Calvary Chapel of Richmond Monthly Devotional

The Early Church Defends the Faith

2010-02-04T07:36:00.001-05:00

The second and third century church was subjected to all sorts of sordid rumors and outrageous misconceptions. Apologists (defenders of the faith) such as Quadratus, Aristides, Theophilus, Minucius Felix, Tertullian, Origen and especially Justin refuted these false accusations and “provided an answer to every man” (1 Peter 3:15).

For instance, they stated that the accusation that their worship was orgiastic and incestuous was ludicrous because their conduct required that even evil thoughts must be cast aside. Additionally, how can anyone believe the ridiculous accusation that they ate their children when they rejected every form of bloodshed? It was the pagans who left unwanted infants exposed to the elements to die of cold and hunger and it was the Christians who rescued them by night!

Tertullian’s apologetic insisted on a radical opposition between Christian faith and pagan beliefs. Tertullian summed up his position with the phrase, “What has Athens to do with Jerusalem.”

A modern example would be Dr. Henry Morris who steadfastly adhered to a recent, literal six day creation and a worldwide flood despite life-long opposition and ridicule. His writings have influenced the Calvary Chapel movement.

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

2009-10-25T14:56:00.000-04:00

In the early third century Christians rose up in response to Gnostic heresy by clarifying their convictions in the Apostles’ Creed. It has remained the most influential creed in church history:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell.

The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.

Note: The word "catholic" with a lower case 'c' does not mean the Roman Catholic Church, but the universal Christian Church as a whole. The term “descent into hell” has long been the subject of disagreement between Christians. Clearly, the heretical interpretation of the Word Faith teachers (Kenneth Copeland in particular) claim that it was Jesus' descent to hell and not his death on the cross that redeemed sinners is unacceptable.

LEADERSHIP AND THE EARLY CHURCH

2009-09-22T12:54:00.001-04:00

Leadership in the first and early second century church consisted simply of elders or presbyters and deacons. Originally the designations of elder, bishop, overseer, and presbyter were used interchangeably. This was gradually displaced in the second century by a threefold masculine leadership of bishops (the Latin biscopus translation of the Greek NT episcopos), presbyters and deacons. By 200 AD the unchallenged leader in the church was the autonomous local bishop.

The Gnostics within the church sought to bolster their beliefs by claiming a succession of teachers back to the apostles. Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Hegesippus responded by drawing up succession lists of bishops going back to the apostles who taught, “what the law and the prophets and the Lord preached.” Eventually, there would be an accepted practice of one bishop per city making the bishops of major cities, particularly Rome and Constantinople, very powerful. While it may have been benign at the time this unbiblical practice was inadvertently providing fertile ground for an eventual papal form of church government.

Finally, it should be mentioned that for the first few centuries great emphasis was placed on the moral integrity and holiness of a leader regardless of his title.

Persecution and the Early Church

2009-08-29T07:39:00.001-04:00

A nine day fire destroyed much of Rome in 64 A.D. The people suspected the Emperor Nero of starting the fire so he could rebuild Rome according to his fancy. An area of the city with a high proportion of unpopular Christians did not burn. Therefore, the Emperor blamed the Christians.

Roman historian Tacitus states, “Before killing the Christians, Nero used them to amuse the people. Some were dressed in furs, to be killed by dogs. Others were crucified. Still others were set on fire early in the night to illuminate it.” The ensuing centuries would see an increase in persecution and increase in slander. Tertullian writes, “If the Tiber floods the city, or if the Nile refuses to rise, or if the sky withholds its rain, if there is an earthquake, a famine, a pestilence, at once the cry is raised: Christians to the lion.”

How did they respond? They divorced themselves from the political and social life of this world and remained uncompromisingly true to their Lord. They evangelized on the streets and marketplaces while their meetings became places for known believers where they would glorify God and get built up in the faith. Most importantly, they conquered “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death” (Revelation 12:11).

Church History - Polycarp

2009-06-24T08:24:00.001-04:00

"For eighty and six years have I been his servant, and he has done me no wrong, and how can I blaspheme my King who saved me?" That is how Polycarp responded to the offer of freedom if he would renounce Christ. His persecutors then stated, "I will cause you to be consumed by fire, if you despise the beasts, unless you repent."

But Polycarp responded, "You threaten with the fire that burns for a time, and is quickly quenched, for you do not know the fire which awaits the wicked in the judgment to come and in everlasting punishment. But why are you waiting? Come, do what you will." Incredibly, he was burned at the stake for Atheism! His God, you see, was not visible.

Polycarp was Bishop of Smyrna, a disciple of the Apostle John and highly regarded very early church father (70-155 AD). He was a faithful pastor, champion of apostolic tradition and pillar of Biblical orthodoxy whom Irenaeus identified as a “steadfast witness of truth.”

Persecution would increase substantially in the centuries after his martyrdom. His courage and conviction would serve as an example to the early believers to remain steadfast as the clash with the prevailing culture became more intense. As we continue our present day slide to Sodom it may also serve as an example to us.

Historicity of Water Baptism

2009-06-01T18:07:00.001-04:00

Water baptism is an outward rite done before others that confirms that you know and understand the blessings of God’s salvation that were given by God because of your faith in Christ. It is a public confession that your sins have been washed away by the shed blood of Christ who died in your place. The New Testament teaches only people who believed the gospel were baptized(Acts 8:35-39). People who speak Greek understand that the word used for baptism (Greek baptiðzw transliterated Baptizo) has always meant “immerse” or “in the water” and is used in their language to describe sunken vessels.

Unfortunately, the centuries after the original apostolic church saw a metamorphosis in the meaning of water baptism. Justin Martyr was the first to imply baptismal regeneration with the statement that, “they are led to a place where there is water and in this are regenerated: that is,they receive water-bath in the name of God.” The progression continued with Tertullian teaching that sins were washed away by water baptism. The transition was made complete when Augustine strongly advocated the doctrine of infant baptism and clearly taught that unbaptized infants go to hell. The advocates of efficacious baptism of infants by sprinkling would increase in number and begin to persecute the decreasing advocates of believer’s baptism who, incidentally,never completely disappeared.

Today, paedobaptists include Roman Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian and most Reformed churches. While the advocates of infant baptism by sprinkling differ on the significance and justification of the act they collectively vastly outnumber the advocates of believer’s baptism.

John, Last of the Apostles

2009-04-11T09:26:00.001-04:00

A comparison of Mark 16:1 and Matthew 27:56 indicates that John’s mother was Salome. In John 19:25 the third woman at the cross is very likely to be the third woman from the resurrection tomb, the sister of Jesus’ mother, John’s mother Salome. Hence, John and Jesus were first cousins. That explains Jesus provisional command at the cross, “Son, behold thy Mother.”

John was part of the inner circle of Jesus whom Paul identified as one of the pillars of the church (Galatians 2:9). The Almighty gave him the privilege of writing a gospel, three epistles and the Apocalypse. Irenaeus informs us that there were no more apostles in his time and that John died at a very old age in Ephesus. Since the apostles were the one time foundation (Ephesians 2:19-22) who were eye witnesses of the resurrection (Acts 1:21, 22) John would have been the last of the apostles.

After John we move from inspired, infallible biblical history to fragmented church history. John discipled Polycarp and Papias, was a contemporary of bishops Clement, Ignatius and Simeon and was quoted by such second century leaders as Heracleon, Tatian, Irenaeus and Polycrates. That they would recognize John’s writing as canonical so quickly and distribute it to be, “read in all the churches under heaven” (Eusebius) is a testament to the work of the Holy Spirit in the early church.

Sola Scriptura and the Early Church

2009-01-26T20:57:00.001-05:00

Sola Scriptura means all things necessary for salvation and concerning faith and life are taught in the Bible clearly enough for the ordinary believer to find it there and understand (2 Timothy 3:12-4:5). It is sometimes contrasted with tradition. When the ancient fathers used the word tradition they meant the standard biblical interpretation among them. For instance, Basil, who is used more than any other church father to substantiate tradition, nonetheless states, “Therefore let God-inspired Scripture decide between us; and on whichever side be found in harmony with the Word of God, in that side will be cast the vote of truth.”

Many examples could be given of the adherence that church fathers had for Sola Scriptura. For example, Augustine states, “For Holy Scripture fixes the rule for our doctrine, lest we dare to be wiser than we ought.” Athanasius adds, “For indeed the holy and God-breathed Scriptures are self-sufficient for the preaching of the truth.” Lastly, Cyril of Jerusalem states, “The salvation in which we believe is not proved from clever reasoning, but from the Holy Scriptures.”

Psalm 138:2 proclaims, “For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” Let us follow the example of many church fathers and make this powerful proclamation a part of our own lives.

The Early Church and The Canon of Scripture

2008-12-29T11:08:00.001-05:00

Text: My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me (John 10:27). When you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

A book of the Bible is canonical because it is inspired by God and that determines canonicity. The early church recognized inspired scripture as the text above indicates. In addition, Paul recognized Luke as scripture in 1 Timothy 5:18 and Peter recognized his collection of Paul’s writing of scripture as canonical in 2 Peter 3:16.

Very early church leaders such as Clement of Rome, Ignatius, Polycarp, Hermas, Didache, Papius, Irenaeus, Diogentus, Justin Martyr and Tertulian, like the apostles, recognized which books of the Bible were canonical and treated them as the authoritative and inspired Word of God. In fact, nearly the entire New Testament can be compiled from their profuse quotations of Scripture. Muratorian listed 23 of the 27 books of the New Testament as canonical in 170 AD and Athanasius is the first to list all 27.

The biblically based early church recognized, witness to, and was the servant of the canon and not the mother, judge or master of it. Let us follow their example. Canonicity is the inspiration and authority that designate a book as part of the rule or standard of faith and practice (from Dr. Norman Geisler).

Church History: An Overview

2008-12-02T19:00:00.000-05:00

It was not the Reformers who came up with the doctrines of salvation by grace and imputed justification, rather, it was God. It was not necessary to critically define and defend these doctrines in the early church since they were accepted as Christian truth revealed by God in Scripture (see http://www.apuritansmind.com/Justification/EarlyChurchJustification.htm for substantiating church father quotes).

The Council of Nicaea in 325 AD was not convened by a pope nor was any important theological issue resolved by a papal decree. Obviously, no one had yet even thought that such an appeal would have final authority over the entire church. The Church of Nicaea did not believe in Marian doctrines such as the Immaculate Conception of Mary, her Bodily Assumption, nor purgatory, indulgences and transubstantiation as currently practiced. These beliefs were added over the ensuing centuries after the Council of Nicaea as a geographical Catholic (universal) Church became a theological Roman Catholic Church.

That these beliefs were not accepted by all is indicated by thirteenth century Roman Catholic inquisitor Reinerius (died 1259) who claimed that more than seventy sects existed outside the Roman Church, many of which were ancient, going back even to the time of the Apostles! In his book, The Pilgrim Church, E. H. Broadbent does an outstanding job demonstrating that some of these sects were what we would not now call bible-believing evangelical Christians. The Reformers came out of the Roman Church and moved doctrinally towards those who were already there, the Waldenses, Hussites and Lollards being the most numerous.

Charles Spurgeon, prince of preachers, states, “We [Baptists or Anabaptists] did not commence our existence at the Reformation, we were reformers before Luther or Calvin were born; we never came from the Church of Rome, for we were never in it, but we have an unbroken line up to the apostles themselves. We have always existed from the very days of Christ, and our principles, sometimes veiled and forgotten, like a river which may travel underground for a little season, have always had honest and holy adherents… Long before your Protestants were known of, these horrible Anabaptists, as they were unjustly called, were protesting for the 'one Lord, no faith, and one baptism.' No sooner did the visible church begin to depart from the gospel than these men arose to keep fast by the good old way.”

Contrary to popular sources there has never been a day since Pentecost when there was no New Testament church somewhere on this earth. Many practiced believer’s baptism, systematic study of the Scriptures and were willing to be persecuted for unpopular, biblical and historic truths.

Suffering Separation

2008-10-05T22:04:00.001-04:00

The Apostle Paul records in scripture the pain he felt at the loss of coworkers (2 Timothy 4:16). There is often sadness, sorrow, disappointment and a sense of loss when people in our congregation or circle of Christian friends leave us with only memories.

Unfortunately, there are those who have left, that God would have wanted to remain. Perhaps gossip, misunderstanding, an unfortunate incident or doctrinal issue was not dealt with in a compassionate, appropriate and forgiving manner.

There are also those who are no longer a part of our lives or ministry and that separation is within the will and purpose of God. Perhaps God has prompted them to serve Him elsewhere or employment provisions require it. On the other hand, God may lead a person or ministry in a direction that some would resent. Then, like Barnabas or Paul, we go our separate ways (Acts 15:2). Eventually, we must accept the separation.

Despite losses Paul still had very long term relationships with Luke, Timothy, Aquila and Priscilla. More importantly, there is the lifelong nearness and refuge of the Lord Himself (Psalm 118:8).

Persistence

2008-09-01T08:00:00.002-04:00

TEXT: For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:6,7).

Calvin Coolidge believed that education, genius and talent are, of themselves, inadequate. He stated, “Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

When life becomes troublesome or a teaching of Jesus seems difficult to understand or obey will we, like His disciples, lack persistence and “no longer follow Him”? (John 6:66) Hundreds of professing followers of Jesus gave Him a triumphant greeting with palm branches and shouts of Hosanna only to abandon Him at His arrest and crucifixion.

A modern example can be seen in the early Pentecostals who persistently proclaimed a biblical gospel from storefront churches in crime ridden, drug infested poor neighborhoods. Today much of the Pentecostal and Charismatic movement is saturated with Word Faith heresy, lunacy and a gospel of greed. Instead of being persistently focused on Jesus they shifted the emphasis to a health and wealth false gospel of self. David Wilkerson, an elderly example of the former, provides a spellbinding warning to the Russian church on this issue (You Tube: David Wilkerson On Weird Manifestations).

The book of Acts is a record of the Apostle Paul’s determination and persistence in spite of relentless hardship. He sought only to “finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace” (Acts 20:24). Let us follow his example.

Personal Evangelism

2008-08-02T11:00:00.000-04:00

TEXT: I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:1-3).

The Apostle Paul’s lucid, emphatic and passionate instruction was to reach the lost. Paul set the example by giving up all that is in this world and enduring every hardship imaginable in order to reach the lost.

As documented in Operation World, Operation China and the Joshua Project well over one billion people in Southeast Asia are not only lost, but have never been given the gospel even once. It would be a blessing to pray regularly for those people and support indigenous outreaches ministering in that area.

On the American home front, it is amazing how even irreligious people become concerned about the fate of departed loved ones. The belief they were basically good and deserving of heaven is hopelessly wrong. Wherever the dead are now, they now know the truth and would desperately want someone to tell those they left behind the biblical gospel. Biblical Christians are all called to be soul winners who will tell them.

Our gifts, ministries and desire for a deeper walk should never infringe on our priority for personal evangelism (Luke 19:10).

An Example

2008-07-01T21:10:00.001-04:00

AN EXAMPLE

TEXT: [Not] being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:3). For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, … not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9). The apostle Paul declares himself an example for Timothy to follow (2 Timothy 3:10-15).

Is there men or women in your walk with the Lord that have a lifestyle that could serve as an example for you to follow? These people can provide instruction, correction and encouragement that will help ensure your own lifestyle is pleasing to the Lord.

Someone who is a good example would not be greedy for money and would have a righteous witness. They would reflect the life of Christ by demonstrating love, commitment, sacrifice and humility. For this author, a former evolutionary agnostic, who once called the Bible “ a bunch of bearded myths” Dr. Henry Morris, father of the modern creationist movement, was such a man.

Today superstar religious leaders claim a special anointing, draw large crowds, have lots of money, and sell books that teach self-esteem and your best life now. These examples are quite a contrast to biblical examples such as Moses, Paul, Esther and Mary and historical examples such as Wycliffe, Spurgeon, and Amy Carmichael. Put palpable examples in your life and eventually live a life that would be a palpable example for others, especially your children.

Discernment

2008-06-01T22:27:00.004-04:00

Vine's expository dictionary defines discernment as, “to distinguish or separate out so as to investigate by looking throughout (examine, scrutinize question).” For instance, Nehemiah used discernment to determine the prophet sent to him was false (Nehmiah 6:10-13).

Jesus Himself warned that a time would come when many would deceive many (Matthew 24:4,5). Paul warned that, “Savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:29-31).

So how are we to discern if someone is false? By a knowledge of the truth contained in the scriptures appropriately applied with prayer and a willingness to be led of the Holy Spirit. Jesus also tells us that we can discern false teachers by their fruits. Galatians 5: 22,23 states, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Is holy laughter, animal like behavior and repetitive jerks exhibiting self-control? The Bible also lists the fruits of the flesh in 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

The prosperity preachers demonstrate themselves to be “lovers of money [and] lovers pleasure” rather than “lovers of God.” Liberal theologians fit, “having a form of godliness but denying its power.”

Let us not fall into the temptation of allowing self-righteousness and pet peripheral doctrines cause us to unrighteously judge someone. Nonetheless, God has raised up discernment ministries such as Berean Beacon, Berean Call, Deception in the Church, Eastern Regional Watch, Personal Freedom Outreach, Lighthouse Trails, Moriel Ministries and Understanding the Times to warn and inform the church. (Like a sample? Buckle your seatbelt, watch Todd Bentley on YouTube than read about him in the forgoing, especially Moriel).

Responding in Grace

2008-05-01T17:00:00.001-04:00

Three times Peter denied his Lord. He then returned to his fishing and even that was a miserable failure. However, Jesus was on the beach ready to respond in grace. Jesus was responsible for filling the nets to the point of breaking and then graciously restoring the apostle who had forsaken and denied Him (John 21:15-17).

Acts 15: 38, 39 records that, “Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one [Mark] who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they [Barnabas and Paul] parted from one another.” Paul’s initial response was an aggressive and harsh rejection of Mark. Later, he specifically requests for Mark to come and work with him because he is so helpful in his ministry (2 Timothy 4:11). Obviously, Paul was now responding in grace and restoration to someone who had failed him.

Perhaps we have done something bad and have failed both an individual and the Lord. We need to confess, repent and ask for forgiveness even if the person does not respond in grace. If we are the offended one it is usually better to err on the side of grace than judgement. On the other hand, let us never confuse responding in grace with promoting failure and tolerating sin. There is already too much of that.

Be Ye Holy

2008-04-02T21:59:00.002-04:00

Text: Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23,24). Be ye holy; for I am holy (1 Peter 1:16).

The pursuit of holiness involves forsaking self, worldliness and the wiles of the devil while simultaneously conforming to the image of the sinless Savior, Jesus Christ, who continuously did the will of the Father.

Six areas where it is easy for holiness to be corrupted are as follows:

Corrupt speech:Let us guard ourselves against the poisonous potential of gossip and perverse speech which originates from a perverse heart (Luke 6:45).
Impure thought life: Let us bring every thought into captive obedience to Jesus Christ.
Bitterness: The Bible warns we can be poisoned by bitterness (Acts 8:23). Let us not have the sun go down on our anger, hold a grudge or be corrupted by an unforgiving heart.
Pride: The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate (Proverbs 8:13). Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Materialism: The church’s attitude towards wealth has been turned upside down! Participation in legalized gambling, an obsession with a lucrative retirement, watching greed based reality shows, a prosperity gospel and Monte Carlo nights in a church sanctuary are just a few examples. Let us serve God rather than mammon. Some examples would include pausing to watch the unacceptable while channel surfing or doing an internet search, cursing under our breath in a traffic jam and listening to an inappropriate joke. Our response to unrepentant sin will only progress in the wrong direction. Let us immediately repent and occupy ourselves with something more fruitful.

Grounded in the Word

2008-03-02T19:50:00.003-05:00

Text: Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Let us diligently study and carefully accept what the inspired writer intended the text to mean. In order to be grounded in the Word and rightly divide the word of truth we need to make a sincere and steadfast commitment to daily reading of the Word. Why not at least one hour first thing in the morning?

We do not study the Word to become smart, develop dogmatic doctrines and then go out and arrogantly prove somebody wrong. The Word of God is the medium that the Holy Spirit will use to convict our hearts and transform us into the image of Jesus Christ. Then with the Word of Christ dwelling richly in us we can teach and admonish one another and be prepared to gently and respectfully give an answer to everyone about the hope that we have (Colossians 3:16 and 1 Peter 3:15).

The best way to get the whole counsel of God without adding or subtracting to it is to follow the example of Jesus Himself in Luke 24:27 and read the Bible verse by verse Genesis to Revelation. Some Christians may want to do an occasional topical study or read Genesis, Psalms, Proverbs and the New Testament several times before going through the whole Bible. However, repeated Genesis to Revelation readings should be a lifelong commitment.

Diligent Servant or Lazy Sluggard

2008-02-01T12:18:00.000-05:00

The effectiveness of a diligent servant is directly proportional to his or her willingness to work hard and utilize the time in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord. Jesus Christ said “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working” (John 5:17). Jesus never wasted a moment or opportunity, took a vacation, or simply “kicked back” as we would call it.

It is no accident that Jesus chose diligent, hard working fisherman over the modern equivalent of seminary graduates. Luke 5 records that Peter, James, and John had fished all night without rest or catching a single fish. Despite being tired they made the boat ready for Christ to preach from. Then, after their hard night’s work and day of ministry Jesus tells them to fish again! Without excuse or complaint they obeyed the Lord.

In the parable of the talents it is not the sin of commission that is condemned but the sin of omission. Jesus said “You wicked and lazy servant … take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents… And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:14-29). Harsh words!

We graduate high school at eighteen. Like the vapor that vanishes away we suddenly find ourselves at sixty-eight; and that assumes we will not be called to face the Lord of glory before then. Therefore, let us be diligent servants in the brief time we have been given to do so.

Gates of Heaven

2007-10-28T22:46:00.000-04:00

TEXT: [Jesus said,] “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven (Matthew 7:21).”
There are five views about who will go to heaven within the professing church.

Evangelical exclusivists claim that only those who have been justified by God through faith in Christ will go to heaven. This view is facing increasing hostility and declining advocates.
Traditional Roman Catholic exclusivists claim that only baptized, practicing Catholics go to heaven after an undefined period of time in purgatory. Mel Gibson initially proclaimed this view when he released “The Passion of the Christ.”
Inclusivists believe that confessing Christians plus at least some advocates in other religions, still based on Christ, go to heaven. For instance, Dr. Billy Graham stated, “[God is] calling people out of the world for His name, whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world or the non-believing world, they are members of the Body of Christ because they've been called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus…”
Pluralists believe all the world's religions lead to the same God, but not all advocates within those religions will go to heaven. Many prominent religious and political leaders have expressed this popular view.
Universalists categorically state that all will go to heaven.

Stand before an interfaith meeting or crowded college cafeteria and proclaim, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. Put your faith solely in Jesus, the second Person of the Trinity, if you want to go to heaven.”

Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, New Agers, Agnostics, Mormons, most Protestants and nearly all Catholics will tell you that Jesus is not the only way and/or you have a different God. Therefore, we are not all praying to the same God and believing in the same way.

If there was another way why should Jesus have to come, suffer and die in our behalf? Let us please God rather than men by adhering to the biblically congruent first view.

Christian Soldier

2007-10-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

TEXT: You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier (2 Timothy 2: 3,4).

A soldier’s life is one of inconvenience, complete obedience and suffering. The obedient soldier willingly suffers in battle. This may be our fate when we confront the sinner with the Biblical gospel and choose to live a godly life that is pleasing to the Lord (2 Timothy 3:12). A soldier may have to do without conveniences, sleep, meals and family relationships. We should be willing to make these types of commitments whenever the servant of God is required to.

The text tells us that these things are accomplished by not getting entangled with the affairs of this life. Those in the shallow, spoiled and prosperous American church will not normally have to make extreme sacrifices. At least, however, let us not put worldly possessions and pleasures of the season above the call of being a faithful soldier in the army of God.

An Example to Imitate

2007-09-06T18:55:00.000-04:00

"And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." (2 Timothy 2:2)

God has commanded mature believers to seek out and compassionately train newer converts. We do not accumulate spiritual knowledge for our own benefit, but rather that we also invest it in the lives of others.

The apostle Paul states, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1Corinthians 11:1). Like Paul, the mature, discipling believer should live a lifestyle that he or she would want imitated by the disciple.

Will the disciple see his or her mentor participate in the joy of witnessing, in family devotions, in faithful church service, and in demonstrations of the love of God in his or her life? A faithful walk is a powerful sermon.

The relatively new disciple must be teachable or the person discipling is wasting his or her time. For instance, Jesus did not pursue those disciples who walked away when He used the term “eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood.”(John 6) He could have chased after them and explained He was speaking figuratively of their sacrifice and commitment but did not.^¹ Finally, the disciple who is growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord needs to be given greater responsibility including disciples of their own.

1 See Mike Gendron article http://www.pro-gospel.org/pdf/newsletters/2007-Volume16/Vol16no2.pdf

Undivided Dependence

2007-08-01T00:01:00.000-04:00

Text: Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man … [But] Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit“ (Jeremiah 17:5-8).

When we deal with ministry work, an employment situation or a family decision is our first response, “What must I do?” using information, evaluation and friends, or are we continually on our knees before the throne of God. The Bible provides many examples of those who failed in this area. Asa did not seek the Lord for his disease but only physicians (2 Chronicles 16:12-13); David counted his subjects to look for strength in numbers rather than strength in God (1 Chronicles 21:1-7); and Uzziah had success from God when he sought the Lord but when he “became powerful, his pride led to his downfall” (2 Chronicles 26:16).

What is our attitude concerning both responsibilities and opportunities that God provides for us? Do we depend on God to be used for His glory or do we start to think that our intelligence, decisions and abilities are required?

The apostle Paul had more “reasons to put confidence in the flesh” than anyone but considered it all a “loss for the sake of Christ” (Philippians 3:7). Remember, the Bible warns that there is “nothing good” in us and God warns, “No flesh shall glory in my presence"(1 Corinthians 1:29).

Courage & the Christian

2007-07-12T19:08:00.000-04:00

TEXT: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you" (Isaiah 43:1,2 NKJV).

How can this be? When Paul was in jail he wrote Timothy, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God (2 Timothy 1:8). He was not Rome’s prisoner he was God’s, and they could not kill him because Paul was already dead in Christ (Romans 8:10). That was the call of Paul and it should be ours as well.

Safety isn't found in the absence of danger, but in the presence of God. The church is the called out and persecution is a privilege of that calling. The Holy Spirit will provide the anointing, power and wisdom to handle any situation with courage when we have resolved in our own mind to stand strong regardless of the circumstances. This can be seen in the promise of Jesus, who states, “Therefore be resolvednot to rehearseahead of time how to make your defense. For I will give you the wordsalong with the wisdomthat none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.” (Luke 21:14,15 NET)

Interestingly, we are also commanded to have the courage to “hold fast” when others in the congregation leave as happened to the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 1:13-18. It is noteworthy that Onesiphorus provided refreshment and encouragement to his spiritual authority, Paul, during that time.

The Disciplined Disciple

2007-05-31T00:00:00.000-04:00

The Apostle Paul disciplined his body and made personal discipline a requirement of an elder (Titus 1:8). Without personal discipline, abilities, talents, gifts and belongings will lie idle or be misused. Here are some practical examples:

Christian Worldview - What kind of literature is being read and how often? Is the radio, Internet, and TV tuned to the unacceptable and inappropriate?

Time Management - Is time being set aside for fasting, daily prayer, and Bible study? Is time being wasted?

Stewardship - Is debt being abused? Is money being wasted? Do we need four-dollar specialty coffees and gas guzzling cars when alternatives are available? Does the house require major repairs due to neglected maintenance? Is money being used for tobacco, alcohol, lottery tickets and donations to prosperity teachers? Is God getting the first fruits?

Relationships - Are the lost being prayed for and is the Gospel being preached? Are we willing servants in the body of Christ? Are we easily angered, impatient, or hurtful towards others? Are we putting into practice the warning that, 'for every idle word men may speak, they will give an account of it in the day of judgment?' (Matthew 12:36). Is our speech gracious, kind and merciful? Do we have inappropriate relationships? Are we heeding the warning that 'evil company corrupts good habits' (1 Corinthians 15:33)? Is our conversation and thought life pleasing to God, especially as it relates to members of the opposite sex?

Equipped & Empowered by the Holy Spirit

2007-05-13T09:14:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately, the subject expressed in the title is something many Christians would rather avoid. Given the un-scriptural emotionalism and radical manifestations that are found in some Charismatic meetings, the concerns are understandable.However, even Jesus Christ, God incarnate and the perfect, sinless Savior was empowered and equipped with the Holy Spirit before starting His earthly ministry (Matthew 3:16,17).

Jesus Christ commanded His disciples to “wait for the Promise of the Father…[for] you will shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:4-8). Were not these the same disciples who had fled in fear and disowned their Lord? How could these same disciples now proclaim the gospel with power and miraculous demonstrations? The answer is the same for them as it is for us. Only when we are equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit will we accomplish the tasks that will bring glory to God. Even waiting on tables should not be originate in the flesh (Acts 6:3).

There is much false teaching concerning the Holy Spirit. There is no biblical evidence that the fullness or baptism of the Holy Spirit is the exclusive domain of one particular gift, fruit or ministry of the Holy Spirit. Numerous gifts of the Holy Spirit were demonstrated at Pentecost (Acts 2) and the others followed in rapid succession. In obedience to our Lord, let us be continuously (Acts 13:52; Ephesians 5:18) filled with the Holy Spirit that we may complete the challenges and opportunities that come our way.

Financial Integrity

2007-04-10T21:58:00.000-04:00

He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known (Provebs10: 9). Financial integrity requires proper values and godly behavior.

1 Timothy 6:10 states, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” Study the quote carefully because it is frequently misquoted. One kind of evil would be to justify a “little” dishonesty with a large company that will never miss what was taken. However, in the eyes of God you are still a thief.

Matthew 6:24 states, “You cannot serve God and mammon.” Self, gain and greed are the mammon of the world that cannot be served in conjunction with God. One glaring example of financial impropriety is the ubiquitous prosperity preachers with their “give to get” seed-faith message.

What kind of integrity does God require concerning tithes and offerings (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)? We are merely stewards of possessions that belong to God. Even our income should be viewed as God’s provision. Therefore, as Christians we are not actually giving anything to God. The greater blessings of the New Testament imply a willingness to go beyond the Old Testament tithing in the use of our income and possessions (as well as time and talents) in the service of the Lord. The most effective and primary recipient of our resources (income as well as time and talent) is in a local Bible-believing, missionary-minded church where the Word of God is taught and Christ is honored.

Those concerned with the integrity of the Gospel here in the United States might consider supporting ministries such as Understanding the Times, Berean Call, Answers in Genesis and Institute for Creation Research. Those who would like to support apostolic ministries that use indigenous Christians to reach those who have never heard might consider Gospel for Asia, Advancing Native Missions, and World Help. Wall Watchers is an independent source for ministry information that highly rates the preceding ministries.^¹

1 http://www.ministrywatch.com/mw2.1/H_Home.asp

The Call of the Christian

2007-02-20T18:00:00.000-05:00

God is looking for those few who will follow Him in holiness, principle and sound doctrine regardless of the compromise and complacency that surrounds them. The world around us is sinking further from God, while at the same time the world has entered the church. The prosperity gospel, pop psychology, much of the growth movement, holy laughter and questionable Christian entertainment are a few examples. Nonetheless, “ the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV).

The apostle Paul’s letter to Timothy provides a solution. Four times he tells Timothy, “But you” (2 Timothy 2:1; 3:10,14; 4:5), be different. For instance, 2 Timothy 3:13 warns that, “Evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and … known the Holy Scriptures.”

2 Timothy 3 also warns that, “Men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.“ However, Paul tells Timothy, “But you have” been different (verse 5).

The message Jesus had for Timothy is the same for each and every one of us. But you,follow Him, take up your cross daily, put your hand to the plowshare and chose this day the higher call of a truly committed Christian. ¹

1 In the foreseeable future the teachings in the monthly devotional will be loosely adopted from the writings of K. P. Yohannan and deal with Christian character.

Others May - You Cannot

2007-01-30T17:09:00.000-05:00

What follows is a devotional that Dr. Henry Morris, the father of the modern creationist movement, carried in his Bible until his death a year ago. God used his writings to convert this author to the Christian faith. The message stands in stark contrast to the emphasis on happiness and personal enrichment so prevalent today:

If God has called you to be really like Jesus, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience, that you will not be able to measure yourself by other Christians; and in many ways, He will seem to let other good people do things which He will never let you do.

Other Christians and ministers, who seem very religious and useful, can push themselves, pull wires and work schemes to carry out their Christian goals, but these things you simply cannot do. Others may boast of their work or their writings or their success, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you ever try it, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, but most likely God will keep you poor, because He want you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence on Him and the joy of seeing Him supply your needs day by day out of an unseen Treasury.

The Lord may let others be honored and keep you hidden and unappreciated because He wants to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade. He may let others do a work for Him and get the credit for it, but He will make you work on and on without others knowing how much you are doing; and then, to make your work still more precious, He may let others get the credit for the work which you have done, and thus make your reward ten times greater when Jesus comes.

The Holy Spirit will rebuke you for little words or deeds or even feelings, or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem to be concerned about, but you must make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign and He has a right to do whatever He pleases with His own. He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in the way He deals with you, but if you will just submit yourself to Him in all things, He will wrap you up in a jealous love and bestow upon you many blessing which come only to those who are very near to His heart.

Settle it then, that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem to use with others. Now, when you are so possessed with the living God that your secret heart becomes pleased and delighted with this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, then you will have entered the very vestibule of heaven itself.

—G.D. Watson (1845-1924)

God's Rules

2007-01-01T17:21:00.000-05:00

Your favorite football team is pressed against the opposing team goal line. They explode with a perfect pass, break several tackles, execute perfect blocks and run the ball all the way down the field for what appears to be a flawlessly executed touchdown. However, because a team player broke a rule, a foul is called, no points are awarded and the entire team is penalized instead. As the text indicates the same applies to God’s rules.

And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules(2 Timothy 2:5). God’s rules are fixed and unbending with no infractions left undiscovered or excused. Convenience and situational ethics can never take precedence over what is revealed in the Word of God.

The systematic exposition of the Word of God and the proclamation of an often offensive Biblical gospel must never be displaced by that which the world and un-regenerated sinners would find palatable and pleasing. Unfortunately, much of the modern church growth movement has succumbed to this temptation and produced numbers instead of disciples. The church must not ignore God’s rules in an attempt to make the end justify the means.

God’s rules apply individually as well. God is always faithful and when we obey God’s rules we are demonstrating a similar loyalty in our relationship to God. Let us faithfully obey God’s rules in such practices as personal and family devotions, prayer, effective witnessing, submission to authority, humility, contentment, integrity, forgiveness, generosity and love.

Traditions of Men

2006-12-11T17:00:00.000-05:00

Text: He [Jesus] said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition” (Mark 7:9).

For many people, their fondest memories are Christmas season celebrations. Christmas occurs at the time of the year when the days are shortest, called the Winter Solstice. The Winter Solstice is important to pagan beliefs. Unfortunately, many of these pagan beliefs and practices have been incorporated into Christian traditions about Christmas.

For example, the twelve days of Christmas and Yule celebration are derived from German and Scandinavian celebrations that involved drunkenness, revelry and animal and human sacrifice.

Santa Claus is an amalgamation of several pagan traditions. This mythological person is given deistic attributes that can confuse a young child whose parents want to teach him or her the truth about Jesus Christ.^¹

It was surely divine foresight that the gospels make no mention of the day of the year Christ was born. Christ's birth was not celebrated at all until the fourth century. Interestingly, the church and puritans here in the United States initially resisted celebrating Christmas. It wasn’t until 1890 that all the existing states made it a legal holiday.

Unlike traditions, the truth of Jesus Christ never changes. Let us use Christmas as an evangelistic opportunity to explain the real purpose that the virgin born Son of God intervened in history. Let it be done without the confusing myths, crass commercialism, and pagan beliefs that originated with the traditions of sinful men.

1 The Unwrapping of Christmas video by Jeremiah films

VIctory Over Sin

2006-11-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

Text: What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.
For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life (Romans 6:1-4,17,18,20-22).

The Church has adopted the world’s ways of dealing with sinful behavior. That is, they see men and women as victims of their environment instead of sinners responsible for their own actions. Others simply blame demons and the Devil.

The unbeliever is never commanded to stop sinning because he is in bondage to it due to a fallen nature. Though believers struggle with the flesh (Romans 7:14-25) the direction and response of the believer must be further and further away from sin (sanctification).

Since, we live to please God and live according to His purposes we have forfeited the right to use our bodies and possessions for anything but His righteousness. To live in sin instead of being freed from sin is to deny the heart of the Gospel. We are enslaved to God, died to Christ and sin has no control or power over us.

Therefore, let us take up our cross and walk righteously before a Holy God who hates sin.

Word Faith Movement

2006-10-09T08:00:00.000-04:00

E. W. Kenyon is generally recognized as one of the founding fathers of the modern Word-Faith Movement. He combined elements of the metaphysical cults, such as Christian Science, New Thought theology, and Unity School of Christianity (D.R. McConnell, A Different Gospel, pp. 31-35). He influenced Kenneth Hagin the "grand-daddy of the faith teachers" who sometimes plagiarized him. William Branham (who denied the Trinity) introduced much of the latter rain beliefs within the Word-Faith Movement. They include, kingdom dominion, modern “apostles” and “prophets,” perfection of the saints, impartation of the gifts of the Spirit through the laying on of hands, and the claim that the Holy Spirit would demonstrate His power in a greater way than the world had ever seen.

D.R. McConnell, himself a Charismatic, states some of the serious errors within the Word-Faith Movement in his book, A Different Gospel:

There are many peculiar ideas and practices in the Faith theology, but what merits it the label of heresy are the following: 1) its deistic view of God, who must dance to men's attempts to manipulate the spiritual laws of the universe; 2) its demonic view of Christ, who was filled with "the Satanic nature" and must be "born again in "Hell"; 3) its Gnostic view of revelation, which demands denial of the physical senses and classifies Christians by their willingness to do so; 4) its metaphysical view of salvation, which deifies man and spiritualizes the atonement, locating it hell, rather than on the cross, thereby subverting the crucial biblical belief that it is Christ's physical death and shed blood, which alone atone for sin.

Many Word-Faith proponents also believe that a person can predestine his or her own future by what they say and how well they use alleged spiritual laws. Many claim, “We can write our own ticket with God if we decide what we want, believe that it's ours, and confess it." In the Word-Faith Movement faith is a force and words are the container that allow the person to get what they want. It is alleged that a person should never get sick and symptoms are distractions of the devil.^¹

The Bible warns that a time will come when men will not endure sound doctrine (2 Tim. 4:3). Unfortunately, most of the Charismatic movement and some of the Evangelical church have been influenced by Word-Faith teachings. The best prevention from adopting error is a close walk with God, the protective umbrella of a sound church and knowledge of the Bible.

It is beyond the scope of this paper to refute Word-Faith teachings. Suggested resources include:

_______________________________

Christianity in Crisis by Hank Hanegraff

A Different Gospel by D. R. McConnell

The Word Faith Controversy by Robert Bowman

Eastern Regional Watch and Deception in the Church websites

Personal Freedom Outreach CD-ROM

1 Some of the information taken from Watchman Fellowship articles on Word-Faith movement