First of all who will go to heaven? Do all roads lead to heaven? Are all religions paths to heaven? Do most people deserve to go there? Actually Jesus is the only way to heaven (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). All other roads lead to hell. Christianity is the only true religion and all others are false religions. People are not basically good and do not deserve to go to heaven (Romans 3:10, 3:23, Ephesians 2:8-9).
In order to get to heaven a person must believe that Jesus is the Christ or Messiah and the Son of God. People are saved from their sins by the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. People must repent of their sins and trust Jesus for their salvation.
So what happens when believers die? Do they go to heaven immediately or is there soul sleep? Actually they go to heaven to be with the Lord immediately (Luke 23:43, Philippians 1:21-23). The body dies but the soul goes to heaven. This is a temporary heaven where souls experience blessing. Those who reject Christ go to a temporary hell where they experience torment (Luke 16:19-31).
At the second coming of Christ the dead in Christ will rise first and then those who are alive when he returns will be transformed (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Believers will receive resurrection bodies that will be perfect and no longer sinful (1 Corinthians 15, Philippians 3:20-21). Then Christ will reign with resurrected believers during the millennium on this earth (Revelation 20:1-6). After the millennial reign the devil will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10).
Then there is the judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). Believers and unbelievers will both be at the judgment. Unbelievers will be thrown into the lake of fire or hell and will spend eternity there. In hell they will face God's wrath. Believers will be at the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21-22). Heaven and earth will be joined together. Believers will spend eternity there with God. There will be no more pain, suffering, or sorrow. Sin, death, and evil will be eliminated.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Monday, September 23, 2013
Should We Embrace Libertarianism?
There has been a recent surge in the popularity of libertarianism in America. With the rise of the Tea Party, Ron Paul, and Rand Paul libertarianism has come to the forefront of American politics. So is this political movement good or bad?
The libertarian emphasis on limited government is definitely a good thing. People cannot be trusted with too much power. A large, intrusive government tends to become a false god also. The emphasis on our rights and our privacy are also good things. The stand for freedom of religion and freedom of speech are strong elements of libertarianism as well.
The libertarian advocacy of free market economics is also to be admired. Capitalism has done more to lift people out of poverty than any government aid ever has. We need good fiscal policy. Low taxes and low spending lead to our staying out of debt. They also lead to a prosperous economy. Our monetary policy should be solid too. We need to have sound money and a limit on the printing of money. A return to the gold standard and eliminating the Federal Reserve are worth considering.
So what about foreign policy? We should have a more restrained foreign policy. We should also have a wiser use of our military. The United States cannot be the world's policemen. Some libertarians are too isolationist but I think we should at least move more in that direction.
And what about the social issues? I do not agree with the legalization of drugs, prostitution, and gambling. With legalization you get more of the activity and these things are harmful to society. Also I oppose legalized abortion. One thing government should do is protect innocent life. I oppose same sex marriage as well. Marriage receives it's definition from God who is a much greater authority than the government. The government has no authority to redefine marriage.
We should be advocates for liberty but it needs to be an ordered liberty. Freedom requires virtue and for that we need to have a Biblical worldview in place. I cannot advocate an Ayn Rand, pure libertarianism. However I do advocate a conservative libertarianism.
The libertarian emphasis on limited government is definitely a good thing. People cannot be trusted with too much power. A large, intrusive government tends to become a false god also. The emphasis on our rights and our privacy are also good things. The stand for freedom of religion and freedom of speech are strong elements of libertarianism as well.
The libertarian advocacy of free market economics is also to be admired. Capitalism has done more to lift people out of poverty than any government aid ever has. We need good fiscal policy. Low taxes and low spending lead to our staying out of debt. They also lead to a prosperous economy. Our monetary policy should be solid too. We need to have sound money and a limit on the printing of money. A return to the gold standard and eliminating the Federal Reserve are worth considering.
So what about foreign policy? We should have a more restrained foreign policy. We should also have a wiser use of our military. The United States cannot be the world's policemen. Some libertarians are too isolationist but I think we should at least move more in that direction.
And what about the social issues? I do not agree with the legalization of drugs, prostitution, and gambling. With legalization you get more of the activity and these things are harmful to society. Also I oppose legalized abortion. One thing government should do is protect innocent life. I oppose same sex marriage as well. Marriage receives it's definition from God who is a much greater authority than the government. The government has no authority to redefine marriage.
We should be advocates for liberty but it needs to be an ordered liberty. Freedom requires virtue and for that we need to have a Biblical worldview in place. I cannot advocate an Ayn Rand, pure libertarianism. However I do advocate a conservative libertarianism.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Two Kinds Of People
There are two kinds of people in the world. We often divide them into groups such as secularists/traditionalists, liberals/conservatives, or Democrats/Republicans. But these categories do not get to the ultimate dividing point. People are ultimately divided into believers and unbelievers.
So who are the unbelievers? Unbelievers include all who reject the Jesus of the Bible and the Bible itself. This category includes more people than you might think. It not only includes atheists and secularists but others also. Other unbelievers include Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Muslims, adherents of Judaism, Hindus, Buddhists, New Agers, Scientologists, and many more.
If Christianity is true then all other religions and worldviews are necessarily false. All religions are not true and all paths do not lead to heaven. Jesus the Messiah, the only Son of God, is the only way to heaven. All unbelievers are dead in their sins, spiritually dead, and on the road to hell.
Included in the believers category are all true Christians. All true believers believe in the Trinity. God is three persons of one essence (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah, the only Son of God. They also believe that the Bible is the Word of God. Believers have been made spiritually alive, have been saved from their sins, and are on the road to heaven. Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay for their sins. They also believe he was resurrected, victorious over sin and death. The resurrection also proves that he is God.
The evidence for the existence of the God of the Bible is there for everyone. The creation itself testifies to his existence. All people have a sense of the divine. But unbelievers suppress the truth and reject the one, true God. Unbelievers create other gods for themselves because they do not want to submit to the God who is there.
So who are the unbelievers? Unbelievers include all who reject the Jesus of the Bible and the Bible itself. This category includes more people than you might think. It not only includes atheists and secularists but others also. Other unbelievers include Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Muslims, adherents of Judaism, Hindus, Buddhists, New Agers, Scientologists, and many more.
If Christianity is true then all other religions and worldviews are necessarily false. All religions are not true and all paths do not lead to heaven. Jesus the Messiah, the only Son of God, is the only way to heaven. All unbelievers are dead in their sins, spiritually dead, and on the road to hell.
Included in the believers category are all true Christians. All true believers believe in the Trinity. God is three persons of one essence (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah, the only Son of God. They also believe that the Bible is the Word of God. Believers have been made spiritually alive, have been saved from their sins, and are on the road to heaven. Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay for their sins. They also believe he was resurrected, victorious over sin and death. The resurrection also proves that he is God.
The evidence for the existence of the God of the Bible is there for everyone. The creation itself testifies to his existence. All people have a sense of the divine. But unbelievers suppress the truth and reject the one, true God. Unbelievers create other gods for themselves because they do not want to submit to the God who is there.
Monday, September 9, 2013
It's All About Me
We have become a nation of narcissists and hedonists. (Narcissism means to have an abnormal self love and hedonism is the worship of pleasure). We Americans are so in love with ourselves. It is all about us and nothing else. The self is the greatest concern and the greatest authority. We care only about our own ease and convenience. Self denial and delayed gratification are foreign concepts to many of us.
We can see narcissism with smart phones, Facebook, and twitter. Many people are addicted to their cell phones. They take it with them everywhere they go. Often they cannot even talk with the people they are around because they are to busy with their smart phones. We constantly have to text people because what we have to say is so important. Many also must post everything about them on Facebook. After all everyone wants to know everything about us. And of course every thought and every move we make must be put on twitter.
We can see hedonism in the rampant sexual immorality, greed, love of money, and the party scene in our society. Our
immoral culture seeks sexual pleasure with whoever and however it wants. If the self is the ultimate authority then no one can tell you what to do. Hedonism is also seen in the love of money and things in our society. If we just accumulate more money and more things we will be so happy. We just have to get the latest this or the latest that. You won't have to even pay for it, you can just put it on the credit card. Many also seek fulfillment in the party lifestyle. They think they will find salvation in alcohol and drugs.
All of this results from a society that has rejected God. People are trying to be their own god. They are trying to find meaning, purpose, and love without God. But meaning, purpose, and love are found only in the God who is there. People are searching in all the wrong places.
In our obsession with ourselves we have actually lost ourselves. If you don't know who God is then you don't know who you are. True happiness and fulfillment are found only in him. With our loss of restraint we have lost our dignity and respect for ourselves and others. Immorality, greed, and debauchery are just cheap substitutes for the contentment and joy found in God.
It is not all about us, it is all about God. Only when we accept that God is God and we are not will we be able to live our lives correctly. We will no longer try to find our importance in ourselves. We were meant to live of God.
Our purpose is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. The salvation we need is found only in Jesus Christ. A life not lived for God is a wasted life.
(Ecclesiastes 12:13) "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (ESV)
We can see narcissism with smart phones, Facebook, and twitter. Many people are addicted to their cell phones. They take it with them everywhere they go. Often they cannot even talk with the people they are around because they are to busy with their smart phones. We constantly have to text people because what we have to say is so important. Many also must post everything about them on Facebook. After all everyone wants to know everything about us. And of course every thought and every move we make must be put on twitter.
We can see hedonism in the rampant sexual immorality, greed, love of money, and the party scene in our society. Our
immoral culture seeks sexual pleasure with whoever and however it wants. If the self is the ultimate authority then no one can tell you what to do. Hedonism is also seen in the love of money and things in our society. If we just accumulate more money and more things we will be so happy. We just have to get the latest this or the latest that. You won't have to even pay for it, you can just put it on the credit card. Many also seek fulfillment in the party lifestyle. They think they will find salvation in alcohol and drugs.
All of this results from a society that has rejected God. People are trying to be their own god. They are trying to find meaning, purpose, and love without God. But meaning, purpose, and love are found only in the God who is there. People are searching in all the wrong places.
In our obsession with ourselves we have actually lost ourselves. If you don't know who God is then you don't know who you are. True happiness and fulfillment are found only in him. With our loss of restraint we have lost our dignity and respect for ourselves and others. Immorality, greed, and debauchery are just cheap substitutes for the contentment and joy found in God.
It is not all about us, it is all about God. Only when we accept that God is God and we are not will we be able to live our lives correctly. We will no longer try to find our importance in ourselves. We were meant to live of God.
Our purpose is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. The salvation we need is found only in Jesus Christ. A life not lived for God is a wasted life.
(Ecclesiastes 12:13) "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (ESV)
Monday, September 2, 2013
The Truth Will Set You Free
The truth will set you free is often quoted, but not in context. So let's take a look at it in it's proper context.
(John 8:31-32) "So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (ESV)
To abide means to remain or to hold steadfast to something. A disciple is a learner and a follower. If we continue to trust and obey Jesus it is a sign that we are a disciple of his. Holding to the teaching of Scripture is also a sign of being a true disciple of Jesus. A disciple accepts the facts that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God. He also accepts the teaching of Jesus and continues in obedience and trust.
True disciples of Jesus know the truth and are set free. They are set free from the practice and guilt of sin (John 8:34-36). Practicing sin is no longer a way of life. We are no longer in bondage to sin, we are no longer characterized by sinful living. Christians do still commit sins but they no longer practice a sinful lifestyle.
Christians are now free to live for God and to fulfill their ultimate purpose. True disciples are also set free from demonic influence. They are no longer children of the devil, but are children of God (John 8:44). True disciples continue to believe and hold to the truth of the Bible. When one accepts the teaching of the Bible he will know the truth and reality.
We hear a lot of talk about freedom in our time. But much of the so called freedom only leads to bondage. True freedom is found only in Jesus. Christians are freed from sin and falsehood. We now know the truth and live for God.
(John 8:36) "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (ESV)
(John 8:31-32) "So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (ESV)
To abide means to remain or to hold steadfast to something. A disciple is a learner and a follower. If we continue to trust and obey Jesus it is a sign that we are a disciple of his. Holding to the teaching of Scripture is also a sign of being a true disciple of Jesus. A disciple accepts the facts that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God. He also accepts the teaching of Jesus and continues in obedience and trust.
True disciples of Jesus know the truth and are set free. They are set free from the practice and guilt of sin (John 8:34-36). Practicing sin is no longer a way of life. We are no longer in bondage to sin, we are no longer characterized by sinful living. Christians do still commit sins but they no longer practice a sinful lifestyle.
Christians are now free to live for God and to fulfill their ultimate purpose. True disciples are also set free from demonic influence. They are no longer children of the devil, but are children of God (John 8:44). True disciples continue to believe and hold to the truth of the Bible. When one accepts the teaching of the Bible he will know the truth and reality.
We hear a lot of talk about freedom in our time. But much of the so called freedom only leads to bondage. True freedom is found only in Jesus. Christians are freed from sin and falsehood. We now know the truth and live for God.
(John 8:36) "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (ESV)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)