The Gospel - Plain and Simple

For as much as we think we know or understand something, sometimes it’s a good idea to re-examine our claims and take a refresher course. Most airline pilots are required to go back into the simulator once every few years for retraining. A dedicated IT person will always look to increase his or her knowledge concerning the inner workings of the computer world. A dedicated theologian will make the time to continue his studies in order to teach others from the Bible or even to defend the faith in apologetics. Truth is, no matter what the area of expertise we live in, the better we need to become in that area in order to strive for perfection. Of course, this is not to say that any human being will ever be perfect in what they do best – even the best make mistakes. What it does mean is that we should strive to better ourselves at all times in what we do best already. One thing I learned recently from a leadership course that I took in our church: We need to develop those God-given skills that we do have - and not concentrate on the ones that we don’t have. That philosophy (thank you, Dr Jimmy Knott) has helped me tremendously in these past six or seven months concerning the skills and talents that I do have. I no longer worry about the things that I’m not good at – knowing that the Lord distributes gifts to everyone and not everyone has the same ones. With all that said, please allow me to flex that exhortation muscle that the Lord has given me as a Christian. I will keep this very simple – even though I know the majority of my reading audience is very intelligent and can probably handle much more than a simple message like this. So if you are a born again Christian already who has been saved by the blood of the Lamb, bear with this and take it as a glorious reminder (or refresher) of the faith that we share – and of the eternity in heaven that has been promised to us. If you find yourself on the other side of the fence and somehow by the grace of God are reading this, my biggest prayer is that the Holy Spirit would soften your heart and allow you to be receptive of the truth, grace and love of almighty God.

Shortly after the Lord God created mankind, we sinned against Him and broke the open fellowship that we once had in the Garden of Eden (Genesis chapter 3). This was that all-important point in human history where God did three things: Cursed man, cursed the devil (the serpent), and promised salvation from the curse of sin. As time began to roll on in history, God revealed Himself to us through His prophets and through His written and spoken Law. All of these Laws were simply a precursor to what was to come: Salvation through a Savior – the Messiah – the One who would re-bridge the gap between God and man. Two thousand years ago, He arrived in the form of a new born baby. He came to this earth just as the Scriptures said He would: By way of a virgin – and miraculously through the Holy Spirit – without the need for any intercourse. He lived a perfect, sinless life – as He was all God and yet, all man at the same time. At the age of 30, His ministry officially began at His baptism (Matthew chapter 3). His mission was simple: Preach the gospel (the good news) to the Jews first – God’s chosen people. What was this good news? God had now provided a means of escape from His wrath against sinful man by sending Himself (Jesus) to die for our sins exactly as God said He would in the Scriptures. According to God’s own Word, without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins (Hebrews 9:21-23) – and that ultimate sacrifice had to be perfect and without blemish – and Jesus Christ was just that for us.  

This however, is the best news of all: Once Christ died for us and paid the price for sins, He didn’t stay dead – He is risen! He now sits at the right hand of God interceding on our behalf. Imagine that – the God of the universe interceding for you and me. Keep this great truth in mind as well: Jesus’ mission was to preach the gospel to the Jews first (Romans chapter 1). The majority rejected Him and the gospel – and now it (the good news of salvation) is available to all people everywhere (Gentiles as well) – and this is the simple yet, glorious message for you: You too can be saved from God’s impending judgment upon all mankind. There is one simple step you must take: Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation (grace) and you WILL be saved, period. There is a day coming when the Lord will judge the creation – and all those who reject this message of love and hope will not be spared from His wrath. You MUST believe in the Lord Jesus Christ in order to be saved. There is no other way to heaven (Acts 4:12) There are absolutes in this world and there is a moral standard given to us by our Creator, God – and here is the most important absolute of all: The truth is the truth whether we believe it or not. You can’t create your own truth to suit your needs or to mold God into something more comfortable or fluffy for your own liking. God never changes and neither does His Word. I say these things to you in the name of Jesus Christ and with His love. I urge you to repent and turn to Him before it’s too late. I love you

Fighting Temptation With God's Word

Sometimes the best way to prepare a Bible lesson intended for children is to try it out on adults first - This way here all of the criticisms can be flushed out of the way, quickly. Kids are a lot less critical; but also seem to have better memories than we do at times – remembering every last detail of something you may have promised along the way. I wont go verse by verse here like I will with the children tomorrow night, but I will hit on the important parts. Here is our text:
                                                                                                                                                                                                    
Matthew 4:1-11
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.   
                                                                                            
There’s a lot going on here in a short span of Scripture. In the chapter before this, Jesus’ ministry officially begins with His baptism. He was commissioned by the Father to now begin His three year ministry – leading up to His loving, redemptive act on the cross and again at the grave. These verses present somewhat of a quandary, when you think about it: As Christians, we firmly believe that Christ was indeed, God incarnate – that although He was 100% God, He was also 100% man. This is a formula that is impossible for our finite, human brains to swallow or even attempt to wrap around. Regardless of what we think though, this fact (that Jesus was Deity incarnate – or God come in the flesh) remains the absolute truth. This is one of the foundations of our faith. This also begs the question, “If Christ was God in the flesh, how can He possibly have been tempted to do anything wrong since He was without sin?” This is a good and fair question that I get from time to time from all sorts of people (saved and unsaved). This is the conclusion that my feeble mind has come up with: Our Creator, God tested His Son, Jesus before sending Him out into battle for three years. Was there an absolute ‘need’ for Christ to be tempted and tested for worthiness? I believe the Scriptures point to an answer of ‘no’ to this. However, if Jesus Christ is to be our perfect example of how to walk in this flesh on a daily basis, then all that happened to Him first will certainly happen to us as well. I’m not talking about death by Roman crucifixion for all believers here – look what the Bible has to say about the afflictions of Christ: Hebrews 4:14-15 “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."Did you happen to catch that last part? He was tempted in all points just like we are – yet was without sin. Does this mean that the Lord Jesus Christ had the capacity to sin? This answer may be just one man’s opinion here but – I think the answer is a resounding ‘no’. Yes, He was in the flesh – but He was still God in the flesh – and it is against God’s nature to have anything to do with sin. I believe the lesson here really isn’t about whether or not Christ had the capacity to sin but rather – taking into account what Jesus did when He was tested: He fought using the Scriptures.

This is the main point of the text that I will try my best to make the kids absorb tomorrow night. Jesus Christ’s greatest defense against the fiery arrows of Satan was the Scriptures. It is so important for us as believers to know, love, cherish, study and meditate on the Bible. This is not to say that memorizing all 66 books of the Bible is a requirement of the Christian faith – because it’s not – and quite frankly, kind of impossible to do so. But it is important for us to know how to be ready to give a defense of our faith – knowing that we wont always have all the answers. We also need to remember that Satan himself knows the Bible – and trembles at its truth – and will try his best to twist God’s word to his own liking. (Notice how Satan quoted a Scripture in the text from above to Jesus – and twisted it out of context. Jesus answered with another Scripture immediately, using it in correct context).So the bottom line out of all this? We can use God’s word to fight temptation – and the only way we can use it is by knowing it – and the only way we can know it is by reading it and studying it and asking for the Holy Spirit’s guidance for complete understanding of it. So I ask myself today, “Am I doing this as much as I should be?” Ponder that, my fellow believer – and be ready at all times.

Be blessed in Him today.