I had an interesting invitation today on my LibraryThing account today that left me just a tad confused. Somebody commented on my profile, saying that they thought I'd enjoy a new group they've started called "Transsexuals for Christ." lol
Now anyone who knows me is free to take a look at my library, and if you can figure out why exactly they were led to believe that I would even consider joining such a group, please share that with me!
The invitation did make me think, however, about how all kinds of groups that lead lifestyles contrary to the teachings of Christ are so set upon claiming His name for themselves. Why is that? Seriously, if you want to take part in such behaviors, that is up to you. But don't try to justify your behavior by pasting the word "Christian" in front of your group name! I know that all of us have some area in our lives that we just don't seem to have complete control over...that challenges us daily even. None of us who call Jesus Lord, however, would try to excuse their behavior by suddenly saying, "hey, it's not really a sin! I'm a "Christian" gambler, or a "Christian" adulterer! ;-)
No, whatever struggles we face, let us strive to defeat them for His glory and through His grace. Don't call it what it is not.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
I was really struck this morning by the power of these words, and they made me think of something from last night. At the time I was working out at the gym...those of you who know me are well aware that I put plenty of effort into maintaining the incredible physique with which God has gifted me! Okay, not really, the truth is that my body is more of a giant cathedral than a humble temple and I'm trying to downsize...but that's not the real issue here so let's move on. ;-)
While at the gym, I happened to walk near a group of fellow Hispanic guys who were talking about someone else they knew, mentioning that this individual was a member of La Raza. Now, to any conspiracy buff who may be reading this, La Raza does not refer to some secret club of Hispanics whose ultimate goal is to "reconquer" the Southwest for Mexico. While that makes for great scare tactics, Christians should let go of such silliness. But I digress again. What the unintentional eavesdropping made me think about was my own life. You see, when I was a young teen I used to swell with pride at the thought of being a member of La Raza, the People. To be a part of some kind of brotherhood was humbling, even if most of our time and energies was then spent in trying to beat the living daylights out of those poor fellow brothers who happened to claim some different affiliation (okay, gang).
What about now? Well, I've matured that's for sure. I still am very proud of my heritage...it will always be a part of me. But far more important than anything else to me is my Christian heritage. I am proud to be a slave to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Nothing else matters more to me than this, no other identification causes me more joy. To be called by His name is my greatest desire, and to serve Him all the days of my life is my ultimate goal. Family, work, all else comes as a distant second in my affections. And why is this? Why, if not for the simple truth that upon being sealed by the Holy Spirit I became a new creation. Whereas I was once spiritually dead I am now alive. Whereas I once despised and considered it a weakness to believe in God, now I consider it a joy to be called a fool for Christ.
These were my thoughts today, and even now as I prepare for bed I think about who I used to be and marvel at what He has made me. Truly it is He that gives the increase, for there is no other way to explain how the person I used to be has become the person I now am.
Thank you Lord Jesus!
I was really struck this morning by the power of these words, and they made me think of something from last night. At the time I was working out at the gym...those of you who know me are well aware that I put plenty of effort into maintaining the incredible physique with which God has gifted me! Okay, not really, the truth is that my body is more of a giant cathedral than a humble temple and I'm trying to downsize...but that's not the real issue here so let's move on. ;-)
While at the gym, I happened to walk near a group of fellow Hispanic guys who were talking about someone else they knew, mentioning that this individual was a member of La Raza. Now, to any conspiracy buff who may be reading this, La Raza does not refer to some secret club of Hispanics whose ultimate goal is to "reconquer" the Southwest for Mexico. While that makes for great scare tactics, Christians should let go of such silliness. But I digress again. What the unintentional eavesdropping made me think about was my own life. You see, when I was a young teen I used to swell with pride at the thought of being a member of La Raza, the People. To be a part of some kind of brotherhood was humbling, even if most of our time and energies was then spent in trying to beat the living daylights out of those poor fellow brothers who happened to claim some different affiliation (okay, gang).
What about now? Well, I've matured that's for sure. I still am very proud of my heritage...it will always be a part of me. But far more important than anything else to me is my Christian heritage. I am proud to be a slave to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Nothing else matters more to me than this, no other identification causes me more joy. To be called by His name is my greatest desire, and to serve Him all the days of my life is my ultimate goal. Family, work, all else comes as a distant second in my affections. And why is this? Why, if not for the simple truth that upon being sealed by the Holy Spirit I became a new creation. Whereas I was once spiritually dead I am now alive. Whereas I once despised and considered it a weakness to believe in God, now I consider it a joy to be called a fool for Christ.
These were my thoughts today, and even now as I prepare for bed I think about who I used to be and marvel at what He has made me. Truly it is He that gives the increase, for there is no other way to explain how the person I used to be has become the person I now am.
Thank you Lord Jesus!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Luke 4:1-12 (for kids)
I prepared this lesson for our children's Sunday school class and it went exceptionally well. The 8 kids (ranging in ages between 6-10) had lots of questions and made some very profound comments as well. Anyone who does not think young children have the intellectual capacity to take in Biblical lessons without having to draw a picture or watch a movie are just plain wrong!
Here is the lesson (presented on 10.11.08)
Here is the lesson (presented on 10.11.08)
Jesus in the Wilderness
Ÿ Lesson
Read Luke 4:1-4
Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”
The Holy Spirit is one of the Persons who makes up our Triune God
To be filled with the Holy Spirit means to be controlled by God
Ask: Who is Satan?
Satan is the Devil. He is the enemy of God and of all of mankind. Satan wants to cause man to sin, using various temptations and lies. He is, indeed, the father of lies.
We see that Jesus is fasting while in the desert, going without food for 40 whole days!
Ask: Could Jesus have done this?
Of course! For Jesus performed greater miracles in order to establish His claims!
Ask: How would turning stone into bread have been a sin?
Jesus’ miracles were performed to attest to His divine nature and the Truth of His claims…to establish the Gospel. He would not be honoring the Father by using His power selfishly.
When Jesus said “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God…” what did He mean?
He meant that the Word of God…the Old Testament at this time…taught that being fed spiritually was more important than being fed physically. Think about it…what happens if you don’t eat? Eventually you will die!!
If being fed spiritually is more important than keeping yourself physically alive, then it is obvious that studying the Word of God is VERY important!
Ask: What can WE do to help fight off temptation?
We can memorize the Word of God so that when we are tempted to sin we will remember it and obey it!
Remember that Satan will always use our weaknesses to tempt us, but God’s Word will always be able to help us if we have it hidden in our hearts.
Read Luke 4:5-8
Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”
Ask: What did Satan want Jesus to do?
Satan wanted Jesus to worship him instead of the Father!
In 2 Corinthians 4:4 we are told that Satan is the god of this world! Therefore he had the power to offer up the kingdoms to Jesus…except that Jesus being the One True and Living God was Master of all things! Even of Satan!
Think about this too: Jesus came to earth as a man in order to establish His kingdom, a spiritual one in the hearts of men. Jesus did not need the physical kingdoms of men when He came to redeem people from every kingdom!
Jesus says to Satan, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”
The Word of God commands us to worship only God and Jesus correctly reminds Satan of this! Basically, He tells Satan to “shut up!”
Read Luke 4:9-12
Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: ’He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you,‘ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’”
Jesus would have been testing God, and our faith demands that we always trust God, no matter what our circumstances are.
Did you notice that Satan used Scripture to tempt Jesus? There are many people today who, like Satan, will use the Bible incorrectly in order to mislead you. The only way we can defend ourselves is to know the Bible even better than they do!
James 4:7 tells us that if we resist the devil, he will flee from us!
Isn’t that a wonderful promise? No matter how powerful Satan is, we as Christians have the power to make him run away from us!
Are there any questions or comments?
Let us pray
Monday, October 13, 2008
A Better Way: Rediscovering the Drama of God-Centered Worship by Michael Horton
isbn #0-8010-1234-1
Well this is going to be one very short book review! As some of you may know, I have been reaidng this book for quite some time and I have finally finished it. It is not that the book is boring or that I disagreed with much of it, but this was a real challenge for me to complete. This is not to say that I intend to get rid of the book, for I found it valuable and will probably refer to it again in the future. The problem, I think, is that Horton's presentation was rather dry. I've read books by Horton before, and this is not something I've encountered in his writings before...so it's sadly ironic that I should find a lack of true passionate writing in a book dedicated to (as the subtitle states) "rediscovering the drama of God-centered worship"!
As with all reviews ever written by anyone, this is my own opinion and it may be that someone else may find the writing filled with zeal! I certainly don't suggest that anyone NOT read this book, for as I've already stated before, it contains valuable information. Also, Horton does excel at bringing complex arguments to the level of a simple reader such as myself. I was able to follow his arguments and overall I found myself agreeing with his critique of what passes for worship in too many churches today.
Another thing that Horton does well in this book is to unapologetically examine the typical components of a service and compare them to what the Bible teaches. Where Horton lost me, through no fault of his own I might add, is when he makes his defense of infant baptism. I say that this is through no fault of his own for he clearly states in his book that he is writing from a Reformed position, whereas I identify myself more as Reformed Baptist, holding to believer's baptism and a premillenial eschatology. One thing I found out through this book is what our Reformed brethren believe about communion. As a baptistic leaning individual, I hold to the idea that communion is done as a remembrance of what Jesus has done for us on the cross. Horton's explanation, however, left me confused as to how exactly the Reformed view of communion differs from the Catholic view. If you are curious, pick up the book and read pages 116-118.
Despite this, (perhaps because of this) I found "A Better Way" to be valuable and thought-provoking. Perhaps I'll wait a few months and pick the book up again to give it a new try. Either way, I recommend it with only slight hesitation. Besided which, our Reformed brethren can never be accused of taking the Word of God lightly, and Horton proves true to this in his book.
Well this is going to be one very short book review! As some of you may know, I have been reaidng this book for quite some time and I have finally finished it. It is not that the book is boring or that I disagreed with much of it, but this was a real challenge for me to complete. This is not to say that I intend to get rid of the book, for I found it valuable and will probably refer to it again in the future. The problem, I think, is that Horton's presentation was rather dry. I've read books by Horton before, and this is not something I've encountered in his writings before...so it's sadly ironic that I should find a lack of true passionate writing in a book dedicated to (as the subtitle states) "rediscovering the drama of God-centered worship"!
As with all reviews ever written by anyone, this is my own opinion and it may be that someone else may find the writing filled with zeal! I certainly don't suggest that anyone NOT read this book, for as I've already stated before, it contains valuable information. Also, Horton does excel at bringing complex arguments to the level of a simple reader such as myself. I was able to follow his arguments and overall I found myself agreeing with his critique of what passes for worship in too many churches today.
Another thing that Horton does well in this book is to unapologetically examine the typical components of a service and compare them to what the Bible teaches. Where Horton lost me, through no fault of his own I might add, is when he makes his defense of infant baptism. I say that this is through no fault of his own for he clearly states in his book that he is writing from a Reformed position, whereas I identify myself more as Reformed Baptist, holding to believer's baptism and a premillenial eschatology. One thing I found out through this book is what our Reformed brethren believe about communion. As a baptistic leaning individual, I hold to the idea that communion is done as a remembrance of what Jesus has done for us on the cross. Horton's explanation, however, left me confused as to how exactly the Reformed view of communion differs from the Catholic view. If you are curious, pick up the book and read pages 116-118.
Despite this, (perhaps because of this) I found "A Better Way" to be valuable and thought-provoking. Perhaps I'll wait a few months and pick the book up again to give it a new try. Either way, I recommend it with only slight hesitation. Besided which, our Reformed brethren can never be accused of taking the Word of God lightly, and Horton proves true to this in his book.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Brief Thoughts on Acts 5:29-42
"...Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. And he said to them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.” And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ."
- Acts 5:29-42
This last Wednesday at church we had a discussion of this passage and I did not get an opportunity to share some of the thoughts that went through my head as I considered this passage...so of course I've decided to share them here! ;-)
The part that makes me stop and think is the section in bold above. Everyone credits Gamaliel with incredible wisdom and forethought over his advice, but long ago I read something in a commentary that made me stop to think more closely about it. If we consider it from the long term perspective about how God indeed used Peter "and the other apostles" to bring about His plan for the church, then of course Gamaliel was right. His comment, however, is not the point of the passage, and to place too much emphasis on it can be a bit misleading.
Allow me to explain...
When we turn Gamaliel's comment into the primary teaching of this wonderful passage we set upon a path that leads to all kinds of erroneous thought. For example, if we take the comment at face value, what does it say about such things about Mormonism? Or Watchtower? For all intents and purposes, these are extremely successful movements. Does it follow, therefore, that they are of God? Well only in the sense that God is fully sovereign and that nothing happens outside of His eternal purposes. This does not mean that they are pleasing to Him or that in opposing their false teaching that we are placing ourselves against God! There are many things that purport to be Christian, that attempt to be defined as mainstream Christianity, but they are not. To say that what is successful must be of God is to open ourselves up to such foolishness as that which comes out in the form of the emergent church movement. To embrace it is to give credence to the idea that if we want to "grow" our churches we must adopt business models instead of Biblical Truth!
When one considers the success of Christianity in our day and age (any day and any age actually), then we must look at whether it embraces Biblical doctrines and upholds the five solas (sola scriptura; sola fide; sola gratia; solus Christus; soli deo gloria). Numbers are great, but only if they reflect a redeemed people rather than "seekers"; programs can be beneficial, but only if their purpose is to minister to the sheep and not to attract those ever important numbers. So success from a Christian perspective does not look at all like what the world considers success...and sadly, it does not look like what too many within the church would declare as successful!
Disagree if you must, it is possible (not likely though- ha ha) that I am wrong. But at least give it some thought.
God Bless
- Acts 5:29-42
This last Wednesday at church we had a discussion of this passage and I did not get an opportunity to share some of the thoughts that went through my head as I considered this passage...so of course I've decided to share them here! ;-)
The part that makes me stop and think is the section in bold above. Everyone credits Gamaliel with incredible wisdom and forethought over his advice, but long ago I read something in a commentary that made me stop to think more closely about it. If we consider it from the long term perspective about how God indeed used Peter "and the other apostles" to bring about His plan for the church, then of course Gamaliel was right. His comment, however, is not the point of the passage, and to place too much emphasis on it can be a bit misleading.
Allow me to explain...
When we turn Gamaliel's comment into the primary teaching of this wonderful passage we set upon a path that leads to all kinds of erroneous thought. For example, if we take the comment at face value, what does it say about such things about Mormonism? Or Watchtower? For all intents and purposes, these are extremely successful movements. Does it follow, therefore, that they are of God? Well only in the sense that God is fully sovereign and that nothing happens outside of His eternal purposes. This does not mean that they are pleasing to Him or that in opposing their false teaching that we are placing ourselves against God! There are many things that purport to be Christian, that attempt to be defined as mainstream Christianity, but they are not. To say that what is successful must be of God is to open ourselves up to such foolishness as that which comes out in the form of the emergent church movement. To embrace it is to give credence to the idea that if we want to "grow" our churches we must adopt business models instead of Biblical Truth!
When one considers the success of Christianity in our day and age (any day and any age actually), then we must look at whether it embraces Biblical doctrines and upholds the five solas (sola scriptura; sola fide; sola gratia; solus Christus; soli deo gloria). Numbers are great, but only if they reflect a redeemed people rather than "seekers"; programs can be beneficial, but only if their purpose is to minister to the sheep and not to attract those ever important numbers. So success from a Christian perspective does not look at all like what the world considers success...and sadly, it does not look like what too many within the church would declare as successful!
Disagree if you must, it is possible (not likely though- ha ha) that I am wrong. But at least give it some thought.
God Bless
Monday, September 29, 2008
Youth Sunday School Lesson 09.28.08
Yesterday I had the privilege of teaching the youth Sunday school class and I had an attendance of ten kids. The class is going through the book of Genesis and they are currently studying about Noah and the Flood. Because of this, I decided I would revamp some of the lessons I've presented in other classes and present a brief study on the subject of the goodness of God. The following is what I came up with:
I. Praises & Prayer Requests
I know that you are reading through the book of Genesis in this class.
Well, I’m not here to give you the answer to those questions at this time. But I am here to discuss a concept with you that is crucial if we are going to read through OT passages. This is the concept of theodicy.
Ask) Does anyone know what this word means?
Theodicy refers to a specific branch of theology and philosophy that attempts to reconcile the existence of evil or suffering in the world with the belief in an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent God...it is a defense of the goodness of God (this definition taken from wikipedia, found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodicy)
God is good
God is holy
God is Sovereign!
THEODICY
September 27th, 2008
[A study by Ezequiel Luna...using commentaries by
Albert Barnes, Matthew Henry, & John Gill]
September 27th, 2008
[A study by Ezequiel Luna...using commentaries by
Albert Barnes, Matthew Henry, & John Gill]
I. Praises & Prayer Requests
II. Study
I know that you are reading through the book of Genesis in this class.
Ask) How far along are you?
Ask) Have you ever read passages that confuse you, especially in the OT? Passages that speak of God killing people…of God ordering others to kill. How do we make sense of such passages?
Well, I’m not here to give you the answer to those questions at this time. But I am here to discuss a concept with you that is crucial if we are going to read through OT passages. This is the concept of theodicy.
Ask) Does anyone know what this word means?
Theodicy refers to a specific branch of theology and philosophy that attempts to reconcile the existence of evil or suffering in the world with the belief in an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent God...it is a defense of the goodness of God (this definition taken from wikipedia, found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodicy)
You see, to fully understand the OT, we have to have deeply ingrained in our minds a few of the most fundamental teachings of Scripture:
God is good
God is holy
God is Sovereign!
Before we begin, I know that even while understanding these teachings…we still would like to have answers. I’m not saying these concepts should make you set aside those questions…far from it. All I mean is that when you come across difficult passages, you interact with them while having these truths in your mind. To do so will save you a lot of heartache and plenty of doubt.
Indeed…the important thing is to understand the character of God and the truth of His Word, otherwise you will often agonize over biblical concepts because you have not even accepted some of the most basic truths.
Let me make an agreement with you…if you want to discuss some difficult passages, write them down. Give them to me at the end of class, and I will study them out and next time I have the privilege to teach I will address those topics!
For now, let us begin:
GOD IS GOOD
Read Psalm 33:5
The word of the Lord is right. Anything God tells us is true and right...whatever it may be, if it comes from Him...then it is right. It is His nature to love righteousness...because righteousness flows from Him. Note that "the earth is full" of His goodness.
Ask) What does this mean?
It means that even in this fallen world, full of sin and sinners, it is a measure of His goodness that we can enjoy anything good...because we are undeserving of His goodness. The fact that we enjoy breathing...that there is beauty in the world...that we can laugh and love...all of this points to the goodness of God. Indeed, the goodness of God, according to Psalm 52:1, "endures continually." In other words...FOREVER!
Read Psalm 107:1-3,8
Note verse 8 especially. What does the psalmist desire? That "men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness." Such a simple thing...yet at one time or another...we all have failed or WILL fail at this. There will come a time in our lives, if not yet, when something will happen that will cause us to have the audacity to say unto God, "How dare you!" Instead of thanking the Lord for His many blessings, which we DO NOT DESERVE... we will dare to demand that He always bless us. And why is this? Because we think that God owes us something!
Indeed we will forget that God is good and does only good! [this last being a paraphrase of Psalm 119:68]
(discuss...mention Job and my own experiences in this)
Thinking of God being good...our pleas should echo that of the psalmist in Psalm 143:10, where we read this: "Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good." We want to be taught His will because we recognize that He is indeed good!
Ask) Is there anything that God can do that is NOT good? Can we lay any evil at His feet?
Before anyone answers this, Read Psalm 145:17
Ask) In which of His ways is God righteous?
Ask) In which of His works is God gracious?
ALL OF THEM!
Before moving on, lets quickly look at the following:
Nahum 1:7
Matt 19:17
Romans 2:4
Finally, read 1 John 1:5
We need to embrace without a shadow of a doubt that God is perfect. Nothing can be added to Him to make Him better...He cannot be improved upon because as He is He is perfect. We cannot add one iota to His greatness.
So, then. The way I see it is this: the fact that we don't suffer every moment of our lives. The fact that goodness exists at all in the creation attests to the simple, irrefutable fact that God is good. Is God to blame when sufferings and sorrows exist? No! We are to look to Him in gratitude that the stench of our sin does not cause Him to blot out our very existence!
The following is from C. H. Spurgeon:
"When others behave badly to us, it should only stir us up the more heartily to give thanks unto the Lord, because He is good; and when we ourselves are conscious that we are far from being good, we should only the more reverently bless Him that He is good. We must never tolerate an instant's unbelief as to the goodness of the Lord; whatever else may be questioned, this is absolutely certain, that Jehovah is good; His dispensations may vary, but His nature is always the same."
Any questions or comments?
GOD IS HOLY
Read:
Exodus 15:11
Psalm 30:4
Psalm 103:1, 8-10 (note especially verse 10...relates to His goodness towards us!)
Isaiah 6:3-5
Revelation 15:4
One of the greatest demonstrations of God's holiness is seen at the cross. As we read in Mark, Jesus was crucified because of sin. Sin is so distasteful that it's presence in His Son caused Him to turn away for that one awful moment in time! He punished Jesus for OUR SINS! He didn't just say..."oh boy...you guys sinned, I'll just forgive you anyhow...No, SOMEONE had to pay the penalty and that Someone was the Lord Jesus Christ!
Read Proverbs 3:32, Psalm 5:4-6, and Psalm 7:11-17
Arthur Pink says the following:
"God hates sin. The sinner can be forgiven, but sin is NEVER overlooked. the sinner is forgiven because his sin has been punished in Another."
We know who that Other is, don't we?
According to Hebrews 9:22 "without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins."
So then, who is our Holy God?
We could never have invented Him! Why is that?
To man, sin is crime. When we think of sin, we think rape or murder. Prostitution, child molestation, etc...everything else is a defect, a mistake. We imagine for ourselves a god who "winks" at our little indiscretions. we see Him as laid back, a god who will let bygones be bygones. But this is NOT the God who is revealed in the Holy Scriptures! This true and living God scares us...He makes us uncomfortable...He hates sin so much He WILL NOT overlook it!
His holiness demands that atonement come through the shedding of blood.
This is the Holy One of Israel! But again, this Holy God is also a good God! (discuss Genesis 3)!
Because of what He and He alone has done, we are "accepted in the Beloved."
GOD IS SOVEREIGN
Read the following:
Psalm 115:1-3
Psalm 135:1-6
Isaiah 40:13-18
Isaiah 45:5-7, 9-10
1 Timothy 6:13-16
What right did Israel have to conquer and kill the Canaanites?
None except that they were commended to do so by Almighty God.
What right do husbands have to ask that a wife be subject to him?
None, except that God so appointed it and ordained it.
We should obey all commands that come from a holy God because ALL human responsibility is based on and subject to divine Sovereignty...and NOWHERE do we see divine Sovereignty as subject to the human will.
The following is from R. C. Sproul:
“God never condemns the innocent. He never clears the guilty. He never punishes with undue severity. His justice is perfect justice. [But] God does not always act with justice. Sometimes He acts with mercy. Mercy is not injustice...Mercy manifests kindness and grace and grace.” [His mercy is that He accepts the substitution of Christ]
“All men die...because we are all under the death penalty for sin...Was it evil for God to impose the death penalty for all sin? If you say yes, be careful. If you say yes, you are saying it as an expression of the very fallen, sinful nature that exposes you to the death penalty in the first place. If you say yes, you slander the character of God. We must not say yes. We must say no and say it with conviction...[For] sin is cosmic treason. Sin is treason against a perfectly pure Sovereign. The issue is not why does God punish sin, but why does He permit the ongoing rebellion of man...the supreme folly is that we think we will get away with our revolt.”
Finally, realize that God did not choose Israel and condemn the Canaanites because Israel was better than the Canaanites.
Read Deuteronomy 9:4-6
And also, realize another thing: There were indeed countless women and children in Canaan...but none were innocent. Just as it was God’s right to destroy all of humanity but one family during the Flood, so it was His right to destroy the guilty in Canaan.
R. C. Sproul reminds us that if we want to express our moral outrage, it should be directed at Golgotha where Jesus died! And this moral outrage, this righteous finger pointing of ours should be directed at the guilty ones! Ourselves!
Questions or comments?
Before we end, let me tell you about a man. This man’s name was Horatio Spafford, and he wrote a song we’ve often sung here in church.
Mr. Spafford lost his only son in 1871...then that same year in the Great Chicago Fire of that year, he lost his business and was ruined financially. Two years later, building his business back up, he planned a vacation with his wife and four daughters. They were going to go to Europe but he had to stay behind for business reasons. The ship sunk, and only his wife survived.
Mr Spafford sailed to meet his wife…and as they passed the spot where the ship had sunk, he was inspired to write the song I want to read to you. When he was asked how he was doing, he is said to have replied, “it is well with my soul, which became the title to this song.
Listen closely:
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,Let this blest assurance control,That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole,Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:If Jordan above me shall roll,No pang shall be mine, for in death as in lifeThou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,The sky, not the grave, is our goal; Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul.
The next time we experience troubles, let us remember a great man of faith like this, and let us consciously make the effort to focus on His goodness and His holiness when we are instead tempted to ask...“how could you, God?”
Let us close with prayer
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