Friday, April 23, 2010

All Aboard!!!

The un-saved are like those stranded at sea on a sinking vessel. The SOS call goes out from some onboard who realize their predicament and the Coast Guard is dispatched. The Coast Guard arrives and the ones who sent out the distress signal are first to board the Coast Guard cutter. From the stern of the Coast Guard ship those who are saved call out and warn of the impending doom for those who remain on the sinking ship. Some mock and ignore the advice to go see for themselves where the vessel is taking on water. The mockers continue to party while they entice those on the deck to join them below and ignore those who just want to ruin their fun. Some are enticed away while others search out to discover if what those that are already saved are saying is true. Eventually, all those that were left on deck do get aboard the cutter. However, as the cutter is leaving, some on the cutter continue to hear music and partying. As they look toward the vessel that they were rescued from they see that those that were below deck have come back up and continue to party. In disbelief that their old ship is truly sinking they jump ship to return to the partying.

Those who jumped ship never understood the fate of remaining aboard their doomed ship nor comprehended the sacrifice that was made to save them.**(Clarification: these represent those who have "tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit"{Hebrews 6:4-6} but because their heart was still loyal to the old ship -(Luke 17:32); they "fall away" {Heb 6:6} as their "love grows cold"{Matthew 24:12-13}. This DOES NOT indicate that a person can be saved multiple times- see verses below.)

Still, there were some aboard the old ship who wanted to keep a lifejacket on just in case the old ship was indeed sinking. The problem is that when the ship does sink... the lifejacket won't get them home.

If you are truly saved then you have nailed you sinful passions to the cross and crucified them there(Galatians 5:24). Although you will still sin, you have a new desire (2Corinthians 5:17) that wants to please God(Ephesians 5:1); which also works remorse within your spirit for sins and an active determination to forsake all sin(2Corinthians 7:10).

Jesus did not die so that you could wear Him like a lifejacket. You have to abandon the old ship and get aboard the new ship -2Corinthians 5:17.


Hear What The Parable Means:


The sea is death. The sinking vessel represents all that this world offers. Those on board the sinking vessel are the unsaved. The few who sent out the SOS signal are those who after having their mind illuminated to their lost condition and utter inability to save themselves; called out for deliverance to the One who is able to save them... Jesus Christ. The Coast Guard Cutter represents Salvation. The ones who first boarded the Cutter are the ones that called out for deliverance and forsook all that the old life had to offer with all its lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. After getting saved they tell those still living in sin of their fallen state and explain to them God's Judgment and the Gospel. Those who mock and draw some to come below deck are children of the world. Those that seek out whether what the ones that are saved are saying is true are those which are genuinely seeking the truth but have not yet made a decision to forsake the old life and all its pleasures. The ones that were still on deck that eventual go aboard the Cutter are those who are just following their friends or family. After a while the world and all its pleasures begin to pull at them and draws them back. These are the people spoken of in Hebrews 6:4-6 and Hebrew 10:26-30 who's hearts still have some loyalty to the world and so they looked back with lust to return to the old life and did so(Remember Lot's wife). The ones who remain on the old ship{including the ones who returned} die in their sin and go to hell. The ones who wear a lifejacket are the ones who claim to be Christians because it gives them some security in facing death but they never forsake the pleasures of the world and continue to willfully and without remorse live in sin. These, too, die in their sin and go to hell.

Hebrews 6:4-6

4 For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, became companions with the Holy Spirit, 5 tasted God's good word and the powers of the coming age, 6 and who have fallen away, because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding Him up to contempt. -HCSB

Hebrews 10:26-30

26 For if we deliberately sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries. 28 If anyone disregards Moses' law, he dies without mercy, based on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God, regarded as profane the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know the One who has said, Vengeance belongs to Me, I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge His people. -HCSB

Ezekiel 3:20

20 Now if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, and I put a stumbling block in front of him, he will die. If you did not warn him, he will die because of his sin and the righteous acts he did will not be remembered. Yet I will hold you responsible for his blood. -HCSB

Ezekiel 33:12-13


12 "Now, son of man, say to your people: The righteousness of the righteous person will not save him on the day of his transgression; neither will the wickedness of the wicked person cause him to stumble on the day he turns from his wickedness. The righteous person won't be able to survive by his righteousness on the day he sins. 13 When I tell the righteous person that he will surely live, but he trusts in his righteousness and commits iniquity, then none of his righteousness will be remembered, and he will die because of the iniquity he has committed. -HCSB

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Should We "Love The Sinner... Hate The Sin?"

While this line of thought is common amongst some Christians, it is not Scriptural in its essence. To many, loving the sinner means to embrace, tolerate, and accept them unconditionally. This, too, is unscriptural. While God loves His creation, a relationship with Him is not without conditions. His unconditional LOVE was put on display through the life and death of Jesus- Romans 5:8. His ACCEPTANCE is on the condition of turning from ones sins and intrusting oneself to the Lordship of Jesus- Acts 17:30b.
This brings us to the topic of "judging" others. Shortly stated, it is possible to "condemn" the sin without "judging" the sinner. Only God has the authority to judge. If someone feels "judged" because we quote where the Bible condemns their sin then it is the Holy Spirit working in them to testify of the truth they just heard.
We are to love others but that does not mean to FELLOWSHIP with an unrepentant person- Ephesians 5:11. It is our love for the lost that drives us to witness to them because we don't want them to go to hell; But scripture tells us that after the second admonition we are to reject the unrepentant- Titus 3:10-11.
Because sin is inanimate and can not be judged, God does not disassociate the sin from the sinner as is evident in scripture such as Psalm 7:11- God judges the righteous, and God is angry with the WICKED every day.
Sin will cease to exist. The wicked will spend eternity in hell. Love them enough to tell them the truth!

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Sis Boom Bah... Hurrah!!!

First, let me say: there is nothing legalistic about the fact that we are to obey God. It is legalistic to say that we are saved by our obedience. Put another way; salvation is not a product of obedience but obedience is a product of salvation.

That said, I was asked about my position on organized sports years ago(and again just recently); and so I went to the source of discovering God's will about anything... His Word. This is what I discovered:

Galatians 5:26 Let us not be DESIROUS OF VAIN GLORY, PROVOKING ONE ANOTHER, ENVYING ONE ANOTHER.

A) DESIROUS OF VAIN GLORY
G2755 kenodoxos-
Thayer Definition:
1) glorying without reason, conceited, vain glorious, eager for empty glory
The emphasis is on being "eager for empty glory."
--> It is so amazing to me how others can get so excited and exhibit "glorying" in the success of a favorite team or player and not display equal enthusiasm in what Christ accomplished on the cross. Bragging is commonly heard among sports fans as they carry on about this move or that dunk or catch. Such glorying is empty glory of which we are told in God's Word to avoid. "Boasting" about what Jesus did on the cross is rarely heard from the same people professing themselves to be Christian.
B) PROVOKING ONE ANOTHER
G4292 prokaleomai-
Thayer Definition:
1) to call forth
2) to call forth to one’s self
2a) especially to challenge to a combat or contest with one
3) to provoke, to irritate
--> Such is the norm for organized sports. Challenging the competitor, often with provocative language intended to irritate the other, is the name of the game. Don't get me wrong, I play some sports with my kids; but the emphasis is on having fun and not on winning. We don't even keep score. One aspect of playing sports that we leave off when playing is "stealing." We don't steal the ball when playing basketball (blocking is allowed) and we don't steal bases when playing baseball... it's just as fun! Call me a fanatic because I think "do not steal" applies to every area of life; what can I say... I am Jesus FAN!!! I'm not trying to please the crowd.

C) ENVYING ONE ANOTHER
G5354 phthoneĊ
Thayer Definition:
1) to envy
Webster's Definition: ENVY
1. To feel uneasiness, mortification or discontent, at the sight of superior excellence, reputation or happiness enjoyed by another; to repine at another's prosperity; to fret or grieve one's self at the real or supposed superiority of another, and to hate him on that account.
--> Therefore, envy is the feeling of displeasure produced by the knowledge of the advantage or prosperity of others; i.e. in reference to sports it is a drive to be better than the competition and dissatisfaction at being less than the best. To wrap this idea up in two words: competitive spirited.

The Bible says to imitate Jesus- 1John 2:3-6. Jesus lived a life of humility and sacrifice not even attributing to Himself the right to be held equal with God, but instead took on the form of a servant and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross- Philippians 2:5-7. Now that is something to glory in and cheer about. Are you still sitting?
Sis boom bah Hurrah!!! Jesus saves!!!!!!!!!

Friday, April 2, 2010

Here Comes Peter... WHO?!

The EB has absolutely nothing to do with Christianity whatsoever, neither does Santa Claus. Both of these idols are steeped in paganism. To try to "christianize" the pagan practices by painting a Christian meaning over the pagan practice is the same as switching the label from Hydrochloric Acid to Water. No matter what label you put upon it; nothing changes its origin and consequences.
God warns of mingling with pagan practices. He condemns the Israelites in Psalm 106:35 for adopting the pagan customs. In Deuteronomy 12:28-31a God warns against copying pagan practices and saying that you are worshiping God when you do it.

Psalm 106:35
35 Instead, they mingled among the pagans
and adopted their evil customs.

Deuteronomy 12:28-31a
28 Be careful to obey all my commands, so that all will go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and pleasing to the LORD your God.
29 "When the LORD your God goes ahead of you and destroys the nations and you drive them out and live in their land,30 do not fall into the trap of following their customs and worshiping their gods. Do not inquire about their gods, saying, 'How do these nations worship their gods? I want to follow their example.'31 You must not worship the LORD your God the way the other nations worship their gods

Here is an online booklet that reveals the pagan background of some popular holidays:
http://www.ucg.org/booklets/HH/
It is also available as a PDF document:
http://www.ucg.org/booklets/HH/HH.pdf

We don't agree with every aspect within this booklet but the historical accounts and biblical support against Christmas, Easter, and Halloween are accurate.