What Are The Marks Of A True Church?

 The Reformers generally recognized the following things as the marks of a true church.  

-The preaching of the Word of God

-The administration of baptism

-The administration of the Lord's Supper

-The exercise of church discipline

Understanding Transgender Terminology

 Here are some terms and basic definitions related to transgenderism that one might encounter from the LGBTQ movement.  

Transgender - a biological male who identifies as a female or a biological female who identifies as a male.

Gender - a social construct, a person may identify differently than his or her biological sex.  

Nonbinary - rejects male and female only sex distinctions.  

Gender Fluidity - a person's gender may change over time.  

Assigned At Birth - biological sex is just assumed, a person may change and identify as the opposite sex.  

Cisgender - someone who continues to identify with his or her sex that was assigned at birth.  

(Genesis 1:27)"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." (ESV)

Matthew 12:30 (Short Commentary)

 (Matthew 12:30)"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." (ESV) 

There is no neutral ground, there is no middle ground.  You are either with Jesus or you are against him. 

Liberals vs Conservative Christians On Ezekiel, Sodom, And Homosexuality

Theological liberals have accused conservative Christians of misinterpreting Genesis 19:1-28 when they say God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of homosexuality.  The liberals use Ezekiel 16:49-50 to make their case.  

(Ezekiel 16:49-50)"Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.  They were haughty and did an abomination before me.  So I removed them, when I saw it." (ESV) 

The theological liberals assert that this passage shows the sins of Sodom were pride, greed, and not caring for those in need, not homosexuality.  But notice toward the end of the passage the word abomination.  Where have we seen the word abomination before?  

(Leviticus 18:22)"You shall not lie with a male as with a woman, it is an abomination." (ESV) 

(Leviticus 20:13)"If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them." (ESV) 

So we see the same word, abomination, is used in the Ezekiel passage and in the verses from Leviticus referring to homosexuality.  When it says in Ezekiel 16:49-50 "did an abomination before me" it is referring back to Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13.  While Sodom had other sins like greed, pride, and not caring for the needy, homosexuality was a major sin that showed how far down the road of depravity the people of Sodom had gone.  God destroyed them because of it.  

(Jude 1:7)"just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire." (ESV) 

Five Books On The End Times View Known as Amillennialism

Amillennialism is the traditional, Reformed Protestant view of eschatology (last things) and the Book of Revelation.  Here are some good books on the subject.  

The Five Points Of Amillennialism-Jeffrey Johnson

A Case For Amillennialism-Kim Riddlebarger

The End Times Made Simple-Samuel Waldron

The Bible And The Future-Anthony Hoekema

More Than Conquerors-William Hendriksen 

Abortion And The Autonomous Self

Since the overturning of Roe vs Wade, the pro abortion movement has been irate and enraged.  There has been constant talk about the loss of rights and the autonomous self has been on full display.  

The autonomous self basically means self law. The person recognizes no authority higher than the self.  The person is rejecting the authority of God and is trying to be his or her own god.  

We see this in the pro abortion movement.  We constantly hear the argument, that no one can tell me what to do with my own body.  This assertion rejects any authority above the self.  When this argument is made, God is being rejected and the woman is trying to be her own god.  Of course it is not just her own body but also the body of the unborn baby.  

We also hear a lot of talk about abortion rights, reproductive rights, and the right to choose.  The abortion advocates might want to stop and ask where rights come from in the first place.  The concept of rights presupposes truth and justice.  The concepts of truth and justice presuppose the Biblical God.  

God does not give people the right to an abortion.  Scripture plainly teaches that abortion is murder (See Psalm 139:13-16, Jeremiah 1:5, Luke 1:41-44).  Abortion takes the life of an innocent unborn baby.  The notion of the autonomous self and abortion rights rests on the foundation of unbelief.  

(Romans 1:21)"For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened." (ESV)  

The Bible And Pride Month: Part 2 (New Testament)

 Our culture is celebrating June as Pride Month.  Homosexuality and transgenderism are being promoted as normal and wonderful.  But the Bible alone is the ultimate authority because it is the Word of God.  So we turn to God and his Word for the right perspective.  In part 2 we will look at the New Testament.  

(Matthew 19:4-5)"He answered, Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?" (ESV) 

(Romans 1:26-27)"For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions.  For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error." (ESV) 

(1 Corinthians 6:9-10)"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." (ESV) 

(1 Timothy 1:8-10)"Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine," (ESV) 

(Jude 1:7)"Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire." (ESV) 

Homosexuality and transgenderism are sinful lifestyles that violate God's creative design.  Pride Month encourages people to celebrate rebellion against God.  The people living these lifestyles and the people who applaud them, need to repent of their sin and trust Christ alone for salvation.