The news changes our world, changes our day. Around the world many people are celebrating the death of Osama Bin Laden. He was supposedly the master-mind behind the 9/11 tragedy in NY almost 10 years ago where 3000 people died.
We have spent billions of dollars trying to kill him. We have entered multiple wars and killed tens of thousands of people around the globe in retribution. I ask you, is this just? Are we missing the point?
I think so.
As believers, the main thing is always the main thing. The lost souls of men. Who on the news is sad that a man who cursed the Savior of the World with his life is now suffering for all of eternity in Hell (unless, like the thief on the cross turned at the last moment). Bin Laden will continue to sin against God for all of eternity. No salvation is now offered to him. This is awful! His soul is forever gone to torment.
My prayer today, is no different than yesterday, or last week. May every ear hear the good news of Jesus Christ. May every soul be saved!
How?
If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
All men and women are sinners in need of a savior. (Romans 3:23) To believe that all things were created out of nothing, by nothing, ever existing with no first cause, is ludicrous. It defies every scientific principle known to man. It defies Christ. It defies scripture. People know there is a God who made them. People know they live because made them. If men turn to the truth of scripture, they can live for Jesus and begin to understand their purpose and meaning in life. Only then will they live!
Everyone will bow the knee to God. Either today, tomorrow, or after death. But all will bow the knee. I pray for my dear friends at Dreamworks who think life is about money and good times. I pray for my extended family and relatives who don't know and serve Christ as described in scripture. I pray for the souls of my children.
God has blessed my wife and I with caring parents and a privileged life, being in the USA. The quest for religious freedom has spilt much blood. Any of you on USA soil are the benefactors of such a pursuit. May we not take for granted what God has given. May the world know, everything they have comes from God. He is in control. He loves them and died for their sins so that they wouldn't have to endure the eternal wrath of God, like Osama Bin Laden. I pray he repented before he died!
May God have mercy on us all.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Rome - True Catholicism - Celebrating the Dead!
Ever wonder if Catholicism is united? or practiced the same everywhere? well. that is what's supposed to happen, but Rome is more steeped in the worship of Mary than most of the world, with South America a close second. Here's what's going on over there...taken from Christian missionaries who live in Italy.
Here's whats going to happen as they celebrate the dead!
"The ceremony for the beatification of John Paul II will be between April 30th and May 5th. The Vatican is predicting the arrival of 300,000 people to the city. The program that is planned is spiritually disturbing. As believers in the city of Rome, we are used to having to live the spiritual tension before a power that unites truth and lies, God and idols, the authentic Gospel and false gospels. To celebrate John Paul II, the evening of Saturday the 30th of April, there will be a prayer meeting wake dedicated to Mary in the Circus Maximus. After this there will be a procession with the icon of Maria Salus Populi Romani (Mary the salvation of the Roman people). The icon itself will be lifted up to a position of preeminence in the immense plaza full of at least 300,000 people. Afterwards will follow the song of Totus Tutus, the celebrated motto of the pope affirming his profound dedication and devotion to Mary. All the plaza will be involved in singing this song. Following this will be the recitation of the Rosary dedicated to Mary linked by satellite with the 5 sanctuaries that are dedicated to the Madonna in the world, including Fatima, the Madonna that was particularly spiritually near to the pope and to whom this one indicated her as the protector of the world."
"The next day (Sunday, May 1st) will be the ceremony of beatification (declared blessed) in the plaza of S. Peter, at the conclusion of which hundreds of thousands of people will be invited to take advantage of the intercession of this new 'blessed one'. After having prayed to Mary, the crowd will pray to John Paul II. The casket of the pope will be there for viewing and the procession of the faithful will pass by for days increasing the veneration of this person as never before.”
Here's whats going to happen as they celebrate the dead!
"The ceremony for the beatification of John Paul II will be between April 30th and May 5th. The Vatican is predicting the arrival of 300,000 people to the city. The program that is planned is spiritually disturbing. As believers in the city of Rome, we are used to having to live the spiritual tension before a power that unites truth and lies, God and idols, the authentic Gospel and false gospels. To celebrate John Paul II, the evening of Saturday the 30th of April, there will be a prayer meeting wake dedicated to Mary in the Circus Maximus. After this there will be a procession with the icon of Maria Salus Populi Romani (Mary the salvation of the Roman people). The icon itself will be lifted up to a position of preeminence in the immense plaza full of at least 300,000 people. Afterwards will follow the song of Totus Tutus, the celebrated motto of the pope affirming his profound dedication and devotion to Mary. All the plaza will be involved in singing this song. Following this will be the recitation of the Rosary dedicated to Mary linked by satellite with the 5 sanctuaries that are dedicated to the Madonna in the world, including Fatima, the Madonna that was particularly spiritually near to the pope and to whom this one indicated her as the protector of the world."
"The next day (Sunday, May 1st) will be the ceremony of beatification (declared blessed) in the plaza of S. Peter, at the conclusion of which hundreds of thousands of people will be invited to take advantage of the intercession of this new 'blessed one'. After having prayed to Mary, the crowd will pray to John Paul II. The casket of the pope will be there for viewing and the procession of the faithful will pass by for days increasing the veneration of this person as never before.”
Friday, April 29, 2011
Church Fathers on Salvation - Athanasius
Athanasius
“It is just that the Word of God…, in offering His body as a ransom for us, would discharge our debt by His death. So, united to all mankind by a body like theirs, the incorruptible Son of God can justly clothe all men with incorruptibility.” (De incarn. 9, italics added)
“It is just that the Word of God…, in offering His body as a ransom for us, would discharge our debt by His death. So, united to all mankind by a body like theirs, the incorruptible Son of God can justly clothe all men with incorruptibility.” (De incarn. 9, italics added)
Pretty clear. Salvation is through the death of Christ, totally and completely. No good works to further make one "more" justified are needed. Plenty of good works do naturally follow the true believer though - that is called Sanctification and the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). Just as a real fruit tree produces fruit, so too real believers produce good works, which are the fruit of their salvation.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Religion vs. The Gospel
There is a good sense of relgion, yet referred to here it connotates a pharisaical implementation.
The following is from Chris Barksdale of the hollywood church:
The following is from Chris Barksdale of the hollywood church:
· Religion says if you obey God then he loves you and accepts you. The gospel says God loves you because of Jesus therefore you obey.
· Religion says life and the Bible is all about what I do for God. The gospel says it is about what Jesus did for God on my behalf.
· Religion says God is like a piñata and religious acts are the stick you hit Him with to get thing from Him. The Gospel says that God is an unconditional lover and giver to those who accept His Son.
· Religion leads to pride, despair, uncertainty, and no assurance. The Gospel leads to humility, confidence, and joy.
· Religion sees hardship as a punishment from God. The Gospel sees hardship as not punishment because Jesus already bore all the punishment for me. Hardship is rather sanctified affliction.
· Religion sees the world as divided up into good and bad people. The Gospel sees the world as divided up into unrepentant and repentant bad people.
The last one is telling. Do you see yourself as against all others, or as a servant of others with the truth? The dish you serve is the gospel.
The last one is telling. Do you see yourself as against all others, or as a servant of others with the truth? The dish you serve is the gospel.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Riches Beyond Comparison!!!
Believer - feast on the word of God. Herein, and here alone, resides our infallible understanding of God Almighty. All that we learn about Christ, even the experiential, the fantastic and the miraculous, must be submitted to the only infallible word of God, the 66 Books of the Holy Scripture.
Believer - read what is yours in Christ! My seminary notes from Ephesians chapter 1. http://www.esvonline.org/search/ephesians+1/
There is a major thrust at the outset of Ephesians to understand that, as believers, our entire calling is “in Christ”, also referred to as “in him”. Our being chosen (1:4), being predestined “through Christ” (1:5), our blessing in “the Beloved”, having redemption (1:7) according to “his grace”, understanding “his will..his purpose” in Christ (1:9), being unified (1:10), given an inheritance according to his will and his purpose (1:11), having hope in Christ unto His glory (1:12), having belief in Him (1:13), sealed with the Holy Spirit (1:13) being the “guarantee of our inheritance” and all this “to the praise of his glory.” (1:14) The modern phrase “it’s not about me” just doesn’t do such a marvelous passage about our Lord and Savior justice, and reminds us of our inability to comprehend “how deep and wide” is the love of Christ that was bestowed upon us. This is how Paul starts the letter, and it grows from there into much thanksgiving and prayer through 1:15-23.
True riches are in Christ!
Believer - read what is yours in Christ! My seminary notes from Ephesians chapter 1. http://www.esvonline.org/search/ephesians+1/
There is a major thrust at the outset of Ephesians to understand that, as believers, our entire calling is “in Christ”, also referred to as “in him”. Our being chosen (1:4), being predestined “through Christ” (1:5), our blessing in “the Beloved”, having redemption (1:7) according to “his grace”, understanding “his will..his purpose” in Christ (1:9), being unified (1:10), given an inheritance according to his will and his purpose (1:11), having hope in Christ unto His glory (1:12), having belief in Him (1:13), sealed with the Holy Spirit (1:13) being the “guarantee of our inheritance” and all this “to the praise of his glory.” (1:14) The modern phrase “it’s not about me” just doesn’t do such a marvelous passage about our Lord and Savior justice, and reminds us of our inability to comprehend “how deep and wide” is the love of Christ that was bestowed upon us. This is how Paul starts the letter, and it grows from there into much thanksgiving and prayer through 1:15-23.
True riches are in Christ!
Monday, March 21, 2011
Creation is Cursed.
Here is a summary of what was covered yesterday in our Sunday School class. It is a class of about 75 people, ages 20 - 90 literally. It's a wonderful group of people who pursue Christ and live for His glory.
Summary of Ed's lesson.
1. Creation, man, beast and planet, is cursed: Genesis 3:17-19
2. Sin offers more of creation
Pattern: From 1 Peter chapters 1-3
Pattern: From 1 Peter chapters 1-3
2a. World suffers - Then glory
2b. Jesus suffered - Then glory
2c. We suffer - Then glory
3. Sin is not worth it.
4. Jesus is!
Jesus' death on the cross paid for all of the sin of those who repent and believe in His name. His wrath is reserved for those who reject Him. Do not put your trust in your self and your good works. Salvation is not by works. Ephesians 2:8-9. Salavation is by grace through faith - both being a work of Christ.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Justification by Faith
How are you saved? That is the most crucial question for a believer. There are many cults, false religions and weird ideas out there about how a person gets to heaven and how a person is justified, or "made righteous" before God. We know from 1 John 1:7 that Jesus is our Advocate before God the Father, which means even as believers we continue to sin.
The real question is, "Did Jesus pay for some or all of our sin, past - present - future, on the cross?" The answer is fundamentally intertwined with real justification. Here is Phil Johnson to give a quick answer to this question, What is Justification by Faith?
The real question is, "Did Jesus pay for some or all of our sin, past - present - future, on the cross?" The answer is fundamentally intertwined with real justification. Here is Phil Johnson to give a quick answer to this question, What is Justification by Faith?
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