A: It’s the name of a dinosaur that may be alive today. According to eyewitness accounts by natives in the Congo in central Africa, there seems to be a distinct possibility that a living dinosaur—which they call Mkele Memembe—is roaming about in their jungles!
Also, natives in the rain forests of Brazil have reported seeing a red-haired creature that some scientists now believe is a ground sloth. These sloths supposedly became extinct at least ten thousand years ago.
There are many such reports from around the world like these. As more creatures are found that were supposed to have become extinct thousands or millions of years ago, the more embarrassing it is to evolution. Creationists, of course, have no problems at all when such creatures are found.
Mkele Memembe could be a living dinosaur, which, fits with what the Bible says in the book of Genesis: that God created all land creatures—which included dinosaurs—on Day 6, about 6,000 years ago.
For more information on dinosaurs, see AIG website using link in the upper left of this blog.
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
"I am set for the defense of the gospel"
Once again Sumner Wemp has hit the nail on the head! Don't miss it.
"I am set for the defense of the gospel" Phil 1:17. Paul said it. Now I am saying it.
Why?
There are so many who omit the gospel on the radio, on television, in the pulpit and in tracts and do not even realize it. "They even think they have said it" as Vance Havner said. Learn to be discerning but not divisive. Listen and read carefully and it will shock you how often the scriptural "gospel" is left out. "If our gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the god of this world (Satan) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the gospel should shine unto them" 2 Cor 4:3, 4.
"There are some that would pervert the gospel" Gal 1:7. This is really Satanic. They say "God is too good to send anyone to hell." Others say, "Just do the best you can, that is all God expects out of you." Others say, "There is no hell." They will change their mind when they wake up in hell but it will be too late then!
We can disagree on how to baptize, whether to immerse or sprinkle and I could still fellowship with them. We could disagree on the coming of the Lord before, in the middle or after the tribulation and still fellowship. But not on the gospel. God said, "If they preach any other gospel let them be accursed" Gal 1:8, 9. That is strong language but it is the difference between going to heaven or hell. We must be clear and careful about the gospel. Please do not miss any of these messages.
How to present the gospel
This is what I say to everyone I witness to. "God loves you and proved it. He sent the Lord Jesus, who knew no sin, to suffer and die for our sins, paid our debt in full, was buried, rose again and was seen by hundreds." To leave out that "Christ died for our sins" is the most common error. Then I say, "The whole issue is, did the Lord Jesus pay our debt for sin or didn't He." It is amazing how often people see it and say, "Why, yes He did" and then see them get saved. Doesn't that make sense? Reasonable? More to come.
On this date in 2003, Hamas, Al Fatah and Islamic Jihad called for cease-fire against Israel. Israel is God's people. "they shall prosper that love thee" Ps 122:6. God help those who hate Israel. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem."
"The one who ceases to be evangelistic will soon cease to be evangelical" This has proved to be true for centuries.
"Thank you so much for your message today. I am one of those who have been 'trained' to go out and speak to others. I have a book of apologetics! But of course from this day on I will never use it again! Why, because you are so right. All I have to do is to present the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." He caught it! Hope you do too. "Share the gospel" and let the Holy Spirit do the convicting and converting. It works.
Go to www.sumnerwemp.com All new in a couple of days. Enter drawings. ABC sumner
"I am set for the defense of the gospel" Phil 1:17. Paul said it. Now I am saying it.
Why?
There are so many who omit the gospel on the radio, on television, in the pulpit and in tracts and do not even realize it. "They even think they have said it" as Vance Havner said. Learn to be discerning but not divisive. Listen and read carefully and it will shock you how often the scriptural "gospel" is left out. "If our gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the god of this world (Satan) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the gospel should shine unto them" 2 Cor 4:3, 4.
"There are some that would pervert the gospel" Gal 1:7. This is really Satanic. They say "God is too good to send anyone to hell." Others say, "Just do the best you can, that is all God expects out of you." Others say, "There is no hell." They will change their mind when they wake up in hell but it will be too late then!
We can disagree on how to baptize, whether to immerse or sprinkle and I could still fellowship with them. We could disagree on the coming of the Lord before, in the middle or after the tribulation and still fellowship. But not on the gospel. God said, "If they preach any other gospel let them be accursed" Gal 1:8, 9. That is strong language but it is the difference between going to heaven or hell. We must be clear and careful about the gospel. Please do not miss any of these messages.
How to present the gospel
This is what I say to everyone I witness to. "God loves you and proved it. He sent the Lord Jesus, who knew no sin, to suffer and die for our sins, paid our debt in full, was buried, rose again and was seen by hundreds." To leave out that "Christ died for our sins" is the most common error. Then I say, "The whole issue is, did the Lord Jesus pay our debt for sin or didn't He." It is amazing how often people see it and say, "Why, yes He did" and then see them get saved. Doesn't that make sense? Reasonable? More to come.
On this date in 2003, Hamas, Al Fatah and Islamic Jihad called for cease-fire against Israel. Israel is God's people. "they shall prosper that love thee" Ps 122:6. God help those who hate Israel. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem."
"The one who ceases to be evangelistic will soon cease to be evangelical" This has proved to be true for centuries.
"Thank you so much for your message today. I am one of those who have been 'trained' to go out and speak to others. I have a book of apologetics! But of course from this day on I will never use it again! Why, because you are so right. All I have to do is to present the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." He caught it! Hope you do too. "Share the gospel" and let the Holy Spirit do the convicting and converting. It works.
Go to www.sumnerwemp.com All new in a couple of days. Enter drawings. ABC sumner
Thursday, June 28, 2007
QUOTES OF THE WEEK!
We want to have Brooklyn Christened, but we are not sure into which religion. -David Beckham (referring to his son Brooklyn) [Emphasis mine]
...the universe's lights, contrary to astronomers' hunches, turned on in one great burst. It was as if every chandelier in a mansion were flicked on simultaneously on a moonless night. -Astrophysicist John Bahcall, Interview in Newsweek, Nov. 3, 1997
Isn't the above quote thrilling? The idea that the stars could all be the same age is contrary to Big Bang theory. Seems like it's fizzing to me. Yet the observations we make in science line up with the Biblical truth that God created all the heavenly bodies on Day Four of Creation Week. It also seems like naturalists should begin to wonder "Who flipped the switch?" -John D. Morris, President, ICR
Her (Paris Hilton) parents are relatively clueless. -Dennis Miller
I am beginning to think that understanding Rosie (O'Donnell) and all of her political statements and her blog is an exercise in futility... she would write it in crayon if she could -Mary Katharine Ham (on Bill O'Reilly's show)
...the universe's lights, contrary to astronomers' hunches, turned on in one great burst. It was as if every chandelier in a mansion were flicked on simultaneously on a moonless night. -Astrophysicist John Bahcall, Interview in Newsweek, Nov. 3, 1997
Isn't the above quote thrilling? The idea that the stars could all be the same age is contrary to Big Bang theory. Seems like it's fizzing to me. Yet the observations we make in science line up with the Biblical truth that God created all the heavenly bodies on Day Four of Creation Week. It also seems like naturalists should begin to wonder "Who flipped the switch?" -John D. Morris, President, ICR
Her (Paris Hilton) parents are relatively clueless. -Dennis Miller
I am beginning to think that understanding Rosie (O'Donnell) and all of her political statements and her blog is an exercise in futility... she would write it in crayon if she could -Mary Katharine Ham (on Bill O'Reilly's show)
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD!
JOHN 14:16-27
Pastor Rick Jackson
Before we get to the main part of the message I want to say 3 things.
1. THERE IS ONLY 1 GOD
Dt. 4:35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him
Dt. 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Is. 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
Is. 44:6Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Mk. 12:29And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
2. THIS 1 GOD IS IN 3 PERSONS
The word "one" in these verses speaks of a compound unity (more than one in the one). Sometimes people come to the Scriptures with preconceived ideas and they try to bend the Scriptures (or "wrest" them as Peter says) to fit their ideas. We should always be open to the Scriptures and let them mold our thoughts and ideas. People sometimes get upset with the teacher or preacher for not following their little narrow view when the truth is right there in the Scriptures. Let me give you some examples of the number one being a compound unity at times.
Gn. 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Gn. 11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
Jn. 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
Gal. 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
3. GOD IS ESSENTIALLY ONE AND ALSO IS THREE
God often uses plural pronouns or designations about Himself.
Gn. 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Is. 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?
Jn. 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.
Jn. 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
God is infinite and we are finite. He is not limited as we are.
He has given us the physical example of water (vapor, liquid, solid) to help illustrate the truth of 3 in 1 and 1 in 3 (Father, Son & Holy Spirit).
That brings us to the EMPHASIS of this message, THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD!
If the Holy Spirit is God (and He is) then it goes without saying that He is a person, not a thing. You can grieve the Holy Spirit because He is a person. A "force" or "thing" cannot be grieved.
I. THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS DIVINE ATTRIBUTES
1. He is eternal [Heb. 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?]
2. He is omnipresent [Ps. 139:7-10]
3. He is omnipotent [Lk. 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.]
4. He is Omniscient [Jn. 14:26, 16:13; I Cor. 2:10-11 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.]
II. THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES DIVINE WORK
1. He was active in creation
Gn. 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Job 33: 4The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
2. He was active in Christ's resurrection
Rm. 8:11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
3. He gave the Word of God
II Sam. 23:2-3 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
III. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS CALLED GOD & MENTIONED AS AN EQUAL WITH THE FATHER & THE SON
Acts 5:3-4 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
1. In the Great Commission
Mt. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
2. In the Benediction
II Cor. 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
3. In the Declaration of Unity
Eph. 4:3-6 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Pastor Rick Jackson
Before we get to the main part of the message I want to say 3 things.
1. THERE IS ONLY 1 GOD
Dt. 4:35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him
Dt. 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Is. 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
Is. 44:6Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Mk. 12:29And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
2. THIS 1 GOD IS IN 3 PERSONS
The word "one" in these verses speaks of a compound unity (more than one in the one). Sometimes people come to the Scriptures with preconceived ideas and they try to bend the Scriptures (or "wrest" them as Peter says) to fit their ideas. We should always be open to the Scriptures and let them mold our thoughts and ideas. People sometimes get upset with the teacher or preacher for not following their little narrow view when the truth is right there in the Scriptures. Let me give you some examples of the number one being a compound unity at times.
Gn. 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Gn. 11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
Jn. 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
Gal. 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
3. GOD IS ESSENTIALLY ONE AND ALSO IS THREE
God often uses plural pronouns or designations about Himself.
Gn. 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Is. 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?
Jn. 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.
Jn. 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
God is infinite and we are finite. He is not limited as we are.
He has given us the physical example of water (vapor, liquid, solid) to help illustrate the truth of 3 in 1 and 1 in 3 (Father, Son & Holy Spirit).
That brings us to the EMPHASIS of this message, THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD!
If the Holy Spirit is God (and He is) then it goes without saying that He is a person, not a thing. You can grieve the Holy Spirit because He is a person. A "force" or "thing" cannot be grieved.
I. THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS DIVINE ATTRIBUTES
1. He is eternal [Heb. 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?]
2. He is omnipresent [Ps. 139:7-10]
3. He is omnipotent [Lk. 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.]
4. He is Omniscient [Jn. 14:26, 16:13; I Cor. 2:10-11 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.]
II. THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES DIVINE WORK
1. He was active in creation
Gn. 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Job 33: 4The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
2. He was active in Christ's resurrection
Rm. 8:11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
3. He gave the Word of God
II Sam. 23:2-3 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
III. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS CALLED GOD & MENTIONED AS AN EQUAL WITH THE FATHER & THE SON
Acts 5:3-4 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
1. In the Great Commission
Mt. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
2. In the Benediction
II Cor. 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
3. In the Declaration of Unity
Eph. 4:3-6 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
look what God did at 4 a. m. this morning
This email from Sumner Wemp was too good to pass up so I'll pas it along! -Rick
At 4:15 this morning, in Los Vegas, I went to get a luggage carrier in the lobby of the motel and check out for we had to get to the airport by 5:30. The lady at the desk had read my tract, "Your Ticket to heaven". When I asked if she went up to the gates of heaven and they asked, "Why should we let you into heaven." which I have found will get the best answer to find our if they are saved.
She replied, "I have tried to be good to people."
When I said, "Suppose someone murdered your mother and said to the judge, I have tried to be good to people, please let me go free? Could or would the judge ed let them go free for that?" "Of course not" she replied and saw how ridiculous her answer was. We need to reason with people. Isa 1:18.
Then I told her how God loved her. This shocked her. She had not heard that before. Sadly, most unsaved people have not! Then I told how the Lord Jesus suffered and died on the cross for our sins, paid our debt in full, was buried, rose again and was seen by hundreds of people. In other words, I just gave her the gospel, the good news. "The whole issue is, did the Lord Jesus pay our debt of sin or didn't He." I have found this to be a big key to people really understanding how to be saved. It was beautiful, she caught it.
"I am married" I said and pointed to my ring on my finger. I am not married because I wear a ring but that preacher asked if I would take this woman to be my wife and made me answer out loud, "I do." Could you right now pray with me and tell God, "I do believe Jesus paid my debt of sin and I receive Him as my Savior too" She gladly prayed to receive the Lord Jesus and literally burst into tears. Suddenly she tried to control her tears and apologized for crying. I said, "Kind lady, don't be ashamed of those tears, they are beautiful." I wish you could have seen her, She began to bawl like a baby because of the peace and joy in her heart. Heaven came down as we both wept together at what God had done. Of course I told the pastor and they are going to follow up.
That is what life is all about. Look for the ones God has ready. Give the gospel, for it is the "power of God unto salvation." Too many try to get to "religious" or too "theological" go into all kinds of things. One preacher told how he always tells them about "original sin" to help get them under conviction. Merciful heavens, we are to give the gospel and let the Holy Spirit do the convicting. He is much better at convicting than we are.
Isn't God absolutely overwhelming to let us have a part in getting people to go to heaven! It humbles you beyond words and fills life with joy unspeakable. Share the gospel with someone today.
"... joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance" Lk 15:7. Therefore "Preach the gospel to every person" Mk 16:15. "How Christ died for our sins, (paid the debt in full) was buried and rose again and was seen by hundreds" 1 Cor 15:1-4. But though we are an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you, let him be accursed" Gal 1:8. Make sense? Have you believed and received Jesus? Do it now.
My tract! Sumner 1-877-872-2871 to order tracts
Give 1 2 every 1 go to http://www.gnpcb.org/product/663575730699 to see and get them.
At 4:15 this morning, in Los Vegas, I went to get a luggage carrier in the lobby of the motel and check out for we had to get to the airport by 5:30. The lady at the desk had read my tract, "Your Ticket to heaven". When I asked if she went up to the gates of heaven and they asked, "Why should we let you into heaven." which I have found will get the best answer to find our if they are saved.
She replied, "I have tried to be good to people."
When I said, "Suppose someone murdered your mother and said to the judge, I have tried to be good to people, please let me go free? Could or would the judge ed let them go free for that?" "Of course not" she replied and saw how ridiculous her answer was. We need to reason with people. Isa 1:18.
Then I told her how God loved her. This shocked her. She had not heard that before. Sadly, most unsaved people have not! Then I told how the Lord Jesus suffered and died on the cross for our sins, paid our debt in full, was buried, rose again and was seen by hundreds of people. In other words, I just gave her the gospel, the good news. "The whole issue is, did the Lord Jesus pay our debt of sin or didn't He." I have found this to be a big key to people really understanding how to be saved. It was beautiful, she caught it.
"I am married" I said and pointed to my ring on my finger. I am not married because I wear a ring but that preacher asked if I would take this woman to be my wife and made me answer out loud, "I do." Could you right now pray with me and tell God, "I do believe Jesus paid my debt of sin and I receive Him as my Savior too" She gladly prayed to receive the Lord Jesus and literally burst into tears. Suddenly she tried to control her tears and apologized for crying. I said, "Kind lady, don't be ashamed of those tears, they are beautiful." I wish you could have seen her, She began to bawl like a baby because of the peace and joy in her heart. Heaven came down as we both wept together at what God had done. Of course I told the pastor and they are going to follow up.
That is what life is all about. Look for the ones God has ready. Give the gospel, for it is the "power of God unto salvation." Too many try to get to "religious" or too "theological" go into all kinds of things. One preacher told how he always tells them about "original sin" to help get them under conviction. Merciful heavens, we are to give the gospel and let the Holy Spirit do the convicting. He is much better at convicting than we are.
Isn't God absolutely overwhelming to let us have a part in getting people to go to heaven! It humbles you beyond words and fills life with joy unspeakable. Share the gospel with someone today.
"... joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance" Lk 15:7. Therefore "Preach the gospel to every person" Mk 16:15. "How Christ died for our sins, (paid the debt in full) was buried and rose again and was seen by hundreds" 1 Cor 15:1-4. But though we are an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you, let him be accursed" Gal 1:8. Make sense? Have you believed and received Jesus? Do it now.
My tract! Sumner 1-877-872-2871 to order tracts
Give 1 2 every 1 go to http://www.gnpcb.org/product/663575730699 to see and get them.
Monday, June 25, 2007
That's What I Believe Too!
For years I have felt the truth you are about to read concerning the Gospel in tracts, sermons, etc. and people have taken offense. I have actually had church members complain because I put the Gospel in every sermon (they've never seen a lost church member?). It is refreshing to have a solid man like Sumner Wemp say the same thing I have thought for a long time.
Question
"What is the gospel? This is a question theologians and Christian leaders love to ask. When they pose it, the implication is usually that no one within earshot has the faintest notion of the answer. I usually come away from such dialogues with feelings of frustration" so says an "authority" on evangelism in his book on evangelism.
The answer
Kind sir, what are you talking about? There is no doubt what the gospel is. God told us very plainly in the inerrant, infallible word of the Living God! "I declare unto the gospel...how that Christ died for our sins, and that He was buried and that he rose again and that he was seen by hundreds of people" 1 Cor 15:1-4. To God be the glory but I have seen thousands saved through telling this good news and this alone. It works.
The danger
It is not being preached even by many Bible believing Bible preaching preachers. As Vance Havner said, "You listen to them and you think for sure they are going to say it but they make a neat detour and never say it. The tragedy is they think they have said it and the people think they said it." Be discerning but not divisive and you will be shocked how it is not given on radio, on television, in pulpits and in tracts. It is scarey!
It is Satanic
"If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world (Satan) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, let the gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them" 2 Cor 4:3-4. He blinds the minds of those speaking and those hearing! As Havner said, "They think they have said it."
God loves you and sent the Lord Jesus, who knew no sin, to suffer and die for your sins, paid the debt in full, rose again and was seen by hundreds. Believe and receive Him
"These things...commit to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also" 2 Tim 2:2
Question
"What is the gospel? This is a question theologians and Christian leaders love to ask. When they pose it, the implication is usually that no one within earshot has the faintest notion of the answer. I usually come away from such dialogues with feelings of frustration" so says an "authority" on evangelism in his book on evangelism.
The answer
Kind sir, what are you talking about? There is no doubt what the gospel is. God told us very plainly in the inerrant, infallible word of the Living God! "I declare unto the gospel...how that Christ died for our sins, and that He was buried and that he rose again and that he was seen by hundreds of people" 1 Cor 15:1-4. To God be the glory but I have seen thousands saved through telling this good news and this alone. It works.
The danger
It is not being preached even by many Bible believing Bible preaching preachers. As Vance Havner said, "You listen to them and you think for sure they are going to say it but they make a neat detour and never say it. The tragedy is they think they have said it and the people think they said it." Be discerning but not divisive and you will be shocked how it is not given on radio, on television, in pulpits and in tracts. It is scarey!
It is Satanic
"If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world (Satan) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, let the gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them" 2 Cor 4:3-4. He blinds the minds of those speaking and those hearing! As Havner said, "They think they have said it."
God loves you and sent the Lord Jesus, who knew no sin, to suffer and die for your sins, paid the debt in full, rose again and was seen by hundreds. Believe and receive Him
"These things...commit to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also" 2 Tim 2:2
Sunday, June 24, 2007
BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE
EXODUS 17:1-6, NUMBERS 20:1-12
Pastor Rick Jackson
Two similar situations. Two requests. Two different answers. Two responses. Two men NOT going to the promised land.
I. WHAT DOES THIS TEACH US ABOUT GOD?
1. GOD IS MERCIFUL [Nm. 20:11]
2. GOD IS HOLY [Nm. 20:12, 23-24; Dt. 32:48-51]
3. GOD IS GRACIOUS [Dt. 32:52, 34:1-7; Mt. 17:1-3; Rv. 15:3]
II. WHAT DOES THIS TEACH US ABOUT SIN?
1. SIN IS A UNIVERSAL PATTERN [Nm. 20:12, Rm. 3:23]
2. SIN IS A SIMPLE PROCEDURE [Nm. 20:12, Proverbs 14:9 Fools make a mock at sin:]
3. SIN IS A COMPLEX PROBLEM [Rm. 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.]
But there is a deeper significance to what Moses did. In both cases, the rock was symbolic of Jesus Christ, as He is the source of the living water of our eternal life. Speaking of Israel’s travels through the desert, the Apostle Paul made this plain when he said: "And did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ," 1 Corinthians 10:4.
Jesus Himself said to the woman at the well in Samaria: "… Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life," John 4:13-14.
We are also told that Christ only had to make this sacrifice of Himself once: "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God... For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified," Hebrews 10:12, 14.
Jesus was physically struck once in the form of His Passion, and that one offering was all that was necessary to purchase for mankind the gift of everlasting life. From that point on, those who seek Him need only to speak to Him, asking Him to come into their lives, and He will do so. It is all by His grace and mercy, and by our faith in Him. It is not by any work that we might do (Ephesians 2:8-9). Moses violated this symbolism in Numbers 20 by striking the rock, and so he was banished from entering into the Promised Land. (from www.thekingiscoming.com)
Sin is contagious- it infects us and others. It has consequences which are compounded in our lives. It both affects us and has an effect on us. So...
III. WHAT DOES THIS TEACH US ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE SIN?
1. Make your confession [Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy., I Jn. 1:9]
2. Take your chastening [Dt. 3:23-28]
3. Wake your consecration [Eph. 5:8-20]
Don't get stuck between a Rock and a hard place.
Pastor Rick Jackson
Two similar situations. Two requests. Two different answers. Two responses. Two men NOT going to the promised land.
I. WHAT DOES THIS TEACH US ABOUT GOD?
1. GOD IS MERCIFUL [Nm. 20:11]
2. GOD IS HOLY [Nm. 20:12, 23-24; Dt. 32:48-51]
3. GOD IS GRACIOUS [Dt. 32:52, 34:1-7; Mt. 17:1-3; Rv. 15:3]
II. WHAT DOES THIS TEACH US ABOUT SIN?
1. SIN IS A UNIVERSAL PATTERN [Nm. 20:12, Rm. 3:23]
2. SIN IS A SIMPLE PROCEDURE [Nm. 20:12, Proverbs 14:9 Fools make a mock at sin:]
3. SIN IS A COMPLEX PROBLEM [Rm. 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.]
But there is a deeper significance to what Moses did. In both cases, the rock was symbolic of Jesus Christ, as He is the source of the living water of our eternal life. Speaking of Israel’s travels through the desert, the Apostle Paul made this plain when he said: "And did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ," 1 Corinthians 10:4.
Jesus Himself said to the woman at the well in Samaria: "… Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life," John 4:13-14.
We are also told that Christ only had to make this sacrifice of Himself once: "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God... For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified," Hebrews 10:12, 14.
Jesus was physically struck once in the form of His Passion, and that one offering was all that was necessary to purchase for mankind the gift of everlasting life. From that point on, those who seek Him need only to speak to Him, asking Him to come into their lives, and He will do so. It is all by His grace and mercy, and by our faith in Him. It is not by any work that we might do (Ephesians 2:8-9). Moses violated this symbolism in Numbers 20 by striking the rock, and so he was banished from entering into the Promised Land. (from www.thekingiscoming.com)
Sin is contagious- it infects us and others. It has consequences which are compounded in our lives. It both affects us and has an effect on us. So...
III. WHAT DOES THIS TEACH US ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE SIN?
1. Make your confession [Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy., I Jn. 1:9]
2. Take your chastening [Dt. 3:23-28]
3. Wake your consecration [Eph. 5:8-20]
Don't get stuck between a Rock and a hard place.
THE MEASURE OF GREATNESS
MATTHEW 11
Pastor Rick Jackson
"Be not afraid of greatness: some men are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them." ~ William Shakespeare
One modern wag paraphrased this quote and said, "Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them."
Here's a question for you. Outside of the Lord Jesus, who, in your opinion, was the greatest person to ever live? Noah? Moses? Joshua? Ruth? David? Elijah? Elisha? Esther? Isaiah? Daniel? One of the twelve? Peter, Paul or Mary?
Note one answer which the Lord Jesus Christ would give in verse 11, Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
How can there be none born of woman greater than John and yet the least in the kingdom be greater than him? As always the Scriptures have the answer. Brother Roloff once said, "There is not a question asked in the Scriptures that is not also answered in the Scripture." I have never found that statement to be wrong in my experience and study.
I. WHY THE WORLD OFTEN MISSES GREATNESS
1. THEY HAVE REJECTED THE STANDARD OF GREATNESS [v. 12-15]
2. THEY WANT IT THEIR WAY NOT THE RIGHT WAY [v. 16-17]
3. THEY ARE WILDLY INCONSISTENT & HYPOCRITICAL [V. 18-19]
II. THINGS THAT MADE JOHN GREAT [v. 2-11]
1. HE ENDEAVORED HONORABLY TO SETTLE HIS DOUBTS [v. 2-6]
Mark 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe help thou mine unbelief.
2. HE ENDURED HARDSHIP TO SERVE HIS MASTER[v. 7-9]
II Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ
3. HE ENDEARED HIMSELF TO THE SAVIOUR WITH HIS ATTITUDE [v. 10-11a]
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
III. THE GREATNESS OF THE LEAST [v. 11]
1. A NEW NATURE WITHOUT COMPETITION [Rm. 7:14-25]
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
2. A NEW MIND WITHOUT CARNALITY OR LIMITATIONS [Rm. 8:6-7]
1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
3. A NEW BODY WITHOUT CORRUPTION [Rm. 8:21-23]
1 Corinthians 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
1 Corinthians 15:50-54 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Let us strive to be great in the Lord's eyes.
Pastor Rick Jackson
"Be not afraid of greatness: some men are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them." ~ William Shakespeare
One modern wag paraphrased this quote and said, "Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them."
Here's a question for you. Outside of the Lord Jesus, who, in your opinion, was the greatest person to ever live? Noah? Moses? Joshua? Ruth? David? Elijah? Elisha? Esther? Isaiah? Daniel? One of the twelve? Peter, Paul or Mary?
Note one answer which the Lord Jesus Christ would give in verse 11, Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
How can there be none born of woman greater than John and yet the least in the kingdom be greater than him? As always the Scriptures have the answer. Brother Roloff once said, "There is not a question asked in the Scriptures that is not also answered in the Scripture." I have never found that statement to be wrong in my experience and study.
I. WHY THE WORLD OFTEN MISSES GREATNESS
1. THEY HAVE REJECTED THE STANDARD OF GREATNESS [v. 12-15]
2. THEY WANT IT THEIR WAY NOT THE RIGHT WAY [v. 16-17]
3. THEY ARE WILDLY INCONSISTENT & HYPOCRITICAL [V. 18-19]
II. THINGS THAT MADE JOHN GREAT [v. 2-11]
1. HE ENDEAVORED HONORABLY TO SETTLE HIS DOUBTS [v. 2-6]
Mark 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe help thou mine unbelief.
2. HE ENDURED HARDSHIP TO SERVE HIS MASTER[v. 7-9]
II Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ
3. HE ENDEARED HIMSELF TO THE SAVIOUR WITH HIS ATTITUDE [v. 10-11a]
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
III. THE GREATNESS OF THE LEAST [v. 11]
1. A NEW NATURE WITHOUT COMPETITION [Rm. 7:14-25]
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
2. A NEW MIND WITHOUT CARNALITY OR LIMITATIONS [Rm. 8:6-7]
1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
3. A NEW BODY WITHOUT CORRUPTION [Rm. 8:21-23]
1 Corinthians 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
1 Corinthians 15:50-54 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Let us strive to be great in the Lord's eyes.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Q: Were dragons just mythical creatures?
A: We’ve all heard of dragon legends—they’ve been collected for generations from different cultures all around the world. Many have thought these are just mythical stories, but the evidence suggests that dragons were real creatures.
Think about this: why do we find Flood legends from cultures around the world? The secular world claims it’s because people down through the ages have seen floods. But many of these flood legends have several elements similar to the account of Noah’s Flood in the Bible. The flood legends are really changed accounts of the original—the one recorded in the Bible—handed down through the ages.
In a similar way, dragon legends are based on encounters with real animals—most likely dinosaurs (a word that had not been coined yet). The legends have likely been somewhat embellished over generations, but they probably refer to real animals that today we call “dinosaurs.” And according to the Bible, dinosaurs once lived in the Garden of Eden—alongside Adam and Eve.
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
Think about this: why do we find Flood legends from cultures around the world? The secular world claims it’s because people down through the ages have seen floods. But many of these flood legends have several elements similar to the account of Noah’s Flood in the Bible. The flood legends are really changed accounts of the original—the one recorded in the Bible—handed down through the ages.
In a similar way, dragon legends are based on encounters with real animals—most likely dinosaurs (a word that had not been coined yet). The legends have likely been somewhat embellished over generations, but they probably refer to real animals that today we call “dinosaurs.” And according to the Bible, dinosaurs once lived in the Garden of Eden—alongside Adam and Eve.
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Waitin'
I did what you told me....I sent the email to 10 people like you said.I'm still waiting for that miracle to happen ..
Sumner Wemp's "On This Day"
On this day in 1872, the first fire alarmed boxes installed. The first fire alarm box installed by God in Gen 2:17, "in the day thou eatest thou shalt surely die."
"Preach the gospel to every person" Mk 16:15. Acts 8, Phillip, "preached" one on one to the Ethiopian and he got saved. Pray God will do it again through you! Reasonable?
"Your website www.sumnerwemp.com is my favorite. I go on it and read your encouragement about everyday. It's made an impact in my life." Please do the same ABC sumner
"Preach the gospel to every person" Mk 16:15. Acts 8, Phillip, "preached" one on one to the Ethiopian and he got saved. Pray God will do it again through you! Reasonable?
"Your website www.sumnerwemp.com is my favorite. I go on it and read your encouragement about everyday. It's made an impact in my life." Please do the same ABC sumner
Thursday, June 21, 2007
QUOTES OF THE WEEK!
The minute you read something that you can't understand, you can almost be sure that it was drawn up by a lawyer. - Will Rogers
"One can always use towels and sheets."- L.S.
It's not important what your friend says- it's important what the Bible says.- Evangelist Cranston Knowles
It doesn't take any character to go to Hell.- Evangelist Robert L. Sumner
We can no longer live the way we once lived because we are no longer who we once were.-
Elmer DeLancey
"One can always use towels and sheets."- L.S.
It's not important what your friend says- it's important what the Bible says.- Evangelist Cranston Knowles
It doesn't take any character to go to Hell.- Evangelist Robert L. Sumner
We can no longer live the way we once lived because we are no longer who we once were.-
Elmer DeLancey
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Ten differences between the Doctor and the Pastor
Some interesting thoughts. ABC sumner
Ten differences between the Doctor and the Pastor - By Pastor Flosser
The Doctor says, "Please disrobe" and you do it without question. The Pastor preaches that you should dress modestly and he is getting too personal.
The Doctor charges outrageous fees and you complain but you come back the next time you are sick. The Pastor preaches that you should pay your tithes and you leave the church.
The Doctor checks how much you weigh and you allow him. The Pastor asks how much you pray and it's none of his business.
The Doctor gives you a nasty tasting pill and you take it. The Pastor feeds you the Word and you say no thank you.
The Doctor's office closes at a certain time. The Pastor is to be available, awake and ready twenty-four hours a day.
The Doctor tells you how to change your lifestyle to lower your blood pressure. The Pastor tells you how to change your lifestyle and it raises your blood pressure.
The Doctor tells you we need to run more tests, so you make an appointment. The Pastor says we need more Prayer Meetings and BibleStudies and you are too busy.
The Doctor says, "There is nothing more we can do", and you search high and low for one who can help. The Pastor says, "God can help you", andyou give up and say "What's the use."
The Doctor says, "Try this and see if it works and if it doesn't we'll try something else", so you do. The Pastor gives you the promises of God's Word and you don't like to "Walk by faith."
To the Doctor, you are just another customer. To the Pastor, you are a part of the family. He loves you. He prays for you. He helps carry your burdens. He laughs with you and cries with you.
"... joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance" Lk 15:7. Therefore "Preach the gospel to every person" Mk 16:15. "How Christ died for our sins, (paid the debt in full) was buried and rose again and was seen by hundreds" 1 Cor 15:1-4. But though we are an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you, let him be accursed" Gal 1:8. Make sense? Have you believed and received Jesus? Do it now.
Ten differences between the Doctor and the Pastor - By Pastor Flosser
The Doctor says, "Please disrobe" and you do it without question. The Pastor preaches that you should dress modestly and he is getting too personal.
The Doctor charges outrageous fees and you complain but you come back the next time you are sick. The Pastor preaches that you should pay your tithes and you leave the church.
The Doctor checks how much you weigh and you allow him. The Pastor asks how much you pray and it's none of his business.
The Doctor gives you a nasty tasting pill and you take it. The Pastor feeds you the Word and you say no thank you.
The Doctor's office closes at a certain time. The Pastor is to be available, awake and ready twenty-four hours a day.
The Doctor tells you how to change your lifestyle to lower your blood pressure. The Pastor tells you how to change your lifestyle and it raises your blood pressure.
The Doctor tells you we need to run more tests, so you make an appointment. The Pastor says we need more Prayer Meetings and BibleStudies and you are too busy.
The Doctor says, "There is nothing more we can do", and you search high and low for one who can help. The Pastor says, "God can help you", andyou give up and say "What's the use."
The Doctor says, "Try this and see if it works and if it doesn't we'll try something else", so you do. The Pastor gives you the promises of God's Word and you don't like to "Walk by faith."
To the Doctor, you are just another customer. To the Pastor, you are a part of the family. He loves you. He prays for you. He helps carry your burdens. He laughs with you and cries with you.
"... joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance" Lk 15:7. Therefore "Preach the gospel to every person" Mk 16:15. "How Christ died for our sins, (paid the debt in full) was buried and rose again and was seen by hundreds" 1 Cor 15:1-4. But though we are an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you, let him be accursed" Gal 1:8. Make sense? Have you believed and received Jesus? Do it now.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Monday, June 18, 2007
Let's be reasonable!
Sumner Wemp (see link)
Jun 18, 2007
"Come now and let us reason together" so said God. Isa 1:18.
All the way through high school and college I had a hard time with literary courses. I was and still am a slow reader. I never made good grades in them. Math courses was a very different thing. I love them. I made A's in most of them. Algebra, geometry, trigonometry were simple to me. My mind thinks logically. Two plus two equals four. You can not get three and one half or six out of it at all. It just makes sense. So it is with salvation as God has presented it in the holy Bible, His inerrant word of God.
Let me explain
We are all in the same boat, we have all done wrong, we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God Rom 3:23.
God is absolutely holy and heaven is a place with absolutely no sin to pollute it like we have the world here. God being holy and heaven being without sin demands that sin be punished for "the wages of sin is death" Rom 6:23. Death is separation. Sin separates us from God and heaven. One sin allowed in heaven would pollute it just as it polluted the world and would no longer be heaven.
The good news is "Christ died for our sins", paid our debt in full and satisfied God that sin was punished as it should be. Jesus was buried, the proof that He died.
Then Jesus rose from the dead and is alive today. He was seen alive by hundreds of people, the proof that he arose. 1 Cor 15:1-4. No other so called "God" has such a logical, perfect plan of salvation and forgiveness of sin.
Now God is perfectly free and just to forgive us our sins when we believe that what Jesus did on the cross paid our way too and trust God to save us by being willing for God to save us and give us a new birth when in our hearts we receive the Lord Jesus as our personal Savior. Just as a man says "Yes, I will take this woman to be my wife" getting saved is most often consummated when we say to God, "I do receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior right now". Jn 1:12, 13. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" Rom 10:13.
The assurance that you too are saved is to believe God, that "He that believes on the Son (to get him to heaven) HAS everlasting life" Jn 3:36. Do believe that or not?
Doesn't it make sense, isn't it reasonable that we give this good news to EVERY person, Mark 16:15, through a tract, testimony or tell them personally like God told us?
You are deeply loved by God and me,
All Because of Calvary. sumner
Jun 18, 2007
"Come now and let us reason together" so said God. Isa 1:18.
All the way through high school and college I had a hard time with literary courses. I was and still am a slow reader. I never made good grades in them. Math courses was a very different thing. I love them. I made A's in most of them. Algebra, geometry, trigonometry were simple to me. My mind thinks logically. Two plus two equals four. You can not get three and one half or six out of it at all. It just makes sense. So it is with salvation as God has presented it in the holy Bible, His inerrant word of God.
Let me explain
We are all in the same boat, we have all done wrong, we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God Rom 3:23.
God is absolutely holy and heaven is a place with absolutely no sin to pollute it like we have the world here. God being holy and heaven being without sin demands that sin be punished for "the wages of sin is death" Rom 6:23. Death is separation. Sin separates us from God and heaven. One sin allowed in heaven would pollute it just as it polluted the world and would no longer be heaven.
The good news is "Christ died for our sins", paid our debt in full and satisfied God that sin was punished as it should be. Jesus was buried, the proof that He died.
Then Jesus rose from the dead and is alive today. He was seen alive by hundreds of people, the proof that he arose. 1 Cor 15:1-4. No other so called "God" has such a logical, perfect plan of salvation and forgiveness of sin.
Now God is perfectly free and just to forgive us our sins when we believe that what Jesus did on the cross paid our way too and trust God to save us by being willing for God to save us and give us a new birth when in our hearts we receive the Lord Jesus as our personal Savior. Just as a man says "Yes, I will take this woman to be my wife" getting saved is most often consummated when we say to God, "I do receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior right now". Jn 1:12, 13. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" Rom 10:13.
The assurance that you too are saved is to believe God, that "He that believes on the Son (to get him to heaven) HAS everlasting life" Jn 3:36. Do believe that or not?
Doesn't it make sense, isn't it reasonable that we give this good news to EVERY person, Mark 16:15, through a tract, testimony or tell them personally like God told us?
You are deeply loved by God and me,
All Because of Calvary. sumner
Sunday, June 17, 2007
DAD. YOU HAVE 2 MESSAGES!
PSALM 19
Pastor Rick Jackson
Our answering machine will "beep" if it has something on it. You push a button and it says, "You have three (or however many you have) messages." Being this is Father's Day, let's look at Ps. 19 and see the 2 messages God has for fathers (and everybody else).
I. THE MESSAGE OF THE HEAVENS [V. 1-6]
1. GOD IS GLORIOUS [v. 1a]
The Bible is a precise book. When it says "Heavens" (plural) it means Heavens plural.
1st Heaven- Gn. 1:7-8, 20
2nd Heaven- Gn. 1:14-18
3rd Heaven- II Cor. 12:1-4
2. GOD IS OMNIPOTENT [v. 1b]
Think of the universe. The myriad of galaxies, stars, the planets, our own sun and moon. Some have ignorantly worshipped these, while ignoring the real question, "Which is greater, the creation or the One who created?" [Heb. 3:1-3]
3. THE MESSAGE OF THE HEAVENS IS CONTINUAL [v. 2]
4. THE MESSAGE OF THE HEAVENS IS UNIVERSAL [v. 3-6]
Pastor Rick Jackson
Our answering machine will "beep" if it has something on it. You push a button and it says, "You have three (or however many you have) messages." Being this is Father's Day, let's look at Ps. 19 and see the 2 messages God has for fathers (and everybody else).
I. THE MESSAGE OF THE HEAVENS [V. 1-6]
1. GOD IS GLORIOUS [v. 1a]
The Bible is a precise book. When it says "Heavens" (plural) it means Heavens plural.
1st Heaven- Gn. 1:7-8, 20
2nd Heaven- Gn. 1:14-18
3rd Heaven- II Cor. 12:1-4
2. GOD IS OMNIPOTENT [v. 1b]
Think of the universe. The myriad of galaxies, stars, the planets, our own sun and moon. Some have ignorantly worshipped these, while ignoring the real question, "Which is greater, the creation or the One who created?" [Heb. 3:1-3]
3. THE MESSAGE OF THE HEAVENS IS CONTINUAL [v. 2]
4. THE MESSAGE OF THE HEAVENS IS UNIVERSAL [v. 3-6]
II. THE MESSAGE OF THE SCRIPTURES [V. 7-11]
1. THE PERFECT WORD CONVERTS THE SOUL [v. 7a]
2. THE SURE WORD MAKES THE SIMPLE WISE [v. 7b]
3. THE RIGHT WORD REJOICES THE HEART [v. 8a] Are you comforted by Superman?
4. THE PURE WORD GIVES LIGHT TO THE EYES [v. 8b] Not easy to see in the dark.
5. THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS CLEAN AND IS EVERLASTINGLY BENEFICIAL [v. 9a]
6. THE JUDGMENTS (judicial verdicts) OF THE LORD ARE 100% ACCURATE & RIGHT! [v. 9b]
7. THE BIBLE IS MORE TO BE DESIRED THAN GOLD [v. 10a]
Can gold save you? 1 Peter 1:18-19, 23
Does gold last forever? I Peter 1:7
Does gold hold its value forever? Heavenly asphalt!
Does gold help you grow spiritually? I Peter 2:2
8. THE BIBLE IS SWEETER THAN HONEY [v. 10b, Ps. 19:14 cp. with 104:33-34, Pr. 16:24]
9. THE BIBLE WARNS GOD'S SERVANTS [v. 11a, Gal. 6:7-8]
10. GOD GREATLY REWARDS THOSE THAT KEEP HIS WORD [v. 11b]
III. ANSWERING THE MESSAGE [V. 12-14]
1. PRAY FOR UNDERSTANDING & FORGIVENESS [v. 12, I Jn. 1:9]
2. PRAY FOR STRENGTH TO STAND & WITHSTAND [v. 13, I Cor. 10:12-13, Eph. 6:13]
3. PRAY FOR ACCEPTABLE SERVICE [v. 14, Rm. 12:1-2]
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Q: What did the early church fathers believe about the days of creation in Genesis?
A: A number of biblical creation scholars have thoroughly researched what these church fathers believed. They found that based on the biblical text, the majority of church fathers either specifically stated that the days of creation were ordinary days or that the universe could only be a few thousand years old.
In fact, when you look at 18 centuries of biblical scholarship—beginning from the time of Christ—a significant majority of biblical scholars believed that Genesis taught that the creation days were literal days. They believed the universe could only be thousands of years old.
The reason most biblical scholars of the past 200 years believe the creation days are not ordinary days has nothing to do with what the Bible clearly states in Genesis 1. What’s the reason? It’s because they’ve been influenced by secular scientists to believe in millions of years.
When Christians reinterpret the days of creation to fit in millions of years, they’ve undermined the authority of the Word of God … and made fallible man the authority.
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
In fact, when you look at 18 centuries of biblical scholarship—beginning from the time of Christ—a significant majority of biblical scholars believed that Genesis taught that the creation days were literal days. They believed the universe could only be thousands of years old.
The reason most biblical scholars of the past 200 years believe the creation days are not ordinary days has nothing to do with what the Bible clearly states in Genesis 1. What’s the reason? It’s because they’ve been influenced by secular scientists to believe in millions of years.
When Christians reinterpret the days of creation to fit in millions of years, they’ve undermined the authority of the Word of God … and made fallible man the authority.
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
Friday, June 15, 2007
HOW TO KEEP YOUR ROOM (AND HEART) CLEAN!
Adapted from Evangelist Cranston Knowles by Pastor Rick Jackson
To keep it clean you must first get it clean! For this you must be saved. When you are saved and have sinned you must get back right with God. [I Jn. 1:9, Mt. 5:23-24]
Confess your sin to God.
Ask forgiveness from God.
Make it right with whomever you have wronged.
Now then. When your heart is clean how do you keep it clean?
I. MAKE A GREAT START!
When you wake up get with the Lord.
Read at least a verse of Scripture and ask, "What does this mean?" and "How can this help me?" [Ps. 119:9, 11]
Pray and ask God to help. [Heb. 4:16]
II. REMEMBER, SMALL THINGS ARE BIG DEALS!
If you do something wrong--- get rid of it right away! [S. of S. 2:15, Jm. 3:4-6]
III. DO A DAILY CHECK! [RM. 12:1-2]
Before you go to bed be sure you don't have a problem with your:
eyes--- ears--- hands--- feet--- heart--- mouth
IV. LIVE PURE! [PH. 4:8]
Watch out what you watch. What you listen to How you treat the opposite sex. How you treat your parents. Teachers. Friends. Strangers. Etc.
V. WHY YOU MIGHT NOT KEEP YOUR HEART CLEAN!
1. YOU'RE LAZY! [PR. 18:9, MT. 25:14-30]
2. YOU'RE HASTY (TOO BUSY)! [PR. 14:29, 21:5, 29:20; ECCL. 5:2, 7:9]
3. YOU'RE NASTY! [JN. 3:19]
To keep it clean you must first get it clean! For this you must be saved. When you are saved and have sinned you must get back right with God. [I Jn. 1:9, Mt. 5:23-24]
Confess your sin to God.
Ask forgiveness from God.
Make it right with whomever you have wronged.
Now then. When your heart is clean how do you keep it clean?
I. MAKE A GREAT START!
When you wake up get with the Lord.
Read at least a verse of Scripture and ask, "What does this mean?" and "How can this help me?" [Ps. 119:9, 11]
Pray and ask God to help. [Heb. 4:16]
II. REMEMBER, SMALL THINGS ARE BIG DEALS!
If you do something wrong--- get rid of it right away! [S. of S. 2:15, Jm. 3:4-6]
III. DO A DAILY CHECK! [RM. 12:1-2]
Before you go to bed be sure you don't have a problem with your:
eyes--- ears--- hands--- feet--- heart--- mouth
IV. LIVE PURE! [PH. 4:8]
Watch out what you watch. What you listen to How you treat the opposite sex. How you treat your parents. Teachers. Friends. Strangers. Etc.
V. WHY YOU MIGHT NOT KEEP YOUR HEART CLEAN!
1. YOU'RE LAZY! [PR. 18:9, MT. 25:14-30]
2. YOU'RE HASTY (TOO BUSY)! [PR. 14:29, 21:5, 29:20; ECCL. 5:2, 7:9]
3. YOU'RE NASTY! [JN. 3:19]
Thursday, June 14, 2007
WELL, 2 OUT OF 3 AIN'T BAD
Sleeping Beauty, Tom Thumb, and Quasimodo were all talking one day. Sleeping Beauty said, "I believe myself to be the most beautiful girl in the world." Tom Thumb said, "I must be the smallest person in the world." Quasimodo said, "I absolutely have to be the ugliest and most obnoxious person in the world." So they all decided to go to the Guinness Book of World Records to have their claims verified. Sleeping Beauty went in first and came out looking deliriously happy. "It's official, I AM the most beautiful girl in the world." Tom Thumb went next and emerged triumphant, "I AM now officially the smallest person in the world." Sometime later, Quasimodo comes out looking utterly confused and says, "Who is Rosie O'Donnell?
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
QUOTES OF THE WEEK!
I want nothing to do with natural foods. At my age I need all the preservatives I can get. ~ George Burns
IF YOU WORRY, YOU DON'T PRAY ENOUGH. IF YOU PRAY ENOUGH, YOU DON'T WORRY.
When we get tangled up in our problems, be still so God can untangle the knot.
A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.
You know you're getting older when you know all the answers but nobody asks you the questions.
IF YOU WORRY, YOU DON'T PRAY ENOUGH. IF YOU PRAY ENOUGH, YOU DON'T WORRY.
When we get tangled up in our problems, be still so God can untangle the knot.
A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.
You know you're getting older when you know all the answers but nobody asks you the questions.
Monday, June 11, 2007
FROM SUMNER WEMP
On this date, in 1859, the claim for Comstock lode mine, filed in Nevada, eventually produced $300 million dollars. That is peanuts compared to the "claim" for souls today which will produce billions of times more value than the whole earth is worth! Mark 8:36,37.
"But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me" Acts.
What an awesome promise and privilege you have today!
My passion is that you be blessed and motivated for eternal things by the articles on our website. Go to www.sumnerwemp.com and read them. Enter drawings for free books
"But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me" Acts.
What an awesome promise and privilege you have today!
My passion is that you be blessed and motivated for eternal things by the articles on our website. Go to www.sumnerwemp.com and read them. Enter drawings for free books
"And that's when he slipped and fell your honor..."
A blind man wanders into an all girls biker bar by mistake. He finds his way to a bar stool and orders some coffee. After sitting there for awhile, he yells to the waiter, "Hey, you wanna hear a blonde joke?" The bar immediately falls absolutely silent. In a very deep husky voice, the woman next to him says, "Before you tell that joke, sir, I think it is only fair -- given that you are blind -- that you should know five things:
1. The bartender is a blonde girl with a baseball bat.
2. The bouncer is a blonde girl.
3. I'm a 6 foot tall, 175 lb. blonde woman with a black belt in karate.
4. The woman sitting next to me is blonde and a professional weightlifter
5. The lady to your right is blonde and professional wrestler.
Now, think about it seriously, Mister. Do you still wanna tell that joke?"
The blind man thinks for a second, shakes his head and mutters, "No. Not if I'm gonna have to explain it five times."
1. The bartender is a blonde girl with a baseball bat.
2. The bouncer is a blonde girl.
3. I'm a 6 foot tall, 175 lb. blonde woman with a black belt in karate.
4. The woman sitting next to me is blonde and a professional weightlifter
5. The lady to your right is blonde and professional wrestler.
Now, think about it seriously, Mister. Do you still wanna tell that joke?"
The blind man thinks for a second, shakes his head and mutters, "No. Not if I'm gonna have to explain it five times."
Sunday, June 10, 2007
WHAT WOULD JESUS DO ABOUT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT?
Isaiah 55:6-9
Pastor Rick Jackson
I was in line in my truck. Two vehicles in front of me was a van with a bumper sticker that read "THE DEATH PENALTY: WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?" The people who stuck the bumper sticker on their vehicle think Jesus would be against the death penalty. I know that because another sticker on their van read "THE DEATH PENALTY IS A HATE CRIME". Both bumper stickers are incorrect as we will prove, Lord willing, from the Word of God in this message.
Whenever one presumes to speak for God there are two main possibilities. They can be wrong. Just because you think a certain way does not assure that God thinks the same way. The Scriptures tell us as much in Isaiah 55.
Deuteronomy 18:20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
Or when a person speaks for God they can be right. Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Read I Cor. 2.
I. THERE ARE SOME DEEPER ISSUES
1. Physical death isn't the end.
Heb. 9:26-28 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
2. Jesus originated the death penalty
Gn. 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man (cf. Gn. 1:1, Jn. 1:1-3, 14)
3. Are you willing to accept His Word on any subject? (Mt. 7:21-29)
II. A MISAPPLIED SCRIPTURE - JOHN 8
1. Jesus knew their hypocrisy [v. 1-9]
2. Jesus dealt with her sin [v. 10-11]
3. Jesus was physically present for that occurrence [v. 12-17, 31, 47]
III. SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCES
1. Jesus didn't argue the death penalty was wrong [Lk. 23:39-43]
2. Jesus' ardent follower said the death penalty was divinely ordained [Rm. 13:1-6]
3. Punishment for sin isn't hate, the opposite is [ Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.]
God loves us to much to let us continue in sin. He has dealt with the sin problem. Anyone who loves will deal with the sin. Paris Hilton's parents have shown a lack of love.
Pastor Rick Jackson
I was in line in my truck. Two vehicles in front of me was a van with a bumper sticker that read "THE DEATH PENALTY: WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?" The people who stuck the bumper sticker on their vehicle think Jesus would be against the death penalty. I know that because another sticker on their van read "THE DEATH PENALTY IS A HATE CRIME". Both bumper stickers are incorrect as we will prove, Lord willing, from the Word of God in this message.
Whenever one presumes to speak for God there are two main possibilities. They can be wrong. Just because you think a certain way does not assure that God thinks the same way. The Scriptures tell us as much in Isaiah 55.
Deuteronomy 18:20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
Or when a person speaks for God they can be right. Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Read I Cor. 2.
I. THERE ARE SOME DEEPER ISSUES
1. Physical death isn't the end.
Heb. 9:26-28 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
2. Jesus originated the death penalty
Gn. 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man (cf. Gn. 1:1, Jn. 1:1-3, 14)
3. Are you willing to accept His Word on any subject? (Mt. 7:21-29)
II. A MISAPPLIED SCRIPTURE - JOHN 8
1. Jesus knew their hypocrisy [v. 1-9]
2. Jesus dealt with her sin [v. 10-11]
3. Jesus was physically present for that occurrence [v. 12-17, 31, 47]
III. SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCES
1. Jesus didn't argue the death penalty was wrong [Lk. 23:39-43]
2. Jesus' ardent follower said the death penalty was divinely ordained [Rm. 13:1-6]
3. Punishment for sin isn't hate, the opposite is [ Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.]
God loves us to much to let us continue in sin. He has dealt with the sin problem. Anyone who loves will deal with the sin. Paris Hilton's parents have shown a lack of love.
WHO SAYS, "IT'S NOT RIGHT!"
Numbers 15
Pastor Rick Jackson
Scenario #1: A judge ordered Paris Hilton to spend 45 days in jail because she violated the conditions of her probation from a DUI twice! This high school dropout child of privilege had lied to the police, assumed the law didn't apply to her and blamed the whole mess on her publicist. The sheriff, acting contrary to the judge's explicit instructions sent her home with an ankle bracelet. She came back under the judges orders and he sent her back to jail. She screamed as they took her out, "It's not right! Mommy!"
Scenario #2: I was in line in my truck. Two vehicles in front of me was a van with a bumper sticker that read "THE DEATH PENALTY: WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?" The people who made the bumper sticker think Jesus would be against the death penalty. I know that because another sticker on their van read "THE DEATH PENALTY IS A HATE CRIME". Both bumper stickers are incorrect as we will prove, Lord willing, from the Word of God in the Sunday evening service. But if you asked many people about the death penalty they would say, along with Paris, "It's not right!"
What's not right? Punishment for crime? Punishment for sin? Unequal treatment? By whom?
I. THE TRUTH ABOUT HUMANS
1. They can make "honest" mistakes [Num. 15:22-29]
-raising a child to be a rebel [Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.[
-not accepting their little angel is a sinful being
-wrongful imprisonment concerning certain crimes [Acts 21:30-40]
2. They can do wrong intentionally [Num. 15:30-31]
3. They can do right by the grace of God [Luke 17:10So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.]
II. THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD
1. God never makes mistakes [Psalm 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.]
2. God never does wrong [Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?]
3. God always does right [Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.]
III. THE TRUTH ABOUT PUNISHMENT
1. Man has a responsibility to punish sin [Gn. 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.]
2. Every sin will be dealt with by a thrice holy God [Rev. 20:11-13]
1 John 2:1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3. Everyone deserves Hell [Rev. 20:14-15]
-no matter how bad a person's life is it's better than what he or she deserves so if anything is not right it would be their complaining about their lot in life (I know that isn't pleasant to think about but it is true nonetheless)
-the man born blind [Jn. 9:1-3]
-Job [James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.]
-you and me
Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
2 Thessalonians 1:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
Pastor Rick Jackson
Scenario #1: A judge ordered Paris Hilton to spend 45 days in jail because she violated the conditions of her probation from a DUI twice! This high school dropout child of privilege had lied to the police, assumed the law didn't apply to her and blamed the whole mess on her publicist. The sheriff, acting contrary to the judge's explicit instructions sent her home with an ankle bracelet. She came back under the judges orders and he sent her back to jail. She screamed as they took her out, "It's not right! Mommy!"
Scenario #2: I was in line in my truck. Two vehicles in front of me was a van with a bumper sticker that read "THE DEATH PENALTY: WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?" The people who made the bumper sticker think Jesus would be against the death penalty. I know that because another sticker on their van read "THE DEATH PENALTY IS A HATE CRIME". Both bumper stickers are incorrect as we will prove, Lord willing, from the Word of God in the Sunday evening service. But if you asked many people about the death penalty they would say, along with Paris, "It's not right!"
What's not right? Punishment for crime? Punishment for sin? Unequal treatment? By whom?
I. THE TRUTH ABOUT HUMANS
1. They can make "honest" mistakes [Num. 15:22-29]
-raising a child to be a rebel [Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.[
-not accepting their little angel is a sinful being
-wrongful imprisonment concerning certain crimes [Acts 21:30-40]
2. They can do wrong intentionally [Num. 15:30-31]
3. They can do right by the grace of God [Luke 17:10So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.]
II. THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD
1. God never makes mistakes [Psalm 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.]
2. God never does wrong [Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?]
3. God always does right [Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.]
III. THE TRUTH ABOUT PUNISHMENT
1. Man has a responsibility to punish sin [Gn. 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.]
2. Every sin will be dealt with by a thrice holy God [Rev. 20:11-13]
1 John 2:1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3. Everyone deserves Hell [Rev. 20:14-15]
-no matter how bad a person's life is it's better than what he or she deserves so if anything is not right it would be their complaining about their lot in life (I know that isn't pleasant to think about but it is true nonetheless)
-the man born blind [Jn. 9:1-3]
-Job [James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.]
-you and me
Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
2 Thessalonians 1:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Why does the whole of creation groan?
Q: Does the Bible tell us in Romans chapter 8 that the whole of creation groans because of sin?
A: Romans 8:18–23 teaches that the whole of creation “groans”—speaking of bondage and corruption, and looking forward to redemption. What else could this be referring to but the curse that God placed on it after Adam sinned?
The reason we bring this up is because Christians who believe in millions of years can’t allow such an interpretation. If death, disease, suffering, and violence—as represented in the fossil record—has been going on millions of years before mankind was created and sinned, then sin has nothing to do with the death and suffering we see all around us.
These people, then, can’t allow the interpretation of Romans 8 that the whole creation is groaning because of sin. The plain reading of the Romans 8 passage about a “groaning creation” is that it refers to the effects of sin (and every commentary our researchers have read agrees with this understanding). So those who believe in an earth that’s millions of years old have to say that sin really didn’t do anything to the creation!
Death becomes a natural part of the way that God brought about the world, rather than the punishment for sin. Accepting millions of years blames God for death and suffering. But no—we are to blame, because we sinned in Adam!
Note about last week’s AnswersUpdate:Last week, the topic of our AnswersUpdate was entropy. After further review, we felt the need to clarify the last paragraph of the article. Please read the corrected version online at AIG using the link at the upper left.
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
A: Romans 8:18–23 teaches that the whole of creation “groans”—speaking of bondage and corruption, and looking forward to redemption. What else could this be referring to but the curse that God placed on it after Adam sinned?
The reason we bring this up is because Christians who believe in millions of years can’t allow such an interpretation. If death, disease, suffering, and violence—as represented in the fossil record—has been going on millions of years before mankind was created and sinned, then sin has nothing to do with the death and suffering we see all around us.
These people, then, can’t allow the interpretation of Romans 8 that the whole creation is groaning because of sin. The plain reading of the Romans 8 passage about a “groaning creation” is that it refers to the effects of sin (and every commentary our researchers have read agrees with this understanding). So those who believe in an earth that’s millions of years old have to say that sin really didn’t do anything to the creation!
Death becomes a natural part of the way that God brought about the world, rather than the punishment for sin. Accepting millions of years blames God for death and suffering. But no—we are to blame, because we sinned in Adam!
Note about last week’s AnswersUpdate:Last week, the topic of our AnswersUpdate was entropy. After further review, we felt the need to clarify the last paragraph of the article. Please read the corrected version online at AIG using the link at the upper left.
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
THE BIKER AND THE GENIE
A man was riding his Harley along a California beach and found an old lamp. On a whim he rubbed the lamp and a genie appeared and said, "Because you have freed me I will grant you one wish.
The biker thought it over and said, "Build a bridge to Hawaii so I can ride over anytime I want."
The Genie said, "Your request is materialistic, think of the enormous challenges for that kind of undertaking; the supports required reaching the bottom of the Pacific and the concrete and steel it would take! It will nearly exhaust several natural resources. I can do it, but it is hard for me to justify your desire for worldly things. Take a little more time and think of something that could possibly help mankind."
The biker thought about it for a long time. Finally, he said, "I wish that I and all men could understand women; I want to know how she feels inside, what she's thinking when she gives me the silent treatment, why she cries, what she means when she says nothing's wrong, and how I can make a Woman truly happy."
The Genie replied, "You want two lanes or four on that bridge?
The biker thought it over and said, "Build a bridge to Hawaii so I can ride over anytime I want."
The Genie said, "Your request is materialistic, think of the enormous challenges for that kind of undertaking; the supports required reaching the bottom of the Pacific and the concrete and steel it would take! It will nearly exhaust several natural resources. I can do it, but it is hard for me to justify your desire for worldly things. Take a little more time and think of something that could possibly help mankind."
The biker thought about it for a long time. Finally, he said, "I wish that I and all men could understand women; I want to know how she feels inside, what she's thinking when she gives me the silent treatment, why she cries, what she means when she says nothing's wrong, and how I can make a Woman truly happy."
The Genie replied, "You want two lanes or four on that bridge?
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
YMCA
On yesterday's date in 1844 was the founding of the Young Men's Christian Association YMCA. It was hot for souls in those days. You can hardly mention the Lord Jesus Christ today.
Have you left your first love for the word of God and the living Lord Jesus? Rev 2:4
Go to All new Web articles www.sumnerwemp.com read a couple and get your first love back in gear. You are loved by God and me. ABC
Have you left your first love for the word of God and the living Lord Jesus? Rev 2:4
Go to All new Web articles www.sumnerwemp.com read a couple and get your first love back in gear. You are loved by God and me. ABC
Three C's to consider :
Rose sent me this one. I liked it!
Three C's to consider :
1. Cows
2. The Constitution
3. The Ten CommandmentsCows
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that our government can track a single cow born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she sleeps in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow.
The Constitution
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.
The Ten Commandments
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse is this: You cannot post "Thou Shalt Not Steal," "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery", and "Thou Shall Not Lie" in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians. It creates a hostile work environment .
Three C's to consider :
1. Cows
2. The Constitution
3. The Ten CommandmentsCows
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that our government can track a single cow born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she sleeps in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow.
The Constitution
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.
The Ten Commandments
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse is this: You cannot post "Thou Shalt Not Steal," "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery", and "Thou Shall Not Lie" in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians. It creates a hostile work environment .
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Pictures of the week!
Many skills learned in the Armed Forces are useful at home.
Field of Dreams.
Lincoln was unpopular for the war he fought too!
Do You?
I pledge allegiance...Monday, June 04, 2007
Quotes of the Week!
You and God make a majority in your community. -Bob Jones Sr.
If you go to Hell, you pay your own way; but you go to Heaven on a free pass. -John R. Rice
You don't get better to get saved; you get saved to get better. -Curtis Hutson
The Devil doesn't play fair. -Ralph Sexton
Of you are unsaved, this (present life) is your Heaven. -Warren W. Wiersbe
We don't live on explanations. We live on promises. -Wiersbe
I don't want to stand before God as a crownless Christian. -J. Don Jennings
Wisdom is not a bigmouth. -Jimmy Winburn
If you go to Hell, you pay your own way; but you go to Heaven on a free pass. -John R. Rice
You don't get better to get saved; you get saved to get better. -Curtis Hutson
The Devil doesn't play fair. -Ralph Sexton
Of you are unsaved, this (present life) is your Heaven. -Warren W. Wiersbe
We don't live on explanations. We live on promises. -Wiersbe
I don't want to stand before God as a crownless Christian. -J. Don Jennings
Wisdom is not a bigmouth. -Jimmy Winburn
Sunday, June 03, 2007
REASONS TO BEHAVE
ACTS 1:1-11
Pastor Rick Jackson
There is a tendency among some to say "If we are saved totally by grace (and we are) and we are kept totally by grace (and we are) then we can live any way we want and it doesn't matter. Why should we behave if it doesn't affect our salvation?" Though these statements contain a lot of truth they don't go far enough. Behavior after trusting Christ may not affect our salvation per say it does affect us far more than these people would like to admit. Let's look at just a few of the ways behavior affects us and hence see reasons to behave.
I. WE ARE COMMANDED BY GOD [V. 1-2]
Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Mk. 12:29-31 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Luke 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
John 15:9-14 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
II. WE ARE DEBTORS TO CHRIST [V. 3]
Rm. 8:9-14 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
C.T. Studd once said, "If Jesus be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for him."
III. WE HAVE THE PROMISE OF DIVINE HELP [V. 4-5]
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Rm. 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
IV. WE HAVE THE DIRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST [V. 6-8]
Through His Word.
Through His indwelling Holy Spirit.
II Cor. 5
V. WE HAVE THE PROMISE OF CHRIST'S RETURN [V. 9-11]
I Jn. 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
I Jn. 3:3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Pastor Rick Jackson
There is a tendency among some to say "If we are saved totally by grace (and we are) and we are kept totally by grace (and we are) then we can live any way we want and it doesn't matter. Why should we behave if it doesn't affect our salvation?" Though these statements contain a lot of truth they don't go far enough. Behavior after trusting Christ may not affect our salvation per say it does affect us far more than these people would like to admit. Let's look at just a few of the ways behavior affects us and hence see reasons to behave.
I. WE ARE COMMANDED BY GOD [V. 1-2]
Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Mk. 12:29-31 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Luke 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
John 15:9-14 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
II. WE ARE DEBTORS TO CHRIST [V. 3]
Rm. 8:9-14 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
C.T. Studd once said, "If Jesus be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for him."
III. WE HAVE THE PROMISE OF DIVINE HELP [V. 4-5]
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Rm. 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
IV. WE HAVE THE DIRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST [V. 6-8]
Through His Word.
Through His indwelling Holy Spirit.
II Cor. 5
V. WE HAVE THE PROMISE OF CHRIST'S RETURN [V. 9-11]
I Jn. 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
I Jn. 3:3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
REASONS TO BELIEVE
JOHN 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Pastor Rick Jackson
I. THE RELIABILITY OF THE SCRIPTURES [v. 30-31]
R. A. Torrey once said, Is the Bible the Word of God? If the Bible is the Word of God, an absolutely trustworthy revelation from God Himself, of Himself, His purposes and His will, of man's duty and destiny, of spiritual and eternal realities, then we have a starting point from which we can proceed to the conquest of the whole domain of religious truth. But if the Bible is not the Word of God, if it is the mere product of man's thinking, speculating, and guessing, not altogether trustworthy in regard to religious and eternal truth, then we are all "at sea," not knowing wither we are drifting, but we may be sure that we are not drifting toward any safe port.
I did not always believe the Bible to be the Word of God. I sincerely doubted that the Bible was the Word of God. I doubted that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. I doubted whether there was a personal God. I was not an infidel. I was a skeptic. I did not deny. I questioned. I was not an atheist. I was an agnostic. I did not know but I determined to find out. If there was a God, I determined to find that out and act accordingly. If there was not a God, I determined to find that out and act accordingly. If Jesus Christ was the Son of God, I determined to find that out and act accordingly. If Jesus Christ was not the Son of God, I determined to find that out and act accordingly. If the Bible was the Word of God, I determined to find that out and act accordingly. And if the Bible was not the Word of God, I determined to find that out and act accordingly. I found out. I found out beyond the peradventure that there is a God, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that the Bible is the Word of God. Today it's with me not a matter of mere probability nor even of mere belief, but of absolute certainty.
The Bible has withstood the test of time, the onslaughts of its enemies, the excesses of its friends, and the ignorance of the masses. It still stands, it still demands, it still reaches, it still teaches, it still preaches! It is in more languages, more countries, and more hearts than ever before. It is quite simply the Word of God, inerrant, inspired, infallible and forever settled in Heaven. In it you will find salvation for your soul, peace for your heart, information for your mind, medicine for what ails you and a shield for what assails you. Read it, heed it, study it, memorize it, use it, and live by it.
Much of what we will say beyond this point bolsters the bulwark that never faileth while building on that Rock which will withstand any storm!
II. THE HISTORICITY OF THE RESURRECTION [1-9]
Few events in history have the weight of history supporting them like the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now only was His resurrection predicted hundreds of years earlier, as well as repeatedly in the 3 years preceding the event but it can be verified even by sources antagonistic to its truth. Many is the antagonistic agnostic or the ignorant atheist who has come to faith by examining the evidence of the resurrection. The very existence of Christianity is a testimony to the validity of the resurrection because without the resurrection there could be no Christianity, would be no Christianity and even should be no Christianity!
III. THE TESTIMONY OF THE CHANGED [v. 19-30]
What was it that changed the disciples from a cowering shaken group of isolated individuals to a courageous stirred group of powerful proclaimers? The truth of the Scriptures! The truth of the resurrection! The Way, the Truth and the Life, the Lord Jesus Christ! His life meant their life had meaning, His death meant their death had purpose, His resurrection meant their resurrection was coming! This truth has sobered drunkards, cleansed the filthy, lifted the fallen, strengthened the weak, gave voice to the timid, and made wise the foolish!
V. THE REASONABLENESS OF THE FAITH [v. 11-16]
There was a work Jesus came to do. In Luke 19:10 he said, For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. he had a purpose, a job to do that no-one else could do. The Bible is a reasonable book, the Christian faith is a reasonable faith, the Saviour is a reasonable Saviour. He had to die for sins because no one else could do it. He had to rise again because that alone proves the success of His mission. A person must receive Him because that alone allows man to have a choice while still allowing God to be God in His holiness, His sovereignty and His omnipotence.
The Bible's teaching are the only teachings that don't contradict themselves or any knowledge we know to be true. Robert Bakker, a famed dinosaur expert said, When my colleagues saw a CAT scan of the new fossil, they tore up their family tree diagrams, and said, "Back to the drawing board!"
John Morris, president of the Institute for Creation Research said, Sometimes we think that evolutionists have it all figured out. Sometimes we get intimidated by their dogmatic statements. But as the above quote... indicates, a single dinosaur discovery can change everything... evolutionary speculations about dinosaurs or anything else will never stand up in the face of new discoveries. All the evidence fits nicely into the Biblical model; that God created all thins, not very long ago, things that were originally "very good," but were ruined along with all creation by the introduction of sin and its penalty--- death. Each plant or animal type has deteriorated since the Curse, and many were buried in Flood sediments.
VI. THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRIST [v. 16, 21-22, 26-31]
Torrey reminds us, I believe the Bible to be the Word of God ...because of the testimony of Jesus Christ to that fact. We live in a day that many men say that they accept the teaching of Jesus Christ, but that they do not accept the teaching of the whole Bible. They say that they believe what Jesus Christ says, but as to what Moses said or is said to have said and what Isaiah said or is said to of said and what Jeremiah said and Paul said and John said and the rest of the Bible writers, they...they do not know about that.
Now this position may at the first glance seem rational but in point of fact it is utterly irrational. If we accept the teaching of Jesus Christ we must accept the whole Bible, for Jesus Christ has set his stamp of his authority upon the entire book. And if we accept his authority we must accept all that upon which he set the stamp of his authority.
...Matthew 5:18. Here Jesus says "Till heaven and earth pass away, jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law until all be fulfilled." Now every Hebrew scholar knows that a jot is the Hebrew character "yodh" the smallest character in the Hebrew alphabet, less than half the size of any other character in the Hebrew alphabet. And that a tittle is a little horn that the Hebrews put on their consonants. And here Jesus asserts that the law of Moses as originally given is absolutely infallible down to its smallest letter and part of a letter. If, then, we accept the authority of Jesus Christ, we must accept the authority of the law of Moses as originally given. And as contained in the Old Testament Scriptures.
...John 10:35. Jesus has just quoted in proof of a point which he is making from one of the Psalms and adds, "the Scripture cannot be broken," thus setting the stamp of his authority on the absolute irrafragaibility of the Old Testament Scriptures.
In Luke 16:31 Jesus says "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one be raised from the dead." Thus in the most emphatic way endorsing the truth of the Old Testament Scriptures. In John 5:47 Jesus says "If ye believe not his writings," (Moses writings), "how shall you believe my word," thus setting the stamp of his authority upon the teaching of Moses as being as truly from God as was his own. We must then if we accept the authority of Jesus Christ accept the entire Old Testament.
But how about the New Testament? Did Jesus set the stamp of his authority on it also? He did. But how could he when not a book of the New Testament was written when he departed from this earth? He did it by way of anticipation. ...John 14:26 and you will hear Jesus saying "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you," thus setting the stamp of his authority not only upon the apostolic teaching as given by the Holy Spirit but upon the apostolic recollection of what he himself had taught.
The question is often asked, "How do we know that in the Gospel records we have an accurate reproduction of the teaching of Jesus Christ?" ... we have Christ's own authority for it that in the apostolic record we have not the apostles recollection of what Jesus said, but the Holy Spirit's recollection of what Jesus said. And while the apostles might forget and report inaccurately, the Holy Spirit could not forget.
...John 16:12 and 13 and you will hear Jesus saying "I have yet many things to say unto you but you cannot bear them now. Albeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth." Here Jesus sets the stamp of his authority on the teaching of the apostles as being given by the Holy Spirit, as containing all the truth and as containing more truth than his own teaching. He tells the apostles that he has many things that he knows to tell them but that they are not ready yet to receive them. But that when the Holy Spirit comes he will guide them into this fuller and larger truth. If then we accept the authority of Jesus Christ, we must accept the apostolic teaching, the New Testament writings, as being given through the Holy Spirit, as containing all the truth, and as containing more truth than Jesus taught while on earth.
There are many in our day who cry "back to Christ...back to Christ," by which they usually mean we do not care what Paul taught or what John taught or what James taught or what Jude taught. We do not know about them. Let us go back to Christ, the original source of authority, and accept what he taught and that alone.
Very well. Back to Christ. The cry is not a bad one. But when you get back to Christ you hear Christ himself saying, "On to the apostles. They have more truth to teach than I have taught. The Holy Spirit has taught them all the truth. Listen to them." If then we accept the authority of Jesus Christ we are driven to accept the authority of the entire New Testament. So then if we accept the teaching of Jesus Christ, we must accept the entire Old Testament and the entire New Testament. It is either Christ and the whole Bible, or no Bible and no Christ.
There are some in these days who say that they believe in Christ, but not in the Christ of the New Testament. But there is no Christ but the Christ of the New Testament. Any other Christ than the Christ of the New Testament is a poor figment of the imagination. Any other Christ than the Christ of the New Testament is an idol made by man's own fancy and whoever worships him is an idolater. But we must accept the authority of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Rick Jackson
I. THE RELIABILITY OF THE SCRIPTURES [v. 30-31]
R. A. Torrey once said, Is the Bible the Word of God? If the Bible is the Word of God, an absolutely trustworthy revelation from God Himself, of Himself, His purposes and His will, of man's duty and destiny, of spiritual and eternal realities, then we have a starting point from which we can proceed to the conquest of the whole domain of religious truth. But if the Bible is not the Word of God, if it is the mere product of man's thinking, speculating, and guessing, not altogether trustworthy in regard to religious and eternal truth, then we are all "at sea," not knowing wither we are drifting, but we may be sure that we are not drifting toward any safe port.
I did not always believe the Bible to be the Word of God. I sincerely doubted that the Bible was the Word of God. I doubted that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. I doubted whether there was a personal God. I was not an infidel. I was a skeptic. I did not deny. I questioned. I was not an atheist. I was an agnostic. I did not know but I determined to find out. If there was a God, I determined to find that out and act accordingly. If there was not a God, I determined to find that out and act accordingly. If Jesus Christ was the Son of God, I determined to find that out and act accordingly. If Jesus Christ was not the Son of God, I determined to find that out and act accordingly. If the Bible was the Word of God, I determined to find that out and act accordingly. And if the Bible was not the Word of God, I determined to find that out and act accordingly. I found out. I found out beyond the peradventure that there is a God, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that the Bible is the Word of God. Today it's with me not a matter of mere probability nor even of mere belief, but of absolute certainty.
The Bible has withstood the test of time, the onslaughts of its enemies, the excesses of its friends, and the ignorance of the masses. It still stands, it still demands, it still reaches, it still teaches, it still preaches! It is in more languages, more countries, and more hearts than ever before. It is quite simply the Word of God, inerrant, inspired, infallible and forever settled in Heaven. In it you will find salvation for your soul, peace for your heart, information for your mind, medicine for what ails you and a shield for what assails you. Read it, heed it, study it, memorize it, use it, and live by it.
Much of what we will say beyond this point bolsters the bulwark that never faileth while building on that Rock which will withstand any storm!
II. THE HISTORICITY OF THE RESURRECTION [1-9]
Few events in history have the weight of history supporting them like the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now only was His resurrection predicted hundreds of years earlier, as well as repeatedly in the 3 years preceding the event but it can be verified even by sources antagonistic to its truth. Many is the antagonistic agnostic or the ignorant atheist who has come to faith by examining the evidence of the resurrection. The very existence of Christianity is a testimony to the validity of the resurrection because without the resurrection there could be no Christianity, would be no Christianity and even should be no Christianity!
III. THE TESTIMONY OF THE CHANGED [v. 19-30]
What was it that changed the disciples from a cowering shaken group of isolated individuals to a courageous stirred group of powerful proclaimers? The truth of the Scriptures! The truth of the resurrection! The Way, the Truth and the Life, the Lord Jesus Christ! His life meant their life had meaning, His death meant their death had purpose, His resurrection meant their resurrection was coming! This truth has sobered drunkards, cleansed the filthy, lifted the fallen, strengthened the weak, gave voice to the timid, and made wise the foolish!
V. THE REASONABLENESS OF THE FAITH [v. 11-16]
There was a work Jesus came to do. In Luke 19:10 he said, For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. he had a purpose, a job to do that no-one else could do. The Bible is a reasonable book, the Christian faith is a reasonable faith, the Saviour is a reasonable Saviour. He had to die for sins because no one else could do it. He had to rise again because that alone proves the success of His mission. A person must receive Him because that alone allows man to have a choice while still allowing God to be God in His holiness, His sovereignty and His omnipotence.
The Bible's teaching are the only teachings that don't contradict themselves or any knowledge we know to be true. Robert Bakker, a famed dinosaur expert said, When my colleagues saw a CAT scan of the new fossil, they tore up their family tree diagrams, and said, "Back to the drawing board!"
John Morris, president of the Institute for Creation Research said, Sometimes we think that evolutionists have it all figured out. Sometimes we get intimidated by their dogmatic statements. But as the above quote... indicates, a single dinosaur discovery can change everything... evolutionary speculations about dinosaurs or anything else will never stand up in the face of new discoveries. All the evidence fits nicely into the Biblical model; that God created all thins, not very long ago, things that were originally "very good," but were ruined along with all creation by the introduction of sin and its penalty--- death. Each plant or animal type has deteriorated since the Curse, and many were buried in Flood sediments.
VI. THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRIST [v. 16, 21-22, 26-31]
Torrey reminds us, I believe the Bible to be the Word of God ...because of the testimony of Jesus Christ to that fact. We live in a day that many men say that they accept the teaching of Jesus Christ, but that they do not accept the teaching of the whole Bible. They say that they believe what Jesus Christ says, but as to what Moses said or is said to have said and what Isaiah said or is said to of said and what Jeremiah said and Paul said and John said and the rest of the Bible writers, they...they do not know about that.
Now this position may at the first glance seem rational but in point of fact it is utterly irrational. If we accept the teaching of Jesus Christ we must accept the whole Bible, for Jesus Christ has set his stamp of his authority upon the entire book. And if we accept his authority we must accept all that upon which he set the stamp of his authority.
...Matthew 5:18. Here Jesus says "Till heaven and earth pass away, jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law until all be fulfilled." Now every Hebrew scholar knows that a jot is the Hebrew character "yodh" the smallest character in the Hebrew alphabet, less than half the size of any other character in the Hebrew alphabet. And that a tittle is a little horn that the Hebrews put on their consonants. And here Jesus asserts that the law of Moses as originally given is absolutely infallible down to its smallest letter and part of a letter. If, then, we accept the authority of Jesus Christ, we must accept the authority of the law of Moses as originally given. And as contained in the Old Testament Scriptures.
...John 10:35. Jesus has just quoted in proof of a point which he is making from one of the Psalms and adds, "the Scripture cannot be broken," thus setting the stamp of his authority on the absolute irrafragaibility of the Old Testament Scriptures.
In Luke 16:31 Jesus says "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one be raised from the dead." Thus in the most emphatic way endorsing the truth of the Old Testament Scriptures. In John 5:47 Jesus says "If ye believe not his writings," (Moses writings), "how shall you believe my word," thus setting the stamp of his authority upon the teaching of Moses as being as truly from God as was his own. We must then if we accept the authority of Jesus Christ accept the entire Old Testament.
But how about the New Testament? Did Jesus set the stamp of his authority on it also? He did. But how could he when not a book of the New Testament was written when he departed from this earth? He did it by way of anticipation. ...John 14:26 and you will hear Jesus saying "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you," thus setting the stamp of his authority not only upon the apostolic teaching as given by the Holy Spirit but upon the apostolic recollection of what he himself had taught.
The question is often asked, "How do we know that in the Gospel records we have an accurate reproduction of the teaching of Jesus Christ?" ... we have Christ's own authority for it that in the apostolic record we have not the apostles recollection of what Jesus said, but the Holy Spirit's recollection of what Jesus said. And while the apostles might forget and report inaccurately, the Holy Spirit could not forget.
...John 16:12 and 13 and you will hear Jesus saying "I have yet many things to say unto you but you cannot bear them now. Albeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth." Here Jesus sets the stamp of his authority on the teaching of the apostles as being given by the Holy Spirit, as containing all the truth and as containing more truth than his own teaching. He tells the apostles that he has many things that he knows to tell them but that they are not ready yet to receive them. But that when the Holy Spirit comes he will guide them into this fuller and larger truth. If then we accept the authority of Jesus Christ, we must accept the apostolic teaching, the New Testament writings, as being given through the Holy Spirit, as containing all the truth, and as containing more truth than Jesus taught while on earth.
There are many in our day who cry "back to Christ...back to Christ," by which they usually mean we do not care what Paul taught or what John taught or what James taught or what Jude taught. We do not know about them. Let us go back to Christ, the original source of authority, and accept what he taught and that alone.
Very well. Back to Christ. The cry is not a bad one. But when you get back to Christ you hear Christ himself saying, "On to the apostles. They have more truth to teach than I have taught. The Holy Spirit has taught them all the truth. Listen to them." If then we accept the authority of Jesus Christ we are driven to accept the authority of the entire New Testament. So then if we accept the teaching of Jesus Christ, we must accept the entire Old Testament and the entire New Testament. It is either Christ and the whole Bible, or no Bible and no Christ.
There are some in these days who say that they believe in Christ, but not in the Christ of the New Testament. But there is no Christ but the Christ of the New Testament. Any other Christ than the Christ of the New Testament is a poor figment of the imagination. Any other Christ than the Christ of the New Testament is an idol made by man's own fancy and whoever worships him is an idolater. But we must accept the authority of Jesus Christ.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Q: What does entropy have to do with the Bible and refuting compromise regarding the Bible?
A: Many people may have heard of the Second Law of Thermodynamics. It may sound technical, but actually, it’s quite easy to understand.
One of the laws scientists agree on is that everything left to itself tends to run downhill—that’s what’s referred to as “entropy.”
Creationists often use this law as an argument against evolution. You see, molecules-to-man evolution is an upward process—the opposite of what we observe happening in this world. Because of sin, now everything—on its own—decays.
Some Christians say that even in the original creation, plants had to decay and Adam and Eve had to digest food. Therefore they say things were decaying before sin, so it wasn’t a perfect world in the Garden of Eden!
But the correct understanding—from the Bible—is that in a perfect world, there was controlled decay, which is necessary for life. Because of sin, God no longer holds everything together perfectly, so now the decay is not perfectly controlled—that’s why everything, including our own bodies, now runs down and decays.
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
One of the laws scientists agree on is that everything left to itself tends to run downhill—that’s what’s referred to as “entropy.”
Creationists often use this law as an argument against evolution. You see, molecules-to-man evolution is an upward process—the opposite of what we observe happening in this world. Because of sin, now everything—on its own—decays.
Some Christians say that even in the original creation, plants had to decay and Adam and Eve had to digest food. Therefore they say things were decaying before sin, so it wasn’t a perfect world in the Garden of Eden!
But the correct understanding—from the Bible—is that in a perfect world, there was controlled decay, which is necessary for life. Because of sin, God no longer holds everything together perfectly, so now the decay is not perfectly controlled—that’s why everything, including our own bodies, now runs down and decays.
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
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