"The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts."
The heart of man is desperately wicked even unto the end of the world. It is a sad reality we must realize that some men and women will die in their sin because of their stubbornness and hardheartedness. These people are seeing but never perceiving, hearing but never understanding lest they turn and be healed. Goats cannot be turned into sheep anymore than weeds can be wheat, but Christ knows the difference and will sort them out in the last days.
So what is the difference? The elect, upon hearing the truth of Jesus Christ, will love him for they know the voice of their master intuitively. However, the rejected will resist Christ and his gospel until the day they die.
So how can you tell if you are elect? All of the elect want to be elect and all of the rejected could care less about Christ and his gospel. So if you want to be elect, chances are that God has already chosen you from before time began to be elect and has instilled in you the desire to follow Christ. All that's left is to actually follow Him.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Revelation 4:10
"the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne..."
It is fascinating that these twenty four elders, whoever they might be, are given crowns. Whether these are literal crowns (Ps 21:3; Rev 4:4) or crowns of glory (1Pe 5:4) and righteousness for having completed the race (2Tim 4:8) or the crown of life (James 1:12; Rev 2:10) or perhaps even crowns of people ("For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy." 1Th 2:19) it does not matter much. The interesting thing is that these crowns are given so that they may be laid at the feet of He who sits on the throne as an act of worship.
So it is that the earthly realm was made to reflect the heavenly realm where worship is an eternal reality that all things given on earth are to be used to worship God just as it is in heaven. If God has granted you riches, than worship God with riches. If he has given you rags, then worship Him with rags. Worship God with whatever God has given you for those who receive crowns from God are those who are willing to give them back in worship and humility.
It is fascinating that these twenty four elders, whoever they might be, are given crowns. Whether these are literal crowns (Ps 21:3; Rev 4:4) or crowns of glory (1Pe 5:4) and righteousness for having completed the race (2Tim 4:8) or the crown of life (James 1:12; Rev 2:10) or perhaps even crowns of people ("For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy." 1Th 2:19) it does not matter much. The interesting thing is that these crowns are given so that they may be laid at the feet of He who sits on the throne as an act of worship.
So it is that the earthly realm was made to reflect the heavenly realm where worship is an eternal reality that all things given on earth are to be used to worship God just as it is in heaven. If God has granted you riches, than worship God with riches. If he has given you rags, then worship Him with rags. Worship God with whatever God has given you for those who receive crowns from God are those who are willing to give them back in worship and humility.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
2 Timothy 2:24-26
"And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will."
Senseless arguments are not necessary in God's kingdom. There is no discourse that can happen among those who are unwilling and not open to the Gospel which is why Christ commands that we simply "shake the dust off or feet" (Mk 6:11) and walk away. It is why Paul left Athens and had little harvest there and why he rejoices so greatly for cities like Ephesus, Philippi, and Corinth who embrace the Gospel with faith. There is no argument so clever or human words so persuasive that can open a hardened heart or uncover blind eyes. God alone does these things.
But instead of quarrel, the Lord's servant is kind, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, and correcting with gentleness. Then God might grant repentance leading to knowledge of truth that they might escape from the schemes of the Devil. Salvation comes not through debating the faith, but belongs solely to our God and is his sovereign choice. Therefore, do not treat your brothers with contempt, but show him gently his error and give him reasons for the hope that you have in Christ.
Senseless arguments are not necessary in God's kingdom. There is no discourse that can happen among those who are unwilling and not open to the Gospel which is why Christ commands that we simply "shake the dust off or feet" (Mk 6:11) and walk away. It is why Paul left Athens and had little harvest there and why he rejoices so greatly for cities like Ephesus, Philippi, and Corinth who embrace the Gospel with faith. There is no argument so clever or human words so persuasive that can open a hardened heart or uncover blind eyes. God alone does these things.
But instead of quarrel, the Lord's servant is kind, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, and correcting with gentleness. Then God might grant repentance leading to knowledge of truth that they might escape from the schemes of the Devil. Salvation comes not through debating the faith, but belongs solely to our God and is his sovereign choice. Therefore, do not treat your brothers with contempt, but show him gently his error and give him reasons for the hope that you have in Christ.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Mark 12:31
‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
The popular interpretation of this verse is that you should love people the way you want to be loved. However, what this verse does not say is that you should love someone as if they were you. Not only is such thinking about this verse wrong, but it's completely self-centered. You love people they way they want to be loved, not the way you want to love them as we all have different love languages.
For some, gifts are symbols of love where others could care less about sentimentality of objects but really appreciate kind and affirming words. It is not loving someone when you hug someone who doesn't want to be hugged, especially if you know they don't like them and do it anyway, even though you like hugs.
And yet this lie and misinterpretation has been told to us since kindergarten (The Golden Rule: treat people the way you want to be treated.) Jesus isn't wrong, but our understanding is. To love someone as yourself is a call to a radical shift in mindset. When you love someone, you are actually loving yourself. When one person is the body of Christ is happy, we all rejoice. When the line between me and you starts to dissipate and two start to become one and the entire Church body becomes one as Christ and the Father are one, then you will see and understand what it means to love someone as yourself for you'll no longer exist.
The popular interpretation of this verse is that you should love people the way you want to be loved. However, what this verse does not say is that you should love someone as if they were you. Not only is such thinking about this verse wrong, but it's completely self-centered. You love people they way they want to be loved, not the way you want to love them as we all have different love languages.
For some, gifts are symbols of love where others could care less about sentimentality of objects but really appreciate kind and affirming words. It is not loving someone when you hug someone who doesn't want to be hugged, especially if you know they don't like them and do it anyway, even though you like hugs.
And yet this lie and misinterpretation has been told to us since kindergarten (The Golden Rule: treat people the way you want to be treated.) Jesus isn't wrong, but our understanding is. To love someone as yourself is a call to a radical shift in mindset. When you love someone, you are actually loving yourself. When one person is the body of Christ is happy, we all rejoice. When the line between me and you starts to dissipate and two start to become one and the entire Church body becomes one as Christ and the Father are one, then you will see and understand what it means to love someone as yourself for you'll no longer exist.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)