Emotional Gospel

The word emotion comes from the Latin word "emovere" which means to stir up or agitate. It was adapted into Middle French as "emotion" which referred to a social disturbance or agitation. So emotional would be an adjective describing a person's state mind and being. When a person is emotional, they are very passionate about what they are doing and /or saying to get their point across. Emotions are and should be high when one is performing (I'll get back to the word performing later in the article) in sports, singing and acting on stage or on the big screen. Emoting in these arenas is essential.

Now, let’s talk about emoting in the pulpit. Is there a place for it or no? Or should one be stoic and melancholy? We all are emotional beings. The good Lord made us that way. But with anything, a healthy balance is the key right? 

I have always been a keen observer of people. And since I am a Christian, I definitely have my focus on the Church - all the time everyday. What I am observing now is sad. 1) The Church is too feminized - we have women in positions they have no Biblical right to be in. They are claiming they are Apostles and Prophetesses, Pastors and Co-Pastors with their husbands. And because of this unbiblical leadership we have )2 false prophecies running amuck and silly women along with weak men co-signing this foolishness in the congregations. What is the tragic result: emotional gospel. 

We are definitely hard headed people. God help us!

Tickle Me Elmo!

Elmo is a Muppet character from the children's television program Sesame Street. In 1996 a plush toy was made of the character named "Tickle Me Elmo." When squeezed Elmo would belt out his silly little laugh. Unfortunately, I liken this seeker sensitive Church cult we are experiencing like that toy from the nineties. The "preacher" in the pulpit are saying ticklish things that parishioners can laugh and emotionally cry about, but not much else. We are in the church era of good feelings. These are TED Talks in the pulpit; its reality TV. It may sound and look good, but it’s spiritual diabetes - it’s poison to the soul. 

This is what Paul commanded Timothy to do: 

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears (emphasis added) they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths (2 Timothy 4:1-4).

If you are keeping a pulse on what is going in the Church, this is where we are right now! Many have walked away 

from the truth and sound doctrine, and have decided to dis-engage their minds and are paying for false teachers to tell them what they want to hear. This is typical of the rebellious heart of humans to push God aside and to put an idol on their hearts instead of the liberating truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  What is the result of this? 

"Tickle-Me-Elmo!" Emotional Gospel.

Come Get Your Tickets!

Numerous mega churches have a concert atmosphere. The false teacher is the main attraction not the Lord. There seems to be a dying breed of sound Bible expositors men like: Billy G. Ingram, Voodie Baucham, RC Sproul, John MacArthur, Charles Stanley all who have gone on to glory. Fortunately we still have Allister Begg, Sinclair Ferguson, Stephen Nichols, Chuck Swindoll, Justin Peters, Paul Washer, David Jeremiah, Todd Friel, Darrell Harrison and Virgil Walker, et al.

In these performing art centers there is super hyperactive music that will obviously produce an overload of dopamine levels. But in order to keep the party going, the performer in the pulpit has to keep-the-needle-on-the-record with the music going in the background in order to keep the attention of the dupes in the audience. How does he or she do this? Ignore sound doctrine, but at the same time sprinkle in some Bible verses they always, and I mean always use out of context so as to appear they have fidelity to God and His word when in actuality they are building a monument to themselves like Saul did when he claimed he obeyed God when commanded to destroy the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:12).

These are not teachers / preachers of the gospel, they are hypnotists casting spells on the undiscerning.

Like Paul said in Galatians 1 these false teachers are preaching a different gospel. Paul also said if anyone teaches any other gospel other than the true gospel let them be accursed (Galatians 1:6-8). Translation, let them be condemned to destruction! Paul also commanded that we mark and avoid those who cause divisions by teaching false doctrines and thus disrupt the unity of the body (Romans 16:17-18).

Paul gave Titus who was a Pastor this charge:

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should appoint elders in every city as I commanded you - if a man is blameless, the husband of  one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God. not self-willed, not quick tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober minded, just, holy, self controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict (or rebuke) who contradict (speak against the word of God) Titus 1:5-9.

God refuses to be mocked (Galatians 6:7).

I have said this before and I am saying it again, the most dangerous person in the world is a false teacher. Why? Because they are wolves in sheep's clothing; they appear as preachers of righteousness. They have the Christian lingo, cadence and charisma. They know enough Bible verses to give the illusion they are genuine. The mega church atmosphere, the clothes they wear, the money they have, the beautiful family provide the optics of success and holiness. Looking at all of that, they can sell the idea that they are blessed of God because they are rich - but not in spirit. 

True witnesses of Christ never put the focus on what they have because that is not what a real shepherd does. Neither do they puff themselves up like false teachers do. The Apostle Peter commanded the following of elders / bishops / pastors:

So I exhort the elders among you. as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed; shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain (emphasis added), but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears (Jesus Christ), you will receive the unfading crown of glory (1 Peter 5:1-4).

Those that do not heed the words of Peter and Paul that I have cited in this article and continue to minstrel God, the Church and the gospel will sadly give more material to comedians like Druski to parody and lampoon the God we serve. Proverbs 25:26 says, “A righteous man who falls before the wicked is like a murky spring and a polluted well.”

Many are making God look foolish to the world. Either live right or stop calling on His name.

So, to those women who are rebellious and out of pocket; pastoring churches when God has clearly forbidden you because God has charged qualified men with headship of HIS Church, not yours (1 Tim 3; Titus 1). Obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). Stop usurping authority over men and obey God. Do you think the Lord is blessing “your church” because it’s large and filled every week? You’re just as valuable as men in the Church, but you’re not supposed to share the same authority. Just as the man is the head of his wife in the home, the man is also the head of the woman in the Church. Women can teach women and children, but not men in a Pastoral capacity. 

This ordinance did not disappear after the first century. It also is not misogyny for me to say these things either. It’s the Word of God. It does not matter if a woman has her DDiv or MDiv. This is one of the main reasons the Church is dysfunctional; once again unbiblical leadership- silly and rebellious women in charge and weak men who are simping for them.

Jesus died and shed his precious blood to redeem us. He deserves far better than what many of these Churches are doing.

For the Churches that are apostate, I implore you, repent, love God, teach the Word faithfully so that souls are saved. Leave the worldly culture out where it belongs, in the streets.

 

Immutable Doctrine With a Gentle Spirit

We as Christians are always criticized even by other Christians when we take a firm stance on doctrine. Biblical doctrine for many is harsh, inflexible, graceless and antiquated. Nothing could be further from the truth. Without Holy scripture as our guide, we are in a tangled theological wilderness with no light to illuminate our path. This ignorance opens the door to numerous vain philosophies that twists our minds and perverts our purpose. 

Sadly, these vain philosophies run rampant in Churches today. Why? 1) False teaching from the pulpit. When the blind (inept preacher) leads the blind (naive parishioner) as Jesus said they will into fall into a ditch - an abyss of ignorance shame and disgrace (Matthew 15:4). 2) Baby Christians ape what they hear from their Pastors as divine revelation so they merchandise these messages to those they know instead of being like the noble Berean to search the scriptures daily to prove what they are hearing is true, or false (Acts 17:11). I know what I am talking about. In my naïveté I aped false teaching for years.

So, how do we strike the absolute necessary yet delicate balance with God’s unchanging word with those who need to hear it? We have to be firm and loving at the same time. No wiggle room is allowed when dealing with God’s absolute truth. We have to tell like it is. This approach seems to many ruthless, arrogant and unloving. What about all the other religions out there? Certainly they have truth too don’t they? Why do you Christians think you’re the only ones that have it right?

Christians didn’t author the Words of God. Did you read that statement carefully? God authored His own words. He supernaturally inspired or breathed out His words out to a few select men throughout antiquity (2 Timothy 3:16). In second Peter we read these words, "the word of prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). God told them what to write and they wrote no more or less than what He commanded.

And the by the way, these men were either eyewitnesses or associates of eyewitnesses of what they wrote.

Other religions / cults do not understand or teach the gospel. Other religions / cults do not have an answer for the atonement of sin. That is the problem of all mankind. The prophet Isaiah told the nation of Israel that yours sins (italics mine) have separated you from your God (Isaiah 59:2). In order for our sins to be washed away and forgiven, we need a mediator, an intercessor, a vicar. Someone who can advocate on our behalf and absorb the punishment for our transgressions that we owe to God (Isaiah 53:5). Jesus Christ was/is now that ongoing perfect sacrifice for mankind's sin. Despite the erroneous view of some who believe that God the Father punishing His Son was "cosmic child abuse" do not understand God's love for us. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. That whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but will have eternal life (John 3:16). No greater love is there than this that a man would lay down His life for His friends (John 15:13). 

Mankind's sinfulness is so egregious and offensive to God that it took the necessity of the spotless, sinless Son of God to be sent from heaven to come and die a sinner's death on our behalf. Sin is a debt owed to God. The payment for sin is bloodshed and death (Romans 6:23). It had to come from someone who was sinless in order for God's wrath to be appeased. Jesus was the only one qualified to fulfill this vicarious sacrifice. He who knew no sin became sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). This is what scholars call double imputation. We placed our sins on Christ when we believed. He in turn grants us His righteousness like He did with Abraham (Genesis 15:6).

Here is tremendous wisdom from Paul, "who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised for of our justification" (Romans 4:25). Did you catch the import of this one verse? We are the reason salvation is necessary. Ours sins were in the way of having a relationship with the Father. But, because of Jesus Christ being the bridge that we had to cross in order to get to the Father provided the only way for our broken fellowship with the Father to be repaired. Jesus said, "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me (John 14:6).

Immutable doctrine yet with a gentle spirit.

This is the unequivocal gospel we MUST preach to the nations. It is the only gospel that saves the soul.

The Bible is full of grace and truth. Love is never absent from grace and truth, please remember that. The problem is not with the message, but many times with the messenger - the one delivering the message. Why our good is often spoken of as evil is because the person delivering the truth is malicious- they are speaking the truth, but NOT in love like the Bible commands (Ephesians 4:15). This makes God look bad to the world because of the way we sometimes misrepresent him. Those who share the gospel MUST be humble, never looking to condemn a person. The word of God will do that to a guilty sinner on its own. We have to be a mouthpiece of kindness and truthfulness with a burden for the lost person's soul.

Another way to say Immutable doctrine with a gentle spirit is speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). If you want to see these virtues in action, read the gospels that portray the life of Jesus. Read the books of Paul where he explains how to live the Christian life doctrinally. Read the books of Peter, James, Jude and John that also teach how we are to live as Christians in a world that is under the influence of Satan (1 John 5:19).

Contrary to contemporary popular opinion, the gospel is not hate speech, its truth and love speech. Man is dead in sin that is why his thinking is backwards. The gospel is a living breathing organism full of the Spirit of God. God desires to give man life - eternal life, but sinful man is seeking death - everlasting death. How do I know? How about some Old Testament wisdom: There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25). King Solomon talking about righteous wisdom personified: "For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord. But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death" (Proverbs 8:35-36).

Concluding, the opposite of Immutable Doctrine with a gentle spirit is what the writer call a flabby doctrine with a deceptive spirit -i.e. a person that rejects Biblical truth will turn to fables. Because they are in a church atmosphere, the music is loud and melodic. The person on stage is quoting Bible verses out of context because they are anemic on doctrine, the layperson is emotionally caught up. For them, this is a visitation from the Lord. Their mind is disengaged and the "feel-good" is all that matters to them. They have reached their euphoria for a couple of hours, and they go back home having learned nothing about God's word; even more spiritually deficient than before they entered the building. Friends, we need to care way more about our growth in the Lord than a lame pathetic experience like that! On top of that they are going to beg for your money and lie about the cars, houses, healing and riches you're going to receive in return.

Paul commanded Timothy to:

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, will all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

- 2 Timothy 4:2-4

Dead and Dying

 The writer realizes this is a bizarre, strange and morbid title. How can one be dead before they die? This title only makes sense if one has a Biblical worldview. You see when we are born, we are dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1; Col 2:13). We are born spiritually dead. Why? Because we are born into this world separated from God. What did John the Baptist say in John 3:36, “He that has the Son has life. He that does not have the Son does not have life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” 

Jesus said. “I Am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me” (John 14:6). Jesus also said to Martha, “I Am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die (John 11:25-26). So here is the reality. If your life belongs to Jesus you have eternal life. If you die, you will live forever as an immortal being. If you do not belong to the Lord, you are dead spiritually because the Holy Spirit does not dwell on the inside of you. You are disconnected from God. If a person dies having never repented of their sins, they will experience what the Bible calls the second death (Revelation 20:14). This second death will cast a soul into an everlasting hell. There is no hope for a person who dies in their sins. They will die twice - physically and spiritually.

Here is an insight that most people do not realize: If you’re in Christ you will most likely die once and guaranteed to be born twice. I say most likely because most of us will die psychically unless we are alive when the rapture takes place. But as a general rule, we will die once. The believer is born of flesh and is born again of the Spirit (John 3). But once we are resurrected from death, we will live forever. But with the wicked that is not the case. The unredeemed will live once and die twice. Let that sink in.

Here’s the life death sequence for every soul that will ever live:

For the believer: born→born again→may taste physical death=eternal life

For the unbeliever: born→death→second death=eternal damnation

Both scenarios are guaranteed.

“Have I become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” -Galatians 4:16

Narcissism

The arrogance of mankind has no boundaries. This arrogance stems from our inherent wicked nature. It is vital I highlight the wickedness of man in hopes that he will see his depravity the way God sees it - deplorable in His sight. As long as man thinks he is getting away with his sin, there is no stopping what he plans to do. The more evil he believes he can get away with, the more he wants. Our sin is worse than any addictive street drug - it provides a perverse pleasure that if not stopped will kill us dead (pun intended) in our tracks.

The word Narcissism comes from Greek mythology. It comes from the tale of Narcissus, a young man who was known for his good looks. He was loved by gods, mortals and nymphs, but he rejected all who admired him due to being so self-absorbed. Narcissus was cursed by the goddess of revenge Nemesis who led him to a pool of water where he saw the reflection of his own image. He was so enamored with himself that he could not look away. This curse of self-love along with the fact that his reflection could not love him back eventually led to Narcissus' demise.  This cautionary tale provides a real life lesson. Today it means someone who is self-absorbed and who has an inflated sense of who they are. Some have called it a God Complex. The Bible calls this vanity. Being vain will lead to your demise just as it did Narcissus. The term has crossed over from being mythological to morphing into a psychological condition. 

Now medical professionals love to psycho analyze everyone as having some kind of disorder so they can prescribe medication for it. Narcissism at its root is sin. People choose to be arrogant and self absorbed. Why? Many people believe, perhaps due to their pedigree, good looks, athleticism, education, success and money, that they are better than others who do not possess those things. Many believe people are where they are because some are lucky and others are not. Luck had nothing to do with it. YES! You heard me correctly! Luck had nothing to do with it.

Those that are successful in life have worked hard to get there and deserve what they have achieved. It did not come easy and it is not supposed to. Oftentimes those that have not reached a level of success have not worked very hard. Obviously this is not always the case. There are those that have worked very hard and tough breaks, setbacks have gotten in the way. Life is tough for most of us. Things do not always turn out the way we want them to. Equal opportunities does not always mean equal outcomes. 

Sometimes even those who do not work as hard as their counterparts receive blessings beyond those who work harder. We call that favor. God is sovereign. He can bless one over the other for His reasons alone. God's grace should cause us to fall on our hands and knees and worship Him for having mercy on us. There is never any room for arrogance.

The Narcissist is a fool of fools. The reason I say this is because they believe they can match wits with God. Proverbs 21:30 tells us that there is no wisdom, understanding or counsel against the Lord. There would be no reason for the writer of Proverbs King Solomon to provide that caveat unless there are those who believe they are wiser than their Maker.

Paul said in Romans 1:22 regarding the Narcissist, "Professing themselves (italics mine, added for emphasis) to be wise they have become fools." 

This writer cannot stand people like that. If you're an enemy of God, you are an enemy of mine. By the grace of God, I'm the praying kind - I war in the Spirit and not in the flesh. What does that mean? I pray for my enemies even when my wicked flesh tempts me not to. 

The goal of this article is to wake those of you up who have been lulled to sleep due to narcissism. The word of God tells us to therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed less you fall (1Corinthians 10:12).

Scripture also tells us God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).

King Nebuchadnezzar 

Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon from 605-562 B.C. He ruled during the Neo Babylonian Empire. He was the king that invaded Israel in three sieges. The first one in 605 B.C., the second in 597 B.C., and final invasion in 587/586 B.C. He stole the money from the treasury, the holy articles, from the temple in Jerusalem and burned the temple and city to the ground. This was literally the death of a nation for 70 years. Jeremiah the prophet was the mouth piece of God during this era and was an eyewitness to the nation's destruction. That is why the Book of Lamentations is ascribed to him. Under King Cyrus (See the book of Ezra) about fifty thousand Hebrews in the year 538 B.C. return back home to the Jerusalem ruins to rebuild the temple which began in 536 B.C. This year marked the end of the 70 years of captivity (i.e. 605-536 = 70 physical years). The temple was finished 20 years later in 516 B.C.

We read in Daniel chapter 4 that Nebuchadnezzar has a dream of a huge tree that fills the earth and reaches to the heavens. All the animals reside in its shade along with birds living on its branches. All are fed from this massive tree. In his dream the king sees a holy one say cut down the tree, strip the leaves, cut off the branches, and get rid of its fruit and leave the stump and the roots in the ground. Let the stump get wet with the morning dew. Let the stump graze with beasts. Let his heart be changed from that of a man to that of a beast. Let seven times (or years) pass over him until he realizes that the Most High rules in the world of men, and the Lord gives power and authority to whomever He chooses.  Nebuchadnezzar is troubled by the dream calls in his fortune tellers, dreamologists, wise men, astrologers and magicians, but none of them can interpret the dream except Daniel. Daniel loves the king, and wishes the fate of the king was reserved for his enemies (vs.19). Daniel explains to the king the massive tree is him, and urges the king to repent or else everything he saw in the dream will come true. Well, exactly a year later the dream is fulfilled. Nebuchadnezzar literally loses his mind and starts eating grass like an ox. This type of condition today is known as a psychosis called Boanthropy. Bo comes from the Greek Bous which means cow or ox, and Anthropos which is Greek for human. When you combine the terms its a human behaving like a cow or ox, crawling on the ground and eating grass. This was the life of the most powerful man on earth for seven years because he was a narcissist. He gave himself instead of God glory for his power, fame, success and wealth.

This was what Nebuchadnezzar said a year after Daniel interpreted his dream warning the king to repent. All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?"

While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken, the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He chooses. That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like bird's claws (Daniel 4:28-33).

It was at that point that Nebuchadnezzar went through his humiliation which was an extreme act of grace and mercy by the Lord. God had every right to strike him dead for his arrogance.

This is what Nebuchadnezzar said after his judgment was over:

And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever;

For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, "What have you done?" At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the king of Heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down (vv 34-37).

This entire chapter of Daniel was written by Nebuchadnezzar. This address was sent to the entire known world at that time to declare to all the inhabitants of the earth how God dealt with him; from his great power, to his epic fall from that power, to being restored to majesty after the confession of his sin to the Lord.

While I can't prove it for certain, I believe Nebuchadnezzar went to heaven after he died based on his global confession of his sin and faith in the one true God of the universe. He was a pagan of pagans. He thought himself to be a god as he erected a gold image of himself which measured 90 feet high by 9 feet wide. He commanded all to worship the image or be put to death. This is what got Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego thrown in the fiery furnace because they refused to bow and worship the image. (Daniel 3). This event in antiquity is eerily similar to what will happen in the end times when the false prophet will force the world to worship the image of the beast/antichrist and take his mark of 666 in Revelation 13 or face death by decapitation.

Landing the plane

So, the moral of this story is Narcissism is satanic. Read what happened to Lucifer (now the devil and Satan) in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28. I see this attitude in politics and even worse in our Churches. How many people, men and women running around claiming they are prophets and prophetesses declaring they have a new and fresh word from the Lord when they know they are lying? So, the codified Word of God isn't enough? Do we need new revelation today?  How many of them are greedy for money? So many of them are bullies in the pulpit, belittling God's flock. And worst of all, most of them are Biblically illiterate. They cannot even exegete John 3:16 properly yet they claim the Lord is speaking to them? All of these charlatans need to shut their ministries down. They need to be educated in truth instead of mis-educating the masses with seeker sensitive falsehoods.

Therefore humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.

- 1 Peter 5:6

Will our salvation cost us anything?

In a word YES! The late Pastor and Bible Teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA John MacArthur said that once we come to Jesus that is the end of you. In other words, our lives have to be hidden in Christ. Jesus said that anyone that desires to follow Him they need to deny themselves, and take up their cross and follow Him. Jesus went on to say, "Whoever desires to save His life will lose it, but whoever loses His life for My sake will find it (Matthew 16:24-25).

Jesus paid the ultimate cost with His life and purchased our salvation with His blood for the forgiveness of our sins. Remember, ours sins are an affront to God and they must be punished. God will not allow the guilty to go free. The Father sent the Son to pay the price for sin that we could never pay. Why? Because the Father will not accept a sin sacrifice from a sinner. Jesus who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). This is what I call the great exchange: The guiltless died for the guilty. The sinless died for the sinful. Jesus traded places with us so the Father would judicially pour out His wrath on His only begotten Son on the cross so that we would be saved when we exercised our faith in Christ's finished work.

So herein lies the unfathomable difference between the Lord and us. Jesus purchase our salvation because He was the only one that could. He did the ultimate heavy lift. The Father poured out His wrath on Jesus because of our sins and was satisfied with his vicarious death. 

As a result of Christ's completed work at Calvary, we now have a cross we must bear. We must be willing to suffer the loss of all things to enter into the kingdom of God. Let me be clear, we're not suffering to see if we will make it into heaven. We were granted heaven as a future inherited blessing when we believed on Jesus, but the only way one can prove their faith is genuine is if they endure until the end. This posture is what separates believers from imposters - true Christians from fake ones.

The apostle Paul had his mindset and priorities right, "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:7-8).

Jesus told His disciples face to face and to all believers by extension, that in this life you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

Paul again in Philippians 1:29 said, "For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake."

So I would encourage and caution all of us as believers to do as a good friend told me over 30 years ago, "Prepare for the worst and believe the Lord for the best." Be of good cheer Jesus said. For He has overcome the world.

If you're in Jesus you're an overcome too (1 John 5:4-5).

Death and Life are Concurrent

 In 2 Corinthians 4:16b we read, “Though the outward man is perishing, the inward man is being renewed day by day.” The word perishing is the Greek word diaphtherio. It means decay and corruption. The word renewed is the Greek word anakainoō. It is a compound word. Ana means back or again. Kainos means new. It is used in the passive voice. What this means is the subject is receiving the action of the verb. The subject is the inward man. The verb action the inward man is receiving is the ongoing renewing of his spirit by the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul wrote these words. Why did he write them? In this chapter, Paul is talking about the very high cost of following Jesus. We have to follow the Lord even if it means our death - a price Paul knew he would eventually pay and was happy to do so. You see Paul knew that there is life after death for those of us who are in Christ so he was motivated and motivated others to continue to fight the good fight of faith to the end.

Paul was giving a message of reality and ultimate hope. His present physical reality and ours is bleak yet temporary because of the present wickedness we are bombarded with everyday. Death and life is working in us at the same time. That is why he said the outward man is decaying. We’re all slowly dying physically, but our spirits are forever living and getting stronger. That is why we can rejoice because we have ultimate hope that this temporary life of pain will end when we die. Paul is encouraging us not to ignore what we see, but do not lose heart because of it. Like our physical bodies, it's fading away. Rather, we are with the eyes of faith focus on what we cannot see, for that is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). What we can’t see is ours now for it has been promised to us. It is part of our inheritance.

Paul declares these words regarding his present trials in 2 Corinthians 4:7-18:

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not us. We are hard press on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us (emphasis added), but life in you. 

And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believe therefore I spoke”, we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound the the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things that are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The previous twelve verses of revelation is what Paul lived and died for. Are we willing to imitate Paul and do the same?

Strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).

Why Are You Here?

I would imagine most of us have asked ourselves that question. The inquiry started for me as a young child. When I ask the question, I am specifically asking, “Do you know what your purpose is in the very brief life that you have? For those who are in government they are convinced they would spend their lives as public servants, community advocates, council men and women, senators,  house members, first responders. Then there are doctors, lawyers, athletes, entertainers, humanitarians, etc. God has given us all talents and gifts to make this world a better, safer and healthier place to live. 

Sadly, many have and continue to abuse the gifts and talents given to them in lieu of helping others. Those that have perverted their gifts have caused irreparable damage to countless lives - not just human life, but wildlife as well. Human flourishing MUST always be the goal.

But that is not always the case.

If you don't know why you’re here, I have the answer for you. The Word of God tells us. In Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, The end of the matter: all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or evil.

We have been created to give glory to God our whole lives long. That is the beauty and wisdom of the scriptures, it gives a singular all encompassing purpose, give glory to God! 

So, where do we start?

Proverbs 1:7 tells us, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Similarly  Proverbs 9:10-11 tells us, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, and the years of life will be added to you.

I’m claiming those promises for myself, but in order to make good on that claim one MUST fear the Lord.

When Jesus began His public ministry He declared these words, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). In case you do not know what repent means, it is defined by changing one’s mind - about our sins in the Biblical evangelical context. You see Jesus came to earth on a rescue mission, to seek and save those who are lost - to save His people from their sins (Luke 19:10; Matt 1:21). The Father God's love for us is what compelled Him to send His only begotten Son to come and die for us (John 3:16). 

The main problem with man is that he has foolishly and hopelessly chosen to be at war with God - a battle he can never win. It's our sin that drives this insidious rage against our Maker. Listen to these penetrating words from King Solomon: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12;16:25).While man lives just to die, God desires to raise the dead to life!

What do I mean?

The Bible declares that we are dead in our trespasses and sins prior to the Spirit of God regenerating us to new life in Christ (Eph 2:1; Col 2:13). That is why Jesus told Nicodemus you must be born again (Italics added for emphasis John 3:3). Jesus has to come and give us the truth because without the Lord, we are dead while we live. John the Baptist said, “He that has the Son has life. He who does not have the Son does not have life, but the wrath of God abides on Him” (John 3:36). 

Without Jesus you are an empty shell. Although you may appear beautiful on the outside, inwardly you are a corpse, a casket spiritually (Matthew 23:27). No one should want that to be their legacy. To live your life apart from the Lord is a life wasted no matter how successful you are. What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul, or what can a man give in exchange for his soul (Matthew 16:26)?

I realize that this is a hard word for many people, but it is the truth. Consider how brief life really is. Even if you lived to be 120 years old, what is that compared to eternity? Do you care enough about your life to turn it around for Jesus’ sake, or does He cramp your style? Are you ashamed of the gospel? Or perhaps you’re mad at God because you prayed for a sick loved one to get well and they died. Perhaps your spouse or child died all of a sudden. Why would a loving God allow that to happen? Here’s a very hard truth friends: 

Because of the sin of Adam the world since the dawn of time has been under a death sentence (Romans 6:23). All of us have an appointment with death. All of us are guaranteed to meet that appointment (Hebrew 9:27). What frightens the world is that we do not know or have control of when and how we will die. But God knows. He’s the only one that knows.

Here is another frightening thought, most do not know for certain where they will end up - heaven or hell. These are realities most do not want to talk about. I get that. But as each day comes and goes, we are getting closer to closing our eyes and waking up in eternity - with or without the Lord. These are the only two realities any of us will face. If there are other options, then God is a liar and the Bible is not true. 

Not even the devil is that stupid.

We were made to love the Lord our God with our heart, soul and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5). At the end of the day nothing else matters. Sure, God made this planet for us to inhabit, to train it, subdue and enjoy its numerous benefits and blessings. We should have fun, joy, love and peace and laughter as much as possible in this brief life of pain and sin. But that cannot and should not be the sum total of our lives - to enjoy God’s creation without giving Him praise for it. As beautiful as this planet is, it's defiled because of mankind’s sin. God will destroy and re-create it to the paradise it once was before the fall of mankind that brought sin into the world (Isa 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13; Rev 21:1).

So you see unregenerate man is a prisoner to his evil. That is why he can never have lasting peace. Unredeemed man is a savage. It starts in his youth. He is the most untamed beast the world will ever know. Peace only comes from Jesus, the Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6). Only the Lord can find and save wretches like us. Only then will you know why you’re here - to conform to Christ’s image (Romans 8:29). That will take your whole life long (Ephesians 2:10).

The Bible commands us that whatever we do, do to glory to God (Matt 5:16;1 Cor 10:31; Col 3:17).

Without the Lord you’re only born to die - eternally without him in hell.

Have I become your enemy because I tell you the truth (Galatians 4:16)?