believe he exists! Atheist’s, on the other hand, know that the TRUE GOD exists, that’s why they argue like they do, like demons, trying to get others to believe as foolishly as they do. Even the fool knows that there is strength in numbers.
(the fool says in his own heart, there is no God.)
His is the voice that cried out, “LET THERE BE LIGHT!” And the light, 6000 years later, still obeys.
He is the One who came to save this world, not to condemn this world. All the world will be saved through Him.
Does that mean that everyone will go to be with the Lord for eternity?
No.
Even your conscience knows that’s not true. It means that He is the Savior of the world. Noone will be saved from the wrath of almighty God, but through Him.
You will be made right before God through the Man that was nailed to the tree, or you will suffer eternally under the fury of God.
Those who believe in Him are not condemned.
Those who do not believe are condemned already. [John 3:18]
For those that do not believe, your ultimate condemnation is hell.
[But wait, there’s more…]
You don’t have to wait until death for your condemnation, you’re “stepping in it” now.
Your unbelief in the Son of Man
IS YOUR CONDEMNATION!
•Your rejection of truth is your condemnation.
•Your rejection of reality is your condemnation.
•Your rejection of logic is your condemnation.
Your thoughts, words, and actions, condemn you now.
Believe on the Lord Jesus the Christ, and be saved from your condemnation!
For the CHRISTIAN, look at your area, neighborhood, and town. Is it “condemned” already? Let me start with this, because of the promise of the Great Comission, and NUMEROUS passages from cover to cover, if your area is currently “condemned,” it won’t stay that way, but the gospel must pound through!
Do your neighbors go to a local church? (A biblical church-A God exalting church-not a Ted talk).
Are we at that point to where we don’t need to teach one another about the gospel because God has written it on every man’s heart and all men know it?
Are church doors constantly being repaired because of how much they open and close on the Lord’s Day with all of the community entering?
Are bread bakers and wineries working overtime to keep up with the demand of the Lord’s Supper?
Does the deputy in your town call you brother when he sees you in the gas station?
Does the city council decide on the basis of, “THUS SAITH THE LORD?”
No.
Here are your marching orders, Saints of the Most High God. “Go Ye Therefore and make disciples of the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
Go and reconcile this world to Christ, because He came to bring reconciliation.
Soli Deo Gloria
Do the Scriptures Allow A Woman To Preach or Pastor a Church?
“But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.”1Timothy 2:12, NASB)
Answer: No.
(Sorry to be so long winded.)
God, The Sovereign Potentate Over All Things
To understand ANYTHING about the Bible, salvation, Heaven, Hell, etc… the very first principal we must get in our thinking is that,
GOD IS ABSOLUTELY SOVEREIGN OVER ALL THINGS.
NOTHING happens that God did not allow, plan, decree, predestine, period. World War 1 and 2, every presidential election, Revolutionary War, aunt Sally’s untimely death, your promotion at work, your children, the dry skin on the yak in the fields of India, (what?) your headlight going out last week, your waking up one minute before the alarm last Wednesday… see what I mean? EVERYTHING!
Along with that, when these things happen, they are not by chance and God just acknowledges they’ve happened;
HE MADE THEM HAPPEN. God is also, “IMMUTABLE,” He knows all things, He has NEVER learned a new piece of information.
(Now go to a safe space and shake for a while, but then come back, this is just the foothills of the Rocky Mountains!)
9 "Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; (Isaiah 46:9, NASB)
Isaiah 46:9 isn’t poetry, it’s the
LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT telling His creation Who He is.
Since this is Who God is, it only logically follows that He knew of your salvation before the earth was created.
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:4, NASB)
Reader, if you are saved, it is because God chose in eternity past to save you! Not because of anything that He foresaw in you in the future, but because God, by nature, is a saving God, and in His good pleasure, He has chosen to save some.
The Salvation of the Righteous, is of the LORD. Psalm 37
Salvation is, “ MONERGISTIC,” meaning, it involves only one party, “mono.”
We have only briefly looked at God, but there is enough here to think on for eternity.
Soli Deo Gloria
What Is Meant By, “The Doctrines Of Grace?”
In theology, one of the first things that needs to happen when we study something, is to define what the words mean in their biblical context.
In this instance,
“Doctrine,” means, a system or teaching related to a subject.
The subject in this case is “Grace.”
”Grace” defined: God’s divine changing of a heart, mind, and will, (all the same) from a heart that once hated God, and unable to please Him in any capacity, to a heart that now loves God and He is pleased with.
So, put that all together, the Doctrines of Grace are:
“the teaching of Scripture whereby, God divinely changes the heart, mind, will, of a person that is totally corrupt and unable to please Him, into a person who is completely transformed in his heart, mind, and will, and into one that now loves God and more importantly, God is now pleased with him and He will not count his sins against him.”
That’s a mouthful, but it is the very basis of biblical theology, and also, the explanation of the salvation of everyone who has EVER been BORN AGAIN.
If this is foreign to you, chances are, that what you’ve just read is not sitting right with you. If that’s the case, I would ask you to consider staying with me for the next few posts and try to comprehend just what is being said.
WARNING: the Doctrines of God’s Saving Grace utterly DESTROY man’s pride, which is exactly where God wants you to be.
Also, if these doctrines are new to you, I can assure you they are as old as the scriptures themselves and have been taught throughout the history of the church, but don’t take my word for it EVER, or your friend, or even your pastors word, “WHAT DOES THE SCRIPTURES SAY,” should be our practice.
Soli Deo Gloria
My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?”
This can be a very confusing text for a new believer. This is a quote from Psalm 22:1, and also spoken on the cross of Calvary by our Lord.
I want to keep these posts short and full of “snuff” to keep your attention, so I will jump over the cordials and formalities and get right to the point.
Believer, your sins are gone forever. They will never be counted against you in a damning way in the courtroom of Heaven. Those who are not “In Christ,” will be banished from the saints for all of eternity to pay for their sins against God. Their crimes deserve justice, and justice will be paid by them, but will never be satisfied.
But for those who have been justified, your sins are gone, as far as the east is from the west, from scarlet to white, from impure to pure; but they were not just thrown away. God did not just rid you of sins and throw them in a trash dump never to be seen again.
God placed your sins on His Son.
Your sins were imputed to Jesus Christ, and
HE WAS BANISHED!
Do you see the difference?
God could not just “throw out” your sins, they HAD to be dealt with. God’s justice demands that they were eternally paid for in full-REDEMPTION.
On the cross, Jesus eternally paid the punishment due to those whom He has saved.
But it was not just “Heavenly Paperwork,” not just a formality, but the Son of God, who throughout ALL ETERNITY PAST up until this moment, was in perfect fellowship with the Father. God did not die on the cross, the man Christ Jesus died, who was and is Very God, but for this time that He was nailed to the tree, fellowship was broken. Gods eyes are so pure that He cannot even LOOK UPON SIN, and yet, Jesus became the “object of sin” that God would pour out His wrath on in order to make reconciliation between Him and His elect.
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21, NASB)
Your sins were not just done away with, they were placed on Christ and He was done away with! Forsaken. Outside the camp. Until His final words when He gave up His life, (it was not taken, He gave it up)
“IT IS FINISHED”
Christian, in baptism and in the Lord’s Supper, we identify ourselves with the life He lived for us, AND the death He died for us.
In Christ Alone, we are forgiven.
Soli Deo Gloria
Outside the camp
Grace and Faith: The Two Most Used, And Misunderstood Words In Church.
We sing about them, we use them when answering questions, we fire them off during evangelism as though it’s 1950 and we expect our culture to understand their meaning.
Can you define these words? Biblically?
The tragedy of commonality with religious words is that they lose their cutting ability, they become dull in the minds of spiritually lethargic people, like one on one knife training; you duct tape the blade to not injure your buddy.
These words, Grace and Faith, if understood in proper biblical context, will make an unbeliever see red, raise the hairs on his neck, and lose all sense of civility.
DEFINED
Grace=
a Divine changing of the heart/mind/will
Faith=
the fruit of Grace.
Belief and rest foreign to the natural man. All of that which is needed to live a life of godliness is given by God, is called “Faith.”
Knowing this, take time to go to the passages where these words are used and watch your mind come to life.
For example, Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; (Ephesians 2:8, NASB)
-for it is by GRACE, a divine changing of your heart, mind, and will, a monergistic (one party involved) act on a person by God, that wakes you up from being dead in sin, “Lazarus, come forth!” … that you have been saved, thru FAITH; the gift of God, given only to all who are born again, at the moment of salvation, the tools needed to live the remaining time on this earth in godliness. This is not from yourself, how could it be? How could a person dead in sin, running from God, at war with God, (Romans 8:7) stop and come to his senses and “make a decision” to follow Christ?
Answer: HE CANT! That’s the point! It’s by GRACE-thru FAITH-and THAT (grace/faith) not of yourselves, it is the what?
The Gift of God.
Take the duct tape off!
Soli Deo Gloria
Heaven’s Requirements For Entry: You Must Be As Perfect As Jesus Christ
I hate click bait-so do you. You see an unbelievable statement trying to get you to visit a website or news article and then you click on it only to find out you’ve been suckered again from someone crying wolf.
This title isn’t click bait, we’ll, maybe it is, but this one is actually true. The only reason anyone would click on a post like this is because the title of the post seems “absurd” at least and blasphemous at most.
But it’s neither, in fact, ITS THE CORE ESSENCE OF THE GOSPEL.
In order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven you must have clean hands, a pure heart, and have not lifted up your soul to idols. Psalm 24.
Well, your hands are filthy because of your vile heart, and all you have ever done while you were unsaved was create idols for yourself.
So, you’ve blown it. You have cancelled all chances of entering the Kingdom of Heaven. You have failed by breaking all 10 Commandments, you have failed by not loving your neighbor as yourself, you have not glorified God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. You have been a rebel against God and dressed yourself up in morality and in the appearance of religion or spirituality.
Because of this, Heaven cannot and will not accept you. There’s not room for you. Everyone in Heaven wears the same clothing, wedding garments, and if you are still in sin, you don’t possess them. Those that are in this miserable state will only hear from the King of that place,
“Depart from Me you workers of iniquity!”
But God…
(the greatest phrase in scripture)
But God sent His Son, who is fully God AND fully man, who COULD NOT SIN, who kept every letter of Gods Law, who has CLEAN HANDS A PURE HEART AND HAS NEVER LIFTED HIS SOUL TO ANYTHING EXCEPT THE FATHER!
He loved the LORD His God with ALL His heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loved His neighbors as Himself.
He died on a cross, nailed to a tree, for sins that He never committed, the sins of EVERYONE WHO WOULD EVER BELIEVE ON HIM, their sins were imputed to Him, and when the sins of His people were laid on Him to bear, the Father, who is holy, hates sin so much, that even when sin was placed on His only Son, it pleased the Father to crush Him…(Isaiah 53)
The Great Exchange
If you’ve read this far you’re about to understand the title of this post.
“Heaven’s Requirements For Entry: You Must Be As Perfect As Jesus Christ.”
Christ took the believers sin on the cross, but that’s not the rest of the story. That alone, by itself is NOT the good news. Because if all Christ did on the cross was remove your sin, you still couldn’t enter Heaven.
In order to enter Heaven, you must keep the commands of God.
Christ takes the sins of all who would ever believe on Him, AND THEN,
gives to the believer His righteousness.
The 33 years that He lived sinless and God honoring every second of His life are given to you-if you have been born again.
That’s the stipulation, “WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM, will have eternal life.”
So now, you will meet the requirements of Heaven; ABSOLUTE PERFECTION-
because you have been given the perfection of Jesus, and you don’t have to wonder anymore if you’ve been “good enough.” (FYI-you haven’t)
But in Christ, YOU ARE!
Believe in the Son, that He is not only able, but willing to save wretches like us, and give them the requirements needed to enter into His Kingdom with the wedding garments provided by Him.
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully. (Psalms 24:3, NASB)
