Interview with Vasilly
This week’s radio broadcast features an interview with Vasilly, a Russian pastor who served the Lord in communist Russia.
Watch the full interview with Pastor Joe Reed and Vasily
Does God Use Miraculous Healers Today?
What Does God Look Like?
“No man hath seen God at any time.” (John 1:18) Though no one has seen God, many people have a mental image of God. They may imagine God to be like an man with white hair and a long white beard. They may have in their minds a picture from a children’s Bibles or from their own imagination. Whatever their picture of God is, probably most people recognize their mental image of God is not what He actually looks like. What does God look like? Does the Bible tells us?
God is a spirit. (John 4:24) The words of Jesus teach that God is entirely spirit. A spirit does not have flesh and bones (Luke 24:39) so God’s appearance is not defined by the physical norms with which we are familiar. As a spirit God may have a discernible appearance, but God is likely not a bilaterally symmetrical upright anthropoid (He probably doesn’t look like a human being). Genesis 1:26 says God created man in His own image. This image almost certainly does not refer to the human form. Instead, the image of God probably refers to the intellect, spirit and ability given to man.
Though God is a spirit without physical form He has appeared to men in human form. When God told Abraham of His plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrha He came to Abraham in the likeness of a man (Genesis 18:1). When God appeared to Joshua He appeared as a human warrior ready for battle (Joshua 5:13). God also appeared to men in other forms. He descended on Mt. Sinai in smoke and cloud accompanied by fire and lightning (Exodus 19:16). He descended on the temple in the form of a glorious cloud (2 Chronicles 5:14). Yet, later God appeared to Elijah but He was specifically not in the earthquake, the whirlwind or the fire (1 Kings 19:11-12). None of the forms in which God appeared to men are the natural appearance of God. They are coverings which mask His glory so that men may see His presence.
Few places in the Bible describe the actual appearance of God. In Revelation 1 the resurrected, glorified Jesus speaks to the disciple John. Jesus is described as having hair as white as wool, eyes like flames of fire, feet glowing like molten metal, a voice like a roaring flood and a face like the noonday sun. (Revelation 1:14-16) Most of the descriptions of God the Father focus on the majesty of His throne room and the magnificence of the angels which attend Him. Ezekiel 1 is a most vivid description of the throne of God. Though Ezekiel said much about the glorious things in God’s presence all that was said about God Himself is that His appearance was of a “fire, and it had a brightness round about it.” (Ezekiel 1:27) All Ezekiel could see was the “likeness of the glory of God” (Ezekiel 1:28). Ezekiel could not see God Himself. No one can see God. God told Moses that no one can His face and live. (Exodus 33:20) The holiness and glory of God are so great that no person can survive the full majesty of His presence.
The Bible uses various allegorical descriptions of God. All of these descriptions are metaphors, not intended to give a physical description of God. For example, He is described as a Shepherd (Psalm 23), though we know God does not actually carry a crooked staff and spend most of his time in a pasture. The Old Testament frequently speaks of God having arms and hands. These are descriptions of His power, not His limbs. Much is said about the mouth of God, but this refers to God as the source of revelation to men not the features of His face. God has healing in His wings (Malachi 4:2) and His people can trust under His wings (Ruth 2:12). God is not actually winged like a chicken, an eagle, a jet fighter or an angel. These various images are descriptions of God which present Him in a form humans can understand. They are intended to be understood as word pictures, not literal depictions. A great bridge may be described as a beautiful woman with her hands reaching out to grasp the shores and her mighty arms holding up many travelers. No one imagines the bridge is shaped like a human woman, but all understand the description as a metaphor which describes the beauty and strength of the bridge. The metaphors of God are not literal descriptions of His appearance but images to tell us a little about His glory, character and nature.
The question of God’s appearance is a fascinating one. Maybe one day in heaven the redeemed will be able to fully enjoy an unhindered sight of God in His glory. What is most important is that men know God’s character. God has not told us what He looks like. He has told us who He is. He revealed to us His love, mercy, holiness, grace, perfection, power, presence and limitlessness that men may know Him, worship Him and trust Him.
Can a Person Know God Without the Church?
Does God Hate Homosexuals?
Probably everyone has seen images of people carrying signs declaring, “God hates homosexuals.” Is this true? Does God hate homosexuals? The sin of homosexuality is despicable to God. (Leviticus 18:22) Those who live in homosexuality without repentance will not enter heaven. (1 Corinthians 6:9) The spread of homosexuality is the judgment of God upon a nation. Homosexuals are under the wrath of God and their homosexuality is the wrath of God upon them. (Romans 1:25-27) The Bible clearly condemns homosexuality, in the Old and New Testament. However, the Bible never says that God hates homosexuals. The Bible says God hates sin and He hates sinners.
The Bible says God hates sin. Several sins are listed as especially despicable to God, such as: pride, deceit, murder, fraudulent business practices, injustice and homosexuality. These lists of abominations do not single out homosexuality as unique among sins, nor do they minimize homosexuality’s sinfulness.
Yet, the Bible says that not only does God hate sin, He hates individuals. Hosea 9:15, “I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings.” Leviticus 26:30 warns the Israelites that if they did not obey God’s commands then God will say to them, “My soul shall abhor you.” Psalm 5:5 says simply, “(God) hates all workers of iniquity.” So, yes, God hates homosexuals. He hates homosexuals in the same way He hates all those who rebelliously and willfully persist in sin.
If you are still reading at this point you are probably demanding to know how the God who is Love can be said to hate anyone. God’s hatred of sinners is not a petulant or arbitrary hatred. God’s hatred does not in any way restrict the expression of His love. While a complete and satisfying reconciliation of God’s hatred and God’s love is not possible, the Bible clearly declares both. God is love and He hates sin and sinners. We must recognize that God’s love is not contradicted by His hate. The the hatred of God expressed in the Bible must not be confused with the unrighteous animosity common in human hatred. God can love the sinner perfectly while also hating them for their sin. In the end, the love of God for all men is unquestionable and undeniable. John 3:16 declares, “For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” God’s love for the world is so great that while we were still in our sin He gave His Son to die for our sin. (Romans 5:8) “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10) God’s love extends to all humanity, regardless of their sin.
The reality is that all people are separated from God. No one is righteous. No one seeks after God. (Romans 3:10-11) Every person is naturally alienated from God and an enemy against Him. (Colossians 1:21) Every person is by birth the child of wrath and the child of disobedience. (Ephesians 2:2-2) Despite our sin God in His love gives the offer of salvation freely to all. God in His love gives salvation freely to all who trust Jesus for forgiveness. God does not exclude homosexual from His grace anymore than he excludes those who were once murderers, blasphemers or persecutors of Christ. (1 Timothy 1:12-14)
Homosexuals are under God’s wrath. They are dead in trespasses and sins just like everyone else. As a result, homosexuals are sinners in need of the mercy and grace of God. Because they are sinners they can be saved. They are not outside the reach of God’s love. Homosexuals are no less able to be saved than any other sinners because God loves them.
Did Jesus go to Hell?
What is Heaven Like?
Pastor Dave Chambers
Pastor Tom Schierkolk
Pastor Dave Ryerson
Does Purgatory Exist?
Is it a sin to not get vaccinated?
An official in the Russian Orthodox church recently said that those who refuse to get vaccinated against the coronavirus “are committing a sin they will have to repent for the rest of their lives.” According to this official, “The sin is thinking about yourself instead of thinking about other people.” Is it a sin to not be vaccinated against this current pandemic illness or against any other severe, widespread illness?
This question is not about vaccines, but about sin. To rightly understand what is sin it is essential to know who has the authority to declare something a sin. Things are not sinful because a church official declares them to be. No one- not a pastor, bishop, church, prelate or pope- have the authority to declare items as sin. Something is not sinful because a culture or society treats them as if they are sinful. Sin is only defined by the Word of God. Sin is violation of the commands of God. “Sin is the transgression of the law.” If the Bible says something is a sin, it is a sin. If the Bible does not give a direct declaration that something is a sin then great care needs to be exercised before condemn that thing as sin.
The Bible explicitly declares some things are sin. For example, “Thou shalt not bear false witness” and “Thou shalt not steal.” The Bible gives many principles which are then applied to circumstances. “Love you neighbor as yourself” is a command but the application of it varies from situation to situation. In one case it is loving to take a neighbor a loaf of fresh baked bread. In another case it is not loving to take a gluten-intolerant neighbor a loaf of fresh baked bread. The Bible does not contain any direct command about vaccination, illness or pandemics. Therefore, the Christian must examine the principles of the Bible to see which ones apply to this situation and then carefully work through how those principles apply in his life.
In some cases it is a sin to refuse a vaccine because of specific Biblical commands. The Bible commands Christians to obey their governmental authorities. A person who can be vaccinated and lives in a country where their government requires them to be vaccinated but refuses to do so that person is sinning by breaking the command of Romans 13:1. In some cases it is a sin to be vaccinated. If a Christian cannot be vaccinated with a clear conscience then it will be a sin for them to be vaccinated because of the principles found in Romans 14:23.
The most common Christian argument for getting vaccinated is the argument from love. The Bible is clear. Christians must love one another. No right thinking Christian can deny this command. The argument then is that getting vaccinated is loving to your neighbors, therefore, every Christian must be vaccinated. To not get vaccinated is selfish.
The problem with this is that it assumes the answer. It begs the question of the lovingness of being vaccinated. In applying the command to love your neighbor, the thing that must be proved is how getting vaccinated is actually and always showing Christian love and how not getting vaccinated is always selfish. A full discussion on the connection of love to vaccines is outside the scope of this article. This is a question too complex for the overly simple answers that seem to dominate the discussion. Christians need to be careful to give grace to those who reach different conclusions on this topic.
Christians must recognize that what something can only be declared a sin after careful and proper application of Biblical principles to a specific circumstance. Some things will always be sin no matter the situation. However, many principles can be applied in different ways in different times and situations. Christians need to be careful about absolutizing their application of Biblical principles. Sin is that which clearly violates the Word of God, not that which violates my application of the Word.
Everlasting Truths 