(Mark 13:27)"And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven." (ESV)
Some have tried to use this verse as evidence that the Bible teaches a flat earth. But Jesus is obviously using symbolic language to say he will gather his elect from everywhere. Jesus has perfect knowledge of the earth, he created it (John 1:1-3).
Since it is Pride Month, let us look at what the Bible says about pride.
(Proverbs 11:2)"Where pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."
(Proverbs 16:18)"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
(Proverbs 21:4)"Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin."
(Mark 7:20-23)"And he said, what comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."
(James 4:6)"But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
(1 John 2:16)"For all that is in the world-the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life-is not from the Father but is from the world."
*All Scripture quotations from the ESV (English Standard Version)
In a recent interview Pope Francis said that people are fundamentally good. The Bible teaches the exact opposite.
(Romans 3:10)"as it is written: None is righteous, no, not one;" (ESV)
(Romans 3:23)"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (ESV)
(Ecclesiastes 7:20)"Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins." (ESV)
The faulty theology of Pope Francis undermines the gospel itself. Fundamentally good people do not need a savior. Sinners need a savior. Christ came to save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).
We must take the Word of God over the word of the pope. Scripture alone is the ultimate and final authority.
Ephesians 6:5
(ESV)"Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,"
(LSB)"Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the integrity of your heart, as to Christ;"
(KJV)"Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;"
Romans 1:1
(ESV)"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,"
(LSB)"Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, having been set apart for the gospel of God,"
(KJV)"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,"
John 8:34
(ESV)"Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin."
(LSB)"Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin."
(KJV)"Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin."
At issue is how to translate the Greek word doulos. Should it be translated as slave, bondservant, or servant? The ESV sometimes uses slave, sometimes bondservant, and sometimes servant, depending on the context. The LSB consistently translates it as slave. The KJV regularly renders it as servant.
ESV (English Standard Version)
LSB (Legacy Standard Bible)
KJV (King James Version)
On social media an atheist was debating a Christian, making the argument that God is not necessary for morality to exist. He laid out his case as follows. In World A God does exist, and in World B God does not exist. The atheist asked the Christian, in World A if someone throws a baby off a building is it wrong? The Christian answered yes. The atheist then asked the Christian, in World B if someone throws a baby off a building is it wrong? The Christian responded yes again. The atheist then concluded that he had proven morality does exist without God.
Did the atheist really prove his case? No, not at all. The Christian should have answered the question about World B as no. Because in a world where God does not exist it is not wrong to throw a baby off a building. Without God there is no basis for the concepts of right and wrong. By what standard could the atheist even determine that throwing a baby off a building is wrong? Without God there is no ultimate and final authority. You would be left with nothing more than one opinion versus another opinion.
If humans just somehow happened, if humans are just chemicals reacting, and if humans just cease to exist when they die, then nothing really matters anyway because humans would have no value. The only consistent response for an atheist to anything that happens, including throwing a baby off a building, is so what?
When an atheist thinks throwing a baby off a building is wrong he is actually borrowing from the Christian worldview. The atheist cannot escape the fact that he is made in the image of God and must live in God's world. He cannot consistently live out his own worldview. A baby matters and has value because he was created by God in his image. Throwing a baby off a building is wrong because it is a violation of God's law and character.
(Psalm 118:9)"It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes." (ESV)
Those who view politics as ultimate need to listen to this verse. No politician is going to save you. Salvation is found in Christ alone. Our trust should not be in politicians or any human beings. Our trust should only be in God.
With the recent death of my father, both of my parents are now in heaven. There is no more pain, suffering, sin, or death; it is perfect there. So, how did my parents get to heaven?
(Romans 1:18)"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth."
(Romans 3:10)"as it is written: None is righteous, no, not one;"
(Romans 3:23)"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
All people are unrighteous sinners who face the wrath of God. Unbelievers suppress the truth about God, refusing to honor and submit to him. Since we all deserve to go to hell and not heaven, how can we be right with God?
(Romans 3:28)"For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law."
We are justified (declared righteous) by faith alone. We are incapable of keeping God's law so we cannot be saved by works of the law (Romans 3:20). Through faith alone in Christ alone we receive the righteousness of Christ (Romans 3:22). Jesus through his death on the cross turned away the wrath of God from us (Romans 3:25, Romans 5:8-9).
(Romans 5:1)"Therefore since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
(Romans 6:23)"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
If we die in our sins we spend eternity in hell. If we repent of our sins and place our faith in Christ we will have eternal life in heaven.
(Romans 8:1)"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
(Romans 10:9)"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
*All Scripture quotations from the ESV (English Standard Version)
