Choose.

What are we thinking as Christians? More importantly, why aren’t we thinking? Read a little scripture with me. Feel free to go to the context of this passage: I didn’t want to paste the whole book of 2Peter.

2Pe 1:15 “Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance…19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.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.”

2Pe 3:1 “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”

In these two related passages, Peter states that his goal is to get his audience to remember. What are we supposed to remember? In the first passage, we are supposed to remember that God’s word is authoritative and reliable because its author is God Himself. In the second passage, we are supposed to remember both the creation and the flood so that we understand God owns the world, has judged the world, and will judge it again.

What does it mean to say that God’s word is true, authoritative, reliable, and written by God? Does it mean, as deceptive men say, that it’s accurate “in its original manuscripts” but not in its present state? Is God unable to keep His word pure? Does the accuracy of the Bible depend upon the confirmation of men? Here, in this passage, Peter is testifying to the historicity of the Genesis account of creation and the flood. Do you believe, as Peter obviously does, that the first eleven chapters of Genesis are history? Or have you been convinced by men that the Bible is in error?

To be sure, Genesis is not the only place where the creation and flood histories are told. John testifies of the historical truth of creation in John 1. The biblical references to the creation and the flood all speak of them as if they were history; Jesus, Luke, and Paul also attest to its historical truth:

Col 1:16 “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

Heb 11:7 “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”

According to many Christian theologians, the Bible is wrong. Though the days of creation in Genesis are impossible to interpret as anything other than ordinary days, they have used the supposed wisdom of men and changed the meaning of the Word of God. They pretend Genesis is poetry, not history. They make the words of the prophets, the apostles, and the Lord Jesus Himself into lies for the sake of appearing intellectual, which is pride. They accept men’s testimony that the universe and the earth are billions of years old and that all that exists on earth evolved from slime. Because of their acceptance of the erroneous ideas of progressive creation, day-age theory, or theistic evolution rather than dependence on the authority and reliability of God’s word through faith, they have placed their faith in men and caused many Christians to stumble. There are some who go so far as to call nature the “67^th book of the Bible!” The notes they have written in the Bibles printed today turn men from the historical truth of Genesis. They say that the writer of Genesis didn’t know about the science to which we now have access, but he did the best he could. God Himself, together with all of his prophets and apostles, testify that GOD IS THE WRITER OF GENESIS!!!! Is He in error? Does He not understand science?

Christians, you must choose. Be like the Bereans: “These [Bereans] were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). If you investigate the claims of scripture concerning the creation and the flood, you’ll find that those events are always seen as historically true. If you investigate the claims of so-called science that are contrary to the Bible, you will find that they lack any evidence at all – all of the evidence is interpreted to fit what is already assumed to be true. The stories surrounding origins must be taken on faith. Are they taught as fact? Yes. Can they be fact if they are in direct opposition to the Word of God? No. If the stories must be taken on faith, does it make sense for a Christian to have faith in men’s words rather than in God’s Word? NO.

Why is it so important to stand on the historical truth of Genesis? “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3) The historical truth of Genesis is the foundation of our faith. God’s infinite wisdom, glory, and power are seen through his creation of the universe, earth, and life. The penalty of sin is established in Adam’s fall, through which we are all sinners. God’s provision for sin is established in the shedding of the blood of an animal to cover Adam and Eve, and Christ is prophesied in the curses levied on Eve and the serpent. God’s judgment is displayed in the destruction of the world in the flood, while his salvation is proclaimed through the ark in which Noah, his family, and every kind of animal was preserved for the repopulation of the earth.

For thousands of years, godless men have denied the creation and the flood, and now those who claim to know God and His salvation deny it as well. Denial of the historical truth of Genesis is a denial of the power of God, the provision of God, and the judgment of God, both past and future. Stories of billions of years and naturalistic origins are designed to destroy the foundation that God established in Genesis, and the plan is working. Christianity in our age has become shallow and weak, and man’s words are held in higher esteem than God’s word. Christians, you must choose. “Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding,” “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (Pro 9:6, 1Co 2:5).

By: Teresa Beck

Obedience, Shining the Light

Rom 11:32-36 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. 

Chosen, election, hermeneutics, purpose-driven, reformed, orthodox, denominationalism, and ecumenicalism. Everything listed and then some leads to some sort of division and dissention and rips brotherhood apart. Not all these things are absolutely bad and I am not absolutely against “organized religion.” There is some good teaching in these topics, but it should not be debated with emotional, selfish intent. 

Things that cause such division are disobedience to the Gospel itself, and most of the time is rooted in the pursuit of “Knowledge” which is pride and ”Gnosticism.”  These are not the things Christ Jesus, or the Apostles commanded, nor was it their tradition that we are supposed to follow in. As far as I can tell, they taught against such things.  

We are supposed to bear one another’s burdens, be an example of Christ to one another, study the scripture together to know what is obedience and grace through faith. We should study the word on our own and together to know God. I have read many articles about Romans chapter 11 and others, and most of them pretty much are man-centered about how great men are in that God would choose them, etc, etc, etc.

Men are nothing in the flesh but dead. Without the blood of Christ and the resurrection the world has no hope, no peace, no joy, no salvation. Yes, it is possible that God would choose a man to fulfill His will, and I am sure he has and does now. But is that what we ought to be looking for or focusing on? I don’t think so. The lesson of the Gospel is love, God’s love, and an example for us to follow because of that love. 

What is the admonition to husbands in Ephesians 5:25-27? 

Eph 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 

The admonition is the love of Christ who, because of the love of the Father, was obedient. We are supposed to follow the example in faith in Christ Jesus and faithfulness to the Gospel. Why all the debate over who is chosen? Does it matter who is chosen or how God determines who is “elect,” or does it matter more that God is, and He sent His only begotten Son to pay the penalty of our rebellion against the Creator?

 I believe that all things can be understood through the Gospel, and outside of that, nothing makes sense. The Gospel is all through the scripture, Genesis through Revelation, and it is about Christ Jesus the Holy One, not about you and me. We are the creation, and because of Jesus our Lord and God, we have the privilege and honor to share in His glory. That is grace beyond measure. 

As far as the calling, The Gospel IS the call of God to the world. Yet within that grace THROUGH faith, many are called to do this or that, but all of us are commanded to love one another as Christ Jesus loves. To do otherwise is disobedience to the command and is sin. What have we built on the foundation of Christ and the Apostles – wood, hay, and stubble? If we live in obedience to the command, the result is that the light shines, the Gospel is spread, and many are blessed. 

Look again at Ephesians: 

(Eph 5:1-17) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 

What is the will of God? What was it when He commanded Adam not to eat of that tree? OBEDIENCE. And what does Proverbs 1:7 say? 

(Pro 1:7) “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” 

Fear God:  that is the evidence of our belief that He is and is able to destroy and judge. That faith leads to obedience, and anyone who does not obey despises the commands and despises the instruction of the Gospel, the Word of God. That is rebellion and sin. It doesn’t get much simpler than that. 

As Christians, we must get back to the very basics and realize the Gospel itself is the cornerstone of the temple foundation. Without it we have a house built upon sand, nothing more than a world religion. True Christianity is not a religion, it is how we live in Christ. We are all sinners, and some of us have been saved by grace through faith. Many more will be IF we are obedient to the command of the Gospel. 

“Let your light so shine,” “For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.”