by MIMADMIN | May 7, 2015 | Articles
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.'” John 14:6 You see the offense of the gospel in Jesus claim to be the only way people can get to heaven. People find three ways to eliminate this offense. First, by arguing that there is more than one God. If there are two or more gods, then my way is as good as your way. Second, by arguing that although there is only one God, there is more than one way to find Him. If you say, “There are many ways to God, my way is Jesus,” you have eliminated the offense. Third, by arguing that there is no God; troubled people create Him to solve their problems. You can easily see why people wish to eliminate this offense of the gospel. For all three of these have in common that they abolish personal accountability. If you have more than one God or more than one standard from Him, each person can chose for himself the direction he wishes to go. Thus the offense of the gospel is not just that Jesus claims to be the only way to the Father, but also that He ensures judgment. “The hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.” John 5:28-29 Some may be indifferent to your commitment to Christ, but only because they have not made the...
by MIMADMIN | May 7, 2015 | Articles
“Therefore God sends upon them a strong delusion, to make them believe what is false.” 2Thessalonians 2:11 In the familiar story of Sodom and Gomorrah, when the messengers of God are accosted while residing in Lot’s home, we find that “young and old – all the people to the last man – gathered about the house.” Gen 19:4 The messengers blinded the crowd so they couldn’t find their way. The next day Lot went to his sons-in-law to warn them of God’s pending judgment. Evidently they were present the night before, and thus blinded by the messengers. Still, they considered Lot “as one who jests” Gen 19:14 when he warned them. Sin acts like a drug; the more one sins the more intoxicated he becomes. His senses are dulled as he repeatedly ignores God’s commands, and the fact that he seemingly escapes judgment causes him to conclude that God “jests.” Unconvinced that God will hold him accountable for every transgression committed, including “every idle word,” he day-by-day moves ever closer to the sure judgment of God. God does not “jest” when He commands, and if/when we ignore Him we do so to our own hurt. We escape God’s judgment only by obeying...
by MIMADMIN | May 7, 2015 | Articles
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5 I find that the older I become, the more acutely obvious these words are. The Apostle Paul teaches: “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” 1 God introduces trials and tribulations in each believer’s life to purify his hope. With increased age I find that while the tests God brings in my life remain constant, my capacity (mental, physical, and emotional) to handle them wanes. A number of years ago a businessman graphed two lines intersecting at about age 40: decreasing capacity and increasing responsibility. Few things in life are as frustrating to me. Each day I plead with God to either come for His Church, or for me personally. I find that I can easily become discouraged constantly failing God’s tests. 1 – Romans...
by MIMADMIN | May 7, 2015 | Articles
“But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes, and takes any one of them; that man is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.” Ezekiel 33:6 The believer who knows that God will judge the sinner and fails to alert the lost of his impending judgment; that believer God will judge because of his neglect. But those who die outside of Christ will not be pardoned because of the failure of this negligent believer; they will be judged and condemned. God says that you are responsible for others, but you cannot hold others responsible for you. This is the double edge of responsibility. You are obligated to minister to others, but cannot look to anyone but God to minister to you. You cannot misuse your Christian liberty and cause the weaker believer to stumble, and you cannot call yourself weak in order to restrict the liberty of others. Whether you are the “watchman” or the “man taken away in iniquity,” you are responsible. The truth of Ezekiel’s observation rests on the assumption that God alone determines the flow of circumstances that come into each person’s life. God will surely judge the one who does you wrong, but will also judge you for whatever part you played in the transgression as well as how you responded to it. The parable of the watchman should dissipate any anger or hurt you harbor in your heart for what others have done to you, while making you aware of...
by MIMADMIN | May 7, 2015 | Articles
“…God Knoweth Your Hearts: For That Which Is Highly Esteemed Among Men Is Abomination In The Sight Of God.” Luke 16:15 In Luke 16 Jesus Gave The Parable Of The Unjust Steward, After Which He Cautioned That People: “No Servant Can Serve Two Masters: For Either He Will Hate The One, And Love The Other; Or Else He Will Hold To The One, And Despise The Other. Ye Cannot Serve God And Mammon. And The Pharisees Also, Who Were Covetous, Heard All These Things: And They Derided Him. And He Said Unto Them, Ye Are They Which Justify Yourselves Before Men…”[1] The Pharisees, Who Were Covetous Derided Jesus, Invoking Jesus’ Response, “Ye Are They Which Justify Yourselves Before Men; But God Knoweth Your Hearts: For That Which Is Highly Esteemed Among Men Is Abomination In The Sight Of God.” [1] Luke...
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