Providential Opportunities To Speak of Christ

I had two very good opportunities today to witness to the grace of God in the Gospel. My first witness was to my Muslim co-worker. And the second witness was to a Roman Catholic turned Jehovah's Witness.

The Muslim actually approached me to ask good questions about Jesus. What piqued her interest was that I had previously asked her about her fasting during Ramadan. I wanted to press upon her that fasting does not make us more acceptable to God. Well, this time she came at me with some probing questions about who I think Jesus is, how could Jesus die on the cross if he is God, how could Jesus be God's Son, etc. I answered as clearly as I could, giving her Biblical reasons as to why I believe in Jesus Christ. I look forward to bringing her a literature resource for her further inquiry, and God willing, she may come to see the error of Islam, and the futility of relying on religious duty to be saved from sin and death.

My other encounter happened while I was out walking my baby girl in the stroller. A man probably in his late 40s was holding familiar looking tracts. He spotted me passing by and asked me if I wanted to learn more about life on a "Paradise Earth". My immediate response to the Jehovah's Witnesses is usually "I know the Lord already". And from there I proceed to ask them about Jesus and who he is to them.

I pressed this man with regard to the fact that the honors, attributes, names, deeds and seat of authority of Jehovah in the Old Testament are applied directly to Jesus in the New Testament. At this time, the verse that came immediately to mind was the Great Commission in Matthew's Gospel account. Matthew 28:19 "...make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...". I asked him what the name of the Father was. He replied "Jehovah". "OK, so if The Father is Jehovah, and we are to do this also in the name (singular) of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, what does that make Jesus?" It seemed obvious to me that the singular name of God was equally distributed or attributed to the Son and also to the Spirit. And while the J.W. could read this in black and white in his own "New World Translation" bible, he was clearly not able or willing to "see" the truth of it.

We went on about other aspects of Jesus' Deity, but he just kept denying it. I asked him if he had assurance of salvation. But such precious assurance was lacking in his cult's false belief system. It was clear that he wasn't trusting in Jesus alone for eternal life, because false Christs NEVER give true assurance of salvation based upon the finished propitiation of the Lamb of God, and His PERFECT sacrifice in the stead of his people. I new I had made my case, but it was God's work to open this man's heart to believe. We went our separate ways, and I hope that he will take my advice and question what the Watchtower Society tells him.

I did see the need for my own better preparation for my next God ordained appointments for witnessing. I love to read blog articles, and theology books. I love to watch YouTube videos and listen to MP3 debates and sermons. However, there is NO SUBSTITUTE for the personal, focused, consistent reading, memorization, and study of the sacred Scriptures. It's when we are strong in the Word that we can be effect evangelists and apologists, because we are able to use the Word in a timely and effective way to persuade our hearers.

Biblical Christianity: "Marriage is not really about happiness"

Biblical Christianity: "Marriage is not really about happiness"

This is a really excellent article, and one which I think a lot of people will find encouraging. It's linked from Dan Phillips over at Biblical Christianity, also one of the Pyromaniacs bloggers. As you read it remember that Dan is not merely saying that we should AVOID divorce. The Covanent of marriage should compel you to acts of love.
Love your stuff, Bro. Dan!

Amen

Two New Covenants? Dispensational Distortion

Dispensationalism is known for it's Israel/Chruch dichotomy. Israel and the Church are distinct entities, and never the twain shall meet. While one enjoys an earthly destiny, and the other a heavenly one, such extreme compartmentalization has been modified a little in the '50s and onward among Dispensational adherents.

However, Jeremiah's New Covenant promise has come to be applied to Israel exclusively, so that what the Church now enjoys is not that New covenant but "a" new covenant based on different promises to the Body of Christ alone. While more modern Dispensationalists eschewed the old hyper divisions between Israel and the church, this two covenant theory is basically consistent hyper dispensationalism.

The proper view is that Jesus did introduce and activate Jeremiah's New Covenant with Israel in inaugural form. The first people to enjoy this Covenant's blessings were entirely Jewish people. Christ, the Testator of the New Covenant, by his death, inaugurated a change in the priesthood, rendered the Old Covenant economy obsolete, and began a new dispensation in the outworking of God's plan of redemption. Hebrews 8:13 " In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete". This is after quoting Jeremiah 31:31-34.

This New Covenant is presently being mediated by Christ to both Jewish and Gentile believers in the Church. It will come to fullness in the Millenium when all Israel knows the LORD, and is regenerated with the law internalized by grace.

Worldly "Righteousness"

A good insight came to me during the Pastor's sermon. We were in Philippians 3:9 " not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ..". The point was made that people are looking for righteousness. They have a kind of righteousness, like in Hollywood movies where there are often righteous themes. These themes can be about justice, love, enduring family values, "the triumph of the human spirit", etc, but it's NOT God's righteousness, so it's an abomination before God.

The world doesn't know God's righteousness. Yet it's pursuit of righteous themes, demonstrates the image of God in all, and the natural moral law prewritten on the human soul. Even in their denial of God's righteousness, they in fact show it's existence. In fact, world rebellion against God is actually a form of worldly righteousness, in that, the world revels in it's hatred of the Biblical LORD, as though it was actually a tolerant, equitable, enlightened attitude. Yet it's full of darkness. After all, the world's righteousness is SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS. And that leads to what Paul called RUBBISH ( Philippians 3:8)

God Exists: A Biblical Truth

God exists. The atheist who denies this is foolish because he denies what is self-evident through the means of creation, and conscience, and ultimately through the Word of God and The Son of God, Jesus. Acts 17:22-32; Romans 1:18-32; Psalm 14:1
God exists ,therefore, nature, which has a beginning, was created by God’s Word, and is sustained by His sovereign power. God’s purposefulness and wisdom, eternal power and other attributes are clearly evident in the created order of the universe. Just as every building has a builder, therefore the building shows it’s designer’s planned detail, and it’s construction workers’ effort and work in all of it’s structure. It’s obvious that the building is not there by random, blind “chance,” and that the materials of it did not assemble themselves so intricately . Genesis 1:1-2:24

God causes the heavenly bodies to orbit along precise paths in space, to turn on their axes, and to be placed just precisely so that Earth experiences Sun and moon phases at precise times. His wisdom made mankind male and female and endowed us with superbly complex bodies that do wonderful things. Our genetic information is held in intricate chemical information systems called DNA. Our cells contain components that are literally engineered systems that work as biological machines with great precision and staggering complexity. Only God knows how to create this marvel of nature! His handiwork is displayed in the billions of stars that move in space, whose light our biological super-computer like eyes and brains detect from millions of light years away, and our God given tongues give praise to and awe in the Creator, who our inner soul just knows , made it all by his power, and for his Glory. God exists.

God’s law is evident to all people. God made mankind with the knowledge of right and wrong. Only God is perfect, and his nature is righteous and pure. He determines what is right, because He is righteous. We all have fallen short of the law of God. And because God is good, He will judge all people on day. Apart from God, there would be no moral law. While many people deny God, they do so by rejecting the plain truth that there is a God, and the conscience accuses them, which they suppress. Since the law of God has been broken by all, all are condemned by God, for how else can evil be judged, and eternal justice be meted out perfectly? Only the one, true Holy God and Judge of all can judge perfectly. So a changing of the heart is needed to see the God who judges all hearts as wicked.
Finally, but most importantly…God has spoken by specially chosen individuals called prophets, and apostles. These men were chosen to hear the Voice of the Creator, and to reveal His specific revelation of his Being, and His works. Their writings, which are God-breathed or inspired divinely, are in the Scriptures. These Scriptures promise salvation from sin and death, through the Mediatorship of God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the revealer of God. Jesus Himself revealed his heavenly Father, and spoke from His Father what the truth is. God sent His Son to be the Saviour of those who believe in God. Jesus fulfilled the prophetic words of the Scriptures in his birth, life, death for sins, and glorious resurrection. His rising up from the dead, in his tomb is greatest sign that He is the Son of God, and the true Lord who saves people from their sins, and from death,and the coming Judgment, and to be reconciled to the God who is. John 3:16-20;Hebrews 1:1-13

Amen

A Promise For The New Year

Philippians 4:11-13 (New American Standard Bible)

 11Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

 12I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

 13I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

God gives us the abilities and the power to do His will in every circumstance, no matter how bad or good the situation. This new year, I take hold of this promise. As 2008 taught us, we have no control over the circumstances, ultimately. How we cope with anything is the important thing. I'm glad that God has given us this "precious" promise, because what we never stop needing is strength. We need it just to get up in the morning. We don't know what 2009 will bring to our world. But we know that God works all things together for good to those who love Him. 

Also, I would like to address those, who may read this who don't know the God who controls the world. Perhaps you think that it doesn't matter what you believe about God or think that things will always be the way they are. But this is not so. 

God will bring everything into judgement when he sends His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to judge this world for all it's evil. The tumults in the world, it's wars, famines, disasters, financial crises etc, are a sign of the coming Wrath of the Righteous Judge of all people., because of the constant violations of His Law.God has every right to punish the wicked, which means all of us, if He wanted to right now. But, God is patient. He allows time for people to heed His Gospel. And that Gospel message is that Jesus, His unique Son, came into the world to take away sins, through his blood shed. This happened on a Roman crucifix in the 1st century, "at the appointed time". It was indeed "appointed" by God, a part of his supreme plan to manifest his awesome Majesty and Glory, and to bring in His Kingdom on the earth, yet to come. 

In 2009, today if you heed this Gospel, I implore you, if you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour from your sins, if you do not submit to Him as the Lord, I implore you to REPENT and TRUST in JESUS, for the forgiveness of your sins, and for the gift of eternal life in His Name. Follow Him. Nothing else really matters compared to the all surpassing greatness of knowing God in Christ. 

Amen

Jesus Didn't Say "I am God"-Revised

Our detractor states: "Jesus never claimed to be God-He never actually said "I am God".

On the contrary. Jesus is co-equal with God. This is the consistent teaching of the whole bible, especially the New Testament. Though not every statement is expressed with equal explicitness, every statement bearing on the nature of Christ proves He is full Deity & humanity in one person, without contradiction. The various names and titles of Jesus are unequivocal of his full Deity.

Just a few verses will bear this out.

Micah 5:2, King James Version But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting

Vs. 2b, New American Standard Bible His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity

Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another...


Isaiah 48:11c I will not yield my glory to another.

John 17:5 [Jesus prayed] And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Psalms 45:6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.


Hebrews 1:8 But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom

John 1:1, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.... [14] The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.


John 5:22-23 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him

Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Psalms 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.


Ezekiel 34:31 You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign LORD.

John 10:14 I [Jesus] am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.

Hebrews 13:20 ...our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep...

Romans 9:5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.


Now that you know Jesus is clearly called God throughout Scripture...what will you do with that knowledge?