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April 22, 2020

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Christianity, Prayer

Did Jesus promise to answer every prayer?

“If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:14 seems like a very straightforward promise. Anything you ask for, Jesus will do. Did Jesus give a blanket promise to do everything that people pray for? Any one who has done much praying knows we do not always get what we ask God to give. Does God not keep His promises or is there something else in John 14:14 that shapes the nature of the promise?

The overlooked phrase is one of the most important of the verse. Jesus said if you pray “In my name.” That is much more than ending prayer with, “In Jesus name we pray. Amen.” Doing anything in the name of someone means acting as an official representative of that person. John MacArthur says that praying in Jesus name is asking for things that are consistent with who He is and asking for what Jesus would want. In other words, praying in Jesus’ name is praying selflessly for the will of God. Jesus will not answer the adulterer’s prayer for another partner. The person praying selfishly for a brand new sports car is not promised to have his prayers answered.

The book of 1 John spends a lot of time discussing certain key aspects from the Upper Room discourse, including John 14. 1 John 5:14-15 says, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” The book of 1 John says the condition of answered prayer is asking according to the will of Jesus. Praying in Jesus’ name is asking in earnest desire for His will to be accomplished. It is not saying, “God I really want this, but if it’s not your will I really wish you would make it your will.” Asking in Jesus name genuinely desires the accomplishment of His will. It is saying, “God I would like this, but what I really want is your will to be done, your kingdom to be increased and your glory to be revealed.” When we pray this way, we know He will give us what we ask for. The remarkable testimony of those who have learned to pray this way is that when we learn to ask for what God wants then we find God is incredibly generous to His people.

This does not mean we cannot pray for things that we do not know if they are His will. We can ask or healing, a job, a spouse and many other things that we cannot know for certain if we are praying according to the will of God. In those situations where we do not know the will of God, we pray making our desires known and also knowingly submitting our desires to the will of God. We bow before God to ask His favor. We specify what we would like to receive of Him while confessing that we trust Him to do what is right and best. We confess we trust God if it is something different than what we requested. The promise of God is we will have what is good for us and what is in accord with the character and plan of God.

This principle of praying in Jesus’ name finds its Old Testament parallel in Psalm 37:4, Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

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April 15, 2020

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Christianity, Salvation

Does Hebrews teach that flagrant sin can never be forgiven?

Can a Christian lose his salvation? This question has long troubled and divided believers. Thousands of pages have been written to give an answer to this burning question. One of the major battlegrounds in this debate is the meaning of various key verses in the book of Hebrews. For example, Hebrews 10:26 says, “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.” Does this mean that if someone knowingly sins they lose their salvation and can never enter heaven?

Hebrews quotes the Old Testament over 30 times and makes many more references to people, events and rituals found in the Old Testament. The book of Hebrews was written to Jews who had a broad knowledge of the Old Testament. The modern Christian needs a similar broad understanding of the Old Testament to better understand the book Hebrews.

Hebrews 10:26 points back to the absence in the Mosaic law of any sacrifice for intentional and willful sins. Numbers 15:30-31 says, “But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.” The Old Testament did not permit a person to plan to sin on Saturday and ask forgiveness on Sunday.

The book of Hebrews was written as a warning to those in the church on the verge of abandoning their profession of faith. The Jewish Christians faced intense persecution because they turned to Christianity. Some buckled under the pressure and turned away from their profession of faith. Hebrews encouraged the wavering believers to remain faithful to Jesus because He is far better than the Judaism they were returning to. There is no salvation in Judaism. Jesus is the only way of salvation. Those who rejected Jesus for their cultural traditions and familial religion were not saved.

Despite the absence of sacrifice for willful sin in the Old Testament, the grace of God was and is greater than sin. When David committed adultery with Bathsheba, he sinned willfully and presumptuously. Does this mean he was never forgiven? In Psalm 51 David was confident God would forgive Him He acknowledged his guilt before God. He understood no sacrifice was available for his sin. However, David did not despair he would never be forgiven. He cried out to God confident He would forgive. He prayed, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” (Psam 51:7) David’s words in Psalm 51 stand today as a Divine promise for all sinners, even those who willfully and rebelliously continue in sin. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart thou wilt not despise.” (Psalm 51:17) Those who repent of their sin and cry out to God for salvation will be saved.

Hebrews never teaches that salvation can be lost. The entire book emphasizes that Jesus alone is the fully sufficient Savior. He saves to the uttermost. (Hebrews 7:25) Those saved by Jesus can never exceed the limits of His grace. Hebrews not only teaches that Jesus secures the believer’s salvation, He also secures the believer in salvation. Hebrews 10:39 confidently asserts,“We are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” Those who believe to salvation will not draw back, fall away or turn aside. Those who rejected Jesus for Judaism did not lose their salvation, they turned aside from a profession that was not genuine. Those who are genuinely saved will not cast Jesus aside nor be cast aside by Him.

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April 8, 2020

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Genesis

How did Noah get all the animals on the ark?

The story of Noah’s flood leaves a lot of people- believers and skeptics alike- with a lot of questions. Where did all the water come from? Did the flood really cover the whole world? What did Noah and his family do in the ark for an entire year? How did Noah fit all the animals onto the ark? The last question presents a particular challenge to many people. The Bible says God commanded Noah to take two of every kind of animal on the ark. Since there are millions of different kinds of animals in the world today Noah could not possibly fit two of every animal on the ark. But did God command Noah to transport millions of animals?

Noah’s ark was over 450 feet long and 75 feet wide with three decks that each had approximately 35,000 square feet of floor space. The total floor space of the ark was over 105,000 square feet. This is roughly equivalent to the floor space of 260 semi-trailers (but with a lot more head room). To understand how much room there was on the ark, consider that a modern semi-trailer can haul over 30 full grown cows on 400 square feet of floor space. That means the ark had enough space on each deck to haul over 2,500 cows.

7,500 cows is a lot of beef, but that does not seem like big enough to haul two of every kind of animal in the world. Would Noah have taken on the ark a pair from every species and sub-species of air breathing animals? Would he have had two lions, two tigers, two cheetahs, two leopards, two panthers, two mountain lions and two of every variety of house cat? The Bible’s use of the word “kind” in Genesis 1 helps us understand God’s command to Noah in Genesis 6. God created the animals after their kind and told them to be fruitful and multiply. “Kind” seems directly related to the ability to interbreed.

The modern taxonomic system was invented hundreds of years after the Bible was written. The ideas of genus and species are foreign to the Bible. Modern taxonomy is one way of classifying life in the world, but not the only way. We have no reason to think the Biblical authors categorized animals in the same way we do today. God could have brought to Noah one pair of animals out of a larger set of multiple species that were able to interbreed. Instead of bringing two lions, tigers, etc., God may have brought to Noah two of the cat “kind.” This ability to interbreed is not just true of cats. Most species in the world can interbreed with other species of the same genus. If Noah took one pair from each group of animals that were able to produce fertile offspring, then the number of animals Noah had to bring on the ark would be much smaller than originally thought.

Reducing the number of animals to a reasonable estimate of the breeding kinds of non-aquatic, air breathing animals makes the number much more manageable. Biblical scholars who have done significant work in this area have concluded Noah probably had to bring ten to fifteen thousand animals on board the ark. Still sound like too many animals? If we can only get 7,500 cows on board, what about dinosaurs? Dinosaurs take up a lot more room than cows. Though there are many large animals in the world, there are many, many more small animals. The average animal size, including dinosaurs, is about the size of a sheep. At a very conservative estimate, the ark could have carried at least four times more sheep than cows. That means the ark had room for 30,000 sheep. Consider Noah was transporting these animals, not providing them a zoo like habitat. He needed space to stable them, but not room to let them run free. When you also consider the likelihood that Noah would not have brought full sized animals onto the ark, we can see how the ark had ample space for all the animals and plenty of room for Noah’s family.

Answers in Genesis has done a lot of work in this area. You can read some of their answers here and here and here.

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April 1, 2020

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Christian living, Christianity, Prayer

Why do Christians pray before eating?

A regular part of family gatherings used to include the family sitting around the table to enjoy a meal together. Once everyone was seated, the family would pause to pray before the meal began. Many Christian families still make this a habit at every meal. Why do people pray before eating?

Whether you call it “blessing the food” or “giving of thanks,” the prayer before a meal is a reminder that every good thing comes from God. James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father.” Christians pray before meals to remind themselves every good thing we have comes from God.

“Saying the blessing” is an act of giving thanks to God for giving us our daily bread. In the Lord’s prayer Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” If you have been praying for God to meet your daily needs, then the meal you are about to enjoy is a specific answer of God to that specific prayer request. The wise Christian seated before a plate of Divine provision will stop to give God thanks for answering his prayer.

Some may not realize the Bible specifically teaches about giving thanks to God for food. In 1 Timothy 4:5 Paul warned about false teachers. Their wrong teachings included forbidding marriage and forbidding the eating of meat. Paul rebuked these errors and said, “Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused.” The restrictions of the Old Testament law have been done away with by Jesus. Now, the Christian may eat any animal he desires. This means the Christian can eat snails, raw fish, lutefisk, livermush or any other unpalatable dish he desires. Give thanks for the freedom to eat that we have in Christ.

In 1 Corinthians the apostle Paul had to correct problems the church in Corinth was having with food. Christians were divided over whether they could eat things that had been offered to idols. Paul taught the church to not eat with selfishness, but to eat with concern for how their dining affected the spiritual well-being of others. Paul’s instructions are summed up with these words. “Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) Prayer before meals reminds the Christian that even when eating we are to bring glory to God.

The sanctifying act of prayer sets the food and the person apart as offerings to the Lord. Praying before a meal confesses that the food is not to be consumed merely as fuel for the achievement of the individuals personal desires. Prayer recognizes the meal is a gift given by God enabling the believer to live for the Him.

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March 25, 2020

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Church, Current Events

Is it a sin to miss church?

Widespread restrictions against large gatherings have forced the closure of many churches and have made church attendance nearly impossible at this time. The government requests that churches not hold services have also generated much discussion about whether or not it is sinful for a Christian to miss church. On one side of the conversation are those who say it is always wrong to miss a church service and they refuse to cancel services no matter what. On the other side of the conversation are those who think church attendance is entirely optional and rarely, if ever, attend.

The first question to answer is if the Bible commands Christians to attend church. Yes it does, in the clearest possible terms. The words of Hebrews 10:25 carry the force of a command, “Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another.” This verse is a command to Christians to regularly attend church. The New Testament is also full of instructions that are dependent on faithful church attendance. Fundamentally, the New Testament word for church means an assembly. If Christians do not assemble together they are not a church.

Can Christians assemble online together? Hebrews 10:25 says Christians assemble together to exhort one another. Christians go to church to interact with other Christians. While online interaction can serve a useful role, it cannot replace the relationship that can only be developed face to face. Christians need the kind of relationship that sits across the table from you, shares a meal with you, looks you in the eye, holds your hand or gives you a hug.

Virtual church may supplement church attendance, or serve as a temporary substitute when circumstances make church attendance impossible. But listening to a sermon online, singing hymns with your family or watching a church service on television can never replace face to face church attendance. Only gathering with other believers as the body of Christ is “the assembling of yourselves together.

However, the Bible does not command perfect church attendance. The command of Hebrews 10:25 is that believers “not forsake” the assembling. Christians are not to be deserters from the assembly. When the church assembles Christians should be there, but missing a church service or two is not necessarily forsaking the assembling. The Christian’s desire and priority should be to gather with other believers. The Christian who disregards church attendance, only attends when it is convenient or always has an excuse for why they cannot attend this Sunday is breaking the command to not forsake the assembly. If you go to church and the regulars greet you with surprise, or someone hands you a visitors card, that is a pretty good hint you might be forsaking the assembly.

The Christian who misses a service because of illness or weather is not sinning. The church that cancels Sunday services for a week or two because of factors outside their control is not sinning. The church is God’s great gift to the Christian. It is a wonderful gathering of the members of the body of Christ who are joined together in Jesus to worship their Savior, to serve one another, to be encouraged in Christlikeness and to be equipped to take the hope of Jesus to the unsaved. Why would you not want to be a regular part of that?

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March 18, 2020

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Uncategorized

Does the Bible address the coronavirus?

Sunday morning, March 22, at 9:30 AM on 92.7 FM the Pastor’s Roundtable will be discussing the Coronavirus.  Many people are tired of hearing about it, but no one can deny the impact of this disease on the world today. All are being forced to confront the changes in society being imposed as a result of this infection. As everyone try to make sense of the situation, we can’t help but wonder, does the Bible say anything helpful about the Coronavirus?

The Bible does not, and would not, mention this particular virus by name. However, the Bible warns that as the return of Jesus approaches there will be wars, famines, earthquakes and widespread disease. In a sense, then, this virus is addressed by the Bible. The coronavirus is not addressed in any specific way, but it is part of what can be expected as things in the world get worse and worse in preparation for the return of Jesus.

The same passage in Matthew 24 that warns of increasing trouble also teaches Christians to not be troubled by the great difficulties that will come upon the world. Because of Jesus, the troubles of this world should hold little terror for the children of God. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

The most important thing the Bible says about disease, plagues, pestilence and other widespread affliction is that God is in absolute control of every single catastrophe in the world. Whether it be a virus or the economic problems which come as a result of widespread quarantines, God is in absolute control of all things. Do not treat this declaration as a trite, religious saying that offers only hollow comfort to those who need an emotional crutch. This is bedrock truth more substantial than granite. This truth was Joseph’s comfort when he was sold into slavery by His brothers. “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good”. (Genesis 50:20) This truth runs throughout the Bible and assures people of every age in any trouble that God is still in control.

God’s control over all things is comforting because God is good and wise. He is working out all things according to His perfect plan. Nothing is random, accidental or contrary to God’s good purposes. Those who trust God know this infection will ultimately bring about the glory of God and the good of His children. God is working through the Coronavirus to bring people to salvation (Acts 17:26-27). God is using this sickness to remind humanity we are living in a world cursed by sin.

This virus also shows the powerlessness of the things worshiped in the modern world. When fear and panic is spreading around the globe, then it becomes obvious all the things we depend on for happiness and security are completely unable to secure those things for us. If coronavirus shuts down the sports we love so much, then maybe sports are not powerful enough to give the security and satisfaction we crave. If coronavirus shuts down the movies we anticipate every weekend, then maybe entertainment is not powerful enough to give us lasting joy and peace. Though the coronavirus is far less severe than the plagues that afflicted Egypt, it illustrates the same principle. The gods of this world are powerless. The Bible shows that only the God of heaven rules. He is not dismayed or embarrassed by this infection. He is orchestrating its spread to accomplish His loving purposes. Those who trust God realize this virus is not an interruption in His plans. The coronavirus not hindering what God is trying to do. The coronavirus is completely under the control of God. Through it He is accomplishing His perfect plans for this world.

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March 11, 2020

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Church

What should a person look for in a church?

People have many different reasons for searching out a new church to attend. Moving into a new area, returning to church after many years of not going or dissatisfaction with the current church all lead people to look for a new church home. The things people desire in a church are even more varied than the reasons they search in the first place. Every one has a different opinion about what is important in a church. Some look for a good kids ministry, others for a music program they like. Some look for vibrant ministries for singles, others for an active seniors group. Some look for a place to serve, others for a place to blend in. Some look for a dynamic preacher, others for friends. The list could go on and on.

The Bible teaches several things that are essential to a healthy church. These are the kinds of things Christians should make most important in their search criteria. The following things are in no particular order, but each are essential for a Biblical church.

Look for a church that holds to true, Biblical doctrine. The Bible places a high priority on proper doctrine. From the very beginning of the church the believers continued in “the apostles doctrine.” (Acts 2:42) Many of the letters in the New Testament were written to correct doctrinal errors in churches. The pastor of the church in Ephesus, Timothy, was instructed to give careful attention to doctrine. A church that teaches contrary to the Bible, especially about salvation, should never be a Christian’s church home.

Jesus gave two rituals to the church: baptism and communion. These two things are not optional. The timing or frequency of the Lord’s Supper is never addressed in the Bible. Jesus commanded “this do in remembrance of Me.” Jesus commissioned His disciples to “teach all nations, baptizing them.” A church which never has communion or does not practice baptism is not being obedient to the clear commands of Jesus.

The church that continued in the apostles doctrine also continued in prayer. Prayer is a major theme running throughout the Bible. Prayer was modeled, taught and commanded by Jesus. Nearly every book in the New Testament addresses prayer. Prayer is commanded for the individual and for the church body. A church that will not pray together is unhealthy and as substantial as a movie set.

God has also given clear guidelines regarding the character of those who will lead in the church. The Christian must look for a church whose pastors reflect the Biblical character, morals and doctrine described in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. The Christian must look for a church whose deacons are the kind of men described in 1 Timothy 3 and Acts 6. While no leader will be perfect, the leadership of the church should meet the New Testament qualifications for leaders.

A church that does not teach the Word is not a church. The New Testament church placed a priority on preaching. Believers gathered together to hear the preaching of the Word. The pastor is required to have the ability to teach and preach. Pastors are commanded to preach the Word when it is well received and to preach the Word when it is rejected. New Testament preaching is not motivational speaking, political campaigning, opinionated tirades or how-to speeches. The New Testament defines Biblical preaching as reading Scripture, explaining Scripture and applying Scripture to life (1 Timothy 4:13). Believers ought to seek for a church which preaches the Word.

Singing is also a necessary part of the gathering of the church. Though music style is a concern and of great importance to many, the style of music is not most important. What is most important is that the music ministry function in a way that praises God (Ephesians 5:19) and that teaches and encourages believers (Colossians 3:16). Congregational singing can never replace preaching, but when the church gathers it must teach itself through song. Christians ought to look for a church that sings together, that sings praises to God and that sings songs which teach Biblical truth.

The fellowship of the church is essential for a healthy church and for healthy Christians. This fellowship goes deeper than mere friendliness, though it seems hard to imagine how an unfriendly church can have genuine fellowship. Fellowship among believers is a joining together in harmony and humility for the purpose of promoting individual and corporate growth in Christlikeness. Christians ought to look for a church which will help them be more like Jesus (Ephesians 4:15).

The Great Commission commands every believer, including church leaders, to teach the gospel to the unsaved. The New Testament reveals that the preaching of the gospel was a regular part of the gathering of the church. A church that refuses to give the gospel can not legitimately claim to be a church. Christians must be part of a church which teaches the gospel, preaches the gospel and challenges every believer to proclaim the gospel to others.

Additional, important prioriteis could be mentioned, but what these criteria have in common is submission to the authority of the Bible. More than anything else, Christians must be a part of a church that submits to the Bible as the sole authority for its teaching, its practice, and its thinking. Christians need to seek a church that is clearly built on the Word of God.

Many other personal preferences weigh on people’s minds when they are evaluating a church. Many things seem important at the time, but care must be taken to ensure the Biblical things remain most important. A church can survive with a weak children’s ministry, but it is no church if it is not obedient to the Bible. Christians can be edified with a less than exciting music ministry, but a Christian will be malnourished if he attends a church which does not teach and follow the Bible.

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March 4, 2020

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Church

What is church discipline (or excommunication)?

Several years ago a large church in Texas was sued by a former member because they disciplined her out of the church. The church claimed it was following Scripture and their own by-laws. She claimed they were slandering her and treating her unfairly. This instance is far from the only example of a church being sued for libel, slander or defamation of character after removing a member from the church. The practice of punishing a church member by removing them from the membership is known by different names. Many call it excommunication (but this is not to be confused with the form of excommunication practiced by the Catholic church), a lot of churches call it church discipline and some down South refer to it as being “churched.”

Church discipline is a difficult and painful subject. Many people, Christian and non-Christian alike, see church discipline as judgmental and cruel. Far too many church goers can tell stories of church discipline gone wrong. Pastors or other church leaders have wielded church discipline as a means to consolidate or maintain power. Churches have disciplined members because they were an embarrassment to the congregation. Discipline has been accompanied by personal attacks, gossip or slander. Opposite from abusive church discipline is the equally serious problem of no discipline at all.

Despite the challenges accompanying church discipline, the Bible repeatedly commands it to be practiced by the church. Jesus Himself was the first to describe the formal process of church discipline. The process is described in Matthew 18 and begins with a private conversation between two people that is based upon a deep understanding of how much Jesus loves His children. When one Christian falls into sin another is to lovingly step in to help bring the sinning Christian back to obedience. If the sinning Christian refuses to turn from his sin the other then brings two or three from the church into the conversation. This is small group goes to intervene in the life of the sinning Christian and call him back to obedience to Christ. The task of the group is to help maintain Biblical compassion and integrity throughout the conversation. If the sinning Christian refuses to repent, the small group is to bring the matter to the church body. All the church members are then to go to the sinning believer and implore him to repent of his sin. If he refuses to repent after the call of the church then the membership is to formally remove the sinning believer from the church.

Jesus’ instructions emphasize that Church discipline is not an unkind act on the part of the church. The church discipline defined in the Bible is an act of love that seeks to bring the wandering sheep back into the fold. A key element of church discipline are the words of Jesus, “if he shall hear thee; thou hast gained thy brother.” The purpose of church discipline is to restore a sinning brother to a right relationship with God and his fellow Christians.

Church discipline never threatens the salvation of the person. The church has no authority to revoke someone’s salvation. Nor is church discipline Intended to shame the person into compliance with the desires of the church. Biblical church discipline is not the same as shunning. The relationship between the church and the sinning believer changes, but Christians do not avoid the unrepentant. Though they can no longer interact together as brothers and sisters in Christ, CHristians still lovingly seek to win the person back to obedience to Christ. Though fellowship is now hindered by the sin that has come between them, conversation is not cut off by the church. Instead, Christians will compassionately call their sinning brethren to repentance and restoration.

Because sin always destroys the believers relationship with God and men, those who truly love one another will “pursue holiness with all men.” Loving Christians will consider each other to “rovoke one another to love and good works. Sometimes the church body must engage in the painful process of amputating a sinning member, but it always does so that the sinner’s “soul may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” (1 Corinthians 5:5)