Can All Religions be True? Alvin Plantinga Illuminates

But We Do Know The Ending!

I love the movie A Few Good Men starting a whole host of Hollywood elite including Demi Moore, Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson and Kevin Bacon. It was on TV yesterday and as my little daughter napped I was able to catch some of the best parts. Midway through the movie Tom Cruise (Lt. Kaffe) comments to Demi Moore (Lt. Cdr. Galloway) in regards to the case that, "We are gonna lose Jo, and lose big." I thought to myself, "Oh Tom if you only knew the ending of the movie, how your mind and statement would be swayed." After I said this I realized the potential hypocritical moment for myself.

As a Christian, I have access to Scriptures which speak about the way things are to be in the end. I know that in the end the Lord vanquishes evil and those who called on his name and followed him faithfully will reign with him forever. Yet how often do I truly live as a victorious person? How often am I overcome by doubt in this world? Why do I allow the enemy to overwhelm me at times as if I did not know my God was strong enough to protect me?

As Christians we know the end of the story yet for the most part we live as defeated people. Satan himself has such knowledge to know the way things will end, yet he lives victoriously in the face of this fate. Why would we allow our knowledge of God's ultimate triumph to be diminished when Satan attempts to overwhelm our lives?

We must live as champions in this life because Jesus has defeated the grave and showed us the final act. So the next time you feel overwhelmed, discouraged or defeated, pick up your Bible and read how Jesus conquered the grave and is coming back to set up His Kingdom on earth forever!

I pray this invigorates your day, Happy Resurrection Day!

The Story of Cyrus - God the Rehab Addict

Here is a copy of a message I gave a while back at church, enjoy!

            Well if you have been with us this summer you know we are moving along here in our study of the book of Isaiah and this Sunday our journey brings us to chapters 44 and 45. So far we have been discovering how God is truly a Rehab Addict and these chapter contain yet another one of God’s rehab attributes.
            
            Have you ever had an old shirt that you just loved to wear on Saturdays while lounging around the house, or that shirt that you just had to wear as you mowed the lawn every week? Somehow, no matter how much of the logo or decoration of the shirt wore off, or the mustard or spaghetti stains that plastered nearly every inch of fabric, every Saturday you put on that old shirt and did your thing. People used to tell you to, “get rid of that shirt, no one could use that anymore, its too old and worn out.” You refused too stubborn to believe the blatant lie your friends were telling you. One day while away for a while your partner snuck into your drawer, grabbed that shirt, and gave it away. You came home to learn of the demise of your lucky old shirt and you are devastated, thinking you will never see it again, or so you thought. A few weeks later you were out for a run and you happened to see somebody mowing his or her lawn in your shirt. You shout, “See somebody can use that old shirt!” meanwhile the cars driving by think you have lost your marbles. You continue on your run with a sense of vindication and a new pep in your step.  

             That picture is the similar type of vindication God might feel when someone says to you, “you can’t make a difference in this world you’re just one person” and you step up, you prove them wrong, you change a community or a life for Christ. In God’s Rehab tool belt there are many different tools used to reshape lives and make things useful again. This morning we are going to see how God used a tool to shape a life of a Gentile King before he was even born.

Eschatology: The Destiny of the Unsaved

              Eschatology, the study of last things, can conjure up different emotions and thoughts causing one to reflect on their mortality. Chief among these reflections both emotionally and intellectually is the eternal abode of the unsaved. This is a crucial question to answer from an apologetic standpoint and Scripture has much to say on the matter.

             Three major views must be kept in mind when referring to the eternal fate of the unsaved. Annihilationism is drawn from the idea that some if not all persons will cease to exist post-mortem.[1] Perhaps the most common assertion is that while humankind was created essentially immortal those who do not fulfill this destiny in the after life will be utterly destroyed. Eternal punishment stands as the most championed position historically by the church, Christ spoke more of hell than any other person.[2] This points to the sentencing of the unregenerate to an eternity separated from the presence of God (Mk. 9:47-48). The third view, Universalism, espouses that all men will eventually be reconciled to God, thus the Atonement is not limited in its efficacy.[3] This doctrine is viewed from the position of maximum tolerance.

            After studying the definitions above the words used to describe these events must be examined. Hades, which is the rendered form of the Hebrew word Sheol in the LXX, has the meaning of grave or hell. This is the place of bodily decay[4], a state in which disembodied souls live until the resurrection at the last day (Jn. 11:24). Sheol and Hades are virtually synonymous.[5] However, Gehenna, originally referring to the Valley of Hinnom where Baal worshipers sacrificed children to Molech (2 Kings 16:3), encapsulates the more common form of eternal hell, as is currently understood. Sheol and Hades refer to an intermediate state while Gehenna refers to everlasting punishment for the wicked following the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15).[6]

Though compelling arguments can be made from all sides the clearest definition from Scripture supports the eternality of reward and punishment for humankind (Dan. 12:2)[7]. Matthew 25:46 states, “these shall go away into everlasting punishment…righteous into life eternal.” Both words here can be rendered properly into Greek, aiōn or aiōnion. Strong translates these to mean without beginning and end. How can we deny the eternality of punishment while affirming the eternality of reward? If we hope to be consistent in our theology, we cannot. Paul commented on the state of the damned (2 Thess. 1:9) and in the Gospels Luke mentions the fate of the rich man from Jesus parables (Lk. 16:23). Though pointing ultimately to the result of the unsaved living, this parable can shed light on the state of the unregenerate dead.

            The opposition would point to the cessation of existence implied in Scripture (Rom. 6:23; Jas. 5:20)[8] or inconsistency with eternal punishment from a good God (1 Tim. 2:4).[9] The cross, as they espouse, is the place of universal salvation to which the scope of cannot be limited (2 Cor. 5:9).[10] Lastly, Paul appears to explain that eventually all things will be reconciled to Christ (Col. 1:18). 

            Though the opposition’s defense hinges on misinterpretations there is an emotional element that creeps in. How could a good God send some one to hell? However given libertarian-free will, God would be in contradiction to His nature if He forbid people to freely choose or deny Him. Thus those who choose Him will rest with Him eternally and those who don’t are granted their request, eternal separation from the Creator of the universe (Rev. 20:10). John and Jesus both describe reward and punishment eternally[11], yet to affirm one of the opponent’s views is to deny the veracity of their writings and subsequently Scriptures inerrancy. Lastly, the doctrine of hell stretches beyond three mere words[12], destruction (2 Thess. 1:9), damnation (Matt. 23:33), and fiery-furnace (Matt. 13:42).

            Given eternal punishment, its wise to heed the words of Christ when he commanded us to make disciples (Matt. 28:19). Proselytizing is meaningless if all are eventually saved or if all cease to exist after death. Evangelism then is the greatest endeavor of every believer who once was lost until they heard the saving grace of the gospel.

            The doctrine of eschatology deals largely with the final state of humankind. A proper understanding of eternal punishment on the unregenerate is the goal of the defender of orthodoxy. With the scope of eternal punishment in mind, all other views opposed should be rebuked for inaccuracy. If these views were to hold firm they would negate the gravity of both the cross and resurrection of Christ and the subsequent evangelizing of the post Acts 2 church. We must resist these views and hold to the clearest explanation scripture has to offer, namely the eternal destiny of all people (Dan. 12:2).

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[1]             R. Nicole, “Annihilationism.” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, ed. Walter A. Elwell, 2^nd Ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001), 64.

[2]             L.L. Morris, “Eternal Punishment.” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, ed. Walter A. Elwell, 2^nd Ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001), 395.

[3]             J.R. Root, “Universalism.” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, ed. Walter A. Elwell, 2^nd Ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001), 1232.

[4]             W.A. Van Gemeren, “Sheol.” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, ed. Walter A. Elwell, 2^nd Ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001), 1099.

[5]             J.A. Motyer, “Hades.” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, ed. Walter A. Elwell, 2^nd Ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001), 532.

[6]             V. Cruz, “Gehenna.” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, ed. Walter A. Elwell, 2^nd Ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001), 480.

[7]             Morris, 395.

[8]             Nicole, 64.

[9]             Morris, 396.

[10]             Ibid, 396.

[11]             Nicole, 64.

[12]             R.P. Lightner, “Hell.” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, ed. Walter A. Elwell, 2^nd Ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001), 548.

Short Essay on Christology

Christology, the doctrine concerned with the nature and person of Christ, has been debated through the centuries and to commence this debate the issue of Christ’s humanity is raised. The Synoptic Gospels clearly point to Jesus’ human qualities such as growing (Lk. 2:52), hunger (Mk. 2:15), distress (Mk. 14:33), and ultimately death (Mk. 15:37). However, the Synoptic Gospels were not the only place where these claims can be found, in other places scripture witnesses explicitly to his true humanity (Gal. 4:4; Heb. 4:15).[1]

The second aspect of Christology should focus on the claims in Scripture for Christ’s deity. Jesus had a proper understanding of his nature and this can be seen in the claims he made as the “I AM” of the Old Testament.[2] Seven times in the Gospel of John he refers to himself as ego eimi; “I am the bread of life” (Jn. 6:35), “I am the good shepherd” (Jn. 10:11), and “I am the resurrection and the life” (Jn. 11:25). These self-claims speak to who Jesus believed himself to be. Furthermore, encapsulated in the application of logos is the claim to pre-existence which should be understood as a claim of deity (Jn. 1:1).  This verse points to Christ, who in the beginning was the agent of God’s creative decree and subsequent creative activity. [3]

With the previous two paragraphs in mind we can tie the two natures together as the Council of Chalcedon (451), officially defined the doctrine of the hypostatic union. [4] This bond of both God and man Scripture will attest most cogently to in the incarnation. Christ was born of the flesh (Jn. 1:14), had family lineage (Rom. 9:5) and yet this same man was attributed with God-like qualities for he knew what was in man (Jn. 2:24-25), a clear representation of omniscience. Paul gives credence to the deity of Christ when he ascribes omnipotence to him in the act of creation (1:16). When the whole of Scripture is tied together the union is revealed. Calvin believed when Christ became flesh he did not suspend nor alter his conventional commission of upholding the universe a declaration of Christ being both fully God and fully man.[5] 

For Christ to exist in such a union he would have to have a proper self-knowledge of his nature. He would have to claim deity and act upon it as judge (Rev. 20:11-12), savior (Jn. 3:16) and creator (Jn. 1:3). He would have to embrace his humiliation in full by experiencing emotion (Jn. 11:35), hunger (Mk. 2:15) and ultimately the finality of the flesh (Mt. 27:50). When taken together Jesus could fully relate to man in the flesh because he lived as one and he could properly relate to the Father and the rest of the Godhead because he was of the same essence as them.

In Christ’s incarnation he took on the form of humanity in order that he save humanity from its fallen condition. Because the essence of God is an immaterial being (Jn 4:24), he could not be the propitiation for human sin because an immaterial being cannot bleed. Blood was the requirement to atone for the sins of man (Lev.16:15). Thus, the only way was to offer a sacrifice that was without blemish to atone properly for humankind. Yet an animal cannot fully cover the sins of men, it would take a perfect man, still more, it would take a perfect God-man.[6] Christ Jesus was that perfect God-man atonement (1 Pet. 1:18-19).

When overemphasis on one of Christ’s nature is given over the other heresies can arise. These heresies can give rise to a misconception or a complete disregard for the humanity and subsequent incarnation of Christ as is seen with Apollinarian Christology.[7] After Tertullian unerringly identified the Father and Son were of “one substance”[8] debate arose as to how this might be. Arius denied Christ as having a human soul and the Council of Nicea (325) condemned him.[9] To defeat this heresy it should be pointed out that if Christ did not have a soul and possess the full human qualities then he could not be the acceptable placation for sin. Nestorianism arose after the Nicene Council alleging that Christ two natures existed side by side and thus denying the popular view of Christ. Much as the same above, if you separate the two natures, then man could not be the adequate source of atonement, it takes God to satisfy this penalty (Heb. 7:26).

The humanity of Christ enriches my life by giving it a source of example and study on how to conduct life with a focus on holiness. Walking victorious because of the sacrifice helps me understand that true relationship and friendship rests in my desire to lay it all down for those I love. (Jn. 15:13)

Bibliography

Blaising, C. “Hypostatic Union.” In Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, ed. Walter A. Elwell, 2nd ed., 583-84. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2001.

Towns, Elmer. Theology for Today Mason, OH: Thomson Custom Solutions Center, 2001.

Wallace, R.S., and G.L. Green. “Christology, New Testament Christology.” In Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, ed. Walter A. Elwell, 2nd ed., 239-45. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2001.

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[1] R.S. Wallace and G.L. Green, “Christology, New Testament Christology.” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, ed. Walter A. Elwell, 2^nd Ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001), 239.

[2] Elmer L. Towns, Theology for Today (Mason: Thomson Custom Solutions Center, 2001), 160-161.

[3] Wallace and Green, 241.

[4] C. Blaising, “Hypostatic Union.” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, ed. Walter A. Elwell, 2^nd Ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001), 583.

[5] Wallace and Green, 243.

[6] Wallace and Green, 242.

[7] Ibid, 242.

[8] Ibid, 241.

[9] Ibid, 242.

"The Light of the World" - A Most Interesting Sight

Here is a copy of the sermon message I am giving this morning at Cornerstone Community Church. Hope you enjoy.

So in the message last week Pastor Craig touched on this idea about Jesus as the “Light of the World.” Now in today’s study we are going to see how Jesus brought a kind of light into a blind man’s life, which will reflect the similar claim Jesus made in the previous chapter. You heard a few different scriptures describing what might have been understood by the Pharisees and those listening when Jesus proclaimed in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”[i] I want you to keep this scripture in mind for later on when we come to the text for this morning. It should help tie this all together.

           

            The idea of light it certainly something we take for granted in our modern society. Today we can flip a switch and lights just pop on. We don’t have to light a candle or start a fire to light our path in the darkness, we have flashlights and even our cell phones to shine a light on the way. If you’re a little scared of the dark, never fear, we have a night-light specifically designed to let your mate sleep while providing you with enough light to quell your fears. We even invented lights that pop on and off by us clapping (I realize I just dated myself by doing this). Worried about nighttime travel, well we invented headlights for your vehicles.

What is Evangelism?

What do you think of when you hear the word "Evangelism"? Do you think of the guy holding the "Trust Jesus" sign at sporting events or high school graduations? Do you think of the guy yelling curses to all apostates and sinners from the top of a soap box on the street corner?

If you do let me say read on a bit because I hope to help change your perspective on what Evangelism is all about.

Those who had the memories of the type above will be happy to know that most of Christianity doesn't see evangelizing the world in quite the same manner. Now you might be thinking well I don't know of any other forms of evangelism and you sadly might be right. You haven't likely seen a true Evangelist do his or her thing because either one it was very subtle or as is the case for the other part no Christian has taken the chance to share the Gospel of Christ with you.

So what exactly is evangelism supposed to look like? Well first before answering that let me say that to those who are Christians we need to take more seriously the words of Jesus in the 28th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew when He says,

"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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

These words weren't merely a friendly suggestion of the type of things we should be doing but its okay that were not doing it. These were more than suggestions or options for the Christian, these were plain and simply Commands from our Savior and we would be wise to heed the command of Him who knows best how to reach a people in desperate need of His saving grace.

So now that we know that its a command, what does this look like? Well quite simply put, Evangelism is about relationships. If I asked you the question, "Would you marry someone you just met that sat down next to you at Starbucks?" how would you respond? Most sane people would respond with a resounding "No". What if I asked, "Would you marry that same person you met at Starbucks and had a conversation with for 30 minutes?" how then would you respond? Probably in the same way. Marriage is a serious commitment. What if I asked you, "Would you respond to an invitation to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior from a complete stranger, someone you have never had any dialogue with, and not to mention you don't even know who Jesus is besides a cuss word." How would you then respond?

Remember when Evangelizing its about building a relationship. The mission of Evangelism is certainly spreading the word and helping to "convert sinners into winners" eternally but can this be done by force or by a one-time conversation from a stranger? Not likely and if you think of your own experience with coming to a saving knowledge of Christ, you likely didn't do so after one experience. It may have been that one experience that started you off on a step by step path to discovering the truth of the Gospel but it was just one step in many that led to true conversion. If someone is closer to a decision for Christ then perhaps you can be the one to pray with them and witness their conversion but it would not have been without the hard work of others gone before you. 

Also, be prepared to become a guide for the person seeking Christ. Be open about your faith but give room for the person to doubt, question and research the things that don't sit easy with them. Remember, a relationship with Christ is like a marriage and if that is the picture we get then certainly it is a good thing that much thought and study go into making a decision to follow Christ. This is why many people, not just Pastors get to witness conversions. Any who labor for the Gospel will have their part, whether emotionally, prayerfully or intellectually, in the conversion story, none is more important than the other. The important thing is to focus on the task of reaching and reasoning with the unbeliever and being relational with them. It is hopefully through this process (which takes years sometimes) that we can see souls won for Christ.

So in closing, when Evangelizing to the world (a clear command from scripture) keep in mind that you don't have to get a prayer, or a conversion every time you talk with someone. Its not our job to do the saving, that's God's work but we would be wise to take a tip from Paul in regards to Evangelism when he said,

"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow."

1 Corinthians 3:6 NIV

Be about the job of planting and watering the seeds of the Gospel and if you are faithful to the work you will see God make these seeds grow. 

Wash Away

On vacation this past week I couldn't help but recognize the parallel of the ocean water washing away the foot prints in the sand passer's by made. It got me to thinking about sin and how God removes our sins as well, I hope this video touches your heart as it did mine while recording it!

Praise Christ Jesus for the awesome atonement of the cross!

Go "All-In"

Some time ago I got what I liked to call poker fever. It was back when Chris Moneymaker became the first real non-professional poker player to win the World Series of Poker held annually at the time at Binnon's Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. I played this game weekly with some friends, practiced on-line and even went to the local card room to hone my skills. Much like the famous call from a player who is willing to bet all he has on this one hand because he is sure he can win whether or not he has the cards to do so or not, I was "All-In" when it came to learning and dominating poker.

Years later now sitting in church last Sunday the pastor mentioned the phrase "All-In" when talking about our faith and our walk with Jesus. It brought back memories of my poker days when I was willing to risk my entire stack on a hand I was pretty sure was the best. The question is do I know have the same feeling about Christ and Christianity? Am I willing to risk my eternal destiny on some guy who died 2,000 years ago? That is truly what it means to be a Christian. You have to be willing to say to this God that you cannot see or touch that you believe He is the best bet for my life. You have to be willing to walk after His commands if you truly want to be "All-In" with Jesus.

His commands are quite simple and if you would read the Gospels you would find the gift of salvation quite attainable. There are no rituals, no amount of chores or works to get you in, all you have to do is admit you are in need of a savior to cleanse you from all unrighteousness, believe that Christ Jesus can do this and commit yourself to following His every command. This is what it looks like to go "All-In" for Christ. Yes you will have trials, you will suffer, hey you might even be harmed for you faith in the Savior, but if the Shepherd was killed what more might happen to the sheep? Going "All-In" isn't some decision that should be taken lightly, it should be considered the greatest life changing decision you'll ever make.

Look at your hand right now, you have the best hand possible, the hand that can take the pot, are you willing to bet it all and lay your hand down?

If you do you will lay down the Creator, Sustainer and Ruler of Heaven and Earth to take the pot of Eternal Life the greatest reward for the best hand in the poker game of life.

Go "All-In" today!

The Acts of the Holy Spirit

So at our small group on Wednesday we started reading the Acts of the Apostles. This details the early years of the church. One thing we all took notice of was that this was in fact the Acts of the Holy Spirit more so than the Acts of the Apostles.

So the question is do you have the power of the Spirit residing in you? If you don't there is a simple remedy.

1. If you are a Christian, all you need to do is pray for a recharging or refilling of the Holy Spirit each day. When you do this you will be amazed at the things you can do to further the Kingdom of Heaven that you thought were out of your comfort zone or greater than your capabilities. Certainly the Apostles couldn't have achieved the success they experienced without a daily filling power of the Holy Spirit.

2. If you are not a Christian, there is a dormant power available to you just waiting to be called into action. The Spirit can help to inspire you to search out a deeper understanding of why you are here, why there is a God and so on. With this Spirit's urging the hope and prayer is you will accept the gift of salvation paid for at the Cross of Christ. Then this dormant powerful Spirit can be enacted in your life and you too can have the indwelling and the filling of the Holy Spirit to allow your life to transform in ways you never dreamed possible.

Please take some time to ask questions, seek out why these Christians say Jesus is the only way to salvation. Ask the questions about why do I need salvation, what is sin and so forth. If you find someone willing to listen and work with you it is my sincere hope that upon hearing the message of the gospel you will accept fully what it says and give your life to Christ.

Have a great weekend!

I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me."
                                   -John 14:6-

The Human Predicament

Well, this morning I just wanted to touch on something that if you're an Atheist or a Christian or really anything professing a faith should be concerned about (yes I am saying Atheist's have faith based reasons for believing what they do).


The question is what happens to us when we die? Where do we go? Do we cease to exist?


The way you answer this question should have a dramatic impact on how you live your life.


We as humans, according to a Naturalistic (atheist) worldview, are merely a chance directed by natural selection evolved from a primordial soup on a distant planet in a vast, possibly infinitely regressing and expanding universe. I say possibly here because most scientist still agree with a cosmic singularity of the universe, namely the Big Bang.


The end result of this is you are here on earth existing for maybe 100 years, and then you are going back into nothingness. But that fate doesn't just await you, it awaits the entire planet, which, as is theorized by most scientist, will ultimately end up in a heat death where the planet will simply grow cold and disintegrate spreading our cosmic garbage across the ever expanding universe into infinite space.


What does this sort of view lend to your ultimate significance, value and purpose of life. In truth it lends nothing to any of the afore mentioned aspects of life.


1. In regards to Ultimate Significance, basically what does it matter if you find a cure for cancer, or help to bring peace into the middle east, if your life and ultimately the lives of other generations and the earth itself cease to exist in the future the question is left to be answered, "So What?" Why bother, it all goes to nothingness.


2. In regards to Ultimate Value, what does it matter if you try to life a morally upright and correct life. Who determines your right and wrong, if everything is relative then my goods are just as right as yours are even though you don't agree with my anti-hot dog policy, you have to accept it because its my truth and its right to me. Either way what does that matter, when I will leave this world and cease to exist, why shouldn't I do as I please, steal, cheat, rob, kill. It makes no difference what I do since I will not be held responsible in the next life for anything I do here on earth I merely go the way of Hitler and Ghandi, into nothing.


3. Lastly in regards to Ultimate Purpose, if we are nothing more than "electro-chemicals" as Richard Dawkins puts it then we aren't special at all. We have no purpose or importance, we are just a random chance occurrence and our lives will end the same way they started back to non-existence, where is the purpose in living a life like that?


Bottom line is this, without God and Immortality our lives lack all the significance, value and purpose they need for making this present life worth living and fighting for.


As French Mathematician and Physicist Blaise Pascal puts it in his Wager Argument, "...when the odds that God exists are even, then the prudent man will gamble that God exists. This is a wager that all men must take-the game is in progress and a bet must be laid. There is no opting out: you have already joined the game. Which then will you choose--that God exists or that he does not?"


According to William Lane Craig, "Pascal argues that since the odds are even, reason is not violated in making either choice; so reason cannot determine which bet to make. Therefore, the choice should be made pragmatically in terms of maximizing one's happiness. If one wagers that God exists and he does, one has gained eternal life and infinite happiness. If he does not exist, one has lost nothing. On the other hand, if one wagers that God does not exist and he does, then one has suffered infinite loss. If he does not in fact exist, then one has gained nothing. Hence, the only prudent choice is to believe that God exists."


This point of view on God has become known as a "Properly Basic Belief" on which Alvin Plantinga has based his Reformed Epistemology.


So which will you choose?


I have chosen the first and the "Properly Basic Belief." I have nothing to lose and eternity to gain, which do you have?

What happens when we turn from our ways?

So what does happen when we turn from our ways? I don't mean just the bad ways, what about the good ones too?

Here is what God's says in Ezekiel 33

"When the righteous turneth from his righteousness and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby."
                                Ezekiel 33:18-19 KJV-


So what does this all mean. Basically this, if we know the truth and as Christians we should, then if we are living righteously then all is fine. But if we turn from the righteous way and the righteous God we will surely die in our sins, and if we die in our sins we likely know where we are headed when we depart this world.

On the flip side if the wicked stays on his wicked path he too will suffer the fate of the one who fell from righteousness. But he too, the wicked man, can turn from his ways, follow God and his ways, accept what is lawful and right (thanks to Christ's sacrifice he became both which is lawful and right) he can be saved from the torture of Hell.

Bottom line to these verses if you are on the straight and narrow do all you can through prayer and relationship with God to stay on that path (he will do the rest), and if you are not on that path, reach out to God to show you the way, and when you get there stay on that path as well because as Christ puts it in Matthew 7:

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." 


Be counted as one of the few my friends!

Do what you learned as a child

Did you remember how fun it was being a child?

Rolling in dirt, playing ball with your friends, having sleepovers, eating all kinds of sugary candies and many many more things we enjoyed.

We are encouraged in scriputre by Jesus himself to become like a child. No this is not some magic time machine nor is it a scene from the 80's movie "Big" starring Tom Hanks. It is a picture by the way in which we should approach God.

Yes we are to be soldiers, we are to be strong, comforting, loving, and disciples for the Kingdom. But if we are to be these things then why did Jesus say also:

"But Jesus called them unto Him and said, "Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for such is the Kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter it."
                                -Luke 18:16-17 KJV-

It is fun to think about this. Jesus tells us to do big people things like take the word into all nations and baptizing many. Yet unless we receive the Kingdom of God like a child we can not enter it.

This may take a simpler answer than we all might expect and in my last few words the answer may have all ready been laid down...

Still wondering...

It is simple...

Still wondering...

I just said it!

Children simplify things. They understand things on a much simpler level than you and I do, yet in our complexities we foul up the simple message of the gospel and who it was that sacrificed Himself for our salvation.

As we grow older we gain more knowledge which is a good thing, yet we can become puffed up with this knowledge and in turn forget how basic Christianity really is and we can create our own system of salvation instead of relying on the one that has already laid the foundation for it.


Children wouldn't make that mistake we did right there. They would just trust their elder (God) and know he was looking out for them.

Another reason we should receive the Kingdom like a child is because the one thing most children cannot not do it fend for themselves. As we grow older we learn to rely less on our parents and more on our own self strength and competencies. That is a good thing right, but when we forget where we came from, life as a weak child, we forget the one who provided for us.

This same theory goes for our walks as Christians. As we mature in our walks we put aside the things that nurtured us a babe Christians. Our prayer life suffers, we spend more time reading People Magazine than God's word, we just lip sync the songs in church. We become lazy, and self-reliant. That is why we do not see the need for the Father to continue to provide for us, well except when things go really bad right?

And how wrong is that, we call on God when times get tough instead of all the time. Is he some sort of Fire department or Police force called on when we can't handle that kitchen fire or burglar?

If he is to you please sincerly and quickly reevaluate the God in which you claim you are saved by.

My God is not some emergency backup plan and he shouldn't be yours either. He should be your everything plan. Just like Jesus said about the children and us, become like them in regards to the Kingdom.

Simplify your faith by trusting everything to him. That is your house, cars, job, marriage, children and whatever else you have. Trust it to him and believe he is the only one who can provide that for you just like the way little children believe that of their parents.

Keep It Simple Servant and serve Jesus faithfully!

Because the LORD God of Israel...

In my morning quite time I read chapter 10 of the great book of Joshua. The Israelites are gaining strength and they are conquering many peoples along the way as the Lord God had commanded them to do. But on the second to last verse it reads:

"And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel."
                                 Joshua 10:42 KJV-


Did you catch that part, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel, that is the key.

If God is for us who can be against us, but if God is not for us then how do we evaluate our actions, responses and postures towards him to ensure he is for us?

First off God loves all his creation. I know this might seem odd considering that means he loves guys like Hitler, Manson, Stalin, Ahmadinejad and etc. But He is just simply good. I threw one at you there is he just good or is he Good and Just?

Of course he is both and that means loving his creation equally.

I know, I know, Yes he did hate Esau but that was because of what Esau did, but he did not hate Esau in the womb only when Esau turned from God by selling his birthright. 

Back to my point...

However that also means judging his creation equally, that means my sins are counted equally with the sins of Pilate. We are judged on the same scale whether I think thats fair or not.

But when you think about it if God did judge on different scales how right and just of him would that be? No your very right, God should not show favoritism in judgement heres an example:

"Chris you have been a good guy, you followed your own right path, even though I think stealing is wrong you only stole a few small things in your life namely bubble gum, so I guess well your in! Just do me a favor and stay away from the bubble gum isle at our heavenly convenience store."

So I only stole little things and I was allowed entrance into the kingdom, well what about you maybe you never stole anything, how fair is it that a thief like me enters the kingdom? How about that guy that stole a car once in his life, should he get in? I mean I stole gum a few times but he stole a car once, which is worse, once or multiple times?

Do you see how this whole judging thing could get out of hand if God did not hold everyone accountable on the same scale? I hope you do. I doesn't matter, gum, money, boats, cars, if you steal then your a thief plan and simple and that's how the judge will see it.

So now your thinking well God is love and he won't judge me, and you would be right your god won't judge you, that's because the god you created in your mind doesn't believe in that but the God of the Bible is clear he will judge his people someday.

No one is perfect and I know that better than anyone, and God is perfect and his law is perfect by which he judges our actions and life. So how can we being imperfect hope to achieve this state of perfection and everlasting life. We can't imperfect will never equal perfect just like 2 cannot have the same value as 5 no matter how much time and effort 2 puts into being bigger and stronger and holier he can never equal 5.

Now don't loose hope, remember how I told you that God was perfect, well he is and he came down in the form of a man to pay the penalty against that perfect law that judges us. With his death, burial and resurrection Jesus defeated the law's penalty for us and if we take his name into our hearts and live him out, believe fully in his promise we to can be saved.

I pray this message reaches you with joy and you find the hope that I have found in the savior, Jesus Christ. Remember if God is for us who can be against us!

May God richly bless you this day friends!

Last Night...

Last night as I stood, sat and jumped in attendance at the Oakland Raider Season and Home Opener I was in awe at the sheer volume 60,000 plus fans can make. It was amazing to hear the shouts of praise, of course there were also boo's but thats another story.

On a 4th and 15 late in the 4th quarter the Raiders Quarterback JaMarcus Russell hit receiver Louis Murphy for a 57 yard touchdown to put the Raiders in the lead late. The building erupted in cheers and screams and claps, and as I hugged my brother and high-fived fans around me I stopped and wondered for a brief moment why we were all going so crazy for a game.

Granted NFL football is quite exciting especially in moments like that, but when was the last time we cheered like that in church?

When was the last time we clapped that hard and hugged one another after the Pastor told us about the promise of the Gospel?

I dare to say not once if any!

And that's what has me thinking, since last night and this morning, how will it sound when Christ returns to this earth?

Will they cheer like we did last night in Oakland?

Will the noise be louder and will we feel the vibrations like we did when the Air Force flew 2 F-16's over the stadium?

I am not sure exactly but I would have to say yes! This will be the most climatic event in all of history and every eye will see Him when He comes.

When Christ returns it will be the end of the game after a winning touchdown drive, the opponent won't get a chance to tie or win the game, its finished. Jesus will come back as a Savior and more importantly to us who follow him and are oppressed, he will come back on a White Horse as a Conqueror!

My job and the job of those who choose to follow him is to get that word out to as many people as possible.

Living a good life in front of people and being a good example is nice but how will those you are around know why you are such a nice, polite, uplifting person if you never share that with them? How can they hope to achieve your relationship with Christ and the hope you have inside of you if you don't share that? How can they escape the judgement of the almighty if they have not been informed there is a judge who sits on the throne of Heaven rightly judging the people of his creation?

To the elect and workers in Christ, this is our message, get the word out.

Don't delay make it today!

Nice rhyme huh!

God Bless brothers and sisters in the way, and have a nice day!

Sorry, I did it again, I'm thinking might just write a Dr. Seuss book after this. :)

May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen!

God Will Move Waters For You!

This morning while reading in the Old Testament book of Joshua I was stirred with a thought. In chapter 3 the people of Israel, once led by Moses in the wilderness, are preparing to cross the River Jordan. Joshua, the newly appointed leader of Israel, was given a command how to approach the river and how to cross it to take the land promised by God to be the habitation of the Israelite people. Most people don't realize that God parted the waters for the Israelites not once but twice! Originally when God used Moses to call his people out of slavery and oppression at the hands of Pharaoh, he led them across the Red Sea which he parted by Moses stretching out his hands over the waters. They passed on dry ground provided by God. Well that was to bring them out and here in Joshua 3 we see God again parting the waters as his people went in to claim their land.

"And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the People were passed clean over Jordan."
                                 Joshua 3:17 KJV-

When the Levites stepped into the waters of the Jordan holding the Ark of the Covenant the water would rise up and split apart making the way for the Israelites dry and safe. Twice God moved the waters for his people to cross through unharmed.

That is his continued promise which I thought about this morning. First off God is the same yesterday, today and forever.


"For I am the LORD, I change not..."
                                Malachi 3:6 KJV-


"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever."
                               Hebrews 13:8 KJV-


If he protected his own back then what makes any of us think he won't do the same today?
The fact is that he will stand up for his own. In the last book of the Bible we read of a special protection given God's people in the last days to stand up against the evils taking place on earth during the great tribulation. We read:

"And then came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth; and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only those men which have not the Seal of God in their foreheads."
                               Revelation 9:3-4 KJV emphasis added-

With this wonderful promise it makes me wonder why anyone wouldn't want to have God do the same for them. The true fact is however, many people in this world choose not to follow God. They either don't believe, don't care or worse, they have never heard his gospel message.

If you are a Christian and you are looking for God's will in your life, its quite simple really:

"And He said unto them, 'Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.'"
                              Mark 16:15 KJV-


"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Spirit)."
                              Matthew 28:19 KJV emphasis added-

So you see God's will for our lives is to spread his message to the whole world. Go preach, teach and give speech to the lost ones and help them come to a place that they can truly say they are found!

For those of you who are reading this and don't know the gospel message, please read some of the previous posts. If it is still unclear after reading please feel free to email me and I would love to respond to your questions. If you have heard the message of promise from the gospel before but it never really took hold in your life then its not to late to change that, here's what you can do to accept the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Repent- Turn your heart from the ways of sin in your life, confess to God about your sins and he will forgive you.

2. Believe and Trust-Believe and Trust on the Lord Jesus Christ and his resurrection and you will be saved (John 3:16).

3. Get and Read a Bible daily-This is a sure way you will stay grounded in your faith by learning daily who it is that has saved you, what you have been saved from and the very nature of the one who saved you!

4. Get in a good Bible based church-This helps build community and a support system for you. It helps grow the body of Christ as well.

5. Share what you have experienced with others who do not know the promise and truth of the Gospel. They are lost but can be found like you were.

I hope this has helped your understanding this day, Enjoy this day to the fullest.

God Bless friends!

Do we assume God is American?

This was a great question posed to me from a great friend of mine. He made the statement that he believes most Christians in America assume that God is the God of America alone. I think that most American Christians don't realize the same God we worship is also very active in the persecuted church worldwide. To say that God is just a white-Christian American is to miss the mark on the nature of God for sure. We must open our eyes to the church worldwide.

It is interesting to think that about that. Why is the Church persecuted? Why do some many people get violent or hate-filled when the name of God, Jesus or the Bible is spoken? Why are Pastors being imprisoned daily worldwide for spreading the good news and hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ? What is so scary about a Christian worldview to most in politics?

After pondering these sorts of questions I can only really think of one thing...

THE TRUTH HURTS!

I know, I know, how do I know that Christianity is the truth?

Better still how do you know that it is not?

Why is nobody imprisoned for spreading the message of Krishna? Why haven't countries banned distribution of the Qur'an? Why don't New Agers face death for talking about the higher power of self?

Simple again I think... they all miss the mark for absolute truth. Here is what I mean. Christianity is the only religion to declare that God came in the flesh to die for the sins of man, and that believing in him and only him is the path to heaven. We Christians believe that Narrow is the path that leads to life.

"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
                                           Matthew 7:14 KJV-

The world believes that wide is that same path to life and heaven. Much is the belief of Oprah Winfrey and her New Age belief system. To her there are many ways to heaven. You can see how non-threatening this world view is. It says that you are in control of your own morality, you set the bar for your way of life. Your are not governed by any authority above your own self-governing. You are your own absolute truth, that is truth and light in self.

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there will be which go in there at:"
                                         Matthew 7:13 KJV-

Now do we see why New Age belief is not persecuted but Christianity is? Do we see why the Buddha is  a safe image to worship but Jesus is outlawed?

I hope it is clear, the truth will always face the most opposition from forces seen and unseen, because it poses the greatest threat to self-righteousness and living a life that is pleasing to you and not others. Christianity teaches that God governs all, and truth is in him and life everlasting exists in his one way for your life. Jesus said:
 
"I am the way, the truth and the life; No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me."
                                       John 14:6 KJV-

This is the truth that strikes to the heart of unbelievers and keeps them at a distance. Why? Because as soon as you accept the fact that God exists, and you accept that he is a perfect and just judge then you realize you have to fall under his law. When you realize this your heart races because you realize you are subject to obeying those laws which means giving up all you want for all he wants.

But its not that bad, life doesn't lose all meaning, your hope is not dashed. When you realize what I have and many Christians worldwide have is when you surrender your life to your Lord and King he will fill the voids that were left when you gave up everything to follow him. You might lose that girlfriend you were living with but God may replace that with a Godly marriage in the future. The job where you stole money from may be gone but God will provide work you can be proud of and be honest to.

Life as a Christian is anything but smooth and boring, it is quite invigorating and full of purpose. Sure you can't really go out and sleep with whoever you want, and drink and smoke and shoot any drug you want, you can't continue to steal from work, or cuss out that guy that cut you off on the freeway, but really when you look at it where did that stuff get you anyway? Hung-over, depressed, feeling guilty, in prison or in the doctor's office for hypertension.

Give God a chance to transform your life for the better. Its simple really, yet it is very hard for many.

What you have to do is Repent, Trust in Christ, get in a good bible teaching church, read his word daily and do what it says. If you do those things, I promise you, you will see God move in amazing ways in your life!

God Bless friends!

Faith...

So in my morning reading I took a journey through the new testament book of Hebrews and in particular chapter 11.

Right away this chapter jumps out with a claim about faith, here is what is says:

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen."

Hebrews 11:1 KJV-

If I could sum up this entire chapter I would by the word FAITH. Just like this passage says and the examples set forth from the writer of the book of Hebrews we see time and time again throughout biblical history the faith of the ones who proceeded Christ being displayed. Enoch's faith that he would not see death, Abraham's faith that even if he sacrificed the one son God promised to prosper him through that God would find a way to see his promise fulfilled. Moses' faith to step away from Pharaoh and be called a Hebrew as was his heritage. David, Samuel and the Prophets all showing great faith to overcome kingdoms and dominions.

FAITH, a simple 5 letter word that can transform lives.

Isn't it interesting how we are told to share our faith with people?

That's what we have to do, share the faith we have in the Lord Jesus Christ. Share how he came into this world. How he lived, died and resurrected. Share why he had to do this, to save us from our sins and hell's fire and judgement. Without our faith in Christ we are as good as dead. Most people today are good people at heart but when we own up to the fact that God is a perfect God with a perfect law and that he will not bend the law or provide loop holes to squeeze through judgement on the merits of good deeds then we realize that the judgement must stand up firm. The fine or time has to be paid for or served.

The Great News 4 Everyone is that God sent his only begotten Son to the earth for this very purpose. God realizing that man could never obtain his perfect law created a way for us to come into relationship with him and escape the sentence from the righteous judge. As I close with probably the most quoted scripture of all time, don't just let it pass your eyes like "oh I have seen this before", but really thing about what this is saying, think about how awesome it is that God came down to rescue the creation he loves and how sacrificial, and painful and joyful this all was. Have a blessed weekend friends!

"For GOD so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life,. For GOD sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved."

John 3:16-17 KJV-

There are so many people to reach...ahhh

So be honest, have you ever felt like this. There are so many people to reach with the gospel, how can we reach them all.

I experienced this yestereday walking through a local mall. I thought to myself, man look at all of these people eating in the food court, look at the lines for that cash register. I began to feel quite overwhelemed. I felt like no matter what I did I could not possibly make a dent in the amount of people that need to hear the message of the gospel. It can really disable your ambitions of sharing the word with those who need it.

After a few moments of defeating thought I turned to the one place I could for the answer, no not the Oakland Raider Image store, which by the way I did stop by, but of course, God!

It was amazing what clarity he gave me on this subject. He put this on my heart, "IF YOU REACH OUT TO JUST ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE IT MAKES THE SIZE OF THE LOST ONE LESS!"

I never looked at it that way, if we chip away at the total of the lost each day by one then they will number one less each day. It kinda makes it all possible then. I then had another thought, what if I wasn't the only one doing this in that same place I had this thought, what if there was a group of us, then we would be making a serious dent in the numbers!

That is my invitation, try to reach the lost, just by one a day. I encourage of course more but hey one is better than none. If you want a partner and you live in the Bay Area give me a shout, I will come with you, we could even video tape it and post it for others to see that its not that hard or scary.

I hope your weekends were great and get out there and share the gospel , afterall its this same gospel that gave us the life that is in us, why wouldn't we want to share that.

God Bless my brothers and sisters in the Lord!

He is good in times of trouble

This morning in my quiet time with the word of God I read a great little passage in the Old Testament book of Nahum the prophet and it made me think about this world and the lost. It made me think that though they try to fill their lives will all sorts of things in vain from money, to women, to cars, to jobs, to drugs and any other host of things they are missing the promise of this verse that I read.

Ok, Ok so what does the verse say???

"The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him."

-Nahum 1:7 KJV-

How awesome is that. He is a strong hold in the day of trouble, isn't that comforting?

Now I know we would like to think, believer and non-believer alike, that life should be easy, no worries, perfect harmony and all that good stuff, but the truth is life is far from that. We are destine for troubled times, but to some of us if not all of us this happens daily! But the promise here can be the same for all of us if we do what it says in the later part of the verse.

TRUST IN HIM!

Will you do this today? Will you trust in him?

If so hand God the keys of your life and he will drive you wherever you need to go! It is not complicated but it definitely takes some courage and surrender. You cannot begin to feel the love of the Savior if you haven't surrendered to the one who does the saving. But I promise you his is just the one who can save you from these troubles of life. Trust in Him and begin your new walk in this life confident that when all is said and done you will be in the presence of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

If you are struggling with accepting this Jesus into your life, email me, or post a comment below any post, I would love to have a chance to answer any question you might have, negative or positive, tough or easy, God will guide the response and make sure it helps where you most need it.

Have a blessed day!