Meditation Moments
A Weekly Study/Devotional from CBC
Good and Evil, Pt. 4
April 26, 2024 • Central Baptist Church
April 26, 2024 Good and Evil Part 4, The Deadline This month we’ve been musing about the “mysteries” of good and evil, a topic that has caused countless generations to puzzle and question. We started with Part 1, The Dilemma. One of the hardest things for the natural (i.e., non-spiritual) man to rationalize is the very real presence of evil in this World system! In Part 2, The Desire, we discovered that mankind’s desire was his downfall. Eve exercised her free will, she rebelled against her Creator, Adam followed, and we’ve been living in a mess ever since! But God also had a desire, a desire to rescue humanity from their foolish choice and the consequence of rebellion. Eve’s desire brought disaster, but God’s desire brought deliverance through the sacrifice of His own Perfect Son, Jesus the God-Man. In Part 3, The Doubt, we talked about the common question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” But we discovered that this question is flawed on both ends! Until we see the end of the matter (1 Corinthians 4:5) we can’t judge what is bad and what is good. And second, there are no “good” people. Jesus said, …there is none good but one, that is, God (Mark 10:18). Paul seconded that motion when under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he wrote, …there is none that doeth good, no, not one (Romans 3:12). And now we will close this month’s study of Good and Evil with Pt. 4, The Deadline. As much as humanity wants to question God, argue about good and evil, and in so doing absolve themselves of their own guiltiness, there comes an eventual reality check, a reckoning, a deadline. I’ll call it the Personal Deadline: the death of our physical body. The Hebrews author warned, And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment… (Hebrews 9:27). When our soul and spirit leave our body at death, our eternal destiny is fixed. And the Bible is plain; there are no second chances, regardless of what “religion” tells us! Solomon taught this austere reality in poetic form in Ecclesiastes 11:3, …if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. In the Luke 18 account of the unnamed rich man and the beggar Lazarus, we discover that at the instant of death, each person was transported directly to their eternal destiny. There were no purgatories or limbos; there was no chance for a pardon, or for penance, or for indulgences. No matter what some religious authority tells us, God says that the unrepentant rich man was instantly in torment in that place the Bible calls Hades or Hell (a holding cell for the final prison called the Lake of Fire). And the repentant beggar Lazarus was instantly enjoying comfort and joy, in a place that Jesus called Paradise. Forgiven Lazarus will come back with Christ to this Earth, He will enjoy ruling and reigning with Christ in the literal 1000-year Kingdom, he will witness the re-creation of this sin-cursed Universe, and then enjoy living on a New Earth forevermore. The big question of life then, is not the mystery of Good and Evil, where they came from, or why our consciences innately know about them… but how God judges as either good or evil! Yes, at that moment, at the last beat of our hearts, we will either inherit God’s goodness (grace) or God’s judgment. Receiving His grace has absolutely nothing to do with what we can DO in life, how “good” we have been, or how many “good leaves” we have turned over. We can’t do enough good to pay for our sins! We can’t earn God’s forgiveness. We are spiritually dead because of our sins and dead people can’t do anything! Penance isn’t possible. We can’t purchase indulgences from religious organizations. If we could somehow earn or buy Heaven, then Christ didn’t need to die in our place! Friends, we can only access God’s grace by accepting God’s FREE GIFT of forgiveness. Again, it has to be free because it’s not possible to earn it. But it’s not cheap! It cost God dearly! The Son of God incarnated Himself in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, the Perfect God-Man. Jesus lived a perfect life and sacrificed Himself as a perfect sacrifice. He died in our place, the Just for the unjust. And so, the real question is somewhat like that asked by Pilate some 2000 years ago: What shall I do with Jesus (Mat 27:22)? We appropriate God’s forgiveness as did the praying publican and the thief on the cross by crying out to God in contrition and repentance asking for his forgiveness and grace (For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved – Romans 10:13). THEN God will apply the precious blood of Christ to our sin-debt, washing us as white as snow. God pleads with humanity through His prophet Isaiah,Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool (Isaiah 1:18). If we have cried out to God in repentance and faith for His forgiveness, then He will apply Jesus’ righteousness to our account and our sin debt will read, “Paid in Full!” The Lord is, …not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Friends, a deadline awaits us all and it always comes unannounced and often suddenly. At that last heartbeat, we’ll be accounted righteous THROUGH Christ or we will remain as guilty sinners separated eternally from God because of our unwillingness to repent and believe, and consequently, we will pay for our sins eternally. Don’t put it off. Take advantage of God’s goodness and grace TODAY! God bless and consider!
Good and Evil, Pt. 3
April 19, 2024
April 19, 2024 Good and Evil Part 3, The Doubt Why do bad things happen to good people? We talked about this just a bit in this month’s introductory lesson. This is a question that often generates doubt: doubt of God’s concern for his children, doubt of God’s ability to protect and bless his children, and sometimes even doubt of God’s existence altogether. We’ve all heard the emotional challenge, “If God is loving and all-powerful, then why_____?”, and you can fill in that blank. Unbelievers always struggle with this question, often using it as a justification why they choose NOT to believe. And even some believers struggle with it, causing them to abandon worship and service to the Savior. But… God gives us the answer to this question in His Bible! First, everything that natural men (as opposed to spiritual men) label as “bad”, whether it be in the form of disability, disease, injustice, conflict, geologic and meteorological chaos, and finally, death, is a consequence of mankind’s free will choice to sin, to rebel against God. God gave His perfect human creation free will. Our original parents exercised that free will and chose to rebel against their Creator. And with that choice came horrible consequences: an entropic world, entropic bodies, corrupted consciences, people who give themselves over to wickedness (e.g., Cain), and finally death. WE are the cause of “bad”; it is what WE inherited. WE chose it! Second, let’s define the two objects in that question: “bad things” and “good people”. Again, only our Creator, who is working all things for the good of his redeemed children, has the authority to label an event or a condition as “bad” or “good”. What appears, to the natural man, as “bad”, e.g., the congenital blindness of the man described in John 9, might actually have been the best thing that could have ever happened to this man. This man’s congenital blindness brought him into a redeemed relationship with the Messiah. Could it be that God knew, that apart from this man’s blindness, he would never have been born again? I believe this man, who is now in Heaven with Jesus Christ, is still praising God for the GRACE that allowed him to be born blind so that he might come to repentance, belief, and eternal life. Next, let’s ask, who are the “good” people? Again, the natural (i.e., the non-spiritual) man categorizes every person as “good”, if they haven’t robbed banks, abused children, or committed murder. But again, only God is qualified to define “good”, and He says, “There is none good, no not one” (Psalm 14:3; Psalm 53:3; Romans 3:12). So actually, the question itself is fallacious on both accounts. We can’t judge what is bad or good in the scope of the spiritual and eternal, and there are NO good people. We are all sinners; we all live with the debilitating consequences of sin! Third, God is Sovereign, and this means His hands are not tied by man’s choice to rebel and the hard consequences we have earned. God taught Jeremiah that we are like the potter’s clay; He can mold us and remold us as He wishes, and it will always be for our ultimate spiritual good and His glory. God can and will use those things that we consider “bad”—our consequences—for our ultimate good. And for born-again believers, He will use the tests of life to mature us and make us into the image of His Dear Son (Romans 8:29). So… “Thank you Father for loving us and even using the mess we have made to bring us to repentance and to mature us in the faith!” God bless and consider!
Good and Evil, Pt. 2
April 12, 2024 • Central Baptist Church
Good and Evil Part 2, The Desire “Why?” It seems that human beings start asking this one-word question almost before we can say “da da” (oh, I’m sorry… “ma ma”). “Why?”, is a good question because we learn when we ask it. But “Why?”, can also be a dangerous question when it is directed, in a questioning manner, to someone in authority, for example, GOD! After the creation, God made just one rule, just one law for his first man and woman. We can’t even imagine a world with just one law. Our planet is so inundated with laws, regulations, codes, and statutes that it’s often easier to say what we can’t do rather than what we can! But truly, the first couple had just one rule. God said, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die (Genesis 2:16, 17). Think of it! Every other element of the creation was Adam and Eve’s to enjoy. Just one tree—ONE TREE—was off-limits. Do you think they wondered, “Why?” I’m sure they did! And so, what happened? Eve’s desire got the better of her. With the fallen angel Lucifer cheerleading, and twisting, and deceiving, Eve’s desire to know “Why?”, overpowered her senses and her respect for God and God’s Law, and she violated that one rule! She ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God tells us exactly what Eve was thinking and feeling. Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. As Paul Harvey used to say, “Now we know the rest of the story!” Adam and Eve’s desire caused them to question, and then disobey God’s Law, and it got them and us into an awful fix. But God also has a desire. Jesus Christ, the God-Man, desired to fulfill The Trinity’s plan for the redemption, (i.e., the buy-back, the rescue) of mankind, so that He might bring many sons unto glory by his own suffering (Hebrews 2:10). In Hebrews 10 we read the prophetic declaration of the Son of God: Lo I come… to do thy will, O God (Hebrews 10:7, 9). On the evening[1] of the Passover, Jesus declared to His disciples, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God (Luke 22:15, 16). We call Christ’s sacrifice His “passion”, and the week leading up to the crucifixion “passion week”. Jesus’ loving passion—His desire—was to pay mankind’s sin debt and make it possible for all men and women to be purchased back, to be redeemed. As Jesus explained to Nicodemus, And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:14-17). Adam and Eve’s desire brought disaster. But Jesus’ desire brought deliverance! Praise God, we have been made redeemable through the blood payment of the Substitutionary Sacrifice, the Perfect Lamb of God. So, what is your desire? Do you desire to be made free from the curse of sin? God is, …not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). You CAN apply the cleansing blood of Christ’s sacrifice. You CAN become a forgiven child of the King, by repenting (i.e., changing your mind about how to be accepted by God), and in faith (belief), crying out for His loving, forgiving grace! It’s NOT of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8, 9). For whosover shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13). God bless and consider! [1] The Jew’s day started at sundown, with evening, and then morning. See the Creation account in Genesis 1 and also Psalm 55:17.
Good and Evil, Pt. 1
April 5, 2024 • Central Baptist Church
Good and Evil Part 1, The Dilemma One of the hardest things to rationalize, especially for those who are only marginally acquainted with God, is the very real presence of evil in our World. Evil reared its ugly head even from the beginning when a jealous, angry Cain murdered his brother Abel. In every generation, evil and wickedness have been perpetrated by potentates, by dictators, by lawless marauders, and even by so-called religious organizations and churches. The English historian and Parliament member, John Dalberg-Acton (Lord Acton)[1] was spot on when he said, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority; still more when you superadd the tendency of the certainty of corruption by authority.”[2] He also said, “Despotic power is always accompanied by corruption of morality.”[3] The very real presence and inescapable tendency for evil causes many people to doubt or even deny the existence of an all-powerful, loving Creator God. The question that always comes, usually during times of pain, duress, or grief is, “If there IS a God, why would He allow wickedness and evil?”, or “If God is all powerful, why did he let this injustice occur?”, or “If God loves me, why did he let me get this disease?” The question can take ten-thousand forms but the common denominator is always, “Why evil?”, and God almost always bears the brunt of humanity’s anger and accusations. In the course of recent human history some have thought of evil as a disease, that could be cured by education, good jobs, good pay, and civil rights. In other words, people were just being wicked because they were disenfranchised, or discriminated against, or hungry, or oppressed. Then, when the liberal experiments fail (and they always will, because they treat symptoms and not the disease), the opposing side simply says, “Lock evil away!”, but this tack ultimately fails as well. There can never be enough prisons! Although liberals still search for a “cure” and conservatives build more prisons, the remedy for evil is not political reform, social reform, or even religion. Ironically, despotic “religion” has perpetrated as much evil as any Nero, Kahn, Hitler, Pol Pot, Stalin, or Mao. Neither is the remedy found in more and tougher laws because you can’t legislate a moral conscience. All of these proposed solutions treat only the symptoms, and never effectively! The efficacious antibiotic for the plague of evil that has infected every human soul is a Divinely empowered spiritual rebirth, the changing of man’s very nature. And that’s what we’ll talk about next week. So, stay tuned! There is a Great Light at the end of what seems to be a very dark tunnel. God bless and consider! [1] https://en.http://wikipedia.org/wiki/john_dalberg-acton,_1st_Baron_Acton [2] https://acton.org/research/lord-acton-quote-archive [3] https://acton.org/research/lord-acton-quote-archive
There Are None So... Pt. 5
March 29, 2024 • Central Baptist Church
March 29, 2024 There Are None So… Part 5, Frustrated We have spent the month looking at the theme, “There are none so…”. For example, there are none so blind as those who will not see, or none so deaf as those who will not hear. These self-imposed disabilities were first alluded to by God’s prophet Jeremiah as he warned the nation of Judah of their impending judgment and correction. [1] But like her sister Samaria (the 10 Northern Jewish tribes), Judah knowingly and willingly stiffened her national neck and she refused to see, hear, or respect her glorious God who deserved her thanks, her adoration, her service, and her praise. Consequently, as God warned, she was given over to the harsh nation Chaldea (Babylon) and her king Nebuchadnezzar, for 70 years of captivity. Ironically, what seemed to be the death of this nation, was the only way the nation could be saved from its own wickedness and self-inflicted wounds. This then segues us into our last thought for the month: There are none so frustrated, as those who will not follow. This installment is addressed to born-again Christians [2], i.e., those who have a personal, eternal, saving relationship with the Creator through repentance [3] and then absolute faith in (and ONLY in) the blood-sacrifice of the God-Man, Jesus the Christ. The Nation of Israel was and still is God’s chosen nation. This doesn’t mean that God loves Israel and hates everyone else. Rather it means that God sovereignly CHOSE Abraham and his lineage through the promised seed Isaac [4], to be His voice, His example, and His beacon to the other nations and peoples of this world. Sadly, Israel repeatedly rebelled and failed her spiritual mission. God used Babylon in 586 B.C., to chasten His people, and then Rome in 70 A.D. to finally scatter the nation and dissolve its national status. In a national sense, because Israel would not follow God (in love-motivated obedience and obeisance), she became frustrated; she came to political and national ruin. It is only by God’s grace and sovereign plan that this nation of scattered, dry, lifeless, and disjointed “bones” (Ezekiel 37:1-15) has miraculously risen, bone-joined-to-bone. This prophecy was fulfilled in 1948. Israel is again a national entity. [5] Well, in the same way that Israel became frustrated nationally because they would not follow their gracious Creator, Savior, and King, born-again Christians—the spiritual offspring of God—will become frustrated spiritually when they refuse to follow Christ and inculcate His “mind” (way of thinking, or worldview) and His lifestyle. Men and women who have tasted the glorious salvation given to them freely by God’s grace when they repented, believed, and cried out for salvation, and then have turned from following Christ, to follow and embrace this wicked World’s way of thinking and living, are going to live miserable, unfulfilled, and frustrated spiritual lives. Oh, worldly Christians might appear successful, happy, and on top of the “world” (pun intended), but they have no joy, no peace, no contentment, and no power. They, like the worldlings around them, are building their lives upon the sand, and as Jesus warned, their physical and carnal investments will disappear at the next big blow or flood. Matthew 7:24-27 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. Praise God we can’t lose our salvation, but we can lose everything else, including our families! There are none so frustrated, as those who will not follow. God bless and consider! [1] Jeremiah cried out to his nation Judah, Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying, 21 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: 22 Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence… (Jeremiah 5:20-22). [2] John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. [3] The word “repent” literally means to turn from going one direction, to the exact opposite direction. In regard to salvation (the spiritual rebirth of our sin-deadened spirits) repentance involves 1) recognizing our sin (agreeing with God that we are sinners and as such separated from Him eternally), 2) having contrition because of their sin, 3) and then gladly and willfully turning from our sinful ways. [4] Isaac, not Ishmael (the seed of the Egyptian bondmaid Hagar), was the promised seed, the lineage through which God would build his nation Israel, and eventually bring forth the Messiah, the Savior of the World. Paul in Galatians 4:21-31 uses the two sons of Abraham as an allegory of bondage vs. spiritual liberty. Gal. 4:21-31 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it isnow. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. [5] Israel stands again as a physical nation, but not as a spiritual nation. God has not yet put his Spirit within them (see Ezekiel 37:14). This day will come, again through Tribulation and grace, and as Paul prophesied, And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob… Romans 11:26.
There Are None So... Pt. 4
March 22, 2024 • Central Baptist Church
March 22, 2024 There Are None So… Part 4, Sad This month we are playing off the theme of “There are none so…”. For example, “There are none so blind as those who will not see!” “There are none so deaf as those who will not hear!” And last week, “There are none so confused as those who will not think.” This week, we’ll consider, “There are none so sad… as those who will not RESPOND.” We all know the adage, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink”. It might be best if the horse drank, or even critical that the horse drinks, but regardless of what is healthy or even life-sustaining, it’s the half-ton animal that must make up its mind to do so. We apply this parable to all kinds of human behavior and misbehavior. Regarding the adolescent diet, “You can lead a child to broccoli, but you can’t make him eat!” Regarding the teenage student, you can legally force a boy to attend school. Still, you can’t make him learn!” And regarding our human society, “You can convince a man of his evil, but you can’t make him repent. This is because repentance is an act of the human “heart” and “will”. True repentance convinces us of our sin, repudiates it, turns FROM it, and then turns TO God for forgiveness and empowerment! True repentance is pictured by the repentant publican (in Jesus’ parable of the Praying Pharisee and Publican) who in deep contrition cried out, God be merciful to me a sinner (Luke 18:13). Consequently, many know they ought to eat their broccoli, to study their math, or to seek the forgiveness of God for their sinfulness… but sadly, they will not respond because of their stubborn will and pride. They don’t want to, and they often have the attitude, “And no one can make me; not even God!” Our world has always been messed up, but it seems that today everyone competes to see just how messed up they can be! Of course, everyone has their definition of “messed up”! Everyone does what is right in their own eyes. So, we need an Ultimate Standard. And the only objective standard that exists is the standard that our Creator—Jehovah God—has provided in His written revelation to humanity: the Bible. God’s definition of “messed up” is the only one that counts because by it He will ultimately judge every soul that has rejected His grace! The problem, according to God’s standard, is not that you are just a little messed up and I’m a lot messed up. No, God says we are ALL totally messed up. And because we are messed up, we are separated and alienated from Him. And worse yet, in and of ourselves, we don’t have a fix! We can’t pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. God says, …all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and that the wages or payment for this sin nature is death (Romans 6:23a)! We see the consequence of sin manifested all around us in physical death. But the most terrifying consequence of sin is unseen to the natural eye! It is spiritual death! And so, what will you and I do about it? We can respond wisely like that proverbial publican who in deep anguish of soul, smote his breast, and cried out, God be merciful to me a sinner. Or we can, like the proud Pharisee, stiffen our necks in religious self-righteousness and feel content NOT to respond. But I want to ask just one question: How good do you have to be to EARN your way to Heaven? God’s answer is, “You can’t earn my forgiveness… by works OR religion!” Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8, 9, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast, and in Titus 3:5 we read, Titus 3:3-7 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 NOT by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. How ultimately sad—and dangerous—it is to recognize our dire spiritual need, and yet not respond. God bless and consider!
There Are None So... Pt. 3
March 15, 2024 • Central Baptist Church
March 15, 2024 There Are None So… Pt. 3, Confused Continuing in the theme of, “There are none so blind as those who will not see”, and “There are none so deaf as those who will not hear”, let’s move on to our third thought for this month: “There are none so confused, as those who will not think, or, a better word would be, REASON.” There is a subset of citizens on our planet who pride themselves on their supposed objectivity[1]; they call themselves “Free Thinkers”. These “free thinkers” would also probably ally themselves with philosophical titles such as Atheist, Agnostic, Humanist, or Intellectual. Whatever else these folks infer from the title “Free Thinker”, this one tenant would probably be first and foremost: they believe that THEY are objective, or at least attempting objectivity… and that the thinking and reasoning of a vast majority of the remainder of this planet’s citizenry, is, to some degree, perverted, clouded, or biased by subjectivity[2]. And they would most likely contend that the citizenry’s subjectivity (to whatever degree) is a function of cultural and/or religious “bias”. But the problem with this argument is that everyone—even the so-called “Free Thinker”—is biased! No human being can be 100% objective. Everyone looks at the world, at life, at ethics, and at morality, and they form ideas, opinions, and conclusions based upon a baseline set of preconceived ideas and/or human reasoning. We call this a filter, a worldview, or a paradigm. Cartoonist Dan Leitha[3] pictured this “bias” as Worldview Goggles (see the cartoon on page 2). As we mature intellectually, we build this set of “Worldview Goggles”, and we wear them freely, using them as an interpretive filter to make sense of our world. The “Free Thinking” atheist, agnostic, or Humanist starts every quest, whether it be scientific or ideologic, with a baseline set of conditions: 1) there is no Creator; 2) everything came from nothing, and 3) life started by accident and Darwinian evolution can be the only allowable answer for the myriad of lifeforms on our planet. We will call this the “No God” or “Natural” set of “goggles” (a Natural worldview). The born-again Christian looks at the same set of data (cosmology, geology, biology, ethics, and morality), but through a set of “goggles” that we will label “God’s Word”, i.e., a Biblical worldview. Yes, every human being forms his/her own set of worldview goggles; pure objectivity is an impossibility. There is no such thing as the “blank slate” concept. A child growing up in a home and culture shaped by a Deistic faith-set will usually be influenced by that Deistic faith-set. A child growing up in an atheistic faith-set will usually be influenced by that atheistic faith-set. No human can grow up totally isolated from an ideology. If we truly are driven by a goal of objectivity, then we will be honest and admit that Atheism, Agnosticism, and Humanism are just other forms of religion, when “religion” is defined as a faith-set or dogma. Yes, atheists operate by faith! None of their baseline assumptions can be proven scientifically or even logically supported! Consider these premises, 1. “No God?”. How can you prove or disprove that? 2. “Everything came from nothing?” This is a logical impossibility unless you invoke a Supreme Being that SPOKE the Universe into existence. 3. “Darwinian evolution?” This hypothesis has never been scientifically demonstrated, the fossil stratas do not support it, and even our coarse understanding of biology and life itself precludes “evolution” as a ludicrous joke! All of the Naturalist’s baseline tenants must be accepted by faith and in this instance, blind faith, i.e., faith with no foundation, and sadly, hopeless faith. If human beings want to find and know The Truth, it is available and obvious to all. It is available to all who would stop and consider, think, and REASON! Our Creator isn’t afraid of our questions, in fact, He begs us to ask, to seek, to search, and then to find! God, through the prophet Isaiah, cried out to his people, Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD… (Isaiah 1:18). And through the prophet Moses our Creator invited his people to consider! Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else (Deuteronomy 4:39). God built his Human creation with not only an innate knowledge of ethics and morality but with an innate knowledge of God’s very Triune existence! The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans… Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse… (Romans 1:19, 20). God says that with a mind that is open to The Truth and is honest in its reasoning, we can look at the Triune Universe—we can look at the trinity of space, time, and matter—and understand the Trinity of the Godhead![4] This is amazing! Those who are truly wise will look, consider, think, and reason. And when they consider God’s proclamation in Isaiah 45:22—Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else—they will bow the knee! They will admit that the “rational man”, the “thinking man”, the “reasoning man” is a man of Biblical faith and that he is the climax creation of a loving God Who came as a man so that He might redeem us from the curse of our rebellion. God bless and consider! [1] In regard to a person’s judgment — not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts. Synonyms include impartial, unbiased, unprejudiced, nonpartisan, disinterested, neutral, even-handed, equitable, fair-minded, open-minded, and etc. [2] In regard to a person’s judgment — influenced by personal feelings, tastes, and opinions, which in turn come from one’s social environment, i.e., culture, religion, and etc. [3] Leitha, Dan. Worldview Goggles. October 1, 2008. Published in Answers Magazine, Answers in Genesis. https://answersingenesis.org/media/cartoons/let-there-be-truth/worldview-goggles/ [4] Morris, Henry M. III. The Triune Universe. Institute for Creation Research. http://www.icr.org/article/triune-universe/
There are None So... Pt. 2
March 8, 2024 • Central Baptist Church
March 8, 2024 There Are None So… Pt. 2, Deaf Continuing in the theme of, “There are none so… blind”, I want to consider another gift of God: the sense of hearing. Solomon wrote, The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them(Proverbs 20:12). And just like there are none so blind as those who will not see (the obvious), I suggest that we can also assert, “There are none so deaf, as those who will not hear (obviously speaking of God’s wisdom) and then DO or IMPLEMENT it!” In this installment, I want to discuss a common ailment that plagues all of the human race: that tendency to ignore advice, roll our eyes at instruction, and stiffen our necks when admonished. Human beings—ALL human beings—have a problem with self-will, self-importance, and self-knowledge (i.e., what we think we know)! We think we know what is best, we want to do things our way, and woe to the person or being who gets in our way! Truly, one of the most valuable achievements of life is to learn enough humility and wisdom—or at the very least, temporary acquiescence—to follow good advice, to learn from those who have walked the path before us, and to obey our authorities. But admittedly, it is also one of the most difficult lessons to learn… because we are prideful! God says that the causative agent of every problem ever faced by the human race, has been a prideful heart, a willful soul that will not listen to instruction. Solomon wrote, Only by pride cometh contention…(Proverbs 13:10). That word contention means a quarrel, fight, or conflict. We all tend to live by the mantra that Sinatra made famous, “I did it my way!” We all, by our very nature, tend to close our ears when given advice that is contrary to our way of thinking, to stiffen our necks when we are instructed, and to outright rebel when we are corrected or disciplined. God’s books of wisdom literature (Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, and Psalms) are chock-full of admonitions to hearinstruction. But the Hebrew word translated “hear” as a command, means much more than just to listen politely and then go about to consider your options. No, the word shaw-mah´ literally means “to hear intelligently”, with the implication that there should be obedience. There are 11 scriptures alone in the book of Proverbs where God commands us to HEAR (listen to) our authorities and DO (implement) their instruction. Here are a few… Prov 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels… Prov 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother… Prov 4:1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. Prov 4:10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. God hates the pride that causes us to shun and ignore wise instruction! The Preacher wrote, These sixthings doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look… (Prov 6:16, 17). Pride is the first thing mentioned; it is public enemy #1! God hates pride because it will destroy us in this life AND in the life to come! It is pride that will prevent us from entering into that Heavenly rest that Jesus has prepared for all who will bow their knee and cry out in humble faith for His divine forgiveness. Therefore, we are wise to HEAR and obey the admonitions of all of our God-ordained authorities, but especially the admonitions of our Creator and Owner! Jesus will either be our Judge or our Redeemer/Savior; it depends upon whether or not we will LISTEN! Our Creator cries out, Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else (Isaiah 45:22). So, we have heard God’s admonition and warning. The only question that remains is, “What will we do with it?” God bless and consider!
There Are None So... Pt. 1
March 1, 2024 • Central Baptist Church
March 1, 2024 There Are None So… Pt. 1, Blind The original author of the proverb, “There are none so blind as those who will not see”, has probably been lost in antiquity but it has appeared in English literature even as far back as the middle of the 16thCentury, used by the English writer, poet, and playwright John Heywood (1546) [1] [2]. The phrase was purportedly also used by Welch theologian Matthew Henry (1662-1714) [3] [4], and in the year 1736 it was used by clergyman and author Jonathan Swift [5] in his work, Polite Conversation. In the colonies (what would become the United States of America) it first appeared in 1713 in the Works of Thomas Chalkley,[6] a Quaker preacher and author. But regardless of who said it first, the concept surely finds its origin in God’s inspired Word to humanity, The Bible. Jeremiah cried out to his nation Judah, Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying, 21 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: 22 Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence… (Jeremiah 5:20-22). The prophet Jeremiah was sent by our gracious God primarily to the nation of Judah (the two southern tribes, Judah and Benjamin) as that nation stiffened its neck in rebellion and followed its idolatrous sister called Samaria (also called Ephraim or Israel, i.e., the 10 Northern Tribes) into the manifold judgments of slavery and captivity. One-hundred thirty years earlier God had given sister Samaria into the hands of the Assyrians; the final deportation is believed to have taken place in about 722 B.C. [7] Sadly, the Southern Kingdom did not learn from her sister’s rebellion and subsequent deportation. In fact, in those 130 years of “grace”, Judah became even more idolatrous and wicked than her sister Samaria (see Ezekiel 23)! [8] And so God raised up Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldeans (Babylonians) and He gave idolatrous Judah into their hands, to be judged for 70 years. So, what was God’s point when he cried out through the prophet Jeremiah, “You have eyes… and see not!” His point was this: the saddest delusion of all is that of wanton self-delusion! And self-delusion CAN turn into a divine sentence of reprobation. Just like her sister Samaria, Judah saw the glory of God, the creative prowess of God, the power of God as He controlled nature and the Earth, the providence and provision of God, and yes, even the passion of God as He brought judgment… and yet, because of their lusts and sin, they threw God aside as an inconsequential, unappreciated parent! Consequently, first Samaria, and then Judah, fell under the terrifying judgment of Divine reprobation. Oh, they had eyes (i.e., they understood God and righteousness and sin and judgment), but because they refused to see (i.e., they CHOOSE to ignore God, and righteous living, and instead choose sin and rebellion, and they shrugged at His warnings of judgment), eventually they could no longer see; they became, spiritually-blind as a divine judgment! Through the prophet Hosea, God cried out this chilling sentence to the 10 Northern Tribes: Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone (Hosea 4:17). God had given them over! And now some 130 years later it was Judah’s turn to learn the consequence of willfully ignoring their Creator. So, what does this all have to do with us today? We live in a proud, pretentious, and perverted nation, a nation where, …the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their own means; and my people love to have it so… (Jeremiah 5:31). Our nation, which at one time had a clear and healthy 20-20 spiritual vision, now wallows and revels in unrighteousness. Like the ancient kingdoms, we became a nation that even, …when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools… (Romans 1:21, 22). In our proud imaginations, we SEE a creation that is intricately complex and marvelous, and yet we refuse to glorify and bow our knees to its (and our) Creator. We look past and around our Creator because if we dare acknowledge Him, we will then be responsible for obeying Him! Well, I’m sorry to inform you that whether we acknowledge or ignore our Creator, we are still held responsible to obey and worship Him with a heart of love and appreciation! In an open affront to God, we attribute the origin of space, matter, and life to… GRAVITY? Renowned cosmologist Stephen Hawking proclaimed, Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing. Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist. The universe didn't need a God to begin; it was quite capable of launching its existence on its own. It is not necessary to invoke God to set the universe going. [9] If you want these statements reduced to their simplest expression what Hawking said is this: Nothing gave rise to Everything. There are none so blind as those who will not SEE! God bless and consider! [1] Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings. 1996. ed. Gregory Y. Titelman, Random House, New York. [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/john_heywoodhttp://wikipedia.org/wiki/john_heywood [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/matthew_henryhttp://wikipedia.org/wiki/matthew_henry [4] http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/matthewhen189365.htmlhttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/matthewhen189365.html [5] Irish clergyman and satirist; author of Gulliver’s Travels. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/jonathan_swifthttp://wikipedia.org/wiki/jonathan_swift [6] https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/chalkley,_thomas_(dnb00)http://wikisource.org/wiki/chalkleyhttps://en.wikisource.org/wiki/chalkley,_thomas_(dnb00) [7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/assyrian_captivityhttp://wikipedia.org/wiki/assyrian_captivity [8] Ezekiel 23 is an inspired allegory picturing the two nations (1-Samaria, or Ephraim, or Israel) and 2-Judah) as wanton, spiritually-whorish sisters, who were insatiate in their idolatrous rebellion. Ezekiel writes that Aholibah (Judah), became more corrupt in her inordinate love than her sister Aholah (Israel): …she was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she, and in her whoredoms more than her sister in her whoredoms(Eze 23:11). And as a consequence, God would bring the nation of Babylon against Judah, to destroy it and to deport her citizens (see Ezekiel 23:22-35). [9] Hawking, Stephen and Mlodinow, Leonard. 2010. The Grand Design. Bantam Books, Random House, New York, NY.
The Goodness of God, Pt. 4
February 23, 2024 • Central Baptist Church
The Goodness of God Part 4, Not Willing That Any Should Perish This month we’ve been considering the GOODNESS of God and we’ll climax this month’s theme with this wonderful thought: God is not willing that any should perish! Peter communicated this wonderful truth in his second epistle, chapter 3, verse 9: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Ironically, this beacon of hope is planted in the middle of a chapter that warns of scoffers and mockers, and God’s sure-to-come judgment against ungodly men (just see verse 7). Yes, there are many—even a majority—that scoff at Scripture, at God, at God’s judgment, and at Christians who believe what God says! There are two words there in v 9 that we must clearly understand: they are perish and repentance. The word perish obviously means to die, and there are several instances in the New Testament scriptures where that is the simple and obvious meaning: physical death. But perish is also used in contexts where the obvious meaning is what the Bible calls the second death. Because of the sin curse, every human being will die at least one time. This is the physical death (Hebrews 9:27). But no one—absolutely NO one—must die the second death, which is the meaning of “perish” there in 2 Peter 3:9! God is not willing that any human being should die the “second death”! So, what is this “second death”? Jesus tells us in Revelation 20:14: And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. The second death is a conscious process of eternal “dying” that will be experienced by all who refuse to “repent”. Those experiencing the eternal second death do so in a specific place the Bible calls …the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death (Revelation 21:8). And so… the second death is an eternal separation from God, and all of His goodness, in a place the Bible calls “The Lake of Fire”, and it will be experienced by those who had no use for God in this life, for those who, according to Peter, will not …come to repentance. God sends no human being into perdition; it’s certainly not His will! We have to push aside a pleading Holy Spirit, trample upon the precious blood of Jesus Christ, and climb over a bloody cross to get there! The second word that we must understand is repentance. The meaning of this word is to change one’s mind and direction. It aptly pictures humanity, proudly and arrogantly traveling down that broad way that leadeth to destruction (Matthew 7:13), insisting that our own goodness will most certainly tip the presumed “scales” of God’s justice in our favor, thereby EARNING us entrance into God’s Heaven. But God pleads, “REPENT”, i.e., “Change your mind! Turn around! You can’t earn your way into my Kingdom! You must be born again (experience a Divine, spiritual re-birth, John 3).” Yes, repentance is changing our minds about how we get to Heaven. Satan’s greatest successes have been to convince men and women that our good works, our self-righteousness, or our works of religion, will earn our admission to God’s Heavenly Kingdom. But Jesus warns through Peter, you had better change your mind! Paul was very clear in Ephesians 2:8, 9. - Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Like that praying publican in Luke 18 we must “A”, ADMIT that we are all sinners, and as such, totally separated from God (Romans 3:23). Then we must “B”, BELIEVE that Jesus is THE incarnate Son of God, sent as a Substitute to shed His own perfect, precious blood to make us redeemable. Jesus took our place on that rugged cross (John 3:16)! Finally, we must appropriate Jesus’ blood sacrifice by “C”, CONFESSING or CALLING OUT just like that praying publican: And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner (Luke 18:1). Paul was very clear in Rom. 10:10-13, For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. God is good! He is not willing that ANY should perish! Have you repented (changed your mind about how to gain admission to Glory) and come to God by and through His WAY, i.e., through the blood of Jesus? Jesus warned in John 14:6 …I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Friend, if you are still clinging to your “good” works, your own innate “goodness”, or to your works-based religion, then repent, i.e., cast it all down at the feet of Jesus and admit, believe, and call upon Him today to appropriate His substitutionary payment to your account! God bless and consider!
The Goodness of God, Pt. 3
February 16, 2024 • Central Baptist Church
The Goodness of God Part 3, Patience and Mercy This month we are thinking about the goodness of God. And this week, let’s consider the mercy and the patience exhibited by our Creator, the Great I AM, the ONLY God. The Bible uses the word “longsuffering” to describe this Divine character trait. Do you appreciate people being patient with you? Have you ever trained for a new job? Most of us have, and probably several times. During those training times, were you blessed with an instructor who was kind and patient as you tried to learn the ropes? And when you messed up on that new job, made a big mistake, and maybe cost the company money, wasn’t it great to have a supervisor who was merciful, who understood our human frailty, who smiled and said, “Yep, I understand! I’ve done the same thing… or worse!”, a supervisor who encouraged us, and helped us repair our mess, and learn and live through it? Yes, those kinds of folks are wonderful. We like patience when we have messed up, and lots of mercy when we fail. And we appreciate this behavior so much because we all have probably experienced the other side of the coin! We’ve probably had supervisors who were not so patient and not so merciful, but were (to use a Bible term) “froward”, meaning perverse, angry, and harsh. An impatient, unmerciful, unforgiving, harsh, and angry supervisor makes life miserable. Yes, we love patient and merciful people, because we all very much need patience and mercy. But a human supervisor is just that, a human being. And if we lose a job because of an impatient and merciless boss, chances are we can find another job. But stop and consider life, eternity, and God? Every human being is responsible to a holy, perfect, and righteous God! Yes, some “free thinkers” choose to deny this fact but their choice to put their heads in the sand does not change reality. The bottom line is that every human being ever born has been born an enemy of God (Romans 5:10; Colossians 1:21) because of our sin nature. And God through the ancient prophet Isaiah testifies that our sin has separated us from Him. • Isaiah 59:2 reads, But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidhis face from you, that he will not hear. And here is the dilemma: There was and is nothing, in and of ourselves, that we can do about it! Wouldn’t it be horrible to live under the auspices of a God who had no love, patience, or mercy? Where would we all end up? We would all be undone, lost, and eternally separated from our Creator! Yes, if it were not for Jesus’ Passover week resurrection, we’d be in an eternal Fix! Christ’s precious blood won’t just atone (i.e., cover) our sin, but it can wash it away permanently. That bloody cross served as a bridge between God’s Justness and God’s Graciousness. It spans the chasm between sinful, lost human beings, and a just and holy God. The blood of Christ enables the patience and mercy (i.e., the longsuffering nature) of our God! And for those who have called out to Jesus in repentance and faith, and thereby have applied that sanguine solvent to their sinful soul, washing it as white as snow, God is now eternally merciful and patient. • Psalm 136 records, O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. I hope you have taken advantage of His patience and mercy! God bless and consider!
The Goodness of God, Pt. 2
February 9, 2024 • Central Baptist Church
The Goodness of God Part 2, The Sunshine and Rain Without question, the greatest life principles that have ever been taught are outlined in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew, chapters 5-7. In this section of the Gospels, the Son of God teaches His born-again children how to live a life that is both pleasing to God and edifying for men. Jesus covers many topics in this epic sermon, but one was especially shocking to his Jewish audience: God expects His children to love all people, even their enemies! Their religious leaders had historically taught the Jews to hate those who hated them and Jehovah God. This is what Jesus alludes to in Matthew 5:43, Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. The premise of this misteaching was this: the Jews assumed “hate” was God’s opinion of evil men. Since, indeed, God always hates evil, and always judges evil, and will one day sentence to eternal perdition all those who choose to practice evil… THEN it seemed to the Jewish leadership that God hated evil people! After all, this is what seems to be taught in Psalm 21:8, Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee, and in Psalm 68:1, Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. And David’s inspired words in Psalm 139:19-22 sound especially vengeful… - Psalm 139:19-22 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. 20For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. 21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. So, when the Son of God preached that His disciples should not hate, but rather LOVE their enemies, it was radical! It was shocking! It was puzzling! How do we reconcile God’s love and goodness vs. God’s justice? This is one of those age-old, seeming paradoxes of the faith. How can God be both loving and wrathful? The answer is hinted at in Jesus’ instructions there in Matthew 5:43-48. We can summarize by simply stating that God hates sin, but He loves the sinner. He loves people! Yes, God WILL judge sinners, i.e., those, who in rebellion, choose to practice and revel in their sins. But until that time when men and women step beyond His grace (i.e., die in their sins), God is gracious, He is patient, and He is loving, not willing that any should perish! And proof of God’s loving goodness toward all men is the fact that …he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust (Matthew 5:45). Jesus’ point is that since God is good to all, then we also should be good toward all, even toward those who persecute and despitefully use us. This type of attitude and behavior reflects the gentle and kind nature of the Savior, Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committedhimself to him that judgeth righteously… (1Peter 2:23). God is good and all of His works are righteous. Yes, we should flee from and hate sin. And we should not participate with men in their sins. But like our Savior, we should show love and patience with the sinner. And this we should do because that is what Jesus did for us! Romans 5:8 reads, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. God bless and consider!
The Goodness of God, Pt. 1
February 2, 2024 • Central Baptist Church
The Goodness of God Part 1, He Leads Us to Repent Humanity can know what “good” means because our reference and example for “goodness” is our Creator, Jehovah God. The Scriptures abound with testimonies of God’s goodness. It is one of his attributes or character traits. Here are two verses that declare God’s innate “goodness”. Psalm 31:19 How great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast stored up for those who fear Thee, which Thou hast wrought for those who take refuge in Thee, before the sons of men! Psalm 107:1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting. And, of course, there are many, many more. One of the many ways that God is good is regarding how He has made salvation available to all humanity and then calls every human being to BE saved. In Romans 2 Paul is presenting a logical argument to his own people (the Jews), showing them that their self-righteous arrogance regarding law-keeping—and their subsequent judging of those who did not attempt to “keep” the Mosaic Law—was both hypocritical and dangerous! It was hypocritical because they were guilty of the same sins that they judged in others. It was dangerous because their standard of judgment would be returned upon them. Jesus warned in Matthew 7:2, For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Paul continued to explain that remaining in self-righteous arrogance, and insisting that they could earn a right or “good” standing before God by keeping laws and ordinance, was trifling with and despising the grace and goodness of God! In their insistence that they were “good”, and the judging of those who did not meet their standards, they rebuffed the conviction of the Holy Spirit which was mercifully and patiently calling THEM to repentance! Romans 2:4 reads, Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Repentance is both a forgotten and a misunderstood requirement of God for individual salvation. Both John the Baptizer and Jesus the God-Man demanded repentance (for example, Matthew 3:2 and 4:17). Jesus’ Apostles preached repentance (Mark 6:12). And Jesus made it clear that without repentance we will perish (meaning to come under the judgment and wrath of God) (Luke 13:3, 5). Jesus said, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15). And so, what IS repentance? The literal meaning of the word “repent” is “to think differently”. Regarding salvation, it means this: in our natural sinful state we are like Paul’s kindred; we are self-righteous, arrogant in our self-good. We THINK we are Heaven-bound because we have not committed some egregious sin such as murder or child abuse. We THINK that church membership, or keeping rites and rituals, or doing good works will qualify us for Heaven. We THINK, most surely my good will outweigh my bad and God will, with a great smile, welcome me into Glory and thank me for being there! But God says, REPENT, i.e., “THINK AGAIN!”. God says we are all sinners (Romans 3:23), separated from Him (Isaiah 59:2), and even now abiding under His wrath. Jesus warned, He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him(John 3:36). So repent means to “think different”, i.e., to change our minds about our own self-goodness, about how men and women are born again. Paul’s kindred arrogantly believed they EARNED their salvation by their law-keeping and good works. But Jesus warned you had better think again; you had better change your mind; you had better agree with God! We need to change our minds about how we can enter into God’s Eternal Kingdom and agree with Ephesians 2:8, 9, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Friends, it is the GOODNESS of God that calls us to repent and accept HIS grace-gift of forgiveness for salvation. Salvation has never been by works and will never, ever be by works. Paul wrote to Titus, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us… (Titus 3:5). Consider the goodness of our God Who is not willing that any should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance. God bless and consider!
Life is Really Very Simple, Pt. 4
January 26, 2024 • Central Baptist Church • 2 Peter 3:11
January 26, 2024 Life is Really Very Simple Part 4, There is Eternity WITH God… and Eternity WITHOUT God Every human being is faced with what I call “The Big Three”, i.e., the three questions that define our existence. • Where did I come from? – The Question of Origin. • Why am I here? – The Question of Purpose • Where am I going? – The Question of Destiny Human worldviews are created and embraced primarily to answer or to explain away these “Big Three” questions of life. There are two major categories of worldview. THE NATURALISTIC WORLDVIEWS Naturalistic Worldviews purposefully ignore the Divine coefficients in the equations of creation and life. Naturalists posit that 1) all we are and all we know—the sum-total of reality—came about through an unexplainable cosmic accident, 2) that we have no purpose whatsoever, and 3) when we die, we simply go out of existence, just as our accidental Universe will do many ages hence. Naturalistic worldviews are incoherent, and they are also impossible (where did the cosmos come from to create the cosmic accident?). Furthermore, naturalistic worldviews produce nothing but despair, insomuch that they are called “Despair Philosophy”. Consequently, for the Naturalist, life has no meaning or purpose, and adherents have two choices. They can choose... 1) to live in and embrace despair, meaninglessness, and hopelessness, or 2) they can choose to knowingly delude themselves, i.e., to create their personal fairy tale, and live in this alt-reality, by injecting artificial meaning into life events. Philosophers call choice #2 “Existentialism”. Existentialism is a social construct that attempts to artificially create meaning in and for life. And so, most adherents of the naturalistic worldview party hearty, they celebrate everything, and to excess, they revel, indulge, and live “free” …because tomorrow they die and exit their artificial, meaningless existence. THE GOD-CENTRIC WORLDVIEWS In opposition to the Naturalistic worldviews, there are the God-centric or Deistic Worldviews. These worldviews answer the Big Three questions of life with one word: God. God created the universe and us. We are here to know God in His salvation from sin. And, finally, our purpose is to glorify and enjoy God. And in so doing, we find real meaning, purpose, and fulfillment in life. And finally, we go to meet God as either an ally or an enemy. The only rational and coherent worldviews are God-centered. The God-centric worldview can explain reality as we see and experience it, our beginning, the meaning of life, morals, and the function of eternity. And so, as we wrap up this month’s theme of “Life is Really Very Simple”, I want to recommend that you seriously consider the ramifications of your worldview. Do you have a naturalistic worldview that explains nothing and provides only despair? Or do you have a God-centric worldview that coherently explains our origin, purpose, and destiny? And if you DO have a God-centric worldview, are you serious about finding out what God says about life and eternity? Truly life IS simple, and when we die the consequences are also simple. We either die as an ally of God, or we die as His enemy, and we will live forever either WITH God or WITHOUT Him. Our Creator warns in Psalm 46:10, Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. It would be most wise to first discover your Creator, to trust Him for your eternal salvation from your sin, and then to serve Him with a heart of love and appreciation. Friends, as Moses admonished the nation of Israel, “Choose LIFE!” (Deuteronomy 30:19). God bless and consider!
Life is Really Very Simple, Pt. 3
January 19, 2024 • Central Baptist Church • 2 Peter 3:11
Life is Really Very Simple Part 3, There is God’s Worldview… and Everything Else Is this World chaotic enough for you yet? It seems our crazy planet has exploded into a highly polarized, militant, and even radical hotbed of “ideology clash”. It seems that everyone is required to oppose someone else, based upon religious, moral, ethical, or lifestyle ideologies. The last election cycle only exposed the great divide in our American culture that already existed and has existed for some time, a divide that is only widening. The radical right has had its Klan, its anti-establishment militias, and its Neo-fascism. And now the liberal left has bred their counterpart, called by some, the “alt-left”. This faction is composed of radical and even militant souls, who have at least matched the vitriolic diatribes and threats of the radical right. But are radically differing views on religion, morals, ethics, and lifestyles something new, something 21st-century? No, they are not! They surfaced even as early as Cain vs. Able and climaxed with Noah vs. The World. The ideology clashes then restarted in Isaac vs. Ishmael, Jacob vs. Esau, Daniel vs. the other presidents and 120 princes of Persia, Mordecai vs. Haman, with Nehemiah vs. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, with the Macabees vs. Antiochus IV Epiphanes, with John the Baptizer vs. Herod Antipas, and with Jesus the Incarnate Son of God vs. the envious, hate-filled Sanhedrin (who knowingly crucified a man that they KNEW to be God-sent, simply because they were afraid to lose their place, i.e., their governing seats of honor, and their nation, i.e., their national pseudo-sovereignty). What we have witnessed in the Bible’s account of the approximately 6-millennia history of our planet is a culture clash as old as Satan in the Garden of Eden deceiving the first woman, or even going back pre-history, to Lucifer rebelling against his Creator and becoming the Satan. What we see today is just the latest chapter of an age-old battle of worldviews: God’s worldview vs. Everything Else! There has always been, and always will be, capital “T” Truth: God’s Objective Truth. God has, down through human history, progressively revealed more and more of His “Truth” to humanity through godly, set-apart patriarchs and prophets. God’s revelation to mankind climaxed with the Living Word, Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1:2 reads, And Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son. And God’s revelation was finalized with Christ’s post-resurrection Revelation to the Apostle John. The Holy Bible is the summation of God’s capital “T” Truth revealed to humanity. Jesus testified to the Father, …thy Word is truth (John 17:7). And so, argue as we may, hate as we choose, justify as we might, the baseline FACT is that we either see things God’s way, or we rebel and CHOOSE to exist in spiritual delusion. And yes, I use the word “choose” deliberately and truthfully because Paul explains in Romans 1:21, Because that, when they KNEW God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. God says that every human being in their conscience knows that He exists, has a basic moral code, and knows that God deserves worship. But in rebellion, we have simply chosen to worship ourselves! Jesus IS God. He is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life (John 14:6), He is the Eternal God-Man, the Creator, Jehovah God manifested in eternal Flesh. And He has warned that every human being will stand before Him in judgment! Friends, please don’t live in self-delusion. Come to Truth with a capital “T”. God bless and consider!