The PC Christian and reality

     In order to be PC one needs to know what they are PC about.  Going along with the crowd just doesn't work when it comes to Christian accountability.  Just to be clear, I'm not PC in regards to how the world defines the word.  I am PC when it comes to how Jesus defines the word.  What do I mean by that?  The PC of the Bible includes letting your yes be yes and your no being no.  It means holding to the standard that comes from receiving and passing on the love of God to yourself and others.  The PC Christian adheres to following Jesus instead of focusing on the form of religion we see so much of in the world.  Being PC correct for the Lord means not being ashamed of your faith and living for Jesus.  The PC Christian is found to be standing up for God no matter what.  Are you a PC Christian?  It seems like a play on words until you understand the meaning of PC.  Political Correctness is defined differently in the Christian world than in the world.  For the Christian PC correctness is all about Jesus instead of it being all about the desires of the worldly population.  PC in the Christian offensive to those who are perishing.  One needs only wonder about the PC of the world as it's about selfishness and lacks a Godly focus.
     I've offended many during my life.  Sometimes it's been the worldly PC that has created the problem.  Most of the time it's my Christian faith.  Telling me to go away or to remain quiet isn't an option for me.  I am compelled to write and say what I believe.  That directs my live amongst those who don't love Jesus.  While it's true that I am not always acting as Jesus wants me to act, the message remains embedded in my heart and soul.  Choosing Christ to  live inside of me has made all the difference over the years.  The Bible tells us that mankind will treat us unkindly, unfair, and with contempt over Jesus living within us.  So it has been in my life.  Should we want to gauge the effectiveness of our faith we need to only look as far as what repercussions we are having with the World.  If there are no repercussions, there isn't a lot going on with our relationship with Jesus and ourselves.  What are you being told about your life?  Do you have the markings of a Christian?  Do you fear the Lord or do you fear the PC of the world? 
     One more difference between the PC of the world versus the PC of the Christian is found in how we balance the two.  The PC of the world is propelled and maintained by anger and selfishness.  It's all about the person or group and not about anything else.  Perceived injustices and demands that people be met on their particular agenda isn't Christian.  The PC world of the Christian isn't negative as PC of the world is.  The Christian world is based on the Love of God and grace through his Son, Jesus.  When we are operating in the realm of the world, life is all about the world.  When we are operating in the world with the focus on Jesus, life is all about Jesus.  Does what you and I think, say and do amount to the love of God in us or does it reflect the world.  It's something we battle every day Paul said.  But we wrestle not with God because he has saved us through the grace offered in Jesus.  That, in the world, doesn't exist.  As always, it's always your choice.

Christian ancestry

     Christian ancestry goes back to the beginning of time before the foundations of the world was laid.  The Scripture tells us that we were known by the Father before that time.  Sometimes that's a difficult pill to swallow.  But, it's the truth.  It's kind of fun to think of the time he took to create you and I.  We have specific markers that make us different from every other person on earth.  There are no two of me.  Some would say that's a good thing!  There's no duplicate of you either.  As that is also true; we have to look at our own ancestry to see where we fit, how we fit, and what our mission is to others Christian and not.  We often get the cart before the horse and try to understand our ancestry from the present to the past.  That's not how God sees it.  We are to look at our ancestry from the past to the present.  What we should find is a continuous line of growth here on earth that has taken us to where we are.  We will never NOT be any different from the day that God created us.  We may evolve to be better people but we won't change the basic person.  Unless we embrace the creations God made us to be, we won't be able to visualize the future of who we are.
     I've recently been working on my family tree.  It's a mess!  Part of the tree has died and other parts thrive.  Part of the tree doesn't have fruit and other parts do.  Some have committed to Christ and others have not.  I've people in my past that were very good people and of course some who were very bad people.  It's quite the mixed bag.  Family reunions are a worldly rite that seeks us to be captive to how others see us.  Christian reunions are a Godly rite that seeks to be free to what?  To be whom God created you and I to be!  Now that's not so simple.  Satan wants us captive to the past and especially to that time before Christ reached out and saved us.  Do you have any relatives who see you that way?  How about friends?  Enemies?  It's been said that "you can please some of the people some of the time and but not all the people all of the time."  But, you can serve the Living God who has come to us and saved us from the past.  If we begin to look at our heritage from the standpoint of when God created us; we begin to see ourselves from a different perspective.  Scripture tells us to separate from those who seek to draw us back to the past.  But do we?
     William James once said, "We may have a God in heaven who forgives us our sins,  but mankind does not."  So, the question is begged, who do we seek to please?  I don't see anyone other than God who truly forgives me my sins.  The difference is found in who loves us and who aren't able to love us or have chosen to not love us.  Perfect love casts out fear.  Seeking love, acceptance and approval from mankind will always leave us frustrated.  Why?  Because we aren't able to meet the standards of others while seeking to surrender to Jesus.  I'm not telling you to ditch your family.  I'm not telling you that you do or don't have important relatives.  I'm not even telling you to see others as the enemy.  What I am telling you is that the God of all creation has formed you before you were placed in your mother's womb.  He named you and when you, if you believe, enter Heaven, he will reveal that name to you.  Don't believe me?  Read the Bible.  Between Genesis and Revelations God traces your heritage created by him.  He chose you from the foundation of the world.  Have you chosen him?  It's always your choice.

2 Corinthians 6:17 "Come out from their Midst and be Separate"

BE SEPARATE - SET APART FOR CHRIST - What Does It Mean To Be Separate & Set Apart for Christ? As "SO4J" (Sold Out For Jesus)-Believers-in-Jesus-Christ we need to be reminded of these scriptures below on a daily basis in Gods Word-- as to not get caught up in the CARES and DISTRACTIONS of this TEMPORAL WORLD..I.e. We are to be IN the World.. But not OF this World... To Trust in JESUS and His Unfailing Word..!  Also check out: 50 SIGNS OF A NO COMPROMISE CHRISTIAN

• 2 Corinthians 6:17 (NASB) "Therefore, COME OUT from THEIR MIDST and BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "And DO NOT TOUCH what is UNCLEAN; and I will welcome you."
  
• 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NASB) "Do NOT be BOUND TOGETHER with UNBELIEVERS; for what PARTNERSHIP have RIGHTEOUSNESS and LAWLESSNESS, or what FELLOWSHIP has LIGHT with DARKNESS? 15) Or what HARMONY has CHRIST with BELIAL (the DEVIL), or what has a BELIEVER in common with an UNBELIEVER? 16) Or what AGREEMENT has the TEMPLE of GOD with IDOLS? For we are the TEMPLE of the LIVING GOD; just as God said, "I will DWELL IN THEM and WALK AMONG them; and I will be their GOD , and they shall be My people. 17) "Therefore, COME OUT from THEIR MIDST and BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "And DO NOT TOUCH what is UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. 18) "And I will be a FATHER to you, and you shall be SONS and DAUGHTERS to Me," says the Lord Almighty."
  
• John 15:19 (NASB) JESUS says: If you were OF THE WORLD, the world would LOVE IT'S OWN; but because you are NOT of the WORLD, but I CHOSE YOU OUT of the WORLD, because of this the WORLD HATES YOU."
  
• 1 John 2:15-17 (NASB) "Do NOT love the WORLD nor the things in the WORLD. If anyone LOVES the WORLD, the love of the Father is not in him. For ALL that is in the WORLD the LUST of the FLESH and the LUST of the EYES and the BOASTFUL PRIDE OF LIFE, is NOT from the FATHER, but is from the WORLD. The WORLD is PASSING AWAY, and also its LUSTS; but the ONE who does the WILL OF GOD lives FOREVER."
  
• James 4:4 (NASB) "You ADULTERESSES , do you not know that FRIENDSHIP with the WORLD is HOSTILITY toward GOD? Therefore whoever WISHES to be a FRIEND of the WORLD makes himself an

Amazing grace is simply amazing!

     Grace is not something to be taken for granted or to be abused.  I say that and yet I struggle with being true to my profession of faith in Jesus Christ who provided THE grace that saved a wretch like me.  Perhaps you struggle with this as well.  I find it easier to be thankful for His grace when I'm in line with the calling he has put before me.  When I am tempted I tend to push aside the importance of what it cost to provide grace to you and I.  It's simply not something we deserve but yet need.  Grace comes in the death and resurrection of Jesus.  His grace is necessary for us to die to self and be resurrected by Jesus in this life.  Without which none of us would have any hope except which the world gives.  That, basically, is no hope at all.  We find ourselves offering grace to others only because we have received grace.  Grace doesn't cost us anything to give away just like the love that God has bestowed upon us.  There are no excuses for us to push aside this grace and yet we do.  We pick and choose whom we offer grace to and withhold grace from those we don't like, respect and love. 
     Grace in everyday form might be letting that other car go first, saying please and thank you.  Not making big deals out of no deals, kissing your kids (even if they are older), and so many other ways we take for granted day in and day out.  To make it simple, grace is always (absolutely) positive.  Should you wonder if it's grace you are offering your world, just ask yourself if what you are doing is positive, up building, and something Jesus would think, say and do?  Makes me pause to look at my life.  It's important that you keep in mind that all you are responsible for is giving grace.  Whether others receive that grace is up to them.  More often than no they will accept the grace.  The Word encourages us to exercise grace in all of our dealings with whomever.  Don't like your politicians?  Pray grace for them.  Don't like someone who injured you?  Pray grace for them.  The results are amazing!  People change when they are prayed for.  People change when they are confronted with positive instead of negative.  People change when they understand that God's grace is sufficient for all of the areas of the Christian's life.
     Grace doesn't mean accepting foolishness.  People love to play pranks, tell jokes, and use sarcasm to communicate their true feelings.  Those feelings are NOT Godly and are not grace.  Christians participate in these practices as well.  Telling lies?  Not grace.  Offering conditionally.  Not grace.  Having a selfish heart.  Not grace.  Pretending you are a Christian.  Not grace.  You get the picture.  The next time you are thinking about your life and what you think, say and do, ask yourself whether or not it's grace.  If it's not, repent and go on.  Offering yourself grace is important.  Being kind and understanding with yourself is giving yourself grace.  You and I will make mistakes (called sin) and we need to accept the forgiveness when offered by God and others.  Never find yourself broiled in debates and arguments that are not driven by the Holy Spirit.  Remember that it's always your choice.  Choose wisely.

Do you know Christian love?

     The first commandment is "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul and your mind."  One habit that I'd like to finally break is using the word "love" to describe other things or events, and places when we only mean to love them, use them, and throw them away.  Like when we say that we love our new pen or pencil.  Really?  We can like our new pen or pencil and even like them better than the ones we had before.  We say that we love our sports team, car or even our beer but that's not really the truth.  What we mean is we like them.  Christian love is meant in two ways.  The first is our love for God and the second is our love for others.  Love is difficult with some people but not so difficult with God.  When we say we love God, do we mean it in the sense the commandment states?  Do we know the Lord our God is the first caveat.  If we don't know God, then we can't know love.  If we know God we know love.  Why else would Jesus come, live, die and be resurrected for my sins?  He loves us.  We say the words in church, sing them in worship and then what?  Do we take them out into the world?  Do we love the Lord our God with all of our heart?  If we say we do then why don't we show it?  Why don't we share that love. Should you love the Lord your God with all of your heart you and I shouldn't have any problem showing that love to others.
     The second caveat we see in the commandment is "your soul".  The "all" transfers to that word as well as your mind.  What does it mean to have your soul consumed with the love of God?  Here's an example.  If when we come to Christ we are a glass full of dirty water do we allow God to change all the water in that glass to only clear pure water?  As God pours his love into our lives do we resist the impulse to keep some of the dirty water?  If we do, we are not loving God with all of our soul.  We only love God conditionally.  In Matthew 6:33 Jesus tells us to "be perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect."  The Greek reads a bit different.  The Greek says, "be being made perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect." (my interpretation).  Before we come to Christ we are that glass full of dirty water.  God has given us free will.  We can and do make changes within our heart and soul that greatly affect whether or not we allow the clean to cleanse out the dirty.  We can then ask ourselves whether or not we are engaging that process or not.  That brings us to the last caveat.
     Do we love God with all of our mind?  Controlling or confining the mind is a lot like taking a cat on lease for a walk.  Dogs not so much!  Cats are an example of defiance, self focus and refusal to anything they don't want to do.  Some people are cats and others are dogs.  Some people allow the Holy Spirit to enter into and clean the rooms of our minds while others simply resist the prompting of the Holy Spirit to change anything.  I'm talking about Christians.  Those who don't believe and haven't made a decision remain dead in their sin and are unable to love in any sense of the word.  Well, except for the world's definition.  Paul is the example I'd like to use as encouragement of our Christian walk.  He tells us that we are to "die daily and have Christ live through us."  So, if we are in Christ and have the love of God which is in our heart, soul, and mind; do we act like it or not?  Do we share the love of God in the same manner he showed us in Jesus?  Do we lay our lives down so that he can live through us?  Water glass, cats and dogs, and death to self.  These represent but not perfectly the lives we live rather than Christ living through us.  He's perfect and we are to be perfect.  It's always your choice. 

All I have is this moment

     The sun is rising amongst the firs in the back of my property  Birds are proclaiming the start of another day.  The grass is covered with dew and there is no wind.  Without the bird noises, there would be total silence.  Well, except for my typing.  I've already made my first sip of coffee.  Sometimes I romanticize that moment.  Maybe you do as well.  I'm reading in the book of Mark now.  Mark talks about Jesus with intimate reflection on his Savior.  He describes how Jesus loved the people and travelled amongst them healing the sick and delivering the demon possessed.  He also describes how Jesus withdrew to be alone to pray.  Maybe it was a morning like today.  The birds he created were making their music and Jesus was talking with the Father.  He talked with me today and will throughout the day.  He hears my prayers for my hectic week ahead of me and it's only Tuesday.  He, like the Father, hears my prayers.  He's here amongst the quiet of the morning.  His presence is welcome and the realization that he has given me this morning once again has dawned upon me.  No pun intended. 
     Life is not to be planned.  I've recently been made aware of that once again.  Events come up that alter our days, months and sometimes for the rest of our lives.  No planning on my part can avoid the intrusions that come with each day.  These are good intrusions simply because they are for the glory of God.  How can I proclaim His glory with so much on my plate?  Perhaps you've asked yourself that same question.  I'd like to say that he has put to much on my plate but he knows my limits and knows my abilities better than I know myself.  The Word says that he will never put more upon me than I can stand.  So, he puts my day before me to see how it impacts my world for his sake.  Not a bad plan on his part.  I've been told it's the coal that is put under intense pressure that produces a diamond.  Guess we are all diamonds in the rough.  Some Christians have put away their piece of coal and chosen to keep the desires and temptations of the world.  I feel pity for them.  They miss out on the wonder of God working through them and the resultant harvest from their good works. 
     The atmosphere hasn't changed here.  This moment has been great.  I have the back door open to let in the fresh air. It's cool this morning but not cold.  The stirring of others in the house tell me that that "moment" is moving on.  I'm amazed that for all these years of being a Christian that God still stirs me in the morning and challenges me throughout the day.  He loves me so much!  When I am still enough to hear his voice and instructions, I am blessed.  Much like Jesus when he went aside to pray.  He talked with the Father!  I can talk with the Father and so can you.  Jesus has made this possible by his life, death and resurrection...for me...for you.  What we do with this moment and this morning, is all up to whether or not you want to listen to God.  All we have is this moment.  Making the most of this moment determines whether we see the day from God's perspective or the worlds perspective.  I'll take God's perspective.  Remember that it's always your choice.  Choose wisely.

The Second Coming of Jesus

The Second Coming of Jesus

It is predicted

According to Dr. David Jeremiah, a recognized biblical preacher/teacher, “Scholars have identified 1,845 biblical references to the Second Coming. In the Old Testament, Christ’s return is emphasized in no less than seventeen books, and New Testament authors speak of it in no less than twenty-three of the twenty-seven books. Seven out of every ten chapters in the New Testament mention His return. In other words, one out of every thirty verses in the New Testament teach us about the return of Christ to this earth.” 1
During the final week of his public ministry among the crowds of people who were following him and his disciples, Jesus made a statement about “the end” of all that they as well as those who would come after them would see happening in the world. Among his explanatory words was this personal statement regarding his coming as “the Son of Man” (his favorite title for himself): “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its lights, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:29–31)
During his very personal discussion with his disciples following his last “supper” with them before his arrest, he tried to prepare them for what they would experience with his departure from them. He told them, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:2–3) After his death on a cross and his resurrection from the tomb where his crucified body had been placed, Jesus spent more time revealing his divine glory to his disciples and other followers and teaching them “about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). At the end of these final “forty days” of further teachings from Jesus, as they were listening to him and “were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven’.” (Acts 1:9–11)
Neither Jesus nor any of his disciples during his life time nor any Christian teachers about Jesus since them have been given a date for the second coming of Jesus back to this earth, but that missing detail doesn’t mean that anyone should doubt that this event is going to take place. Jesus is physically coming back to this earth again!

Some general and special events associated with the second coming of Jesus

As indicated previously by Dr. David Jeremiah, various biblical scholars have identified hundreds of biblical passages that refer to the second coming of Jesus in one way or another. But not all of these scholars are in agreement with each other regarding what the particular details in these passages of Scripture are describing and how the various events that are somewhat described in these Scriptures are related to each other.
It should be recognized that it is normal for us human beings to want to know some of the basic details regarding what prophetic teachers among us, even such a one as Jesus, had to say about future events. On one occasion during the last days of Jesus public ministry, his disciples comment to him about “the buildings of the temple” as they were leaving it. He responded to their comment with these words of prophecy predicting its destruction: “Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down”. (Matthew 24:2) And after they had moved over to “the Mount of Olives, the disciples” came to him with their private request to “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close the age?” (Matthew 24:3) This request from the disciples for more detailed information regarding Jesus’ prophecy is the context for a long report by Matthew regarding some of the details regarding “the close of the age” for normal human living that would be experienced prior to the subsequent second coming of Jesus as “the Son of Man”, and the establishment of “the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 25:1) that Matthew describes in chapters 24 and 25 of his Gospel.
There are a lot of different details given regarding particular events that are associated with this general subject of biblical prophecy in Jesus’ teachings in these chapters of Matthew. These details include the following: “wars and rumors of wars” (Mt. 24:6), “famines and earthquakes in various places” (Mt. 24:7), “tribulation” and “death” for many Christians (Mt. 24:9), while others “fall away” (vs. 10) from their faith in Christ, and “many false prophets will arise” (vs. 11), “lawlessness will be increased” (vs. 12), but “this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world” (Mt. 24:14). There will be a period of “great tribulation” (Mt. 24:21), as described “by the prophet Daniel” (Mt. 24:15), and the teachings of Jesus regarding some of the details of this event are recorded by Matthew in verses 15–28 of Matthew 24. Some of the details regarding the second coming of Jesus as “the Son of Man” (Mt. 24:30) are disclosed by Jesus in his teaching to his disciples and recorded by Matthew in verses 29–51 of chapter 24. It should be noted that Jesus urges his disciples and those who would seek to be “faithful” and “wise” (vs. 45) in their service to God “the Father” to be doing what God has instructed him or her to do when he returns, because “the day and hour” (vs. 36) for his return will not be known or widely expected.
In the 25th chapter of his gospel Matthew records some of the details regarding the establishment of “the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 25:1) by the Lord with a couple of stories about “ten virgins” (vss. 1–13) and three “servants” (vss. 13–30), and some details regarding the final judgment of “the Son of Man” (vss. 31–46) over all human beings. It is clear from the details in these teachings from Jesus that there will some serious judgments associated with his second coming, so it will be wise to recognize that this event is going to take place and to be prepared for it even though some of the details regarding it and its time cannot be clearly known.

Several other major events associated with the second coming of Jesus

In 605 B.C. a young man by the name of Daniel was taken captive along with other youth from the Israelite tribe of Judah by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar whose army destroyed Jerusalem. He and three other outstanding young men were selected out from the numerous captives that had been moved to the capital of Babylon and they were given special training in “the literature and language of the Chaldeans” (Daniel 1:4) through which they would be expected to help the king to advance the pagan idolatrous culture of Babylon by serving in his special corps of “wise” consultants. It soon became evident to Nebuchadnezzar that Daniel and his friends were “ten times better” (Dan. 1:20) “in every matter of wisdom and understanding” (vs. 20) that they had been taught “than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom” (vs. 20), and God had also given Daniel a special level of “understanding in all visions and dreams” (Dan 1:17). Daniel was able to use this special divine gift to not only interpret a troubling dream that Nebuchadnezzar had, but to accept the challenge of the king to tell him what he had dreamt without the king having to tell him its details. Nebuchadnezzar was so impressed by Daniel’s personal knowledge of his dream and his thorough interpretation of its details that he gave him “high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon” (Dan. 2:48). The details of this episode between Daniel and his friends and King Nebuchadnezzar are reported by Daniel in chapter 2 verses 1–49 of his book in the Old Testament Scriptures.
Daniel and his three young friends had some other impressive demonstrations of God’s power and wisdom in their lives before King Nebuchadnezzar and his son King Belshazzar and King Darius the Mede and King Cyrus the Persian that are reported in chapters 3–6 of his book. In chapters 7–8 Daniel reports the details of a series of visions that he had that were represented in Nebuchadnezzar’s troubling dream that foretold the rise of the Median empire and that of the Persians over Babylon as well as the subsequent rise of the Greek and Roman empires in the world.
In chapter 9 of his report Daniel turns his attention back to his homeland, the territory of Israel and its capital city of Jerusalem. He offered a prayer of “confession” (Dan. 9:4) to God acknowledging the sins of his people, the Israelites, that led to their captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar and asking God “for mercy” and for him to make his “face to shine” upon Jerusalem and its “sanctuary” (the temple) (Dan. 9:17) that was now in ruins. In response to his prayer he received a visit from the angel “Gabriel” (vs. 21) who gave him a very special “word” (vs. 23) of “insight and understanding” (vs. 22) regarding God’s plans for Jerusalem and the people of Israel (the details of this “word” are recorded in Daniel 9:24–27). It is these details of “weeks” (vss. 24, 25, 26) and “week” (vs. 27) that various biblical scholars and teachers cite in their different interpretations regarding the time and sequence of these events in regard to God’s ultimate restoration of Israel and its temple. The timing and sequence of these events by various interpreters include references to the Messiah (Jesus) as the one who is “cut off” (vs. 26) after 70 years of captivity in Babylon and 483 years of history. And they cite the death of Jesus and his resurrection and ascension as the beginning of the “church age” that is somewhat of an interruption in God’s time line to deal with the sins and restoration of the Israelites. And this passage of Scripture in Daniel 9:27 with its reference to “the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate” is the context (cited in Mt. 24:15) for Jesus’ prophetic teaching to the disciples regarding the severe time of “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21) that he indicates will occur throughout the world before his second coming as “the Son of Man” (Mt. 24:30). (See Matthew 24:9–31 for the citation of these events.) We would be wise to note that God did not give either Jesus or Daniel a specific interpretative time line of events to enable either of them or any of their followers to clearly understand the time of these events in the history of Israel and the Church of Christians.
When Paul got news of some concerns among the Christians in Thessalonica, where he had established a church, he addressed their concern in a letter to these Thessalonians. One of their concerns had to do with the fate of dead Christians, particularly what would be the nature of their relationship with Jesus at the time of “the coming of the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:15), which they were all anticipating would soon take place, an imminent event. So Paul addresses their concern with a brief explanation regarding the return of Jesus that is recorded in this letter (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18) which states that Jesus is going to “descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord” (vss. 16–17). These passages of Scripture are referred to as the biblical doctrine of The Rapture when Jesus comes for his Church and when he will change the bodies of all of the “brothers” (vs. 13) from their physical presence in the world as he physically manifests himself again to the world. Note that although Paul does indicate that these transformed “brothers” will be with the Lord” (vs. 17), he does not indicate exactly where they will all go at this time.
Jesus in his reference to his return as “the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:27) as recorded by Matthew in Matthew 24:3-51 indicated “concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven nor the Son, but the Father only” (Mt. 24:36). Jesus went on in his teaching regarding this matter to indicate that “the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (vs. 44). These events as described by Jesus and recorded by Matthew in chapters 24 and 25 of his gospel are not interpreted by various biblical scholars and teachers to be the same series of events to which Paul is referring in his teaching to the Thessalonians regarding The Rapture of the Church. These events are understood to be referring to the time when Jesus will return as “Christ” (Mt. 24:23) the “anointed” and authoritative agent of God to administer ”the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 25:1) as “the bridegroom” (Mt. 25:1) of God’s chosen “bride” for his Son (Jesus) who is also the “master” of God’s “servants” (see Mt. 24:14–30 for references to these figures) and who is ultimately “the King” (Mt. 25:34, 40) who will administer the Final Judgments of God over the people from all of the nations of the world through all of human history (see Mt. 25:31–46 for an account of this event). It is probably well to recognize that there is no specific connection between the events that Paul cites regarding Christians in the Church in his letter to the Thessalonians and the events and people that Jesus cites in his teachings that are recorded by Matthew in the gospels. But such “connections” have been cited by various biblical scholars and teachers in their efforts to understand and to interpret these Scriptures and to apply them in the daily lives of those who live in this world. But it is well to remember that according to Jesus no one knows “that day and hour” (Mt. 24:36) when most of these events are going to take place.
Several Old Testament prophets refer to a particular judgmental action of God in the world as “the day of the Lord” (see Joel 2:1-11, and Malachi 4:1-5), which means that this day of the Lord is another event that needs to be considered in this list of particular judgmental actions of God. In some passages of Scripture this event is just referred to as the day, but it is described as the “the sixth seal” of God’s judgment in Revelation 6:12-17.

The special Revelation to John

About 95–6 A.D. Jesus and his angels gave the apostle John an apocalyptic prophetic statement in a series of symbolic graphic visions and accounts of real people that described a series of events that would mark the End–Times history of the world with its nations and their people in regard to their relationship with God and the destiny of Satan with all of his associated enemies of God. John recorded this message in its specific details about events in heaven and in earth in a manuscript that has been preserved in the Bible as the Revelation to John. This book is recognized as “one of the most complex books in the Bible. The overall genre (form) is prophecy (22:19). Like biblical prophecy generally, the actual medium is visionary writing; the book unfolds as a pageant of visions, much like modern cinematic effects. Furthermore, the way in which real persons and events are actually portrayed is the way of imagination, with unlifelike details. The title of the book indicates that it belongs to the genre of apocalyptic writing. Additionally, at every turn the author uses the resources of poetry–imagery, metaphor, simile, and allusion.”2
An “angel” described the physical return of Jesus to earth to John in a dramatic set of images of Jesus, other beings from heaven and various human beings that are recorded by John in Revelation 19:9–21. Jesus is portrayed as one sitting on “a white horse” who will be called “Faithful and True” (vs 11) who will judge and make war. He will also be called “The Word of God” (vs. 13) and his “name” will be “King of kings and Lord of lords” (vs. 16). He is not described as coming alone, because “the armies of heaven” will be “following him on white horses” (vs, 14). And this angel further described the destructive judgments that this “King of kings” (Jesus) would render against “the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies” (vs. 19), and this “beast” (Satan) and “the false prophet” would be “thrown alive into the lake of fire” (vs. 20). This is the prophetic vision of Jesus’ Victorious Return and Immediate Judgments Over His Enemies that was given to John.
These apocalyptic prophetic statements of these visions to John continue in Revelation with descriptions of these major End–Times events: the Removable of Satan from the world (Rev. 20:2-4), the Millennial Reign of Jesus on Earth for a thousand years (Rev. 20:4–6), the Final Battle for Jerusalem and the Final Judgment of Satan and the False Prophet (Rev. 20:7–10, the Judgment of the Dead by Jesus from his “great white throne” (Rev. 20:11–15), and God’s creation of A New Heaven and a New Earth (Rev. 21:1), and the Installation of the New Jerusalem containing a lot of special blessings from God (Rev. 21:2–22:5).
Chapters 1–3 of John’s Revelation serve as an introduction to the visions that he received, containing his words of greeting to the Christians in the seven churches with whom his document would initially be shared. In chapters 4–18 John records in various images and symbols and titles and figures the series of dramatic events that he and other “servants” (Rev. 1:1) of God should recognize as being part of God’s rule over the world and heaven, particularly since the time of God’s manifested presence in the world in the person of his Son, Jesus. This part of his message includes a variety of references to various “thrones”, the strange appearance of different “creatures”, messages on various scrolls that were each fastened with “seals” that could only be opened by the “worthy” agent of God who was identified as “the Lamb”, and a series of disastrous events in the world that would affect the elements of nature and all the inhabitants on earth at the sound of “trumpets” being blown by “angels” with “a third of mankind” being “killed” (as reported in Rev. 9:18). It describes the appointment of “two witnesses” who would “prophesy” in the world for 1,260 days (Rev. 11:3). It describes a war in heaven and earth between God and Satan (the “dragon”) (Rev. 12:3–17), the emergence of “a beast” who had amazing influential powers to “utter blasphemies against God” (Rev. 13:6) and to “make war” on the “saints” (vs. 7), the emergence of another “beast” (Rev. 13:11) who had the number “666” (vs. 18) attached to him, and the emergence of a choir of “144,000” (Rev. 14:3) who praised “the Lamb” (vs. 4). It cites an announcement of judgments against “Babylon” (Rev. 14:6–11), and a “harvest” of humanity (Rev. 14:14–20). It goes on to describe the affliction of “seven plagues” (Rev. 15:1–8) upon the inhabitants of earth, the pouring out of “the wrath of God” (Rev. 16:1–11), and the assembling of the enemies of God and the Israelites for the Battle at Armageddon (vss. 12–16). It describes a great earthquake that would split Jerusalem and caused many “cities of the nations” (vs. 19) to be destroyed and a hail storm with “hailstones, about one hundred pounds each” that would fall “on people” (Rev. 16:21). Finally this section of John’s message that he received gives an account of God’s judgment against “the great prostitute” (Rev. 17:1) and her center of “sexual immorality” (vs. 2) and pagan materialistic influence throughout the world (Rev. 17:1–18:24).

Conclusion regarding the second coming of Jesus

In this statement I have sought to briefly describe the event in which Jesus physically returns to earth from various passages of Scripture that refer to it. Jesus himself promised his disciples that he would come “on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30). This particular event is described by the apostle John in chapter 19:9–21 in his document of the Revelation that he received in a series of visions from Jesus and his angels. According to the teachings of various prophets and other writers of God’s revelations, there are other particular events that are associated with this glorious second coming of Jesus. These events are the following: the day of the Lord as cited in Joel 2:1-11 and Malachai 4:1-3 and John in his Revelation 6:12-17, God’s Ultimate Restoration of Israel and Its Temple as described by Daniel in chapter 9:24–27, a period of Great Tribulation in the world as described by Jesus in Matthew 24:15–28, The Rapture as described by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 (includes all who are “in Christ” from all of the 12 tribes of Israel and from the gentile adopted “children of God”), the Millennial Reign of Jesus on Earth from Jerusalem for a thousand years as described in Revelation 20:4–6, a great Battle for Jerusalem at Armageddon as described in Revelation 16:12–16 and Revelation 20:7–9, the Final Judgment of Satan and the False Prophet as described to John in Revelation 20:10, the Judgment of the Dead by Jesus as described in Revelation 20:11-15, God’s creation of A New Heaven and a New Earth as cited in Revelation 21:1, and the Installation of the New Jerusalem as described in Revelation 21:2-22:5. There are other severe natural disasters and wars and judgments of God that will occur in association with these events, along with the rise of “many false prophets” (Matthew 24:11), much “lawlessness” (Mt. 24:12), but the “gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world” (Mt. 24:14) according to Jesus. Although these events will mark a major change in life on earth and in God’s kingdom, the time for “the day and hour” (Matthew 24:36) for their occurrence is not known by anyone except God, the Father. The prophecies of Daniel address some concerns regarding the status of the Israelites and Jerusalem in God’s ongoing dealings with these parts of his created world, but there is no clear timeline regarding the events that he describes, although it is recognized that they are related to the accounts of the other writers of God’s prophecies.
Our best perspective on this matter of The Second Coming of Jesus is probably to give our attention to what is happening with God’s people in Israel and their temple, because major changes there will mark the end of the Church Age in God’s order of history, to just rejoice with Jesus’ promise to return, and to declare with John “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20), as he did at the close of his reported visions. For a very detailed and complete explanation of these prophetic events as cited in the Bible I invite interested viewers to go to Tracking Bible Prophecy by Amy Van Gerpen.

What Is the Holiness of God? by Mary Fairchild

     The holiness of God is one of his attributes that carries monumental consequences for every person on earth.
     In ancient Hebrew, the word translated as "holy" (qodeish) meant "set apart" or "separate from." God's absolute moral and ethical purity set him apart from every other being in the universe.
The Bible says, "There is no one holy like the Lord." (1 Samuel 2:2, NIV)
The prophet Isaiah saw a vision of God in which seraphim, winged heavenly beings, called to each other, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty." (Isaiah 6:3, NIV) The use of "holy" three times stresses God's unique holiness, but some Bible scholars also believe there is one "holy" for each member of the Trinity: God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

God's Holiness Is a Recurring Theme in the Bible

     Each Person of the Godhead is equal in holiness to the others.

For human beings, holiness generally means obeying God's law, but for God, the law is not external—it is part of his essence. God is the law. He is incapable of contradicting himself because moral goodness is his very nature.

     Throughout Scripture, the holiness of God is a recurring theme. The Bible writers draw a sharp contrast between the Lord's character and that of humankind. God's sacredness was so high that writers of the Old Testament even avoided using the personal name of God, which God revealed to Moses from the burning bush on Mount Sinai.
     The earliest patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, had referred to God as "El Shaddai," meaning The Almighty. When God told Moses his name is "I AM WHO I AM," translated as YAHWEH in Hebrew, it revealed him as the Uncreated Being, the Self-Existing One.

Ancient Jews considered that name so holy they would not pronounce it aloud, substituting "Lord" instead.

     When God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, he expressly forbid using the name of God disrespectfully. An attack on God's name was an attack on God's holiness, a matter of grave contempt.
     Ignoring God's holiness brought deadly consequences.

Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu, acted contrary to God's commands in their priestly duties and he killed them with fire. Many years later, when King David was having the ark of the covenant moved on a cart—in violation of God's commands—it tipped when the oxen stumbled, and a man named Uzzah touched it to steady it. God immediately struck Uzzah dead.

The Holiness of God Is the Basis for Salvation

     Ironically, the plan of salvation was based on the very thing that separated the Lord from mankind: the holiness of God. For hundreds of years, the Old Testament people of Israel were bound to a system of animal sacrifices to atone for their sins. However, that solution was only temporary. As far back as Adam, God had promised the people a Messiah.
     A Savior was necessary for three reasons. First, God knew human beings could never meet his standards of perfect holiness by their own behavior or good works. Second, he required a spotless sacrifice to pay the debt for humanity's sins. And third, God would use Messiah to transfer holiness to sinful men and women.
     To satisfy his need for a faultless sacrifice, God himself had to become that Savior. Jesus, the Son of God, was incarnated as a human being, born of a woman but retaining his holiness because he was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.

      That virgin birth prevented the passing of Adam's sin on to the Christ child. When Jesus died on the cross, he became the fitting sacrifice, punished for all the sins of the human race, past, present, and future.

     God the Father raised Jesus from the dead to show that he accepted Christ's perfect offering. Then to guarantee humans meet his standards, God imputes, or credits Christ's holiness to every person who receives Jesus as Savior. This free gift, called grace, justifies or makes holy every Christ follower. Bearing Jesus' righteousness, they are then qualified to enter heaven.
     But none of this would have been possible without God's tremendous love, another of his perfect attributes. Through love God believed the world was worth saving. That same love led him to sacrifice his beloved Son, then apply Christ's righteousness to redeemed human beings.

     Because of love, the very holiness that seemed to be an insurmountable obstacle became God's way to grant eternal life to everyone who seeks him.

How much can we take before we break?

     Last week my sister Charlotte called and told me that her husband was diagnosed with cancer that is everywhere.  His prognosis is not good and most likely he won't be able to survive this cancer.  Charlotte and Larry married out of high school.  They have suffered tragedy after tragedy.  Early in their marriage they lost a baby.  They have both worked hard to support their family and in the process made a commitment to Christ and their church.  Charlotte was diagnosed with uterine cancer a number of years ago.  She survived and that cancer remains in remission.  Then she was diagnosed with breast cancer and once again that cancer remains in remission.  A few years later she suffered a stroke and yes, she has survived.  Her immune system is gone.  She's unable to take anesthesia when she has surgery.  She has had many.  Yet, she has remained one of the most positive and loving people I have had the privilege to know.  Larry has been the most incredible loving husband, father and friend.  He has always put his wife, family and others first before his own needs.  That role model has been carried on by his children.  Last week he was diagnosed with a late stage cancer that is everywhere in his body.  Charlotte and Larry have suffered and been examples of Christians who have overcome the battles life brings us. 
     During their lives our mother was diagnosed with brain cancer and shortly died afterwards.  She was my dads caretaker.  Our sister Ruth lost her lifetime husband to MS and then was diagnosed with breast cancer herself.  She remains in remission.  Our brother Chuck was diagnosed with cancer and at first went into remission.  It later came back with a vengeance and took his life at the age of 57.  During all of this and more our dad contracted Alzheimer's disease which would eventually cause the complications that took his life.  Through all of this Charlotte has remained the rock of the family.  She has ministered to all of us and many others without burdening anyone with here own issues.  Here she is again doing the same for Larry.  When she called there was no concern for herself but only what she could do for Larry.  I'll be travelling to be with them for a while to help out.  Charlotte will most likely need assistive living when Larry passes.  Without the love of her life she will have challenges that I can only imagine.  So how much can anyone take without breaking? 
     For Charlotte, Larry and those who know Jesus, death holds no sting.  The last exhale here becomes the first inhale there.  Thus as the Bible says there is no death for the Christian.  One lives as a Christian here and then moves to heaven for permanent residency.  Charlotte and Larry are both Christian.  They are in the hands of God and he cares for their every need.  That's why I started a go fund me account called Charlotte and Larry's Fund to help them.  They have no money as past medical expenses have wiped away anything they have had.  For those of us who have there will be an accounting of what we did with what we had.  Today I'm asking for your grace and generosity in helping my sister and her husband.  Remember, it's always your choice.

Signs Seen In Front Of Churches

"Looking for a sign from God? This is it."

"No God -- No Peace. Know God -- Know Peace."

"Free Trip to heaven. Details Inside!"

"Try our Sundays. They are better than Baskin-Robbins."

"Searching for a new look? Have your faith lifted here!"

An ad for St.Joseph's Episcopal Church has a picture of two hands holdingstone tablets on which the Ten Commandments are inscribed and a headline thatreads, "For fast, fast, fast relief, take two tablets."

When the restaurant next to the Lutheran Church put out a big sign with red

letters that said, "Open Sundays," the church reciprocated with its own

message: "We are open on Sundays, too."

"Have trouble sleeping? We have sermons -- come hear one!"

A singing group called "The Resurrection" was scheduled to sing at a church.

When a big snowstorm postponed the performance, the pastor fixedthe outside

sign to read, "The Resurrection is postponed."

"People are like tea bags -- you have to put them in hot water before you know how strong they are."

"God so loved the world that He did not send a committee."

"Come in and pray today. Beat the Christmas rush!"

"When down in the mouth, remember Jonah. He came out alright."

"Sign broken: Message inside this Sunday."

"Fight truth decay . . . study the Bible daily."

"Where will you be sitting in eternity? Smoking or non-smoking?"

"Dusty Bibles lead to dirty lives."

"Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long and the pay is

low. But the retirement benefits are out of this world."

"I am going to waste, but Jesus recycled me."

"Our arms are the only ones God has to hug His children."

"It is unlikely there'll be a reduction in the wages of sin."

"Do not wait for the hearse to take you to church."

"If you're headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns."

"If you don't like the way you were born, try being born again."

"Looking at the way some people live, they ought to obtain eternal fire

insurance soon."

"This is a ch_ _ ch. What is missing?"

"Forbidden fruit creates many jams."

"In the dark? Follow the Son."

"Running low on faith? Stop in for a fill-up."

"If you can't sleep, don't count sheep. Talk to the Shepherd."

"God is on high . . . get your lift tickets here."

Christian reading list for life

     We all know that the primary read for the Christian is the Bible.  Daily and whenever the need arises is the rule.  No exceptions.  But what about how we read the Bible?  I've read through the Bible several times.  Once I read the Bible as a story.  Another time I read through the Bible as a historical document.  I've read the Bible for prophecy purposes as well as the end times dimension.  Then I've read through the Bible to see Jesus from beginning to end.  Reading the Bible doesn't have to be tedious.  You and I can study sections or stories in the Bible to get "behind the scenes" of what really happened, what the world was like, and the challenges that are overcome.  The Bible holds so much information that even today I'm discovering many surprises (to me) of what is written there.  Sometimes I'm offended by what I read and have to reconcile what I am thinking and feeling with the reality of the Word.  The Bible has so much to say about everything.  And, like everything, the Christian sometimes doesn't want to know because then there is personal responsibility to the what the Word says.  Still, we shouldn't shy away from reading, studying and sharing the primer of the Christian faith.
    
     "Sin will keep you from the Word of God or the Word of God will keep you from sin."  anon

     The next category of reading for life is found in commentaries and study tools.  They are essential to get the bigger picture of the traditions, historical setting, and what happened in different venues during that time period.  Sometimes the studies seem to be a help and other times, "the more you know, the more you are responsible for.  Commentaries are only as good as their adherence to the Word of God.  When mankind seeks to interpret the Bible from their perspective rather than God's perspective a watered down Gospel is put forth.  Did I mention that's sin?  Any study material put forth by cults is a definite no no.  We may think that others have insight into the Bible.  But, if they are perverting the Gospel then their publications are sin.  From the pit of hell if you will.  Whenever we read outside of the Bible we need to be cautious of that reading containing manipulation, control or secrecy.  All three are the tools of the enemy who seeks to dissuade even the very elect.  If we can't find the answers to our questions in the Bible, we haven't read the Bible enough.
    
     "Professing themselves to be wise, they proved themselves fools." Bible

    Then there are those who pervert the Gospel by writing books that are intent on making money.  They tell people what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear.  When was the last time someone's book about sin made the best sellers list?  They don't because people don't want to hear God's truth when they can have a televangelist's truth.  They have their reward.  Don't be drawn in by smiles and catchy titles.  They may sell books but they usually don't provide the truth and guidance for the serious Christian.  Ask yourself which of the books you are reading or have read Jesus would read and endorse?  If you come to the conclusion that the Bible is the most reliable resource of the Christian life you have chosen wisely.  Remember that it's always your choice.

But enough of the small talk!

     Cutting to the chase of things isn't always easy.  Solomon said there was a time for everything under the Son (he used sun).  He was right.  There is a time to put it out there like it's never been put out there before.  We don't need to be coy or otherwise misleading in our Christian walk.  Jesus was all for up front, direct, and convicting.  He told us to be likewise.  "Is Aunt Judy going to hell if she doesn't know Jesus?"  Yes.  The Supreme court has told you that some laws are okay to disobey.  Wrong.  You see, it's easier than you think.  Just be honest and up front.  We don't need to put our faith or ourselves down when representing Jesus.  That's right.  Still, there is that feeling of hesitancy because of political correctness and such.  Don't be PC!  Jesus wasn't and neither should we be.  Animals don't go to heaven.  Sorry but that's the truth.  Heaven is reserved for you and I if we know Jesus.  There are no excuses for not telling our children, friends and loved ones the truth about the God we give our lives to.  Under no circumstances should we even consider denying the faith.  Never!  Otherwise we teach others that it's okay to deny Jesus. 
     After all my years of education, time on the mission field, 17 different vocations and time, I still find myself sinning.  So do you.  None of us is perfect.  If we were we wouldn't need Jesus.  I make mistakes every day whether it's in my thoughts, words or deeds.  It's not like I plan to sin.  Well sometimes I do.  See where honesty gets me?  Two things happen with my witness.  The first is people actually can see me as more than a bumper sticker.  The second is that people can associate with me and determine to be better.  Why is that?  Because when we belong to Jesus the Holy Spirit draws us to be more like Jesus.  It's not a matter of wondering if it's worth it or not.  Being like Jesus is exactly what we need.  I found myself agitated in traffic this morning.  You maybe did the same.  I was apprehensive of a medical appointment I had today.  Maybe you do the same thing.  Worry and anger have on place in my life and the same goes for you.  It would be nice if everyone was honest.  What do you think would happen to a group of Christians (like in your church) if suddenly and without warning their thoughts were spoken out loud.  Everything we thought was public knowledge.  Frightening isn't it.  Should we know Jesus, live our lives for Jesus, and stay in fellowship with Jesus there would be less fear and more confidence in my life.  What about yours?
     Someone called me last night in tears and on the verge of ending her life.  Maybe that doesn't happen to you much.  The fact that they could call me, know I would listen and encourage, and that I would do whatever was in my power to help all speak volumes about how comfortable they feel in coming to me. They know I love Jesus and am human.  My sister called me two days ago to tell me that her husband has terminal cancer.  I'm sure that she wanted me to know.  However, she said that it was nice to have a brother who listened, cared and would pray.  Quite the compliment for Jesus in me.  Strangers, to the chagrin of my friends and family, will open up and talk to me about their entire lives out of the blue.  The spirit that is within me is perceived by others and they know that I am representing the King of kings.  Jesus is present when we are ready to let him be the presence in our lives.  Remember that it's always your choice.

Whatever happened to sin?

Sin

Definition of Sin

     Sin may be understood to refer to an attitude and or action of human beings that misses the mark of what God expects of them. The base of sin is to be understood as being in the nature of the relationship between God and human beings. So in light of this understanding, sin is at attitude or action that is expressed against the person of God and his laws or rules that govern his relationship with human beings.
But such sinful attitudes or actions are not just accidents of one’s poor aim or efforts; they are the expressions of willful rebellion against God. Sin is an attitude and or action that is intended by a human being to exert his or her independence of God. It is an expression of a human being or an attitude or thought that declares that in his or her selfhood he or she is independent of God and is not accountable to God.

The origin of sin

     When God created human beings, he placed the initial man, Adam, in the garden of Eden. It was furnished with everything that he would need to live there, including “trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food” (Genesis 2:9). God and Adam were engaged in a close intimate relationship. God gave Adam one clear command regarding these “trees”: “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die” (Genesis 2:16). God then made a companion for Adam, a woman who is known as Eve. She noticed that this “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” was “good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it” (Genesis 3:6).
     Although she was persuaded to do this by the lies of “the serpent” (the devil), (see Genesis 3:1–5), God punished both Eve and Adam for this act of willful disobedience or more fundamentally their refusal to trust him in which they seized for themselves “the knowledge of good and evil” that God obviously knew would be best provided by himself. God cast them out of the garden and imposed some other punishments upon them, including their separation from him and their eventual deaths. One of the most serious of these consequences was the inheritance of this sinful rebellious nature in all of Adam and Eve’s children, the entire human race, every human being who would ever be born of a man and woman was born to be a sinner. The relationship of trust and love that God had established with his created human beings was broken by Adam and Eve’s act of willful rebellious disobedience and lack of faith, but God didn’t stop loving them or any of their children.

God has identified sin

     In various codes for religious conduct (“have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3), one example), laws for social behavior (do not “murder” (Exodus 20:13) another human being, another example), and rules for personal relationships (“Love each other” (John 15:17), yet another example) God has made his expectations and will known to human beings whom he has created. Divine judgments against human beings who disregard his expectations and will have been witnessed and recorded by various human beings throughout history. Many reports of such judgments are included in the Bible. Ignorance of God’s detailed expectations and will cannot be an excuse for the selfish sinful attitudes and actions of human beings.
     There are numerous laws and rules that God has decreed for the proper behavior of his created human beings. Many of these are cited in the Old Testament and New Testament of the Bible. Some of the basic ones were given to Moses for implementation by the people of Israel in the familiar list of the Ten Commandments (see Exodus 20:1–17). There were many others that God set down to direct the people of this nation in their various rituals of sacrifice, worship, festivals, and personal and social relationships with each other and with other tribes of people that they would encounter in their lives. Jesus had a lot of comments regarding some of these laws in his teachings to the crowds of people who followed him during his years of ministry (see particularly his Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5–7), and he was particularly critical of some of the Pharisees for their self-righteous interpretations and applications of these laws in their work with the Israelites of his day. One major example of his criticisms has to do with all of the various rules that the Pharisees had established for how much “work” was legally allowed for Israelites to perform on the Sabbath, or what forms of “work” were not allowed (see Matthew 12:1–14 for a couple of such incidents).
     At one point in his discussions regarding these laws with the Pharisees, one of them asked Jesus this question: “which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied:‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:36–40). These two commandments make an excellent summary of all of God’s laws and rules for the proper conduct of human beings. Since they were stated by Jesus himself, I’m not going to try to add to them.

The solution for sin

     When Adam and Eve rebelled against God by disobeying his command and refusing to trust him, they and all of their descendants (the entire human race) became “sinners” who were separated from God. Because of their submission to the lies of the devil, they all became “slaves to sin” (Romans 6:16). They and us, you and me, could never become good enough, legally moral and pure enough, religiously orthodox enough, or socially loving enough in our attitudes and behavior to make ourselves acceptable or righteous in the presence of the Holy God. Paul says that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). That includes all the people that were alive at his time, those who lived prior to his day, and everyone that would live in later generations.
So it became necessary for God himself to redeem human beings from their “slavery to sin” and the devil. He does this through grace, which is the dynamic giving activity of himself, Jesus (his Son), and his Holy Spirit in accord with his character of love. God’s activity of grace becomes operational and transformational in those whom he calls, those who receive his grace by faith, those who believe that Jesus is Lord, and those who repent of their selfish attitudes and behavior that mark their rebellion of independence against God in their relationship with him.
     This activity of God is basically explained to Nicodemus, a lawyer of the Pharisees, by Jesus in these familiar words: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God” (John 3:16–21).

The treatment for sin in one’s life

     No one is going to be completely and permanently free from sin in his or her life, even with the active presence of God’s grace within him or her, because Satan doesn’t give up his “slaves” without a fight, but the basic war has been won for the redeemed believer through his or her victory in Jesus over death and sin (see 1 Corinthians 15:56–57). Don’t try to fight Satan in your own power. Don’t try to be good or righteous or holy in accord with your own resolve. You can’t do it. Receive God’s grace when he calls and offers to enter into his dynamic relationship with you. Trust him in faith, and repent of every effort to try to live independently of God. Abide in Jesus Christ and allow him, the Spirit, and God to do their work in and through you, and you will receive God's forgiveness for your sins and experience what it means to no longer be a “slave to sin”.

Christian morality today and everyday

Morality

Definition

     Morality for a Christian is the application of God’s laws regarding a person’s private and public behavior. In his or her seeking to live a moral life, a Christian tries to obey the rules for his or her personal behavior that have been decreed by God and recorded in the Bible. Throughout centuries of history these rules have been proclaimed by God’s prophets, like Moses and Isaiah and Jeremiah, taught by Jesus, interpreted by the apostles, like Peter and Paul, established by Emperor Constantine, and proclaimed by various popes, theologians, and preachers, like St. Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Jacob Arminus, Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, Dwight L. Moody, Billy Graham, and other contemporary preacher/teachers within the Jewish-Christian traditional understandings of what is right and what is wrong.

Problems with moral behavior

     In spite of all of the clearly written and proclaimed statements of moral law, individual Jews and Christians and non-members of these biblically based religious communities have found it to be impossible to live in accord with these laws. No one has the ability to be as good as he or she knows that he or she should be. Although most people have a basic understanding of what is right and what is wrong, most of us cannot be consistently right in how we obey God’s laws as well as those that have been established by various governmental authorities.
     The psalmist of ancient Israel said that “all have turned aside (from seeking to do good and from seeking God) they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one” (Psalms 14:3). Paul quotes this in his teaching letter to the Romans in Chapter 3, verses 10-11, and he adds this comment to include believers “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). All human beings live and have lived on a battlefield between the righteous God and his rebellious angel Lucifer or Satan, and this battle between God’s righteous will and Satan’s rebellious desires goes on day after day in everyone’s life.

Attempts to deal with personal immorality

     No one likes to admit that he or she is a rebel against God, that he or she is a sinner. Individuals have gone to a great deal of effort in the study of God’s moral laws to find loopholes in these laws that will enable them to excuse their immoral behavior and attitudes. They have written new interpretations of these laws, and defined exceptions to them, like it is all right to use “deadly force” against a person if that person is threatening to use a “deadly” force against you or someone you love.
The book shelves of hundreds of law offices and law schools are filled with books interpreting these laws and their derivatives and how they have been applied in numerous legal cases throughout history. Our courts, including our Supreme Court, are constantly seeking to apply these laws to the behavior of individuals with whom they are dealing. The legislative bodies of our society are regularly engaged in the processes of trying to understand what is “right” for our citizens and what laws need to be enacted in order to get people to behave and to live basically moral lives. But there are hundreds of examples of how some legislators and lawyers and enforcers of these laws do not and cannot live in accord with them themselves. The moral life is neither easily defined nor demonstrated.

God’s summary of his moral laws

     Jesus engaged in a lot of discussions regarding the laws of God and personal morality with the lawyers of his people, the Sadducees and the Pharisees. They were constantly challenging him in regard to his interpretation of some of these laws and why his accepted disciples did not follow them more fully. In one situation a Pharisee, an expert in these laws, asked Jesus, as he addressed him as “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” (Matthew 22:36). And Jesus replied with this answer: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37- 40.
This really simplifies the rules for morality, God’s laws for moral behavior. Just love God completely and love everyone else as much as you love yourself. So the moral life is to be lived in love, and immorality is not living with such love for God and others. A life lived in accord with these two laws would be a perfect demonstration of morality.

How to practice morality

     In the first place it must be done with a person’s sincere confession of his or her sin and his or her inability to obey God’s laws by his or her own efforts. Such confession and repentance demonstrate one’s acceptance of God’s will and love.
     With the acceptance of God’s will and love comes his forgiving grace and his gift of the Holy Spirit. It is God’s grace, faithfully trusting in his good will, and surrender to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit that enables any Christian or believer in Jesus to practice morality, to live a moral life. This is not a matter of regularly practicing traditional religious rituals of worship or even service to others, but it is a matter of being “born” by the Spirit of God. For some particular guidance in this transforming process see my statements on “Basic doctrine regarding sin”, “God’s work of redemption”, and “The Plan of Salvation (Revised)” on this website.

The Nature of Effective Prayer

 

The Nature of Effective Prayer

Definition

     Prayer is a conversation between a person and God. This may seem to be too simple a definition, but basically prayer is a “conversation”. It is not a religious ritual, and it should always be personal.

The salutation for a prayer

     As it is true for any conversation, letter, or message, it is important that one’s prayer be addressed to the right person. That person must be God, the creator of all that is, who is identified as the “Father” by Jesus, and who is the almighty ruler of earth and heaven. No conversation, letter, or message that is sent to the wrong person or to the wrong address is going to be received or answered.
     It is readily understood by most individuals today that if they want to communicate with a particular person, regardless of the format of their message whether by voice, written on a piece of paper to be sent by postal mail or a fax machine, or composed for email delivery over the Internet, the appropriate phone number must be correctly dialed or the communication must be correctly addressed! The same principle applies to prayer. It must be addressed to God, to the one true God whose identity, nature, location, work, authority, and availability is described in the Bible.
     A prayer addressed “to whomever it may concern” or to any of the false gods of various religions or the idols that have been created in human philosophies is ultimately not going to be answered, because it hasn’t gone to anyone who can respond. This may seem to be an intolerant statement, but common sense should make it clear that it isn’t. Few individuals would expect a manufacturer to respect a warranty for a product that they had not made or even to make a positive response to an inquiry regarding a problem that someone was having with something that they didn’t make.
     If you are having a problem in your life or suffering some infirmity in you body that isn’t being effectively treated, it is necessary for you to contact your “maker”. You must have a conversation with God. No one else can respond to your message. If you want to send a message of “thanks” for everything GOOD that is happening in your life, make sure that it is addressed to God.

The content of a delivered prayer

     The usual content for many prayers by Christians or Jews is a list of actions that they want God to take on their behalf, things that they want God to do for them. This is somewhat normal, because most people want to run their own lives and handle their problems and meet their needs on their own. They may be reluctant to address any different message to God in an effort to maintain their own sense of independence.
But this normal tendency to give God a list of one’s personal needs that he/she wants God to supply can be overcome. It is probably most commonly overcome by some training in appropriate and effective prayer during one’s childhood by one’s faithful Christian or Jewish parents, and then it is reinforced and further demonstrated by other individuals in a Christian or Jewish congregation.
     It may also be overcome when one realizes in a very real way that God is not the divine dispenser of gifts for one’s needs and wants, but that he is one’s divine creator who wants a personal relationship with individuals who make up all of humanity. It is at this point in one’s life when the content of one’s prayers shifts from a list of needs to that which is going to strengthen one’s relationship with God.
     This insight into who God is and what he wants may cause an individual to send God a personal message of repentance and faith. This is a message of repentance for having ignored God or rebelling against him for many years and a personal statement of trust and commitment to seek to live in a relationship with him for the rest of one’s life. It is such a message that really establishes the line of communication between an individual and God. An example of such a prayer can be viewed in my statement on “The Plan of Salvation” on this web page: “The Plan of Salvation” under the heading “A suggested prayer for an experience of salvation”.
Once such a line of communication that includes sincere repentance and a daily life of faith has been established between an individual and God then the range of content for one’s prayers, for one’s conversation with God, is greatly expanded! Such conversation and messages will still probably include some requests for God’s help in meeting specific current needs in one’s life, but the content of one’s prayers will now begin to include more words of praise and thanksgiving for God’s love and goodness and requests for his grace and compassionate care and powerful blessings for others.
     Jesus gave His disciples and those who seek to pray to God, the “Father”, some instructions regarding prayer and a model prayer that are excellent guides for this conversation. These instructions and model are found in the Bible, in the book of Matthew in chapter 6 verses 5-15.

The format of effective prayer

     As it is true for most messages and conversations, it well to keep one’s prayers brief and well focused. God is not impressed with a long expression of repeated praises or requests in one’s prayers. Before one utters any words of prayer, God already knows what you need, so repetition doesn’t impress God, as Jesus indicated in his instructions regarding prayer that are cited above.
     God is available to anyone who sincerely wants to have a conversation with him without that person having to repeat a mantra of words that are suppose to have some sacred significance. Humility is the most appropriate mood for prayer, and personal sincerity is the most acceptable format.
     Your expressions of praise, thanksgiving, and petition may be made out loud or they may be expressed silently in your focused thoughts and words. Such thoughts and words will be most effective, will convey one’s sincere message, when they reflect the real vocabulary of the person making the prayer. God does not have a set of religious words that he wants included in everyone’s prayers.
     But Jesus instructed his disciples and those who want to communicate with God, his “Father”, that they should pray in his name. He said this: “my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name” (see John 16:23 in the Bible). This is not a specific formula for the closing of every prayer to God. It is a recognition that it is Jesus who makes valid the message, that gets it through the initial set of filters that God has established for conversations with his human creatures. One’s prayers, conversations with God, should clearly be in a form and with content that is intended to glorify Jesus and contribute to his ongoing work for the redemption of humans to God, his “Father”.
     It is also well to include in the format of your prayer or conversation with God a means of getting a response from God. No one enjoys trying to carry on a conversation with anyone else who will not let him or her get a word in edgewise. God doesn’t enjoy such conversations either. Don’t leave your prayers or conversations with God without silently waiting for his response. Keep your focus on God, on your relationship with him, on what is going to glorify God’s redemptive work in Jesus in a mood of readiness to receive God’s response to your message.
God will respond. He may say “No” to your request. Or He may say “Not now”. Or He may say “I have a better way to accomplish what you are requesting my help to do.” Or He may say “Your request is granted and here is your next assignment.” You may have to wait awhile for his response, but it will come.
     The best context for discerning God’s response to your prayers is in the study of his Word, the Bible, in regular worship and fellowship with other believers, and in regular efforts of service for his glory and that of his Son, Jesus. So your conversation or prayers with God are not just momentary exchanges of ideas and messages, but they are an ongoing part of your daily relationship with God. Many of you may recognize the fact that you don’t have to be in direct conversation with someone with whom you are well connected to be exchanging messages with him or her. That quality of communication should be part of the format for your prayers to God, if they are going to be effective.