The Mother of all What-If's....

Several weeks ago, around Easter time, I was preaching on the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. The text was from the book of Luke. During that sermon, one of the points I made was that Jesus had entered Jerusalem, just as the Old Testament foretold. The people who said they wanted Messiah to come were now witnessing the arrival of the Messiah, but they didn't recognize it because they were Spiritually blind. Because Jerusalem had failed to receive the Messiah, electing rather to turn Him over to the Romans to be crucified, the city was condemned to total destruction, which happened some 35 years later in AD 70. The city could have received its promised Messiah, but instead rejected Him and chose destruction.

Following church that day, my wife asked me, "What would have happened had they received Him? What about His death for our sins on the cross?"

The simple answer to that would be that God knew that Jerusalem would reject Christ, so He worked it into His perfect plan of redemption. That's the answer I gave, and that's how we left it.

Still, does that mean that Jerusalem was doomed from the start? Was there a way they could've received the Messiah, and for the plan of Redemption to go forward? I mean after all, Jesus Himself said in Luke 19:42, "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes."

Jesus said "If thou hadst known," indicating possibility. If Jerusalem would've been worshiping and serving God, and thus would have recognized Jesus as the Messiah, things would've turned out different for Jerusalem. AD 70 would've never happened, and the Temple would still stand today because the Messiah would've defeated the Romans. But, what about redemption? Salvation was purchased by the death of Christ on the cross. So, if the Jewish leaders didn't turn Him over to the Romans to be crucified, how would we have salvation today?

Granted, this is a big what-if scenario, and this is all conjecture, but it could be that God would've worked the plan of redemption into Jerusalem's acceptance and obedience. Consider the following possibility:

Jesus enters Jerusalem to the cheer of the crowd. The religious leaders open their Bibles, read the scriptures that Jesus was in the process of fulfilling, and realize that the Messiah has arrived. They proudly and victoriously announce that Christ has indeed come, as God promised in the scriptures, and proclaim that God's Kingdom has once again been restored. Christ arrives in Jerusalem, where a coronation ceremony is held and He is crowned King.

The Romans would not have just accepted that. The Roman army would've marched on Jerusalem, just as they had in previous insurrections, taken the leadership, and crucified them. The result: Christ would've been crucified anyway, and still would've paid for the sins of the world. Once He rose again on the third day, He would've destroyed the Roman army and restored the Kingdom once and for all. Salvation would then have been extended to the Gentiles based on whether they accepted Him or rejected Him. 

Granted, there are holes in that theory. But instead of going into deep theological debates as to how God would've completed the plan of redemption if Jerusalem would have accepted Jesus, let's just be glad we have an all-powerful God who completes His plan no matter what man does, and that His plan called for our redemption, salvation, and inclusion into His Kingdom. Praise the Lord!

When I Struggle With Sin...

... I feel like a hypocrite.

Every week, I speak no fewer than five times about the Lord. There's my Sunday School class, the Sunday morning sermon at Grace Pointe, two small group Bible studies, and a radio show. Then, every other Sunday, I preach at the Market Place apartments.

Each sermon includes warnings against sin, encouragement to have faith in the Lord, exhortation to center one's life around the Lord, and a commission to serve the Lord. I am sincere in my belief of these things. I honestly believe that God blesses those who live their lives for Him. But preaching the Word, and practicing what I preach are two completely different things.

Monday rolls around, and I tend to fall back into the same routines as everyone else. My life becomes about making a living, paying bills, and being frustrated that my wildest dreams have yet to come true. When your focus drifts from the Lord and into the day-to-day routine, you lose that Spiritual connection to the Lord, and He begins to seem distant. When this happens, we become susceptible to temptation. Such is the case with me.

I'm not going into a confessional here, but there are times that I misrepresent Christ. There are times that I fall short of the Biblical mandate to let my light shine. There are times that I betray my faith, and my Lord. And when my eyes are opened to my fall, I begin to wonder if all this is a facade, and if I am really a rotten human being. You may have experienced the same.

How can we reconcile our salvation and our lives in Christ with the sin that "so easily besets us?" (Hebrews 12:1).

We begin by recognizing that we are not alone in this struggle. Romans 3:23 says "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." We are all sinners, we all fall short. We all fail. Romans 3:9 says we are all under sin.

Scripture also lists examples of the great heroes of the faith who fell short of God's glory. From the depiction of David's adultery with Bathsheba, to the acknowledgement in James 5:17 that "Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are." Yet, David and Elijah did great things for the Lord. Romans 7:15-17 describes the same struggle that the Apostle Paul had.

The lesson we take here is that our struggle neither defines us, nor limits us.

We continue by recognizing what this struggle reveals in us. There are times that you overcome, and there are times that you fail. Through each time of temptation, you learn more about your Spiritual maturity, and where you stand with the Lord. However, failure is not as devastating as you think.

Romans 7:15-17 says:

For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.  17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

In Romans 7, the Apostle Paul confessed that he knew what he should be doing, and what he shouldn't be doing. He then confessed that he found himself doing the things he shouldn't (For that which I do I allow not.) He found himself doing the very things he preached against. He also confessed that he found himself not doing the things he should. (For what I would, that do I not).

Despite the disconnect between what he believed and what he preached, and what he actually did, Paul steered the conversation back to God's word. He didn't justify what he did. Rather, he promoted God's law, and declared its truth despite his failure. (I consent unto the law that it is good.)

So, if Paul knew God's law, agreed with God's law, and promoted God's law, why was he sinning? Simple. Paul understood that he was still infected with the sin nature. (Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.) This is not an excuse. He's not saying that he can continue in sin, as it's just in his nature. He is merely explaining his failure.

When we struggle with sin, we are reminded that we still have the sin nature. It's the flesh within us that desires sin, that desires the things that are forbidden. It's the same nature that wants to abdicate personal responsibility and live for the pleasure of the moment.

When we recognize the role that the sin nature plays in our struggle, we are able to move away from the notion that somehow we are just flawed, and not as good as everyone else, and we see our struggle as part of the human experience. When we understand this is a struggle everyone faces, this helps us see the struggle that others endure, and it helps us to be graceful to others when they sin.

The other thing that recognizing the role of the sin nature accomplishes is that it reminds us that conquering sin is not something we can do on our own. We need the Lord. Which brings us to our next point.

We return to our roots of faith in Christ.  In Romans 7:24-25, Paul exclaimed, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord."

In verse 24, Paul declares his inability to overcome sin, and turns to the Lord for deliverance. In verse 25, Paul trusts the Lord for that deliverance.

If you know Jesus Christ as your savior, there was a time that you surrendered, and called out to Him for salvation. At that point, you were exactly where Christ wanted you. In the days and weeks that followed, the Lord was able to lead you through a time of exponential Spiritual growth because you had total faith in Him. But, as time moves along, we drift away, and we wind up in the boat we're in today.

When you struggle with sin, and you recognize that it's part of life, and that you cannot overcome it yourself, the proper course of action is to surrender, ask God for deliverance, and trust the Lord to deliver you from that struggle. When you reach that point of surrender and faith, you are right where Christ wants you. When you reach that point of surrender and faith, God is then able to do great things in your life.

When I struggle with sin, I feel like a hypocrite, but I am not. I am a child of God, redeemed by the blood of Christ, who has not finished his race here on earth. I remember that I stand on the shoulders of giants, that others have faced these same struggles, and that the struggle with sin comes as a result of my sin nature.

The only answer is to ask God for forgiveness, and trust Him to deliver me from these temptations. When I reach that point, God brings a revival in my life. He will yours as well. Keep the faith, God is on your side.

Christianity is all about Healing

Folks, let's be honest. Sin is destructive. Despite the fact that our culture looks to excuse and legitimize sin, the harsh reality is that sin will destroy your life.

God does not define sin in the Bible with the intent to restrict you to a boring, miserable, self-less life. He defines sin in the Bible to instruct you to turn away from the things that will destroy your life. The Ten Commandments instruct us not to worship other gods, not to worship idols, not to take the Lord's name in vain, and not to profane the Sabbath. Why? Because rejecting God for more worldly things will eventually lead to eternal damnation.

The Ten Commandments also instruct us to honor our parents, not to kill, not to steal, not to commit adultery, not to lie, and not to covet. Why? Because doing these things (or not honoring your parents) will lead to destruction. God gave us His commandments, and His word (which includes the Gospel) to warn us against the destruction of sin, and to teach us to receive eternal life by accepting Jesus Christ as our personal savior. God defined sin, and forbid it in His word for the same reasons a parent forbids certain behaviors (like playing in the street) for their children. The rules are meant to keep us safe.

I speak out against sin, not because I want everyone to conform to my lifestyle, and not because I want to force my beliefs on others. I speak out against sin because I have seen first hand the devastation caused by a sinful lifestyle.

During a recent conversation on Facebook, friends of mine were complaining about strict drug laws in the state of Texas, lamenting how it is unfair for certain possession charges to be labelled "felonies," which hurts a person's chances of finding gainful employment and recovering their lives in the future. To my friends, the cure (drug laws) was more devastating than the disease (drug addiction.) I disagreed, arguing that drug laws give local law enforcement the tools needed to intervene in a drug addict's life, to protect both the addict and his family.

The truth is, anytime there is drug addiction, there are victims beyond the addict himself. His children often endure neglect and abuse. His parents are often swindled out of cash, or bear the financial burden of paying for his mistakes. His wife has to endure a lot. Legal, or illegal, drug abuse is a sin that destroys a person's life. I have seen this first hand, so I am in favor of strong drug laws.

Nevertheless, whatever laws may be passed, sermons preached, and personal discipleship that takes place, eventually someone will make the mistake of sinning. Let's use drug abuse as an example. Despite the strong drug laws in Texas, where even the presence of methamphetamine residue results in a felony conviction, someone will become addicted today.

When that happens, their lives will begin to unravel. The drug will take over, and the addict eventually loses everything as he seeks to support his habit. In looking at situations like this, or a situation where one has wrecked his marriage with adultery, or a situation where a person is being sentenced to prison time over a burglary, it is easy to look down your nose and write the person off as a lost cause. However, to do that is to ignore the example Jesus gave us in the New Testament.

Throughout the four Gospels, you see Jesus healing various health conditions... leprosy, blindness, paralysis, coma, and He even brought Lazarus back from the grave. There have been many charlatans who have tried to recreate these miracles, and perform healing services by telling crippled people to "rise and walk," and declaring cancer patients to be "cured." Some of these snake-oil salesmen even have national TV shows, but I digress. Physical healing services miss the point altogether.

The healings Jesus performed (as well as those by His disciples in the Book of Acts) carried with them a Spiritual meaning, as well as a physical meaning. In other words, the physical healing was a picture of the Spiritual healing Christ performed in their lives.

A prime example of this is the healing of the man with palsy in Luke 5. Here, you have a man who is completely paralyzed, to the point that it took several of his friends to get him to Jesus (by cutting a hole in the roof and lowering him down, no less.) Jesus told that man that his sins were forgiven before healing him of his palsy.

In many ways, sin does to us spiritually what the palsy did to that man physically. It debilitates us and renders us helpless. We wind up stuck in a life where we are without hope, discouraged, and in pain. In those situations, if we repent and believe in the Lord, He heals us of the spiritual devastation caused by our sin.

Our goal as Christians is not to sit back and lament the fallen condition of our world, or those around us. Our goal is to see them healed. This comes in sharing the truth of God's word with them, and being willing to help them along as they rebuild their lives from the ashes left behind by their sin.

If you are reading this, and your life has been destroyed by sin, I am praying for you. My prayer for you is that you turn from your sin, and you trust Jesus Christ as your personal savior. He will heal you from your sin. After that, go find a Bible-believing, Gospel-preaching church, follow the Lord in Baptism, and lean on the encouragement and help from your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. May God bless you.

Ultimate Acts of Faith (Genesis 22)

It ought not to take long to realize by reading the Bible that Abraham was a man of faith... a man of God. He trusted God completely... this Genesis 15:6 says "He believed in the LORD, and He counted it unto him for righteousness.

The Bible also teaches that Isaac was the one through whom the promises to Abraham would be kept. In Genesis 17:5-7, God promised:

Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. (6) And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. (7) And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

In Genesis 12:3, God promised, "in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." And then the promise through Isaac was made in Genesis 21:12, "In Isaac shall thy seed be called."

Abraham received and believed these promises from God.

The story takes a turn, however, in Genesis 22. In this passage, God tells Abraham to sacrifice Isaac... to offer up the one through whom all of God's promises would come. Abraham's faith wasn't shaken, though. He had received promises from God, and knew God was not a liar, so he trusted God to keep His promises by sparing, reviving or resurrecting Isaac.

Abraham's faith was such that he trusted God to keep His promises, and why not? Abraham had already seen God perform the impossible. He and Sarah couldn't have children during their childbearing years, and now they were beyond childbearing age, yet God promised them a son. It was in that context that Genesis 15:6 says "He believed in the LORD, and He counted it to him for righteousness."

God delivered on that promise in Genesis 21, so why not trust God to keep Isaac, his promised son safe? Abraham had a couple of theories on how God would do this. The first appears in Genesis 22:7-8:

And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? (8) And Abraham said, My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering. So they went both of them together.

Abraham expected God would provide the sacrificial lamb at the last moment, and if He didn't, Hebrews 11:17-19 says:

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, (18) of whom it was said, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called: (19) Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from whence he also received him up in a figure.

So, Abraham believed God would either supply an offering, or resurrect Isaac. Either way, he trusted God enough that he expected to return home with Isaac. (Genesis 22:5). How could Abraham trust God in this situation? Abraham knew he could trust God because (a) God does not lie, (b) God keeps His promises and (c) God can do the impossible. Luke 1:37 says "For with God all things are possible."

Abraham wasn't the only one showing faith, though. Isaac showed faith. Contrary to popular belief, Isaac was not a baby in Genesis 22. He turned five at his weaning ceremony in Genesis 21, and many days had passed since then (Genesis 21:34), and Isaac was big enough to carry the wood. So, he was big enough that he didn't have to go along with this if he didn't want to. He could have fought off, or ran away from Abraham, but he didn't. Why? Because Isaac had faith in God, and Abraham.

Isaac showed faith in God and Abraham by submitting to Abraham. Abraham told Isaac that God would provide a lamb for sacrifice, and Isaac trusted him. Isaac not only trusted Abraham, but also God for the sacrifice.

Isaac depended on the Lord for deliverance. People today should depend on the Lord for deliverance, whether it be from sin, or problems in their lives. They should trust God to work things out for them. Isaac's life teaches us that we can please God simply by following God and making Godly decisions as we live our lives.

God responded to Abraham's faith, and provided a sacrifice. Abraham said as much in Genesis 22:8, "My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering." Abraham trusted God to provide a sacrifice, and God did in Genesis 22:13, "And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son." God provided a sacrifice.

This is a foreshadowing of what Christ did for us when He died on the cross. He was God's sacrifice for our sin. Isaiah 53:5-6 states:

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed. (6) All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:6 says we have all gone astray, turned from God and to our own ways, but the sin and iniquity we committed in the process were placed on Christ, and paid for when He died on the cross. Hence, He was bruised and wounded for our sins (transgressions) and iniquities. The chastisement that brought us peace with God was put on Christ. With His stripes, His crucifixion and sufferings, we are healed from sin.

John 1:29 says "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." In the days of John the Baptist, the Jews would sacrifice a lamb to cover their sins for a year. John referred to Jesus as the Lamb of God in John 1:29, which would take away the sins of he world for good. He would be the ultimate sacrifice.

Romans 3:24-25 says "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.)

God set Jesus forth to be a propitiation, a sacrifice for ins. God, once again, provided a sacrifice. Therefore, we are justified freely by His grace, because Christ redeemed us on the cross. But, you have to believe (John 3:16).

And then there's 1 John 2:2, "And He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours' only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

Repent, and believe in God's sacrifice. In John 5:24, Jesus said "He that heareth My words, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life." If you believe on Christ, you are saved and will live eternally in His Kingdom. If you reject Him, you'll be condemned to Hell. Accept Jesus as your Savior.

One final thought...

In James 2, James used the occasion of Abraham offering up Isaac to demonstrate perfect, or complete faith (James 2:21-22). A key verse is James 2:18, which says "Yea, a man may say, thou hast faith, and I have works: Shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works."

You you believe in the Lord? Does your life prove that you believe? May God bless you in a special way today.

Gospel Glory, the Entire Series

The Journey: Genesis 8 - God Remembered Noah

In Genesis 6, we studied how the world was evil, so evil that every imagination of the thoughts of man's heart were only evil continually. So, God judged the world with a flood. Noah escaped God's judgment by grace through faith. The Bible says Noah found grace in the eyes of God (Genesis 6:8) and that Noah's faith motivated him to follow God's command to build the ark (Hebrews 11:7). Noah was saved by grace through faith... by God's grace through his faith.

The ark symbolized Jesus in scripture. We enter into Christ by grace through faith, and He shields us from God's wrath, much like the ark shielded Noah from the flood.

Genesis 8:1 says "And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged;"

When the Bible says God remembered Noah, it means that He had continual concern for Noah. God had a continual concern for Noah before, during and after the flood. God has that same concern for us too.

God remembers us in His plans. God planned on judging the world with a flood, but Noah found grace in His eyes. So, God instructed Noah to build the ark, and God didn't flood the earth until the ark was built, and Noah and his family were safe inside.

God remembered Noah in his plans, and He remembers us in His plans as well. God's plans include our salvation. God will not allow anyone to die until they have had the opportunity to accept Christ as Savior, and He will not allow someone whom He knows will be saved to die before they make their profession of faith (Romans 8:28-30).

Furthermore, He will not send Christ to return to the earth to establish His kingdom and judge the world until all who will be saved have been saved. II Peter 3:9 says "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

God's plans also include our well-being (Romans 8:28). Anything that happens in our life will work to make us better, stronger and more faithful. God's people do not suffer pointlessly.

God remembers us, He has ongoing concern for us.

God will remember us when He pours His wrath out on the earth. During the flood, God kept Noah safely inside the ark (Genesis 7:16 - The LORD shut him in.) Noah and his family was safely inside the ark. Inside the ark, they had all they needed. When God executes His wrath upon the earth again, this time by fire, He will remove us from the earth, and we will be safely by the Lord's side. Why? Because God remembers us.

God will remember us in His kingdom. Verses 20-21 speak to how Noah sacrificed when he came off the ark. This was how Noah worshipped. Upon being delivered from the wrath of God, Noah worshipped the LORD. When we enter into eternity with the Lord, we will also worship Him, like we have never worshipped Him before.

Noah was invited into the ark because he was God's man... He trusted and followed the Lord. He was saved. If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, God will not shield you from His wrath. Repent of your sins and trust Jesus Christ as your personal Savior today.

The Journey: Genesis 7

In Genesis 7, God was getting ready to judge the world because of the evil in it. God is getting ready to do the same thing today. The evil in the world has grown to the point that God is getting ready to end everything, judge the quick and the dead, and establish His kingdom on earth.

The thing to remember about the judgement of God is that He spares His people from His wrath. He spared Noah from the flood by commanding him to build the ark. The ark, by the way, is a symbol of Christ.

1 Peter 3:20-21 says "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. (21) The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus."

Some misinterpret this passage to mean that baptism saves people. That is not what this passage is saying. First of all, in the days of Noah, water didn't save people, it killed them. Secondly, the baptism isn't water baptism, rather it is being baptized (immersed) into Christ. Noah and his family went into the ark, and was saved from God's wrath.. God wants people today to be in Christ, so they'll be safe from His wrath. Those who are in Christ are those who have accepted Him as savior.

There are important lessons from Genesis 7. There is the call to salvation, obedience, and the security of salvation.

First, there's the call to salvation. Verse 1 says "And the LORD said unto Noah, come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation."

There is the invitation, "Come thou, and all thy house into the ark." God was inviting Noah and His family into the ark to be saved from His wrath. The ark represents Christ. God wants us to be in Christ, which means He wants us to repent of our sin and believe in Christ for salvation. He wants us to live for Him to avoid destruction.

And let's not forget there was a reason God invited Noah into the ark. God invited Noah into the ark to save his life. The reason God wants you to accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior is that He wants to save your from the destruction of His wrath when He judges the world. So, repent of your sins and trust Jesus Christ as your personal savior.

In Revelation 18:4-5, the Lord says "Come out of her My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, that ye receive not of her plagues. (5) For her sins have reached out unto Heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities."

In Revelation 18, God told His people to come out of Babylon. He told them to come out of that city. Don't partake of her sins or plagues. Today, He is telling us to come out of the worldly lifestyle. Don't partake in the world's sin. Come out of sinful lifestyles and turn to Christ. Do not be conformed to this world.

Christians, God has called us to be separate from the world, and to be joined to Christ. Don't adopt the world's mentality. Our outlook is different. We are different. We are not of the world, we are of Christ.

In Genesis 7, we also learn of obedience. In verse 5, the Bible says "Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him." God warned Noah of the coming flood, the judgment. Noah believed God, so Noah moved quickly to do the things God told him to do, namely building the ark. Or, as Hebrews 11:7 says, "By faith, Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of righteousness which is by faith." Noah's obedience was motivated by his faith. His faith was what saved him, and his obedience was an expression of his faith.

James 2:18 says "Yea, a man may say, thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works."

The premise of the book of James is that if you have faith, you'll have works to show for it. Faith results in works. Noah believed God, (i.e. had faith), therefore he obeyed God and built the ark.

Jesus said in John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep My commandments." If you love Christ, keep His commandments. Moreover, if you love Christ, you will keep His commandments.

Then, we learn about the security of salvation. Verse 16 says "And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in."

Remember, the ark is symbolic of Christ. Noah went into the ark. God shut him in. God sealed Noah in the ark. The door was shut and Noah wasn't coming out. When you trust in Christ as your Savior, you enter into Christ. God shuts you in, and you are not coming out.

Jesus said in John 10:27-29 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. (29) My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand."

Christ gives us eternal life, which, by definition, can't be ended. He promises we shall never perish. He assures us that no man can pluck us from His hand, nor can they pluck us out of God's hand. If that doesn't settle the fact that those who are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ are saved forever, then I don't know what does. If you truly have faith in Jesus Christ, you'll never let it go. More importantly, He'll never let you go.

Answer God's call to salvation and Christian living. God bless you.

The Journey: Genesis 3

Genesis 3 is one of the most important passages in the Bible because that is where we find the fall of man, and the first reference to the plan of salvation. In Genesis 3:6, man sins by eating of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Often we blame Eve for this sin, but the Bible says she gave to her husband "with her," and he did eat. The fact Adam was with Eve when she gave him the fruit indicates that Adam was with her through the conversation between her and the serpent.

1 Timothy 2:14 and Romans 5:14 are two of many passages that lay the responsibility of the sin on Adam's shoulders. I believe this is because God had specifically instructed Adam concerning the forbidden fruit, yet he allowed Eve to be deceived by not interfering in Satan's temptation.

Man's sin brought on the curse of thorns and hard work (Genesis 3:18-19) and death (Genesis 3:19).

However, Genesis 3 is also where God introduces His plan of redemption. Genesis 3:15 says "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, between thy seed and her seed, it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

This is a picture of what Christ would accomplish on the cross. Jesus, the Seed of the woman, would crush Satan's power, but in the process would suffer a death blow (bruise His heel.) What Jesus did when He died on the cross was He paid the penalty for man's sin, but He also conquered Satan to where Satan is no longer relevant when it comes to man's eternal destiny. Man's eternal destiny, whether he goes to Heaven or Hell, is between him and God. Either He will respond to God's grace with faith, or he will reject God's grace and go to Hell. Satan can tempt him and distract him, but Satan has no say over whether a man goes to Hell or not.

In the above video, we discuss those concepts, as well as how God covers our sin (Genesis 3:21), assures our salvation (Genesis 3:20), and what the pitfalls to sin are.

Marriage Pictures Our Relationship to Christ

Ephesians 5:22-27  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Despite the fact that this is one of the most famous Bible passages regarding marriage, it is often the most disregarded. It gives clear instructions on how to have a successful marriage, and highlights the importance of a good marriage by pointing out the similarities between a husband-wife relationship and the relationship between Christ and the church. Yet, most American couples would rather flush this passage down the toilet than apply it to their lives. Why? Because following this passage requires selflessness and sacrifice, something no one wants to do. Is there any wonder that more than half of American marriages end in divorce, and many more non-marital relationships (read: living together without marriage) break up?

Since the scriptures begin with the wife, I'll begin with the wife... but ladies, hang in there, I'll get to the husband's responsibilities too. A good marriage is a two-way street.

Verses 22-23 tell wives to submit themselves to their husbands, as unto the Lord, reminding them that as Christ is head of the church, the husband is the head of the wife. Notice in verse 23, Paul adds that Christ is the savior of the body.

Most churches want to follow God's will. They want to follow the leadership of Christ, and they want to know what the will of Christ is.

The churches I have been a part of wanted to serve the Lord, wanted to submit to His leadership, longed for the Spirit to move and give direction... why? Because we love the Lord and want to be close to Him, to please Him, to see His will done, and to see Him victorious.

In the same way, wives should submit to their husbands. As a church sets aside its own vision to follow the Lord, so should a wife set aside her own dreams to follow her husband. I know this is not politically correct, but follow me here.

Just as a church is all about Jesus, a wife should be all about her husband. Her goal in life should be to honor her husband, to do his will, and to help him succeed. They say, behind every successful man is a good (and sometimes surprised) woman. Proverbs 31 says her husband sits in the city gates and is known by the elders of the land, all because of what she does for him. Read Proverbs 31. That woman did a lot. She wasn't just barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen.

You never see a church sit around and complain about Christ, and you never hear a bunch of preachers at an association, fellowship or convention meeting sit around and list the ways Christ could be better. They may complain about each other, but not Christ.

In the same way, when wives berate their husbands in front of others, they are falling short of what God wants them to be. The same way a church loves and submits to the Lord, a wife should love and submit to her husband.

In verse 25, scripture turns the attention to the husband. The husband is to love his wife the same way Christ loved the church... and gave Himself for it.

How much did Christ love the church? Enough to die for it. He died for the church, He puts up with the faults of the church, is patient, caring, and guides the church. Not only that, but He is all about the church, and believers in general.

Jesus died on the cross to save sinners. He died on the cross so that sinners could be saved and grow closer to Him in a church. Since His death, burial and resurrection, Jesus has been all about the church. The church was the joy that was set before Him in Hebrews 12:2. He makes intercession for the church. He leads the church. He empowers the church. He blesses the church.

Sometimes churches drift away from Christ. They quit doing what He called them to do, or they drift away from Him doctrinally. Nevertheless, He stays with them, patiently guiding them back into His will.

In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives. A husband should love his wife enough to die for her... moreover, he should love her enough to live for her. The Bible says Christ gave Himself for the church. The same way, the husband should give himself for his wife... meaning that her needs come before his dreams.

The husband has the responsibility to sacrifice for the well being of his wife. He has the responsibility to come home after work and spend time with her instead of his buddies. (Oh, there's time for buddies, but not at the expense of his wife). He has the responsibility to place her and her needs above his.

Moreover, he has the responsibility to be patient with her. Women are emotional, at least the ones I have known are. Sometimes, they act out on those emotions. We are responsible as men to not become frustrated at those emotions, to continue to show our wives love and kindness despite the emotional state they are in.

We are also responsible to not go off the deep end every time we come home to a dirty house. We are responsible to allow our wives to have lives... I could go on.

I'm really having trouble expressing my view here... but basically, if wives submitted to their husbands unconditionally like the church submits to Christ, and men loved their wives unconditionally like Christ loved the church, and if both put themselves aside and loved each other like Christ and the church, then marriage would be a happy thing... not a dreaded thing that is the joke of sitcoms and break-rooms.

Wives, be all about your husbands. Let your hopes and dreams revolve around them, and help them to be the men God has called them to be. Husbands, love your wives. Put your desires aside and take care of her first. If we all do that, we can reduce stress, blood pressure, and the demand for marriage counselors and divorce lawyers... but more importantly, we will honor and glorify our Savior.

Bursting at the Seams: Occupy Wall Street vs. TEA Party

Occupy Wall Street Protesters
Photo by: David Shankbone

Maybe I'm just waking up, but it seems that we have seen an increase in public protest rallies since the 2008 election. From the TEA Party rallies that hit mainstream on April 15, 2009, to the rallies at the Wisconsin State Capitol regarding collective bargaining rights for public employees, to the "Save Our Schools" rallies in Texas during the 2011 legislative session.

Granted, anytime in American history that a particular group has faced a situation that would hinder their well-being, they turned out to protest against it. However, it seems that now-days, everyone is ticked off.

The TEA Party feels it is overtaxed to pay for welfare programs to supplement those who will not work to earn a living for themselves. The Occupy Wall Street protesters feel that they can't get a fair chance in a world where the top 1 percent keep getting richer while the rest of the country struggles. Public employees feel they are being thrown under the bus. Teachers face more rigid standards and lower pay.

Environmentalists feel that corporations are ramping up pollution. Peace activists feel betrayed by an administration that has failed to close Guantanamo or end the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. (For the record, I have been very critical of the Obama Administration regarding domestic policy, but I feel that they have handled the war on terror well.)

Pro-military groups feel that the Obama administration is floundering on national defense and military issues. And the summer drought has left many Texans burnt out, on a number of issues. (It doesn't help that the Cowboys and Longhorns are struggling.)

I am not trying to agree, disagree, affirm or refute the viewpoints of any of these groups right now. My only objective is to point out that everyone is ticked off at the moment. The country is divided, and there is no easy fix. Can America overcome this time of national discontent? Or will the divide and conquer strategies of our two political parties tear our nation apart?

Our standard of living is tied up in the future of the United States (regardless of where you are when you read this. If the American economy tanks, or the country falls apart, it will have ripple effects throughout the world.)

Whatever happens in the future, I will be just fine. Psalm 23:4 says Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

The Bible teaches that perilous times will come, but it also teaches that God is with His people through whatever trials they endure. If you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, you can know that He is talking to God on your behalf as you go through dark times.

I don't fear an economic apocalypse, nuclear disaster, terrorism or war. These things might happen, but I also know that God is in control and He will have the final victory. I trust Him to care for me in the process.

So turn off Fox News and CNN, open the Bible, and grow closer to the Lord. Life will become more peaceful, your blood pressure will drop, and your doctor will be happy.

God bless you. Keep the faith.

Is it a sin to... ?

Anyone who has been in ministry any amount of time has been asked questions that begin with, "Is it a sin to...?" Such questions range from, "Is it a sin to drink a beer?" to "Is it a sin to watch R rated movies?" "Is it a sin to get a divorce?" "Is it a sin to listen to (country, pop, rap, rock, etc) music?"

While I understand the motivation behind these questions (I even asked some of them myself when I was younger,) the fact is that if these are the questions we are asking, we are approaching our Christian walk the wrong way. You see, just about anything can be made a sin in man's eyes (whatsoever is not of faith is sin) and almost anything can be justified in man's eyes (all things are lawful unto me, but not all things expedient.) While these questions may be asked with pure intentions, often they can spark endless and futile debate.

The question is not, "Is it a sin to...?" or "Am I allowed to...?" but rather, "What does God want me to do?"

Ephesians 2:10 says "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

We are God's workmanship, which means that God created us. Not only did He create us, but He hand-crafted us. That's what workmanship is, it is hand-crafting. Every year, Detroit creates millions of cars, but they are not hand-crafted. They are not workmanship. God created the heavens and the earth, but He spoke them into existence. The heavens and earth are not God's workmanship. However, Genesis 2 says God formed man from the dust of the earth. He hand-crafted man.

Not only did he hand-craft Adam, the first man, but he forms all people in the womb. (Isaiah and Jeremiah both speak to this, specifically Jeremiah 1:5).

God created us, He created all of us, and He created all of us with a purpose.

We are created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. What this means is that God created us with a purpose, and once we are in Christ Jesus (meaning, once we know Jesus as our Savior), we can know and follow that purpose for which God has created us, and He expects us to follow that purpose.

So, while moving to California and renting a two-room flat in L.A. might not be a sin per se, doing that if God wants you to go to New York is a sin. The prophet Jonah was called by God to go to Nineveh. Jonah opted to go to Tarshish. Jonah's decision, seeing that it was the opposite of what God wanted, was a sin. Not following God's will for your life is a sin.

So the question is, "What does God want me to do?" Good question. That's the one you should be asking, not whether it is a sin to consume high fructose corn syrup.

"How do I find out what God wants me to do?" Prayer, spend time studying your Bible, and take time daily to meditate on the Lord and His Word.

God bless you as you seek God's will in your life.

Heart Like Mine - Secular Music Ponders Christ

Over the course of the past few months, Miranda Lambert's "Heart Like Mine" has rocketed up the country charts. It's a song that espouses Jesus' love for sinners, and the chorus proposes that Jesus would "understand a heart like mine."

Now I disagree with the premise that Jesus drank fermented wine, indulged in alcoholic beverages and engaged in behaviors that you would find in an East Texas pasture party. (They don't have pasture parties in West Texas, too big a fire hazard.) Still, this song touches the hearts of many people. Why?

Maybe it is because the song proclaims that Jesus loves sinners, and accepts sinners as they are. Maybe it touches that void that is left in a person when they don't know Christ. Maybe it gives the idea that a relationship with Christ can be a reality, despite a sinner's shortcomings. In that sense, I believe the song actually does a fairly decent job of explaining the personality of Jesus to lost people. Don't believe me? Let's look to the scriptures.

In Luke 15, Jesus has walked out of a Pharisee's meal, and sinners and publicans drew near to Him. The Pharisees criticized His association with sinners and publicans, but Jesus told them the parable of the lost sheep. Those lost sheep, the sinners and the publicans, were the ones he came to earth for.

1 Timothy 1:15 says "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." Jesus came to earth to save sinners. Why not? He loved sinners. Read the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). Jesus was always with sinners and publicans. Why? Because He loved them.

Bro. Jim Slocumb told me during a recent missions conference that Jesus loved the sinners and the publicans, but He didn't partake of their sin. In reading the New Testament, any reasonable person would conclude the same.

I know in my presentation of the Gospel, and of the personality of Jesus Christ, I often omit this very principle, the love of Christ for sinners. Shame on me. All too often my focus is on how wretched we are because of our sin, and how we must repent and turn to Christ. All too often I tell that part without telling about the love Jesus has for sinners. Maybe this is why I fail to lead people to Christ, because I fail to introduce people to Christ. All I do is tell them about an experience I think they should have. Ironically, a secular country music song presents Jesus' personality (aside from the drinking of wine) better than I do.

It's important to remember the love Jesus has for sinners, because we are all sinners (Romans 3:23). Seriously, what makes any of us think we are pleasing to God? Why do you think you deserve to go to Heaven and inherit eternal rewards? Is it because you were faithful to your church, didn't listen to this sinful Country music like Bro. Leland, didn't smoke or drink, wore suits, lived a separated lifestyle from the world, and never watched TV? Hey, good for you! But remember on your best day, your actions still fall way short of God's glory. All our righteousness is as filthy rags before Him.

So, with that in mind, where do we find our blessed assurance? In the knowledge that Jesus loves us, and died for our sins on the cross so that we could have eternal life with Him in Heaven. How awesome is that!

Jesus loves you! If you have never turned from your sin and trusted Him as Savior, let today be your day of salvation. He doesn't want to bring you into some sort of restricted legalistic lifestyle. He wants a friendship with you that will last for all of eternity. All you have to do is accept that friendship.

Trust Christ to save you, not because of what you can do for Him, but because He took the punishment for your sin. If you trust in Him, you are saved.

THEY REJECTED GOD!!!!!

In my personal devotional time, I am reading through the book of John. Last night, I was studying John 19, when a verse jumped out at me that I previously had been overlooking.

John 19:15- We have no king but Caesar.

Before, when I read this, I understood that the chief priests were denying Christ. However, further thought reveals that they were denying God as well. Can I defend this in scripture? Yes.

In 1 Samuel 8:7, the Jews were demanding a king. God told Samuel that the people's demands for a king constituted their rejection of God. Still, God gave them a Jewish king.

In John 19, Pilate is calling Jesus the King of the Jews, to which the Jews not only reject, but they accept a heathen Gentile, Caesar, as their king. They rejected both God the Father and Jesus by doing this.

So, let's review the history. They rejected God for a Jewish king in 1 Samuel 8:7. Then they rejected the Jewish King for a Gentile emperor in John 19. Jesus correctly assessed their spiritual condition when He said, "Their heart is far from me."

This was not a mere failure to recognize Messiah, nor was it a mistake. It was a well contemplated rejection of God.

Let us be careful not to become so engrossed in the things of this world that we reject God, because we don't want to disturb our status quo.

And let us remember that God is in control of all things. His will is being accomplished. He will provide for and protect us.

We need not accept the Republican or Democratic party as our Savior. Don't use pulpit or Sunday School teaching time to push political agendas. Those candidates are just men out to gain power. Our faith should only be placed in the Lord. He is the one we need to get to know and trust.

And don't let your dreams come between you and God. If you are waiting until you get to a certain standard of living before you follow God's plan for your life... If you agree to be a missionary as soon as the mortgage is paid off, etc etc, then you'll never follow God. It's like waiting to have a baby until you have enough money... it never happens.

Whatever you do, don't reject God. Don't put Him off. Don't put Him on hold. Put Him first in your heart.

Prayer

One of the joys of attending mission rallies and functions with the Southwest Association of Missionary Baptist Churches is the opportunity to meet and talk with veteran missionaries like Bro. B.R. Singh.

Bro Singh is a great example of Christian joy. I have never seen him in anything less than a jovial mood. Furthermore, his mission work in India is truly for the honor and glory of the Lord. Whenever Bro. Singh does something, you can be assured he has prayed it through.

He's a good example for younger missionaries to follow (though, I feel like my mission work is not worthy to be placed in the same league as his. For example, I do not face jail time for leading someone to Christ.)

Still, his is an example I would like to follow. Tonight, I had a bright idea for a way to kick-off Mission: Brownwood. (By the way, the name of the church won't be Mission: Brownwood, rather it will be Grace Pointe MBC).

I almost got online and emailed the two West Texas pastors who have offered their help to get me started. Then, I thought about Bro. Singh. Would he just jump on something as an impulse? Probably not.

My idea will require ample planning, the willing involvement of a third party to supplyh a location, or the ability to rent a facility. Then, we have to get people to attend. This idea will require prayer.

I'll probably start the beginnings of the planning of this idea tomorrow, but tonight, I need to pray about it.

The Bible records in John 11 how Jesus prayed before He raised Lazarus from the dead. He prayed in John 17. He prayed in Gethsemane. He always seemed to be going up into a mountain to pray. If Christ prayed that much, shouldn't I also? I think so.

So tonight I pray, tomorrow I act. Prayer requests? Post them as a comment to this post.