Focusing on Jesus on Easter may seem strange to some people. But he should be our focus instead of bunnies, egg hunts, and candy. Jesus is even far more important than kids and family time. We would all do well to get more serious and focus on what really matters.
(Matthew 28:6a) "He is not here, for he has risen, as he said." (ESV)
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4) "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures," (ESV)
We are all born sinners. We inherited our sinful or fallen nature from Adam when he rebelled against God. God is holy, righteous, and just, so we incur his wrath because of our sin. None of us are righteous, not even one. We all deserve to go to hell. But God by his love and grace sent his Son, Jesus to save his people from their sins. Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sins of all believers. Christ takes our sin on himself and his perfect righteousness is credited to us.
Jesus was raised from the dead victorious over sin, death, and the devil. The resurrection proves that Jesus is God and that his atoning sacrifice was accepted by God the Father. All who repent of their sins and trust in Christ alone for salvation will spend eternity in heaven.
Friday, March 30, 2018
Monday, March 12, 2018
Does The Bible Teach That The Earth Is Flat?
Some make the assertion that the Bible teaches that the earth is flat and it is therefore proven to be in error. I assume many of these people have never read the Bible because nowhere does it say that the earth is flat. In fact it teaches the very opposite.
(Isaiah 40:22a) "It is he who sits above the circle of the earth," (ESV)
While Isaiah the prophet was not primarily concerned about the shape of the earth in this passage, it clearly presents the earth as a circle, a globe.
Once again the criticisms hurled against the Bible prove to be false. The Bible is true and all true science is in line with it. In fact without the Biblical worldview it would be impossible to even conduct science.
(Isaiah 40:22a) "It is he who sits above the circle of the earth," (ESV)
While Isaiah the prophet was not primarily concerned about the shape of the earth in this passage, it clearly presents the earth as a circle, a globe.
Once again the criticisms hurled against the Bible prove to be false. The Bible is true and all true science is in line with it. In fact without the Biblical worldview it would be impossible to even conduct science.
Monday, March 5, 2018
What Is A Worldview?
Everyone has a worldview whether they realize it or not. Our worldview comes from how we answer the most important questions in life. A worldview is composed of three basic elements. They are metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. This is not as hard to understand as it may seem. We must learn to think in terms of worldview, and of course having the right one is of the utmost importance.
First of all metaphysics or ontology deals with ultimate reality, our view of God, and the nature of man. Epistemology deals with knowledge, that is how do we know what we know. Ethics deals with morality, what is right and wrong, what is good or evil. How we answer these basic questions then determines our worldview. Our worldview shapes our life and thought. We interpret all our experiences through our worldview.
Christians must learn to think in terms of worldview instead of just in bits and pieces. We must see Christianity as an entire thought and life system that gives us true answers and reality. People reject Christianity and hold different views on issues because they have a non Christian worldview. They operate on different assumptions that they have made regarding ultimate reality, knowledge, and ethics.
The Christian worldview is the only worldview that provides the necessary preconditions for intelligibility. In other words only the Christian worldview makes sense of your world. All other worldviews ultimately collapse because they do not fit reality. They cannot be lived out consistently. Christians need not fear those holding other worldviews because all non Christian worldviews are false and the Christian worldview is true.
First of all metaphysics or ontology deals with ultimate reality, our view of God, and the nature of man. Epistemology deals with knowledge, that is how do we know what we know. Ethics deals with morality, what is right and wrong, what is good or evil. How we answer these basic questions then determines our worldview. Our worldview shapes our life and thought. We interpret all our experiences through our worldview.
Christians must learn to think in terms of worldview instead of just in bits and pieces. We must see Christianity as an entire thought and life system that gives us true answers and reality. People reject Christianity and hold different views on issues because they have a non Christian worldview. They operate on different assumptions that they have made regarding ultimate reality, knowledge, and ethics.
The Christian worldview is the only worldview that provides the necessary preconditions for intelligibility. In other words only the Christian worldview makes sense of your world. All other worldviews ultimately collapse because they do not fit reality. They cannot be lived out consistently. Christians need not fear those holding other worldviews because all non Christian worldviews are false and the Christian worldview is true.
Monday, February 19, 2018
Jesus Is The Only Way To Heaven
Jesus is the only way to heaven, yes the only way. Exclusive truth claims like this are not popular in our modern culture. In fact claiming that there is only one way to heaven is down right offensive. But we cannot go by our own opinions or by what makes us feel good. Since God is God he is the ultimate authority. So we must look to him for the answers. God has revealed himself to us in the Bible. So we look to the Word of God to find the truth.
(John 14:6) "Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (ESV)
We must notice that Jesus says I am the way, not a way. We can only come to the Father through Jesus, all other ways lead to hell. All roads do not lead to heaven.
(Acts 4:12) "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (ESV)
Salvation is found in Christ alone. All other names such as Muhammad, Buddha, and Joseph Smith lead to hell. Christianity is true therefore all other religions are false.
(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)
Many think that they will go to heaven because they are good people but this is not true. As we can see there is no one who is righteous. We are all sinners and even when we do good things they are not done for the glory of God.
(Hebrews 9:27) "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment," (ESV)
We die and then comes judgment. It is final, we will either go to heaven or hell for eternity. All people will not eventually go to heaven.
(Matthew 7:13-14) "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." (ESV)
The majority of people are not going to heaven. Salvation is found only in Jesus and this is the narrow way. The wide gate includes all the other paths that people choose.
(John 3:16) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (ESV)
We can go to heaven, this is the good news. God sent Jesus his only, unique Son to save his people from their sins. All who repent of theirs sins and believe in Christ alone for salvation have eternal life.
(John 14:6) "Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (ESV)
We must notice that Jesus says I am the way, not a way. We can only come to the Father through Jesus, all other ways lead to hell. All roads do not lead to heaven.
(Acts 4:12) "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (ESV)
Salvation is found in Christ alone. All other names such as Muhammad, Buddha, and Joseph Smith lead to hell. Christianity is true therefore all other religions are false.
(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)
Many think that they will go to heaven because they are good people but this is not true. As we can see there is no one who is righteous. We are all sinners and even when we do good things they are not done for the glory of God.
(Hebrews 9:27) "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment," (ESV)
We die and then comes judgment. It is final, we will either go to heaven or hell for eternity. All people will not eventually go to heaven.
(Matthew 7:13-14) "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." (ESV)
The majority of people are not going to heaven. Salvation is found only in Jesus and this is the narrow way. The wide gate includes all the other paths that people choose.
(John 3:16) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (ESV)
We can go to heaven, this is the good news. God sent Jesus his only, unique Son to save his people from their sins. All who repent of theirs sins and believe in Christ alone for salvation have eternal life.
Monday, February 12, 2018
How Do You Answer A Fool?
(Proverbs 26:4-5) "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes." (ESV)
First we must define what is meant by the term fool. It is not name calling or a personal attack. It speaks to a person's moral orientation and not to his intellectual orientation. A fool is anyone who denies the existence of God and does not honor him. We do not just mean someone who denies the existence of a god but anyone who denies the existence of the God of the Bible. In other words all unbelievers are fools because they reject the truth of the Bible. The God of the Bible is Trinity, he is the infinite, personal Creator.
You should not answer a fool according to his folly or you will also be foolish. You should not accept his presuppositions or basic assumptions about God, man, knowledge, and ethics. Instead you must expose his worldview as false showing him his foolishness.
The Christian must not compromise on the authority and truthfulness of Scripture. He must presuppose the Bible as truth whenever he deals with the unbeliever. The Bible defends itself, it is self attesting. There is no neutral ground between the believer and the unbeliever. The unbeliever rejects the authority of the Bible from the outset and instead assumes his own human reason or sense perception as authoritative. He is worshiping false gods.
We should not set aside the Bible and try to provide evidence and make arguments for the existence of a god. The unbeliever already has the evidence that God is there. Creation itself and man's own constitution testify to the existence of God. They testify not to the existence of a god but to the existence of the Christian God. In their heart of hearts all people know that God exists, unbelievers are simply suppressing the truth in unrighteousness. They refuse to honor God as God, exchanging the truth for a lie. Claiming to be wise they have become fools (See Romans 1:18-25).
The Bible must be accepted as authoritative and true at our starting point. Only the Christian worldview provides the necessary preconditions for intelligibility. It is the only worldview that makes sense of your world. Only the Christian worldview is livable and fits reality. All other worldviews reduce down to absurdity. Unbelievers cannot live out their worldview consistently. They must borrow from the Christian worldview in order to live their lives.
The unbeliever must be pressed to admit to what he already knows, namely that the God of the Bible exists. The unbeliever needs to repent (have a change of mind) and place his faith in Christ alone for salvation. Ultimately this can only be brought about by the work of the Holy Spirit.
First we must define what is meant by the term fool. It is not name calling or a personal attack. It speaks to a person's moral orientation and not to his intellectual orientation. A fool is anyone who denies the existence of God and does not honor him. We do not just mean someone who denies the existence of a god but anyone who denies the existence of the God of the Bible. In other words all unbelievers are fools because they reject the truth of the Bible. The God of the Bible is Trinity, he is the infinite, personal Creator.
You should not answer a fool according to his folly or you will also be foolish. You should not accept his presuppositions or basic assumptions about God, man, knowledge, and ethics. Instead you must expose his worldview as false showing him his foolishness.
The Christian must not compromise on the authority and truthfulness of Scripture. He must presuppose the Bible as truth whenever he deals with the unbeliever. The Bible defends itself, it is self attesting. There is no neutral ground between the believer and the unbeliever. The unbeliever rejects the authority of the Bible from the outset and instead assumes his own human reason or sense perception as authoritative. He is worshiping false gods.
We should not set aside the Bible and try to provide evidence and make arguments for the existence of a god. The unbeliever already has the evidence that God is there. Creation itself and man's own constitution testify to the existence of God. They testify not to the existence of a god but to the existence of the Christian God. In their heart of hearts all people know that God exists, unbelievers are simply suppressing the truth in unrighteousness. They refuse to honor God as God, exchanging the truth for a lie. Claiming to be wise they have become fools (See Romans 1:18-25).
The Bible must be accepted as authoritative and true at our starting point. Only the Christian worldview provides the necessary preconditions for intelligibility. It is the only worldview that makes sense of your world. Only the Christian worldview is livable and fits reality. All other worldviews reduce down to absurdity. Unbelievers cannot live out their worldview consistently. They must borrow from the Christian worldview in order to live their lives.
The unbeliever must be pressed to admit to what he already knows, namely that the God of the Bible exists. The unbeliever needs to repent (have a change of mind) and place his faith in Christ alone for salvation. Ultimately this can only be brought about by the work of the Holy Spirit.
Friday, January 19, 2018
National Tulip Day
Did you know that January 20 is National Tulip Day? Mars Hill Examiner is celebrating it and I hope that you will too. In honor of National Tulip Day we will take a brief look at the tulip.
Of course TULIP is an acrostic representing profound Biblical truth known as the Doctrines of Grace.
T-Total Depravity
This does not mean that man is as bad as he can possible be, but that he is sinful in his entire being. We are born sinners and our very nature is therefore sinful. Man is dead in his sins and unable to choose God. He will freely choose to reject God because his will is in bondage to sin. Because of our sin we are under God's wrath and on the road to hell. (Psalm 51:5, Romans 3:9-12, Ephesians 2:1-3)
U-Unconditional Election
Since we are not capable of choosing God because we are dead in our sins, by his grace God has chosen to save a people for himself, the elect. God chooses to save people based on his will and purpose. It is not based on anything the human being does or will do. God chooses his elect solely by his grace. God freely chooses whom he will save. (Acts 13:48, Romans 9:11-16, Ephesians 1:4-5,11-12)
L-Limited Atonement
This could also be called definite atonement. Jesus came to save his people from their sins. Christ died to pay for the sins of believers only, he did not pay for the sins of all people. If he paid for the sins of all people then no one would still have to pay for their sins. All people would then be saved, that is universalism. Christ actually accomplished salvation for his people, he did not just make it possible for all people. (Matthew 1:21, John 10:11,14-15,24-26, Ephesians 5:25-27)
I-Irresistible Grace
Since we are dead in our sins and unable to choose God we can only come to him by his grace. He must make us alive or regenerate us. God must draw us to himself. After God causes us to be born again we will respond in faith and repentance. Once we have gone from being spiritually dead to being spiritually alive we will freely choose God. All people God chooses to save will respond to him with saving faith because he always accomplishes his purpose. (John 6:37,44,63-66, Acts 11:18, Ephesians 2:1-9)
P-Perseverance Of The Saints
God preserves his people and none of them will fall away. True Christians will not fall away because salvation is the work of God from beginning to end. This does not mean that anyone who makes a decision for Christ is once saved always saved. Only true Christians are eternally secure and they will persevere to the end. Anyone who falls away was never a true Christian to begin with. (John 6;37,39, John 10:27-29, Romans 8:29-39)
Salvation is totally the work of God from beginning to end. It is by his grace alone. If salvation was dependent upon the human being at any point it would no longer be by grace. It is not God and man working together to accomplish salvation but the work of God alone. Therefore the glory belongs to God alone. God does not try to save all people and fail to do so. He saves all he has chosen and always accomplishes his purpose.
Who would have thought that there would be a national day celebrating the Doctrines of Grace?
Of course TULIP is an acrostic representing profound Biblical truth known as the Doctrines of Grace.
T-Total Depravity
This does not mean that man is as bad as he can possible be, but that he is sinful in his entire being. We are born sinners and our very nature is therefore sinful. Man is dead in his sins and unable to choose God. He will freely choose to reject God because his will is in bondage to sin. Because of our sin we are under God's wrath and on the road to hell. (Psalm 51:5, Romans 3:9-12, Ephesians 2:1-3)
U-Unconditional Election
Since we are not capable of choosing God because we are dead in our sins, by his grace God has chosen to save a people for himself, the elect. God chooses to save people based on his will and purpose. It is not based on anything the human being does or will do. God chooses his elect solely by his grace. God freely chooses whom he will save. (Acts 13:48, Romans 9:11-16, Ephesians 1:4-5,11-12)
L-Limited Atonement
This could also be called definite atonement. Jesus came to save his people from their sins. Christ died to pay for the sins of believers only, he did not pay for the sins of all people. If he paid for the sins of all people then no one would still have to pay for their sins. All people would then be saved, that is universalism. Christ actually accomplished salvation for his people, he did not just make it possible for all people. (Matthew 1:21, John 10:11,14-15,24-26, Ephesians 5:25-27)
I-Irresistible Grace
Since we are dead in our sins and unable to choose God we can only come to him by his grace. He must make us alive or regenerate us. God must draw us to himself. After God causes us to be born again we will respond in faith and repentance. Once we have gone from being spiritually dead to being spiritually alive we will freely choose God. All people God chooses to save will respond to him with saving faith because he always accomplishes his purpose. (John 6:37,44,63-66, Acts 11:18, Ephesians 2:1-9)
P-Perseverance Of The Saints
God preserves his people and none of them will fall away. True Christians will not fall away because salvation is the work of God from beginning to end. This does not mean that anyone who makes a decision for Christ is once saved always saved. Only true Christians are eternally secure and they will persevere to the end. Anyone who falls away was never a true Christian to begin with. (John 6;37,39, John 10:27-29, Romans 8:29-39)
Salvation is totally the work of God from beginning to end. It is by his grace alone. If salvation was dependent upon the human being at any point it would no longer be by grace. It is not God and man working together to accomplish salvation but the work of God alone. Therefore the glory belongs to God alone. God does not try to save all people and fail to do so. He saves all he has chosen and always accomplishes his purpose.
Who would have thought that there would be a national day celebrating the Doctrines of Grace?
Monday, January 15, 2018
When Christians Disagree
How should we react when professing Christians disagree on an issue? Should we consider each other fellow Christians? Should we worship separately? Or is it an issue that is really not that significant? Placing the issues into three different categories can be helpful.
Tier 1
Disagreements on issues in this category will require that we not worship together. Also disagreements on issues in this category will not allow us to consider those who disagree to be fellow Christians. An example of a Tier 1 issue is the deity of Christ. If one does not believe that Jesus is the only, unique Son of God he cannot be considered a true Christian. Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses cannot be viewed as fellow Christians.
Tier 2
Disagreements on issues in this category may require that we worship separately but we can still consider each other fellow Christians. An example of a Tier 2 issue is baptism. Some hold to infant baptism and others hold to believers baptism. Baptists and Presbyterians may worship at different churches but they can still consider each other fellow Christians.
Tier 3
Disagreements on issues in this category do not require us to worship separately. Also we can consider each other fellow Christians. An example of a Tier 3 issue is whether one holds to a pretribulation rapture or not. Disagreements over details of the end times does not require us to worship separately and we can most definitely consider each other fellow Christians.
I must thank Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for this basic layout.
Tier 1
Disagreements on issues in this category will require that we not worship together. Also disagreements on issues in this category will not allow us to consider those who disagree to be fellow Christians. An example of a Tier 1 issue is the deity of Christ. If one does not believe that Jesus is the only, unique Son of God he cannot be considered a true Christian. Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses cannot be viewed as fellow Christians.
Tier 2
Disagreements on issues in this category may require that we worship separately but we can still consider each other fellow Christians. An example of a Tier 2 issue is baptism. Some hold to infant baptism and others hold to believers baptism. Baptists and Presbyterians may worship at different churches but they can still consider each other fellow Christians.
Tier 3
Disagreements on issues in this category do not require us to worship separately. Also we can consider each other fellow Christians. An example of a Tier 3 issue is whether one holds to a pretribulation rapture or not. Disagreements over details of the end times does not require us to worship separately and we can most definitely consider each other fellow Christians.
I must thank Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for this basic layout.
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