Absolute Inability

This article will be another angle on God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility regarding coming to Christ. I recently listened to a message where a theologian attended a college to interview students regarding if they believed they were “good enough” to go to heaven. Most of the responses were typical: yeah, I’m a good person. I’m not as bad as some other people. I’m nice to people and so on.

But, what does the Bible have to say about our own righteousness? Let’s review some passages.

Isaiah 64:6a says, but we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags.

Proverbs 20:6, 9 says, most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man? Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

            

           Nobody.

In Daniel Chapter 4 King Nebuchadnezzar tragically attributed his power and might and glory to himself. What happened to him? He lost his mind for seven years, roamed in the grass like an Ox, grew feathers and claws like a bird. After his humiliation, his mind was restored by God, and he gave God glory for everything. He realized all power came from the God of Israel.

Romans 3 declares the following, there is none righteous, no not one. There is none who understands, there is none that seeks after God, they have all turned aside, they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no not one (vs. 10-12).

Romans 3:20 says that by the deeds of the law no flesh (italics mine) shall be justified in His sight.

Romans 3:23 says all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

John 3:18-19 we read, He who believes in Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light (Christ) has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.

These few verses teach that man is a hopeless sinful creature by nature. Our nature is bent toward evil, not righteousness. For anyone to claim they are “good” is woefully blind, and very much deceived. They have no clue about their inherent evil and the pervasiveness of their sin.

Jesus referred to us as evil (by nature) in Luke 11:13. Any description Jesus gave regarding man was true for He knew all men, and did not need for anyone to tell him about man for He knows what is in man (John 2:24-25).

Now that it has been established that man is evil and bent toward it, how can we find acceptance with God? How can man who is as hopeless as he can be come to a point where he can become righteous, good, holy in God’s sight? Is there some type of activity that we can perform; is there a way for us to remove the barrier of our own stubborn resistance; if we can just dig down real deep, analyze our dilemma and like the Buddhist rid ourselves of all our unhealthy desires with chanting, meditation and good karma?

How many days should we engage in this purging exercise; a few days, few weeks, a few months or years? What about fasting and prayer? Certainly this will cleanse our bodies, souls, and minds to hear clearly what the universe is telling us right? What If we become pantheists? Will that make us closer to God and even gods ourselves because we have become one with the universe?

What about giving to the poor and visiting the sick? Certainly that will help us score points with God right? I heard a person say once because of her “good deeds” she believed she should get “Jesus Points”. Those were her exact words. What did she mean? Translation – her deeds should earn her a place in heaven. All she has to do is cash in her “Jesus Rewards Card points”, and God has to grant her entrance into the pearly gates.

See how confusing this madness sounds? That’s what I love about the word of God. It proscribes only one way to God.

Jesus in John 14:6 said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes unto the Father but by me.

Acts 4:12 reads, nor is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.

Isaiah 43:11, I, even I am the Lord and besides me there is no savior.

Oh the simplicity of the wisdom and knowledge of God is amazing! Just believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved (Acts 16:31). There is nothing to figure out. No works or strenuous activity that has to be done to earn God’s favor. In actuality, earning the favor of God is an oxymoron.

See everyone knows they are not perfect, and everyone knows they are a sinful to some degree or another. The problem is that most do not know how horrible our sinful ways cost the only begotten Son of God His very life. The Perfect had to die for the imperfect. The Guiltless died for the guilty. The Righteous for the unrighteous. The Holy One for the unholy ones. The Living for the dead.

This is the revelation we must get. Natural man is sinful by birth. Natural man is also a dead man spiritually. For the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God (italics mine) is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 6:23).

We have a most serious problem. Since natural man is spiritually dead, how can we be made alive from our deadness?

                                                 Can these bones live?

The Lord asked the prophet Ezekiel that very question in chapter 37 of his book. The prophet was caught up in a vision by the Spirit and saw a valley of dry bones which represented the nation of Israel- currently regarded as dead at that time. Once Ezekiel spoke to the bones, they began to connect, bone by bone, along with the sinews, skin and flesh. Once the prophet spoke to the wind the bodies became alive again (or was born again), and stood up on their feet. What was going on here?

The vision Ezekiel saw was the future rebirth and salvation of the nation Israel. Ezekiel lived during the Babylon captivity and was taken captive himself in 597 B.C. by King Nebuchadnezzar. Ezekiel was a contemporary of the prophet Daniel and mentions him in 14:14, 20; 28:3.

The point the writer wants to make regarding this account is that the only way these bones could come to life is that God had to command through the power of His word for them to do so. Obviously the dead can never come to life on their own. Only the power of God can raise the dead and give new life. This is exactly what Ezekiel saw in his vision.

                                                 

                                                  Jesus and Nicodemus

When the Pharisee Nicodemus met Jesus at night in John 3, Jesus explained to him how he must be born again (literally born from above) in order to see the kingdom of God (vs. 3). Nicodemus totally clueless as to what Jesus meant by the phrase born again replied, “how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (vs.4).

Jesus answered, “most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water (not water baptism), and the Spirit he can not enter the kingdom of God. Listen to the next verse very carefully, that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (vs. 5-7).

Jesus teaches Nicodemus a masterpiece of instruction on salvation in just a few verses. Let’s review them.

In verse 4 Nicodemus has no idea what Jesus is talking about. He would later for he eventually became a believer, and along with Joseph of Arimathea gave Jesus a proper burial (John 19:39).

Jesus in verse 6 indicates that as everyone has a natural birth (the flesh), in order for one to be born again, one MUST have a spiritual birth (the Spirit). The spiritual birth is being born again or being born from above, or being born from heaven.

           

        How can this rebirth take place?

Jesus gives us an illustration of the wind that blows. The wind blows wherever it wants to blow. We can never see it; it is invisible to us, but we can feel it’s effect and power when it blows upon us. No one can tell the wind where to blow or what to do. Likewise with the Holy Spirit. He brings to life whomever He wants to. No one tells the Spirit what to do. He is autonomous. We do not know when the Spirit initially falls upon a person for the initial transformation of a life He affects is invisible, but we know afterward when we see the many lives transformed by His power.

This is the message Jesus was conveying to Nicodemus to which he said, “how can these things be?” (vs.9).

That same question Nicodemus asked Jesus is the same one most of the world is asking today.

The idea that God has to save us, and the way He does it is foreign to our corrupt finite minds.                                    

                                                Who chooses who?                   

Mankind are control freaks. It is inherent in our nature. The idea that someone, namely God Almighty tells us that in order for us to obtain eternal life we must go through Jesus Christ is repulsive to us. It leaves us totally helpless, powerless to contribute to our own destiny. When it comes to our life and eternity, we control nothing at all. Anything we do is by divine allowance and authority. We are here to serve God. Those that refuse to do so will be eliminated – remember that! God refuses to share his glory with anyone (Isaiah 42:8).

Proverbs 19:21 says, there are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel will stand.

Isaiah 46:10 says, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.

Psalm 115:3, but our God is heaven. He does whatever He pleases.

Jesus said in John 15:16a to the disciples, “you did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit.

Jesus in talking about the inability of man says this, “no one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him (John 6:44a).

What do these verses tell us? Everything that has to do with salvation is God’s doing not man’s. It is God’s plan so it will be successful and is continually being successful. When God decides to save a life, that life will be saved – no matter what. How? Because only God has the power to raise the dead to life. We covered that earlier.

When did God choose us? Ephesians 1:4 says before the world was created. This is also mentioned in I Peter 1:20 and Acts 13:48.

                  

Why did God choose some for salvation before the world was created? Why not choose them after they believed on Jesus?

Had God chose man after man believed on Jesus it would have destroyed God’s predetermined plan of election. As I have mentioned in previous articles, man’s faith cannot dictate God’s election. God’s election is what dictates man’s faith.

Man also can not exercise saving faith before he is born. If that were true, it would be no need for man to be born again. Man would be saved before he exited the womb; meaning he would have been born spiritually before he was born naturally (please bear with me. I’m taking this thought to it’s most illogical conclusion). Remember man is born spiritually dead, and we know a corpse can not do anything but be dead (Eph 2:1; Col 2:13). So, just like Jesus commanded by the power of His word for Lazarus to rise from death (John 11:43-44), the Spirit of God raises the spiritually dead out of their graves to brand new life (Rom 6:4; Eph 2:1; Col 2:13). After man has been regenerated (made alive), then God grants him faith to believe the gospel and be saved.

Once again that powerful text in Ephesians 2:8-9, for by grace (unmerited favor) you have been saved (how) through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift (italics mine) of God, not of works (i.e. human effort) lest anyone should boast.

So these verses answer the question as to why God chose us before the earth was formed. So He would get all the glory and praise. Man does not get the glory, but definitely receives all the benefits. The verses above tell us that both faith and salvation are gifts God grants to man. This proves that God has to choose man first. Man is dead until God prophesies over him with the power of his word like Ezekiel did when he saw the valley of dry bones. We had no control over when we were naturally born, and we have no control over our rebirth. Let’s take a look at the life of Paul (formerly Saul) for a clear illustration.

Saul was one of the ring leaders of the Pharisees who was persecuting Christians. As he was on his way to Damascus to arrest believers the Bible says a light shone from heaven, he fell to the ground and heard the voice of Christ say to him, “Saul Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are you Lord?” Then He said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he (Saul) trembling and astonished said, “Lord what do you want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must (italics mine) do”. (Acts 9:4-6).

In verse 15 of this same chapter Jesus appears to His servant Ananias and tells him that Saul is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear His name among the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

How did Paul’s transformation take place?

Jesus literally knocked him off his high horse, and told Paul what he had to do. No choice in the matter. Paul was a chosen vessel of God’s before the world was created despite the fact he was a persecutor of the Church. When Jesus encountered Paul He brought Him back to life (regenerated). When he was healed from blindness by Ananias, he also received the gospel and was baptized into the body of Christ (saved) (Acts 9:18).

Another view I need to point out is this; if God decided to choose man after he believed in Jesus none of the verses in the Bible that deal with predestination and sovereign election would make any sense. Man would be controlling the strings in the whole salvation process which would make God impotent and dependent upon man who is dead in trespasses and sins to activate his own salvation. If man could activate his own salvation; that is give himself life, what does he need God for? Man would become his own deity.

                                                           Conclusion

No man can boast about his salvation. We did not invent it, and naturally we do not want it as it is proscribed in the Bible. The only way we desire biblical salvation is that God resurrects us and gives us a heart a flesh removing the heart of stone (Ezek 36:26-27). When this happens we become sensitive and experience genuine remorse when we hear the gospel and our most desperate need for contrition and forgiveness of our sins. All of this is contingent upon God making us alive. If God does not resurrect the dead spiritually, salvation for man is impossible.

So when Nicodemus asked Jesus, “how can these things be” making reference to being born again, it is indeed impossible with man, but not with God. For with Him all things are possible (Matt 19:26; Luke 1:37).

Can Satan perform miracles?

To answer that question in a word, yes. You may be asking what type of miracles has Satan performed? Well for starters, let’s go to the temptation of Jesus.

In Matthew 4:8-9, Again the devil took Him (Jesus) up on an exceedingly high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him all these things I will give to you if you fall down and worship me.

Now to some this may not seem like a miracle at all, but the writer believe that it was.  The devil was somehow able to display to Jesus all the kingdoms of the world at one time. Obviously this did not astound Jesus, but it proves the devil can perform miraculous signs.

In the book of Exodus we see just as Moses and Aaron rods turned into snakes, Pharaoh’s magicians and sorcerers did the same. Obviously the magicians and sorcerers power came from Satan, not from God (Ex 7:10-12).

In the future Jesus told the disciples that false christs and false prophets will be able to perform great lying signs and wonders. The miracles will be so convincing that the elect of God would be almost compelled they are authentic miracles from God (Matt 24:24).

In 2 Thessalonians 2:9 the Lawless One (i.e. the Antichrist) will be the devil’s chief emissary in the earth. He will have the ability to perform great signs and lying wonders. He will successfully deceived those who are the damned. Because they refuse to receive the gospel truth and instead love evil, God will send a strong delusion that they will believe the lie. God will give them what they want which is deception. The thing that the evil crave is the same thing that will eternally destroy them. This is the ultimate effect in believing in Satanic miracles.

In Revelation 13 the beast’s main companion is the false prophet. He is an evil religious leader. The Bible says he has all the power of the first beast, and will cause the inhabitants of the earth to worship the first beast and his image (vs. 11-15) He commands global worship. He even has the ability to call down fire from heaven counterfeiting the miracle of the two witnesses (Rev 11:5).

                    How are we to distinguish between Godly and Satanic miracles?

The first way to do this is to test the spirit behind the miracle to see if they are of God for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every Spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God, every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. This is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is now already in the world (I John 4:1-3).

So, if someone performs a miracle but they deny the incarnation of Jesus; that He was human, then that person has proven they are a false prophet. They would fall into the category I believe of those in Matthew 7 where Jesus told these workers of iniquity or those that practice lawlessness, “depart from me I never knew you!” (vs 23).

No one who is a false prophet can perform a miracle, sign or wonder from God.

A second way to know whether a person is real or fake is their lifestyle. Jesus said a good tree can not bear bad fruit, and bad tree can not bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. By their fruits, you will know them (Matt 7:17-20).

A third way to determine the source of a miracle is whether the one performing the miracle is a genuine worshipper of God. As I mentioned earlier in the article, the false prophet demanded the world to worship the Antichrist who was possessed by Satan himself (Rev 13:12). So in essence, the worship of the beast is the worship of the devil which violates the first commandment, “you shall worship no others gods but me” (Exodus 20:3).

A false prophet and false Christ will always lead by deception. Having the power to perform lying signs and wonders to boot debilitates their followers short sightedness even more and increases his power of deception further.

Concluding, Satan throughout history has deceived people into believing they have seen a crying Jesus statue dying on the cross, or apparitions of Mary talking to them. Joseph Smith who started the Mormon Church claimed to have seen God the Father and Jesus appear to him in the woods telling him that he was to receive the correct revelation of God for all the previous revelations and teachers of the past were corrupt.

What is our barometer when we hear about all this phenomena? The word of God. Scripture commands us to test all things. Hold onto what is good (I Thess 5:21).

Fire insurance Christian

I’m sure you are wondering what do these three words have to do with theology? Well, there are many “professing Christians” who believe in Jesus only to escape the fires and tortures of hell. They do not have a desire to change their wicked lifestyle or to live holy which the Bible demands we do once we are born again (Lev 11:44, 45; 19:2; 20:7; I Pet 1:16). It is what some have called easy believe-ism or cheap grace.

A person who only wants a “fire-insurance-salvation”, does not have true salvation, but on the way to the hell they think they are avoiding. Shame on anyone who would cheapen the atonement of Christ as common, and not the single most solitary expression of love ever committed in history (Heb 10:29).

Let us think about this for a moment, since God was willing to send the very best He had, His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to come and die a sinner’s death for us, wouldn’t one think that the least we could do as believers in Christ is live holy lives that would glorify our Lord?

            It makes sense to me.

Ephesians 2:10 says this, for we are His workmanship (the Greek is the word poiema) created in Christ Jesus for good works (italics mine), which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (i.e. the good works).

II Corinthians 5:17-18 reads, therefore if anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become knew. Now all things are of God (emphasis added).

II Timothy 2:19b, the Lord knows those who are His, and let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity (or lawlessness).

Romans 6:1, what shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not or may it never be! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

Jesus said in John 14:15, if you love me, keep my commandments

Hebrews 12:14, pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

John 14:21a, He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.

These passages and many more demand that we live a life of obedience to our God. If one is truly in Christ,  have their life hidden In His, then holiness HAS to be a present reality, and a lifelong pursuit.

We must understand that we cannot accept Jesus as savior only. He MUST also be our Lord. This means He is our Master. We do not have any rights our of own. We are slaves to Jesus Christ; not a popular word to use.

We were not born again to do whatever we want. We were redeemed so that we can freely serve God in Christ.

The reality is that we will serve (worship) someone or something no matter what.

The writer of Hebrews gives a most sober warning in the tenth chapter regarding Christ’s sacrifice and one’s mistreatment of it. After citing the verses, I will provide commentary on them:

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remain a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment do you suppose will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “vengeance is mine, I will repay” says the Lord (Deut 32:35), and again, “the Lord will judge His people”(Deut 32:36). It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb 10:26-31).

There are multitudes of people who fall into these categories:

a.      Sin willfully after receiving the truth (vs 26)

b.      Trampling the Son of God underfoot (vs 29)

c.       Counted the blood of covenant as common (vs 29)

d.      Insulted the Spirit of grace (vs 29)

The most sanctifying, liberating message anyone can ever hear is the gospel message. Why? For the gospel message is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes (Rom 1:16). It is the message of the cross. How God Almighty in eternity past decided to send His only begotten Son to die for wretched, unworthy sinners like you and I.  It is a timeless message that never grows old. Anyone who claims to be a Christian that is tired of this most glorious message really need to do some soul searching to see if they are really a Christian at all. The more I hear and teach the message, the more in love I fall in with my Savior.

The writer of Hebrews makes it clear to his audience who are primarily Jewish, that to reject the gospel, and to keep on sinning willfully proves that a person decided to stand against the Triune God and side with His enemies. There is no alternative message that can save man so therefore there is no redemption for the person who turns their back on God. The only thing left for the person is judgment –the wrath of God abides on him and rightfully so (John 3:36).

It is extraordinarily diabolical that someone would be so foolish, and obstinate to refuse to come to Christ when He is right there in front of them. In what way you may ask? Through the revelation of His word.

So, a fire-insurance-christian is a self deceived individual who the writer believes has perhaps heard the true gospel, but will not submit it’s demands. The parts about living holy, and obedience cramps their style. It’s too much work to do all of that; it would mean one would need to change their entire way of living. They are probably also ashamed of the gospel unless it is only convenient to profess it. This is a person who is only interested in Jesus as Savior, but not as their Lord. They are satisfied with a cheap grace, an imitation salvation which is really no salvation at all.

The other scenario is that they are a victim of a poor theology. The preacher(s) they are listening to our inept expositors of the word. They teach a user-friendly-gospel. They say things like, “God loves you, and wants you happy, healed, and healthy, and rich!” There is no gospel that preaches about sin, and repentance; how we have violated God’s law and our under God’s holy wrath unless we truly repent.

As a result of your limited knowledge of the truth, the God of the Bible is small and insignificant to you. He is user friendly just like the paltry pulpit message(s) you receive. God is merely an escape hatch to release you from hell fire – nothing more!

Think about it, the more revelation you get about your awful sinful condition, the greater your love and appreciation you will have for the cross of Christ. The more fervent you will be in your witness for Christ. As I stated when I started this blog over three years ago, if you do not realize you are sick, you are not going to seek any cure for your sickness. If one knows they are sin sick and a cure is available, and they desire to be well, they will beg for the cure.

That is what the gospel is; the curative for the spiritually terminal ill patient of this world.

Jesus said it this way, “those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick…For I did not come to call the righteous (i.e. self righteous), but sinners to repentance (Matt 9:12-13b).

We cannot pick and choose how Jesus will affect our lives. If Jesus is Savior then He is Lord as well. If Jesus is not your Lord, then He is not your Savior either.

If you confess with your mouth the Lord (italics mine) Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you be saved (Rom 10:9).

Jesus has to be both Lord and Savior of our lives. Accepting this truth will grant us real fire insurance and assurance.

In Jesus name, Amen!

In John 14:13-14 Jesus says the following to His disciples, and whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that I will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.

So, what does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name? For a lot of Christians in means simply attaching Jesus name at the end of their petition which supposedly gives the prayer ultimate authority. Saying in Jesus name means to them that God has heard their prayer and is now obligated to answer it for we just read where Jesus, “if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” Saying in Jesus’ name is almost like a magic incantation for some people. Saying in Jesus’ name has no power if one prays amiss (James 4:3). It’s not so much the words that moves God to answer our request, it’s the motivation and intent of the heart that determines whether a request is granted.

In verse 12 of John 14 we read, verily verily, or truly, truly I say to you, he that believes on Me, the works that I do shall he do also and greater works[1] than these shall he do because I go to the Father, and  (vs. 13) whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Notice what Jesus says first, he that believes on Me the works that I do. These are the pre requisites for anyone to even approach the Lord in prayer, belief in Him and His works. Jesus’ identity and works go hand in hand. Jesus’ works proved His identity, and because of that ID, He could do the works.

This is the key to answered prayer: And this is the confidence that we have in Him, if we ask anything according to His will He hears us (italics added for emphasis), and if we know He hears, us then we have the petitions we have desired of Him (I John 5:14-15).

So, praying in Jesus’ name is praying according to the will of God for our lives. Jesus always prayed according to the Father’s will. He never prayed for selfish motives, and as a result, all of His petitions were granted. If we pray out of the will of God, none of our prayers will be granted, even if we attach in Jesus’ name at the end of our misguided request. That phrase should never be used as a magic formula to get what we want from God.

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[1] This word is in italics because it was not part of the original manuscript. The translators

Put the word works in the text because based on the context the word works is implied by Jesus.

Adding the word works here by no means alters or corrupts the meaning of the text.

Also when Jesus said that the disciples would do greater works than Him, He did not mean greater in quality,

But He had to mean greater in extent and quantity because they were commanded by Him to preach

To the uttermost parts of the world (Matt 28:19, 20).

Are Christians Hypocrites?

The phrase, “the Church has nothing in it but hypocrites”, and “Christians are nothing but hypocrites” is popular among non believers. They love to use it when a believer is involved in sin which of course blows their witness and makes God look bad in the non believer’s eyes. It is essential as Christians for our walk to match our talk. As someone wisely said, people do not care how much you know they want to know how much you care.

In defense of the Christian, it is unfair to stereotype all Christians as hypocrites because of the sins of a few. Those that make these remarks are primarily the ones that have no desire to change their evil lifestyle and can’t wait for the Christian to do or say something wrong so they can say, "I TOLD Y’ALL THOSE CHRISTIANS ARE NOTHING BUT HYPOCRITES! I AINT NEVER GOING TO CHURCH!!”

Those that say these things are no better than the Christians they are judging. All of us have been hypocrites and some point in our lives. Since the word is so ingrained in our English language it would only make sense to get the meaning of it.

Hypocrite in the Greek language is the word hupokrites. The word has several meanings. One who was a diviner, an interpreter of dreams. Also the Greeks would call a stage actor who wore a mask impersonating a character a hypocrite. Later and currently it came to mean one who is a counterfeit, a fake, a fraud. 

Someone pretending to be someone or something they are not.

Those who were called hypocrites by the Lord Jesus were those who were pretentious, and the religious leaders of His day. In Matthew 6 we read, “when you do a charitable deed do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets…and when you pray you shall not be like the hypocrites" (vs 2,5).

Jesus in Matthew 23 rebukes the Pharisees the religious-political group for being hypocrites. Jesus left His most imprecatory language for them due to their hypocrisy. Their lifestyles incensed the Lord hence His righteous diatribe against them.

There is a gross misconception of the meaning of a Christian by those who claim to be Christians, and those who hate us. Let me try to explain.

A lot of Christians think that when they are converted to the faith, that gives them the right to judge everyone else as a dirty rotten sinner headed for hell. They feel the need to “nit-pick” everything someone says or does that is wicked.

For example, if a particular Christian does not attend R-rated movies or listens to secular music, or has a drink, they often subconsciously want everyone to be as they are right? If it is wrong for them, then it’s wrong for everyone, especially every Christian as far as they are concerned. (Admittedly the writer was this way long ago when I was young and very immature in the faith). They want to proselytize the world. But this same Christian has dark secrets they have kept hidden in the shadows. They have a gambling problem and they are addicted to pornography. Once that person’s sins are found out, everyone will know they are a hypocrite. They were a hypocrite already in secret, but now their hypocrisy has been made public. It was wrong for them to chastise others for their faults when in reality their problems were bigger than the ones they were criticizing. We all can’t stand people like that. Jesus rebuked people like that (Matt 7:1-5). This is most tragic for the Christian for it destroys their gospel witness, and causes their light to dim among the unregenerate who are in their sphere of influence, and who need  the truth so desperately.

Proverbs 25:26 says, “A righteous man who falters before the wicked is like a murky spring and a polluted well.”

The once proud child of God is made low by their sin of hypocrisy.

So, what are we to do when we get caught up in the sin of hypocrisy? The first thing to do is repent before the Lord and beg his forgiveness for your sin and He will forgive (I John 1:9). We also need to be intent on not committing that sin ever again. Second, go to those whom you have sinned against and implore their forgiveness. Those who are spiritual will love and forgive you restoring your relationship with them. Everyone of us can not withhold forgiveness or else when our time comes for restoration, it will not be available (Mark 11:25-26;Gal 6:1-2).

Another misconception of some Christians and those who watch us is that once we become born again, we become superhuman; impenetrable to sin’s attacks. We are supposed to be perfect.  This is due to ignorance and of what the Christian life is about, and the extreme ignorance of the critic pointing the finger at us.

When one becomes born again, we are instantly transformed on the inside, but we do not instantly change and immediately start doing good on the outside. The issues, temptations, evil thoughts, wicked tendencies, bad habits are still there. We are brand new within instantly, but still corrupt without. Our transformation on the outside is a gradual process known as sanctification. This we have to work on daily (Phil 2:12-13). The child of God is still a sinner, but the difference is as my wife constantly reminds me is that she is indeed a sinner “saved by grace.” We are never perfect in this life. Why? Due to sin being ever present with us (Romans 7). When we become born again God destroyed the power of sin; meaning it no longer dominates us nor are we slaves to it. He got rid of the penalty of sin because Jesus bore my sins on the cross, and the Father God punished Jesus for my sin so that sets me free from the guilt of my sins. I will never be judged for my sins in this life or the next. But, we are still dealing with the third “P”, the presence of sin. Sin will not be removed finally until we are glorified at the Rapture (I Cor 15 & I Thess 4).

Listen to these beautiful words by the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:20-21a, “for our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ who will transform our lowly (some translations say vile) body that it may be conformed to His glorious body…

When this blessed event occurs, then the presence of sin will be removed forever due to the fact we will have received our resurrected bodies perfect and fashioned like the Lord’s body. No longer subject to death.

True believers do not live a life of hypocrisy. Do we do hypocritical things from time to time? Absolutely!  Why? We are sinners. Because of fear our faith gets weak sometimes. That is what happened to Peter and why he denied the Lord three times (Matt 27:69-74;Mark 14:66-72;Luke 22:55-62;John 18:15-18, 25-27). Remember, we are still sinners essentially. But, I would say this to the Christian we have the ability, and I daresay the RIGHT to go to war against the sin in our lives now that we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. We have ultimate power to constantly defeat sin, and win many spiritual battles in this flesh and blood and spirit war.

Remember not everyone who claims to be a Christian is one. There are tares among the wheat in God’s house (Matt 13). These are the true hypocrites which defame the name of our God. Those of us who are truly saved want to live honorable lives before God and man. We will never do this perfectly in this life. A mature believer will pray for those struggling with sin not condemn them. We will have love and compassion for them. We will share with them with thus says the Lord (objective truth) regarding their sin, and not share our own often narrow-minded opinions on matters. A mature believer is not a fraud, a deceiver, or a stage actor portraying someone they are not. For them, living a life of integrity is their sole pursuit in life. When that is our focus, our light will shine before men, and they will see our good works (Gal 5:22-23), and we can glorify our Father which is in heaven (Matt 5:16).

What I have discovered is those who call Christians hypocrites are the biggest hypocrites of all. Sadly they do not even know it. What do I mean? Those who are enemies of the gospel often portray themselves as “good people” in their own eyes. Nothing can be further from the truth. The Bible makes it very clear that there is none who does good, no not one (Rom 3:10-12). Jesus Himself said there is none good but God (Matt 19:17).

In summation, where people have the most problems is with those who have what some call a “holier-than-thou” attitude. This mind set annoys those who are living ungodly lives to the core. They literally salivate at the opportunity to catch a believer in sin so that they can condemn them to hell themselves. The subjective minded person will conclude that this is how all Christians act and will avoid the Church like the plague. Truth be told, the unbeliever does that anyway. They do not need a Christian to sin to avoid the Church. Their own sin does that for them. What they love to do is use the Christians misdeeds as a crutch to excuse themselves from repenting and turning to God. If they are a religious hypocrite, they will make their annual pilgrimage to the Church on Easter and Christmas as if they are doing God a favor by showing up. To me that drips of hypocrisy.  

In the final analysis, many prominent preachers have done tremendous damage to the Church through sexual sin, money extortion, and one that many do not discuss and that is poor theology; that is teaching false doctrine. All of these things hurt the Church.

I continually pray to the Lord that we will mature as a body, and be a light in a dark, hopeless hell bound world.

As the saying goes, “when you know better you should do better!”

Are you a Pre, Mid or Post Tribulationist?

                                       

The tribulation is a future seven year period of horrific events. It is the time where God unleashes His Holy wrath against an unholy world of evil doers. As a matter of fact Jesus said it will be the worst time in human history (Matt 24:21).  The last three and one half years in particular will be the worst of all. All one has to do is read Revelation chapters 6-18 which describes the Great Tribulation (the last three and a half years) in great detail.

Another important matter that is always the topic of discussion is where is the Church during this time in history? That is what I want to discuss.

Regarding the Church there are 3 popular views: 1) Pre-tribulational,  2) Mid-tribulational, 3) Post-tribulational.

            

             Which view is correct?

I’m admittedly a pre-tribulationalist. I believe the Church will be raptured, caught up to meet the Lord in the air before God unleashes His wrath on the earth. There are other well known people that hold to a pre-tribulational view such as: Thomas Ice, Ron Rhodes, John Walvoord, D Charles Stanley, John Macarthur, Norman Geisler, Chuck Missler, Chuck Smith, John Ankerberg and John Weldon, Charles Ryrie, Charlie Campbell of Calvary Chapel – Vista, and obviously Tim Lahaye, and Jerry Jenkins who authored the famous “Left Behind “ series which has sold millions.

There are several reasons why I hold to a pre-tribulational view.

1.      The Flood of Noah – Once Noah and his family with some of the animals were safely in the ark and God closed the door, the floods came and destroyed everything living thing outside of the ark. Only Noah and his family along with the animals survived (Gen 7).

2.      Lot and family escape the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah – Once the angels forced Lot, his wife (disobeyed and was turned into salt), and his daughters out of the city, fire and brimstone rained on the city from heaven and destroyed everyone in it (Gen 19).

3.      God protects the Hebrew’s firstborn when the Lord’s strikes dead all the first born of Egypt – The 10^th and final plague on the land of Egypt brought great sorrow upon the Egyptians. The first born of the Hebrews was not harmed (Ex 12:29-32).

4.      The protection of Rahab and her family when God destroys Jericho – (Joshua 6).

The point I’m making is that in each instance, God protected His people from calamity; either by protecting them through the judgment, or removing them from it altogether.

I believe the Lord will do the same thing when the Rapture takes place; He will snatch his Church out of the earth before He unleashes his wrath on the earth for it’s wickedness.

                                 The word Rapture does not appear in the Bible

This is indeed true. The word Rapture is not in the Bible. In I Thessalonians 4:17 we read of believers being caught up to meet the Lord in the air; to be forever with the Lord. The word caught or catch is the Greek word harpazo. This word means to seize, snatch by force. The latin word is Rapturo where we get the English word Rapture.

The first instance where a rapture occurs is when God takes Enoch alive into heaven (Genesis 5:24). God also raptured the prophet Elijah in 2 Kings 2:11b. The Lord Jesus Christ was raptured into heaven in Acts 1:9. The two witnesses were caught up to heaven In Revelation 11:12. The apostle Paul was caught up to heaven to receive un-repeatable revelation in 2 Corinthians 12:2.

The apostle John was caught up in the Spirit and saw multiple heavenly visions that he was to record in Revelation 4:1-2.

The point I’m making is just because the exact word does not appear in the Bible does not deny the reality of the event in the Bible.

                                 

                                           What about the Mid-tribulational view?

There are those that subscribe to a mid-tribulational view in regards to the rapture. Meaning they believe the rapture will occur in the middle of the seven year tribulation; at the point where we reach what Jesus called “Great Tribulation” (Matt 24:21). This is the point where the man of sin is revealed (The beast of Revelation), 2 Thessalonians 2:4.

I respectfully disagree with this conclusion for the four reasons I mentioned above, and along what Revelation 3:10 where Jesus through John addresses the Church in Philadelphia, “Because you have kept the word of my patience, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to try those who dwell on the earth”.

The Lord is I believe is not only preserving us through it, but delivering us out of it before it occurs. Keep in mind, the rapture is a sign-less event; meaning there are no precursory signs that have to take place before it occurs. It can happen at anytime. Even today!

Another reason I believe in a pre-tribulational rapture is in John 14:2-3. This is where Jesus says He is leaving to prepare a place for us in His Father’s house. Obviously since He is doing this, He will take us to Heaven where He is one day. This to me is why I believe the Lord has to be referring to the rapture of the Church.

 Won’t there be people that are saved during the Tribulation? If so, how you can say believers are raptured to heaven before  the Tribulation occurs?

Those that are saved during the tribulation are who we call tribulation saints. The Church I believe has been taken to heaven by the Lord prior to the seven year Tribulation period. The Bible tells us in Revelation 14:6 that an angel will preach the eternal gospel to those on the earth. This will bring about the salvation of many people along with those saints who preach the gospel to others resulting in more souls being saved. Many of these tribulational Saints will die for their gospel witness while on earth and will seek vengeance on their own blood (Rev 6:9-11; 20:4). Others no doubt will survive the great tribulation and will become along with those  saints that are killed I believe the sheep described by Jesus in Matthew 25:34-41. The saints that die during the tribulation, and those that survive will both reign with Christ one thousand years.  This will include all saints from the Old and New Testaments that come back with the Lord at the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 19).[1]

Isn’t the Rapture and the Day of The Lord one and the same event?

Those that hold to the view that the rapture (the catching away of the Church), and the return of Christ are the same event support a post-tribulational view of the rapture.

Supporters of this position say that if one believes in a rapture where Jesus takes saints to heaven before the tribulation are indeed advocating two returns of Jesus Christ. The first return would be the rapture of the Church where the saints of God meet Him in the air ( Thess 4:16-18). The second return would be at the end of tribulation at the battle of Armageddon (Rev 19).

Those that support a pre-tribulational position do not see the rapture as the second coming of Christ. Reason being is that at that time He is not coming in judgment, He is simply returning to gather His Church/Bride and take them to the place that He has prepared for them (John 14:2-3).

What the post-tribulationist believe is that when the Christ returns for judgment, He will at that time resurrect saints who have already died in Him, and transform living saints, making them immortal (I Cor 15:51-58; I Thess 4:13-18). All of these will meet Him in the air only to come immediately back down with Him so that He can destroy the armies of the earth brought together by the Beast and False Prophet (Rev 19:19-21).

Here are some problems I have with the post-tribulational view:

1.      

If the saints are only going to meet the Lord in the air and not taken into heaven, what was the point in Jesus preparing a place for us in His Father’s house If He never was going to take us there (John 14:2-3)?

2.      Supporting a post-tribulational view means that all the Church will endure the horrors of the judgments of God. This view contradicts Revelation 3:10.

3.      There is no mention of the Church in chapters 6-18 of Revelation which implies that it was not on earth during the tribulation. The Church is not alluded to again until chapter 19 onward.

4.      With the rapture we will meet the Lord in the air. With the day of the Lord, Jesus is coming back to earth to destroy His enemies and set up His eternal kingdom (Daniel 2:44).

5.      For saints to be resurrected and transformed to immortality, meet the Lord in the air only to come right back down to the earth is illogical. Though I can not be dogmatic, it doesn’t appear the Lord is going to do this.

6.      Post-tribulationists deny imminency, that Christ could come for His Church at any moment. Since they believe the rapture occurs at the second coming, the rapture for them contains all the precursory signs of the second coming described by Jesus in Matthew 24. There would be no need for a rapture at all; for the second coming swallows it up.

7.      Jude vs. 14 indicates the Lord will return with ten thousands of His saints to execute judgment on the earth. This would indicate that in order for the saints to come to earth with the Lord, the Lord had to have captured them prior to His return. This speaks of a pre-tribulational rapture. A similar passage is in Revelation 19:14.

8.      Paul mentions that the rapture of the Church as comforting news (I Thess 4:18). The second coming is anything but that. Listen to the Prophets of old in describing the day of the Lord (i.e. the second coming):

a.      Micah – For behold the day is coming, burning like and oven…Behold I will send you the Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord (Micah 4:1, 5)

b.      Zechariah – Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken the houses rifled, and the women ravished (Zech 14:1-2a).

c.       Zephaniah – The great day of the Lord is near; it is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the Lord is bitter. There the mighty men will cry out. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of devastation and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness (Zeph 1:14-15).

d.      Obadiah – For the day of the Lord upon all nations is near (vs 15).

e.      Joel – And I show wonders in the heavens and in the earth; Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord (Joel 2:30-31).

f.        Isaiah – Behold the day of the Lord comes, cruel with both wrath and fierce anger, to  lay the land desolate, and He will destroy its sinners  from it . I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity (Isa 13:9, 11a).

9.      Post-tribulationists make no room for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Christ’s bride, the Church are clothed in clean bright linen before his return to earth in preparation for this blessed event. If the rapture occurs after the tribulation, and the Church is still on the earth, this holy matrimony does not occur. Christ does not claim His bride after the tribulation, but before. That is why they return from heaven to earth with Him (Rev 19:8).

10.  If the rapture occurs at the second coming what would be the point of the dead rising in Christ first in I Cor 15 and I Thess 4? The Lord might as well wait to raise the dead in Christ upon His return to earth since they are not going to heaven (in the Posttribs view).

11.  The scripture clearly teach that the rapture is a mystery unknown until Paul revealed it in I Cor 15:51. We shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye. The day of the Lord was prophesied in the OT (see #8). The rapture was not.

12.  The scripture tells us that God has not appointed us to wrath, and also that God has delivered us from the wrath to come (I Thess 1:10; 5:9). In Revelation 6:15-17 we read, And the kings of the earth, the great men, and the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave, and every free man hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

We see that the wrath of God is reserved for his enemies and not His saints. Although some tribulation saints will have to suffer and die during the tribulation, they will be resurrected to eternal life once the Millennium takes place.

It is clearly evident I believe the rapture and the day of the Lord are two distinct events. They are just too dissimilar.

What about the last trumpet in  I Corinthians 15:52 and the seventh trumpet in Revelation 11:15; aren’t they the same?

It is assumed by some (I would imagine mostly post-tribulationists) that these trumpets are the same, but they are not. At the last trumpet the Lord himself is commanding the righteous dead to wake up. There will be the resurrection of dead saints who will be raised immortal along with the living saints who will be changed at the rapture. These saints will meet the Lord in the air. The seventh trumpet in Revelation signifies the coming of the Lord to the earth to destroy His enemies. Notice in Revelation 11:19 it says there were lightnings, noises, thundering, an earthquake, and great hail. There is no such description in I Cor 15:51-52 or I Thess 4:16-18.

How can you pre-tribulationists say there is a resurrection of dead saints prior to the rapture when Revelation 20:4-6 refers to the first resurrection after the second coming?

In I Cor 15:51-52 and I Thess 4:16-17 discusses the resurrection of the saints, Old and New Testament. What is occurring is that the person’s spirit which is heaven will be joined with their physical bodies (2 Cor 5:8). They will be alive again immortal; never to die again. This is what Bible describes as our glorification. Our salvation has reached it’s final stage. Once the dead are raised and those who are alive and remain are caught up to meet the Lord in the air we are taken to heaven.

So, what is the first resurrection spoken of in Revelation 20:4-6? The first resurrection refers to those believers who are killed during the great tribulation (the last 3 ½ years). We refer to them as tribulation martyrs. These are the ones who refused to accept the mark of the beast (also known as the man of sin, Antichrist, and little horn) on their right hand or foreheads. They were faithful to the call of God The Bible tells us they will be resurrected to reign with Christ for one thousand years. This the first resurrection is called that because the second resurrection occurs after the one thousand years have been finished. The second resurrection is strictly for all the wicked who lived their lives in rebellion against the word of God. They will face the Great White Throne judgment, and be thrown alive into the Lake of Fire because their names were not written in the Book of Life (Rev 20:15).

So now one can see why the first resurrection is called that simply to differentiated it from the second one. The first resurrection in Revelation 20:4-6 has nothing to do with the resurrection that occurs during the rapture which happens before the tribulation, second coming and millennium. To say that the resurrection rapture (if one permits the expression) occurs after the second coming as posttribs believe would force these events out of sequence.[2]

Concluding, there is no doubt the Bible teaches the rapture of the Church. The big divide among pre and post tribulationists is regarding when it occurs. The aforementioned has to support a pretrib position. To the writer it is the only way the events during the end times harmonize.

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[1] Those that reign with Christ for the 1000 years (Millennium) will encompass all saints for all time.

[2] If the first resurrection occurs at the same time as the rapture posttrib then what you have is the tribulation martyrs being raised to life before the dead in Christ in I Cor & I Thess. This view makes the rapture in essence null and void and immediately ushers in the Millennium; the saints never go to meet the Lord in the air to go the place Jesus prepared for us in His Father’s house (John 14:2-3). This view works against the Post-tribulationist position. For while they claim they do not deny the reality of a rapture, the way they view end time events actually removes it from eschatological events.