"And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." - Colossians 2:13-14
Mankind has a debt problem. In the physical world, our desire for a higher standard of living and more “stuff” has led to burdensome credit card balances and unwieldy mortgage payments. The weight of what we owe can cause restless nights and the feeling that we’re trapped. We long for someone to rescue us from the mess we have made.
However, material indebtedness isn’t our biggest problem. Our sin-debt is. All of us were born with a “flesh” nature that prompts us to rebel against the Lord. Our rebelliousness is an affront to His holy nature, incurring a debt that we owe to Him. Until this penalty is paid, we are under God’s righteous judgment and remain spiritually separated from Him (Eph. 2:1-2). The trouble is, we are unable to pay what’s due. No amount of good works, self-sacrifice, or religious devotion will lessen what we owe.
So God, in His great mercy, sent His Son to rescue us. Jesus Christ left heaven and all of its glory so He could come to earth to live and die for us (Phil. 2:6-7). Although the cost to our Savior was enormous, He willingly paid the price we owed. He took our sins upon Himself, bore them to the cross, and discharged our debt in full. Hallelujah!
When we receive Jesus as our Savior, His atoning work is credited to our account. We become children of God and co-heirs with Christ—we’re changed from debtors to inheritors (1 Peter 1:3-4). Let the knowledge of His sacrifice on the cross permeate your thinking, attitude, and choices.
-Dr. Charles Stanley
.....The Gospel!
What is the Gospel? How do you become a Christian?
There is Something to Admit
First of all we have to admit that we are all sinners. "...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" - Romans 3:23
Each of us has failed miserably when it comes to keeping His commandments. We haven't honored our parents as we should, we have tolerated untruthfulness, we have been envious of our neighbors and while we may not have actually committed murder, we have tolerated murderous thoughts. Our natural tendency is not to acknowledge our sin. We are prone to blame our circumstances or our genes. We are keen to gain comfort in the assurance that we are not as bad as some people.
So what brings us to the place where we know that we must admit we are sinners? This is something God does. Jesus explained to His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit, "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." - John 16:8
There is Something to Believe
Jesus is the only Savior from the sin to which we have just admitted. We may have begun our journey fairly convinced Jesus was a "good man," but as we considered the evidence we were forced in a different direction. We certainly did not set out predisposed to believe. So we find ourselves agreeing with this statement: "Faith is forced consent. That is to say, when evidence is judged by the mind to be sufficient, the state of mind we call 'faith' is the inevitable effect….whenever the reasons are judged sufficient, faith or belief is induced." (John Murray "Collected Writings II" p237)
So we come to believe that God has made provision for our sin in the person of His Son. "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." - 1 John 4:10
There is Something to Consider
We need to come to terms with the cost of following Christ. He said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." - Luke 9:23-24
Now be careful not to misunderstand this. The only thing we 'contribute' to our salvation is the sin from which we need to be saved. One way to learn the important distinction is to remember that while entrance to the Christian life is free, the annual subscription is everything we have!
There is a cost involved in saying no to sin.
Jesus said, "The time has come, the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!… Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Notice that His first call is to 'repentance' This means to turn from sin to God. There are certain characteristics which Sinclair Ferguson points out are commonly present in repentance.
1) A sense of shame, such as when David cries to the Lord after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba. "For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight…" - Psalm 51:3-4
2) This leads to humbling. Instead of jumping to our defense or trying to blame our actions on people or circumstances, we acknowledge our accountability.
3) There is an accompanying sense of sorrow and regret. If we had been in the corner of the bedroom of the prodigal son on his first night at home, I think we would have heard the sobs and seen the tears and watched in wonder as he kneeled by his bed and mourned the wasted years and the squandered privileges. The memory of sin is distasteful to the truly penitent.
4) There is also a recognition of God's pardon. It is the kindness of God which leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). While we are emphasizing the need for repentance at the gateway of faith, this is something which continues through our entire life.
There is a cost involved in saying no to self.
What we mean by this is simply that Christ comes first, before everything and everyone else. This has a peculiarly challenging ring in the midst of a culture that has gone to great lengths to bolster self-esteem and make much of the individual. It means that my time and my talents and my relationships and my career will all be brought under His jurisdiction.
There is a cost involved in saying no to secrecy.
When a man or woman discovers the freedom Jesus brings, they will be ready and willing to let others know. The Bible confirms this in a number of places. "...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." - Romans 10:9
While coming to trust in Christ is undoubtedly a personal matter, it is not private.
There is Something to Do
Genuine Christian faith is more than saying,"I believe Jesus is who He claimed to be." After all even demons are orthodox when it comes to this, but clearly they are not Christians! (James 2:19)
Faith means accepting the facts can be trusted, and acting upon what you believe to be true.
Alister McGrath uses an analogy which you may find helpful. Imagine I am suffering from blood poisoning and there is a bottle of penicillin sitting on my bedside table. What are my options?
1) I may accept that this bottle of penicillin exists.
2) I may trust that it is capable of curing my illness, but I shall never cure my blood poisoning, unless -
3) I act upon that trust and take the penicillin. Acceptance and trust prepare the way for the final component of faith - entering into the promise, and receiving what it offers.
Mere mental assent to these facts without any corresponding action no more brings us to personal faith than memorizing a menu allows us to enjoy a meal. True faith means moving beyond the awareness of the existence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to a living personal relationship with Him.
If God has shown you your need and given you this desire, then you must forsake everything and trust Christ NOW! There's a time coming when it will be too late.
So here is the most crucial question you will ever face: "Do you take this Savior?"
If your answer is "yes," then let me encourage you to deal with the matter immediately. You may want to find a quiet place to seal your commitment. God is not so concerned with your ability to articulate your thoughts as He is aware of the sincerity of the response of your heart. A simple prayer such as this may be of help to you in marking the moment. Depending on the kind of person you are, you may want to write this in your journal or the fly leaf of your Bible. This is a unique occasion.
"Lord Jesus Christ, I confess that I am a guilty, lost and helpless sinner. I want you to save me, to take your rightful place as Lord of my life. I want to turn from my sin and trust only in your atoning sacrifice. I give my life to you. Take charge of it all and help me by the power of the Holy Spirit to follow after you."
It is important for us to recognize the mystery which surrounds this. Jesus referred to this when he was talking with Nicodemus about being born again. He said, "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." - John 3:8
This recognizes the amazing wonder of God's grace whereby Jesus comes to where I am, calls me by my name and changes me. So this life-changing encounter takes place both mysteriously and individually.
Faith is the gift of God, and we may be confident that having given it, He will not take it back. Allow me to offer you the same encouragement Paul gave to the believers in Philippi, "...being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ..." - Philippians 1:6
So What Should I Do Now
There are two very important things you should now do.
1) Get yourself a Bible and start reading it. The gospel of John is a good place to start. The Bible is the Word of God and He gave it to us that we might learn more about following Him. Set aside a time each day for reading your Bible and talking to God in prayer.
2) Find other Christians and tell them what you've done. If you know other Christians, then you could go to church with them. If not, then find a Bible-teaching church that you can attend. It is important now that you grow in your walk with God. Spiritual food, that is fellowship and teaching, as well as your own Bible study, will help you grow.
"Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other." - Isaiah 45 : 22
Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever.....Amen!
There is Something to Admit
First of all we have to admit that we are all sinners. "...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" - Romans 3:23
Each of us has failed miserably when it comes to keeping His commandments. We haven't honored our parents as we should, we have tolerated untruthfulness, we have been envious of our neighbors and while we may not have actually committed murder, we have tolerated murderous thoughts. Our natural tendency is not to acknowledge our sin. We are prone to blame our circumstances or our genes. We are keen to gain comfort in the assurance that we are not as bad as some people.
So what brings us to the place where we know that we must admit we are sinners? This is something God does. Jesus explained to His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit, "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." - John 16:8
There is Something to Believe
Jesus is the only Savior from the sin to which we have just admitted. We may have begun our journey fairly convinced Jesus was a "good man," but as we considered the evidence we were forced in a different direction. We certainly did not set out predisposed to believe. So we find ourselves agreeing with this statement: "Faith is forced consent. That is to say, when evidence is judged by the mind to be sufficient, the state of mind we call 'faith' is the inevitable effect….whenever the reasons are judged sufficient, faith or belief is induced." (John Murray "Collected Writings II" p237)
So we come to believe that God has made provision for our sin in the person of His Son. "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." - 1 John 4:10
There is Something to Consider
We need to come to terms with the cost of following Christ. He said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." - Luke 9:23-24
Now be careful not to misunderstand this. The only thing we 'contribute' to our salvation is the sin from which we need to be saved. One way to learn the important distinction is to remember that while entrance to the Christian life is free, the annual subscription is everything we have!
There is a cost involved in saying no to sin.
Jesus said, "The time has come, the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!… Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Notice that His first call is to 'repentance' This means to turn from sin to God. There are certain characteristics which Sinclair Ferguson points out are commonly present in repentance.
1) A sense of shame, such as when David cries to the Lord after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba. "For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight…" - Psalm 51:3-4
2) This leads to humbling. Instead of jumping to our defense or trying to blame our actions on people or circumstances, we acknowledge our accountability.
3) There is an accompanying sense of sorrow and regret. If we had been in the corner of the bedroom of the prodigal son on his first night at home, I think we would have heard the sobs and seen the tears and watched in wonder as he kneeled by his bed and mourned the wasted years and the squandered privileges. The memory of sin is distasteful to the truly penitent.
4) There is also a recognition of God's pardon. It is the kindness of God which leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). While we are emphasizing the need for repentance at the gateway of faith, this is something which continues through our entire life.
There is a cost involved in saying no to self.
What we mean by this is simply that Christ comes first, before everything and everyone else. This has a peculiarly challenging ring in the midst of a culture that has gone to great lengths to bolster self-esteem and make much of the individual. It means that my time and my talents and my relationships and my career will all be brought under His jurisdiction.
There is a cost involved in saying no to secrecy.
When a man or woman discovers the freedom Jesus brings, they will be ready and willing to let others know. The Bible confirms this in a number of places. "...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." - Romans 10:9
While coming to trust in Christ is undoubtedly a personal matter, it is not private.
There is Something to Do
Genuine Christian faith is more than saying,"I believe Jesus is who He claimed to be." After all even demons are orthodox when it comes to this, but clearly they are not Christians! (James 2:19)
Faith means accepting the facts can be trusted, and acting upon what you believe to be true.
Alister McGrath uses an analogy which you may find helpful. Imagine I am suffering from blood poisoning and there is a bottle of penicillin sitting on my bedside table. What are my options?
1) I may accept that this bottle of penicillin exists.
2) I may trust that it is capable of curing my illness, but I shall never cure my blood poisoning, unless -
3) I act upon that trust and take the penicillin. Acceptance and trust prepare the way for the final component of faith - entering into the promise, and receiving what it offers.
Mere mental assent to these facts without any corresponding action no more brings us to personal faith than memorizing a menu allows us to enjoy a meal. True faith means moving beyond the awareness of the existence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to a living personal relationship with Him.
If God has shown you your need and given you this desire, then you must forsake everything and trust Christ NOW! There's a time coming when it will be too late.
So here is the most crucial question you will ever face: "Do you take this Savior?"
If your answer is "yes," then let me encourage you to deal with the matter immediately. You may want to find a quiet place to seal your commitment. God is not so concerned with your ability to articulate your thoughts as He is aware of the sincerity of the response of your heart. A simple prayer such as this may be of help to you in marking the moment. Depending on the kind of person you are, you may want to write this in your journal or the fly leaf of your Bible. This is a unique occasion.
"Lord Jesus Christ, I confess that I am a guilty, lost and helpless sinner. I want you to save me, to take your rightful place as Lord of my life. I want to turn from my sin and trust only in your atoning sacrifice. I give my life to you. Take charge of it all and help me by the power of the Holy Spirit to follow after you."
It is important for us to recognize the mystery which surrounds this. Jesus referred to this when he was talking with Nicodemus about being born again. He said, "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." - John 3:8
This recognizes the amazing wonder of God's grace whereby Jesus comes to where I am, calls me by my name and changes me. So this life-changing encounter takes place both mysteriously and individually.
Faith is the gift of God, and we may be confident that having given it, He will not take it back. Allow me to offer you the same encouragement Paul gave to the believers in Philippi, "...being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ..." - Philippians 1:6
So What Should I Do Now
There are two very important things you should now do.
1) Get yourself a Bible and start reading it. The gospel of John is a good place to start. The Bible is the Word of God and He gave it to us that we might learn more about following Him. Set aside a time each day for reading your Bible and talking to God in prayer.
2) Find other Christians and tell them what you've done. If you know other Christians, then you could go to church with them. If not, then find a Bible-teaching church that you can attend. It is important now that you grow in your walk with God. Spiritual food, that is fellowship and teaching, as well as your own Bible study, will help you grow.
"Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other." - Isaiah 45 : 22
Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever.....Amen!
.....Thirty Six Pre-Trib Rapture Texts!
1) There are no passages in either the Old Testament or the New Testament that say the Church will go through the Tribulation Period.
2) The Tribulation Period is called the "Time of Jacob's Trouble" [The time of unbelieving Israel's Trouble], but it is never called the time of the Church's Trouble (Jer. 30:7).
3) Gabriel told Daniel, "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people [Daniel's people are the Jews] and upon thy holy city" [The Holy City is Jerusalem] (Dan. 9:24). There is no mention of the Church.
4) The Church had no part in the first sixty-nine weeks and it will have no part in the seventieth week [the Tribulation Period] (Dan. 9:24).
5) In the Book of Revelation, the Rapture occurs at Rev. 4:1 which is before the Tribulation Period described in Rev. 6:1-19:21. In the sequence of events, the Rapture is before the seal, trumpet and bowl judgments.
6) The Church is mentioned more than twenty times in the first three chapters of Revelation, but the Church is never mentioned in the description of the Tribulation Period between Rev. 4:1 and Rev. 19:1.
7) The Tribulation Period is called a Day of Wrath in the Bible (Zeph 1:15), but the Bible says, "God hath not appointed us [the Church] to wrath" (I Thess. 5:9).
8) The Tribulation Period is called a Day of Wrath in the Bible (Zeph. 1:15), but the Bible says, Jesus has "delivered us from the wrath to come" [delivered the Church from the Tribulation Period] (I Thess. 1:10).
9) The Tribulation Period is called the Day of the Lord in the Bible (Zeph. 1:14). The Bible says, "the day of the Lord [the Tribulation Period] so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they [the unbelievers] shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them [upon the unbelievers], as travail upon a woman with child; and they [the unbelievers] shall not escape" (I Thess. 5:2-3). It clearly teaches that the Tribulation Period will come upon unbelievers, but it does not include believers.
10) Concerning the Rapture, the Bible says, "Comfort one another with these words" (I Thess. 4:18). There's no comfort in the teaching that the Church will go through part or all of the Tribulation Period.
11) Jesus told the Church at Philadelphia, "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation [the Tribulation Period], which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth" (Rev. 3:10). God promised to keep the obedient Church members out of the Tribulation Period.
12) According to the Bible, the marriage of the Lamb will take place in heaven before Jesus comes back to fight the Battle of Armageddon at the end of the Tribulation Period (Rev. 19:7-21). This means the Church will go to heaven [be Raptured] for the marriage of the Lamb before the Second Coming.
13) The end of the age will be like the days of Noah (Matt. 24:37). Noah and his family were removed from the earth [got on the ark] before the flood. Some believe this means that the Church will be removed from the earth before the judgment of God [Raptured before the Tribulation Period] (Gen. 7:23).
14) The end of the age will be like the days of Lot (Luke 17:28). Lot and his family were removed from Sodom before the judgment of God [before the fire and brimstone fell] (Gen. 19:16). Some believe this means that the Church will be removed from the earth before the judgment of God [Raptured before the Tribulation Period].
15) Jesus was talking about the Tribulation Period when He said, "Pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass" (Luke 21:36). It seems unreasonable to believe Jesus would tell the Church to pray for something He is unwilling to grant.
16) The Bible says, "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming" (II Thess. 2:7-8). The most common interpretation of this is that the Antichrist can't be revealed until the Restrainer [who most commentators say is both the Holy Spirit and the Church] is removed. If the Restrainer is the Church only, this means the Church will be removed before the Antichrist is revealed [that's the Pre-Trib. Rapture]. If the Restrainer is the Holy Spirit only so that the Holy Spirit is removed without the Church, this means believers will cease to be indwelt with the Holy Spirit. It also means the Church will be left behind to go through the worst time the earth has ever seen [the Tribulation Period] without the help of the Holy Spirit. This would contradict the teaching of Jesus when He said, "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever" (John 14:16). And, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5).
17) Isaiah wrote that God said, "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain" (Isa. 26:19-21). Notice, that the dead rise first [that's the Rapture], next God's people are summoned to enter into His chambers for a short while until the indignation [a name of the Tribulation Period] is past. God will raise the dead and summon His people because He intends to punish the inhabitants of the earth [send the Tribulation Period].
18) Malachi wrote that God said, "They shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not" (Malachi 3:17-18). Pre-Tribulation teachers believe God is saying He will come for His Church [the Rapture] and then He will return with His Church [the Second Coming] to judge between the righteous and wicked.
19) In the Rapture, Jesus comes for His Church (I Thess. 4:16-17; John 14:3). When He comes at the end of the Tribulation Period, He will come with His Church (I Thess. 3:13; Rev. 19:14).
20) Concerning the Second Coming, Jesus said, "But of the day and the hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only" (Matt. 24:36). But if the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, some will know the day because it will be seven years from the signing of the seven-year covenant. Some will know the day because it will be 1260 days from the day the Antichrist defiles the Temple (Rev. 12:6).
21) Concerning the Antichrist, many scholars believe the Bible teaches he won't be revealed until after the Church is gone (II Thess. 2:6-8), but if the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, some will know who he is because he will sign the seven-year covenant (Dan. 9:24-27), he will head up the world government (Rev. 13:1-10), he will try to force multitudes to worship him, and to receive his mark, receive his name or his number (Rev. 13:15-17). Many of those who are here and being forced to worship him and take his name or die will know who he is.
22) The Antichrist is not suppose to be revealed until after the Church is gone (II Thess. 2:6-8), but if the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, the Church will know who the Antichrist is because he will put a statue of himself in the rebuilt Temple (Dan. 11:31; Dan. 12:11; Matt. 24:15).
23) If the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, the Church will know who the Antichrist is because he will head up the world government and receive a deadly wound to his head that will be healed (Rev. 13:3). Some think he will be raised from the dead or at least fake the resurrection.
24) If the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, the Church will know who the Antichrist is because he will head up the world government and be supported by the head of the world religion called the False Prophet (Rev. 13:11-18).
25) If the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, the Church will know who the Antichrist is because he's the one that will kill the Two Witnesses (Rev. 11:7).
26) Many people don't think the Church will go through the Tribulation Period because of verses of Scripture that say things like, "The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked he will destroy" (Psa. 145:18-20). Many believe God will preserve the Church from the Tribulation Period or keep the Church out of the Tribulation Period not destroy the Church in the Tribulation Period.
27) There are verses of Scripture that say things like, "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it" (Deut. 4:2; Prov. 30:5-6; Rev. 22:18-19). Some believe people have to throw away verses of Scripture to believe the Church will go through the Tribulation Period.
28) In the seven letters to the seven churches, Jesus said, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" seven times (Rev. 2:7,11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). When we get to the Tribulation Period, Jesus said, "If any man have an ear, let him hear" (Rev. 13:9). He left out, "what the Spirit saith unto the churches" because there are no churches on earth to go through the Tribulation Period. The Church will be in heaven.
29) When the Rapture happens the Church goes up to meet Jesus in the air (I Thess. 4:13-18), but at the end of the Tribulation Period the Church will come down to the earth with Jesus to witness what He does at the Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 19:14-21).
30) The Pre-Tribulation Rapture is more consistent with God's grace, love, mercy, compassion, etc. The Mid and Post-Tribulation Rapture is more consistent with God's wrath.
31) If the Rapture takes place at the end of the Tribulation Period, and all the wicked are removed from the earth at that time (Matt. 13:24-30, 47-50; 25:41), no one will be left to re-populate the earth during the Millennium. If all of the saved are Raptured and all the lost are removed from the earth at the end of the Tribulation Period, no one will be left to re-populate the earth.
32) The Antichrist will prevail against the saints during the Tribulation Period, but the gates of hell won't prevail against the Church (Rev. 13:7; Matt. 16:18). Therefore, the Church won't go through the Tribulation Period.
33) The twenty-four elders [representatives of the Church] will be in heaven before the seven-sealed scroll is broken (Rev. 4:4; 6:1-17).
34) Jesus was talking about the Tribulation Period when He said, "Pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass" (Luke 21:36). He didn't say, "Pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to endure some or all of these things that shall come to pass."
35) There are no signs of the Rapture, but if the Rapture takes place during the Tribulation Period, it would have to be after the seven-year covenant is signed by the Antichrist, and perhaps after several other things depending upon what a person believes about Mid-Trib, Post-Trib, etc.
36) Jesus said, "When these things [the signs] begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh" (Luke 21:28).
He didn't say, "After all these things have happened your redemption draweth nigh." He said, "When these things begin to come to pass it's close."
Maranatha!
2) The Tribulation Period is called the "Time of Jacob's Trouble" [The time of unbelieving Israel's Trouble], but it is never called the time of the Church's Trouble (Jer. 30:7).
3) Gabriel told Daniel, "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people [Daniel's people are the Jews] and upon thy holy city" [The Holy City is Jerusalem] (Dan. 9:24). There is no mention of the Church.
4) The Church had no part in the first sixty-nine weeks and it will have no part in the seventieth week [the Tribulation Period] (Dan. 9:24).
5) In the Book of Revelation, the Rapture occurs at Rev. 4:1 which is before the Tribulation Period described in Rev. 6:1-19:21. In the sequence of events, the Rapture is before the seal, trumpet and bowl judgments.
6) The Church is mentioned more than twenty times in the first three chapters of Revelation, but the Church is never mentioned in the description of the Tribulation Period between Rev. 4:1 and Rev. 19:1.
7) The Tribulation Period is called a Day of Wrath in the Bible (Zeph 1:15), but the Bible says, "God hath not appointed us [the Church] to wrath" (I Thess. 5:9).
8) The Tribulation Period is called a Day of Wrath in the Bible (Zeph. 1:15), but the Bible says, Jesus has "delivered us from the wrath to come" [delivered the Church from the Tribulation Period] (I Thess. 1:10).
9) The Tribulation Period is called the Day of the Lord in the Bible (Zeph. 1:14). The Bible says, "the day of the Lord [the Tribulation Period] so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they [the unbelievers] shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them [upon the unbelievers], as travail upon a woman with child; and they [the unbelievers] shall not escape" (I Thess. 5:2-3). It clearly teaches that the Tribulation Period will come upon unbelievers, but it does not include believers.
10) Concerning the Rapture, the Bible says, "Comfort one another with these words" (I Thess. 4:18). There's no comfort in the teaching that the Church will go through part or all of the Tribulation Period.
11) Jesus told the Church at Philadelphia, "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation [the Tribulation Period], which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth" (Rev. 3:10). God promised to keep the obedient Church members out of the Tribulation Period.
12) According to the Bible, the marriage of the Lamb will take place in heaven before Jesus comes back to fight the Battle of Armageddon at the end of the Tribulation Period (Rev. 19:7-21). This means the Church will go to heaven [be Raptured] for the marriage of the Lamb before the Second Coming.
13) The end of the age will be like the days of Noah (Matt. 24:37). Noah and his family were removed from the earth [got on the ark] before the flood. Some believe this means that the Church will be removed from the earth before the judgment of God [Raptured before the Tribulation Period] (Gen. 7:23).
14) The end of the age will be like the days of Lot (Luke 17:28). Lot and his family were removed from Sodom before the judgment of God [before the fire and brimstone fell] (Gen. 19:16). Some believe this means that the Church will be removed from the earth before the judgment of God [Raptured before the Tribulation Period].
15) Jesus was talking about the Tribulation Period when He said, "Pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass" (Luke 21:36). It seems unreasonable to believe Jesus would tell the Church to pray for something He is unwilling to grant.
16) The Bible says, "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming" (II Thess. 2:7-8). The most common interpretation of this is that the Antichrist can't be revealed until the Restrainer [who most commentators say is both the Holy Spirit and the Church] is removed. If the Restrainer is the Church only, this means the Church will be removed before the Antichrist is revealed [that's the Pre-Trib. Rapture]. If the Restrainer is the Holy Spirit only so that the Holy Spirit is removed without the Church, this means believers will cease to be indwelt with the Holy Spirit. It also means the Church will be left behind to go through the worst time the earth has ever seen [the Tribulation Period] without the help of the Holy Spirit. This would contradict the teaching of Jesus when He said, "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever" (John 14:16). And, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5).
17) Isaiah wrote that God said, "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain" (Isa. 26:19-21). Notice, that the dead rise first [that's the Rapture], next God's people are summoned to enter into His chambers for a short while until the indignation [a name of the Tribulation Period] is past. God will raise the dead and summon His people because He intends to punish the inhabitants of the earth [send the Tribulation Period].
18) Malachi wrote that God said, "They shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not" (Malachi 3:17-18). Pre-Tribulation teachers believe God is saying He will come for His Church [the Rapture] and then He will return with His Church [the Second Coming] to judge between the righteous and wicked.
19) In the Rapture, Jesus comes for His Church (I Thess. 4:16-17; John 14:3). When He comes at the end of the Tribulation Period, He will come with His Church (I Thess. 3:13; Rev. 19:14).
20) Concerning the Second Coming, Jesus said, "But of the day and the hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only" (Matt. 24:36). But if the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, some will know the day because it will be seven years from the signing of the seven-year covenant. Some will know the day because it will be 1260 days from the day the Antichrist defiles the Temple (Rev. 12:6).
21) Concerning the Antichrist, many scholars believe the Bible teaches he won't be revealed until after the Church is gone (II Thess. 2:6-8), but if the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, some will know who he is because he will sign the seven-year covenant (Dan. 9:24-27), he will head up the world government (Rev. 13:1-10), he will try to force multitudes to worship him, and to receive his mark, receive his name or his number (Rev. 13:15-17). Many of those who are here and being forced to worship him and take his name or die will know who he is.
22) The Antichrist is not suppose to be revealed until after the Church is gone (II Thess. 2:6-8), but if the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, the Church will know who the Antichrist is because he will put a statue of himself in the rebuilt Temple (Dan. 11:31; Dan. 12:11; Matt. 24:15).
23) If the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, the Church will know who the Antichrist is because he will head up the world government and receive a deadly wound to his head that will be healed (Rev. 13:3). Some think he will be raised from the dead or at least fake the resurrection.
24) If the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, the Church will know who the Antichrist is because he will head up the world government and be supported by the head of the world religion called the False Prophet (Rev. 13:11-18).
25) If the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, the Church will know who the Antichrist is because he's the one that will kill the Two Witnesses (Rev. 11:7).
26) Many people don't think the Church will go through the Tribulation Period because of verses of Scripture that say things like, "The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked he will destroy" (Psa. 145:18-20). Many believe God will preserve the Church from the Tribulation Period or keep the Church out of the Tribulation Period not destroy the Church in the Tribulation Period.
27) There are verses of Scripture that say things like, "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it" (Deut. 4:2; Prov. 30:5-6; Rev. 22:18-19). Some believe people have to throw away verses of Scripture to believe the Church will go through the Tribulation Period.
28) In the seven letters to the seven churches, Jesus said, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" seven times (Rev. 2:7,11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). When we get to the Tribulation Period, Jesus said, "If any man have an ear, let him hear" (Rev. 13:9). He left out, "what the Spirit saith unto the churches" because there are no churches on earth to go through the Tribulation Period. The Church will be in heaven.
29) When the Rapture happens the Church goes up to meet Jesus in the air (I Thess. 4:13-18), but at the end of the Tribulation Period the Church will come down to the earth with Jesus to witness what He does at the Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 19:14-21).
30) The Pre-Tribulation Rapture is more consistent with God's grace, love, mercy, compassion, etc. The Mid and Post-Tribulation Rapture is more consistent with God's wrath.
31) If the Rapture takes place at the end of the Tribulation Period, and all the wicked are removed from the earth at that time (Matt. 13:24-30, 47-50; 25:41), no one will be left to re-populate the earth during the Millennium. If all of the saved are Raptured and all the lost are removed from the earth at the end of the Tribulation Period, no one will be left to re-populate the earth.
32) The Antichrist will prevail against the saints during the Tribulation Period, but the gates of hell won't prevail against the Church (Rev. 13:7; Matt. 16:18). Therefore, the Church won't go through the Tribulation Period.
33) The twenty-four elders [representatives of the Church] will be in heaven before the seven-sealed scroll is broken (Rev. 4:4; 6:1-17).
34) Jesus was talking about the Tribulation Period when He said, "Pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass" (Luke 21:36). He didn't say, "Pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to endure some or all of these things that shall come to pass."
35) There are no signs of the Rapture, but if the Rapture takes place during the Tribulation Period, it would have to be after the seven-year covenant is signed by the Antichrist, and perhaps after several other things depending upon what a person believes about Mid-Trib, Post-Trib, etc.
36) Jesus said, "When these things [the signs] begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh" (Luke 21:28).
He didn't say, "After all these things have happened your redemption draweth nigh." He said, "When these things begin to come to pass it's close."
Maranatha!
.....Our Helper!
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." - John 14:26
If you ever have had a time when you were discouraged or unsure of what to do and a verse of Scripture suddenly came to mind—a verse you didn't remember memorizing—that came from the Holy Spirit. It might have been a passage you heard in a sermon a month ago or 10 years ago, but there it was, vividly on display in your mind. That was the Holy Spirit, who brought to your remembrance what you needed to know.
The Holy Spirit helps us in our study, knowledge, and memorization of Scripture. Jesus said, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you" (John 14:26).
Maybe there have been times when someone asks you a question and your mind goes blank. But all of a sudden, some thoughts came to mind, and you started sharing them. They were so good, you wanted to take notes on yourself. You thought, This is good stuff. Where did this come from? It came from the Holy Spirit. He brought it to your remembrance.
This does not excuse you from the discipline of Bible study. You still have to read it, study it, and memorize it. But having done that, the Bible promises that the Holy Spirit will bring these things to your remembrance.
The Bible tells us that "...eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God" (1 Corinthians 2:9–10). What does God want to show you today?
-Greg Laurie
If you ever have had a time when you were discouraged or unsure of what to do and a verse of Scripture suddenly came to mind—a verse you didn't remember memorizing—that came from the Holy Spirit. It might have been a passage you heard in a sermon a month ago or 10 years ago, but there it was, vividly on display in your mind. That was the Holy Spirit, who brought to your remembrance what you needed to know.
The Holy Spirit helps us in our study, knowledge, and memorization of Scripture. Jesus said, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you" (John 14:26).
Maybe there have been times when someone asks you a question and your mind goes blank. But all of a sudden, some thoughts came to mind, and you started sharing them. They were so good, you wanted to take notes on yourself. You thought, This is good stuff. Where did this come from? It came from the Holy Spirit. He brought it to your remembrance.
This does not excuse you from the discipline of Bible study. You still have to read it, study it, and memorize it. But having done that, the Bible promises that the Holy Spirit will bring these things to your remembrance.
The Bible tells us that "...eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God" (1 Corinthians 2:9–10). What does God want to show you today?
-Greg Laurie
.....Find a Church!
One of the most perplexing issues of living the Christian life in twenty-first century America is where to go to church. New believers seeking their first church home, long-time Christians relocating to an unfamiliar place, and even those well entrenched in a particular church must face this issue head on. That’s because so much of what passes for “church” today isn’t really church, at least, not as the New Testament presents it to us. Therefore, if you are seeking a church home, the only place to discover what really matters is in the Bible. The Book of Acts offers us a blueprint for church life:
"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." - Acts 2:42-47
"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine..."
The first thing we discover about this early church is a commitment to the teaching of the apostles. These early believers heard the apostles firsthand; however, we have this very same teaching in our Bibles. Therefore, a good church is a Bible-centered church. Nothing is as important as this - not a large congregation, a witty pastor, or tangible experiences of the Holy Spirit. These first believers never made personal experience the touchstone of their faith, which is a common error today, because the Bible is God’s supreme instrument for renewing his people in the image of Jesus. If you take time to read through the entire Book of Acts, you will discover it is full of the centrality of preaching.
Unfortunately, preachers who distort God’s Word are all too common today. Sometimes this springs from a sincere desire to soften hard hearts, but hearts aren’t changed by compromise. A preacher may be tempted to water down the truth about sin and the need for repentance, or the difficult parts about the incarnation and atonement, and replace them with misguided promises of personal prosperity or a focus on political issues. Or he may adopt the technique of an anecdotal preacher, departing from Scripture and telling a series of amusing stories. So, then, the first thing to seek in a church is a commitment to sound doctrine.
"And they continued steadfastly…in the breaking of bread, and in prayers."
The Bible introduces us to two sacraments, or ordinances, given to us by the Lord Jesus himself. These sacraments - baptism and the Lord’s Supper - will be found in every good church, i.e., they are not optional even though participation in these sacraments does not save anybody; salvation is found only in Christ himself. It is not going into the baptism pool that brings forth salvation; however, entering into the baptismal pool signifies the cleansing that Jesus brings. Likewise it is not by eating the bread and drinking the cup that we are made safe in Christ, but rather, eating and drinking signifies that we are already safe. A good church will provide a clear explanation of the sacraments and how to participate. In addition to the sacraments, prayer, too, is a vital element of a healthy church. A good church will include prayer in the worship service and will emphasize both corporate and personal prayer.
"Then fear came upon every soul..."
We need to come to terms with the cost of following Christ.
Joy, reverence, and a sense of awe characterized the worship of the believers in the New Testament church. They had a grasp of how high and holy God is - His transcendence - as well as the fact that He indwells his people - His immanence. A good church, therefore, is one that is concerned about reverent worship. However, reverence does not mean that we are restricted to a particular style of music or liturgical structure. In fact, every worship service should be a joyful celebration of the mighty acts of God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Although worship services ought to be dignified, it is not right for worship services to be dull. Now it is possible for dignity to be dull and for expressions of joy to be irreverent, but the pattern in the early church does not set dignity and joy in opposition to one another, which is an all too common practice in contemporary evangelical circles. In the early church everyone was filled with awe because the Lord Jesus was present; there was reverence and rejoicing, formality and informality, structure and absence of structure. Trumpets sounded and cymbals clanged and other instruments joined in this great cacophony of sound and they raised their voices in praise to the Lord and they sang. These believers weren’t on some emotional trip, but were instead declaring theology. In a good church, the worship will focus on truth and engage the minds of those who come. It may also be emotional in as much as such emotion is a reflection of hearts caught up in wonder and praise.
"And they continued steadfastly…in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship….Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common...and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple.."
When we think of the word “fellowship,” we tend to think in terms of spending fun times with like-minded people, but biblical fellowship is much more than socializing. Believers share a common life because we share faith in one Savior and have been reconciled to God the Father through Him. Fellowship within the church operates much like a family, which also means there are times where confrontation is necessary. In the church, this takes the form of church discipline, and a good church will practice it for the good of the whole congregation and most especially for the spiritual welfare of the erring believer.
Inherent in true fellowship is a call to generosity. In Acts we see that money was collected and given to those in genuine need. A good church, therefore, is one that seeks to distribute its resources to those in need at all times and in every circumstance with sacrificial generosity.
"And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."
While these early believers were learning, worshiping, and sharing, they were not doing so at the expense of evangelism. We learn here in Acts that this early church grew in number daily. Yet who did the adding? It was Christ. He is the head of the church; therefore, He is the one who adds to the church, and He typically does so through the preaching of the Word, worship, and the voice of believers spreading the good news of the gospel. Today, however, we find many man-centered endeavors to win converts. Such churches rely on slick methods, programs, packets, ideas and schemes rather than on presenting sound doctrine. I do not wish to diminish the right use of well-intentioned programs; however, a good church is one whose members seek to live as ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ.
If you are seeking a church, seek one where the Word is proclaimed, where the sacraments and prayer are honored, and where worship is reverent. Seek a church where the fellowship is characterized by joy and generosity, and where the gospel is boldly proclaimed. It’s that simple.
-Alistair Begg
"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." - Acts 2:42-47
"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine..."
The first thing we discover about this early church is a commitment to the teaching of the apostles. These early believers heard the apostles firsthand; however, we have this very same teaching in our Bibles. Therefore, a good church is a Bible-centered church. Nothing is as important as this - not a large congregation, a witty pastor, or tangible experiences of the Holy Spirit. These first believers never made personal experience the touchstone of their faith, which is a common error today, because the Bible is God’s supreme instrument for renewing his people in the image of Jesus. If you take time to read through the entire Book of Acts, you will discover it is full of the centrality of preaching.
Unfortunately, preachers who distort God’s Word are all too common today. Sometimes this springs from a sincere desire to soften hard hearts, but hearts aren’t changed by compromise. A preacher may be tempted to water down the truth about sin and the need for repentance, or the difficult parts about the incarnation and atonement, and replace them with misguided promises of personal prosperity or a focus on political issues. Or he may adopt the technique of an anecdotal preacher, departing from Scripture and telling a series of amusing stories. So, then, the first thing to seek in a church is a commitment to sound doctrine.
"And they continued steadfastly…in the breaking of bread, and in prayers."
The Bible introduces us to two sacraments, or ordinances, given to us by the Lord Jesus himself. These sacraments - baptism and the Lord’s Supper - will be found in every good church, i.e., they are not optional even though participation in these sacraments does not save anybody; salvation is found only in Christ himself. It is not going into the baptism pool that brings forth salvation; however, entering into the baptismal pool signifies the cleansing that Jesus brings. Likewise it is not by eating the bread and drinking the cup that we are made safe in Christ, but rather, eating and drinking signifies that we are already safe. A good church will provide a clear explanation of the sacraments and how to participate. In addition to the sacraments, prayer, too, is a vital element of a healthy church. A good church will include prayer in the worship service and will emphasize both corporate and personal prayer.
"Then fear came upon every soul..."
We need to come to terms with the cost of following Christ.
Joy, reverence, and a sense of awe characterized the worship of the believers in the New Testament church. They had a grasp of how high and holy God is - His transcendence - as well as the fact that He indwells his people - His immanence. A good church, therefore, is one that is concerned about reverent worship. However, reverence does not mean that we are restricted to a particular style of music or liturgical structure. In fact, every worship service should be a joyful celebration of the mighty acts of God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Although worship services ought to be dignified, it is not right for worship services to be dull. Now it is possible for dignity to be dull and for expressions of joy to be irreverent, but the pattern in the early church does not set dignity and joy in opposition to one another, which is an all too common practice in contemporary evangelical circles. In the early church everyone was filled with awe because the Lord Jesus was present; there was reverence and rejoicing, formality and informality, structure and absence of structure. Trumpets sounded and cymbals clanged and other instruments joined in this great cacophony of sound and they raised their voices in praise to the Lord and they sang. These believers weren’t on some emotional trip, but were instead declaring theology. In a good church, the worship will focus on truth and engage the minds of those who come. It may also be emotional in as much as such emotion is a reflection of hearts caught up in wonder and praise.
"And they continued steadfastly…in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship….Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common...and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple.."
When we think of the word “fellowship,” we tend to think in terms of spending fun times with like-minded people, but biblical fellowship is much more than socializing. Believers share a common life because we share faith in one Savior and have been reconciled to God the Father through Him. Fellowship within the church operates much like a family, which also means there are times where confrontation is necessary. In the church, this takes the form of church discipline, and a good church will practice it for the good of the whole congregation and most especially for the spiritual welfare of the erring believer.
Inherent in true fellowship is a call to generosity. In Acts we see that money was collected and given to those in genuine need. A good church, therefore, is one that seeks to distribute its resources to those in need at all times and in every circumstance with sacrificial generosity.
"And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."
While these early believers were learning, worshiping, and sharing, they were not doing so at the expense of evangelism. We learn here in Acts that this early church grew in number daily. Yet who did the adding? It was Christ. He is the head of the church; therefore, He is the one who adds to the church, and He typically does so through the preaching of the Word, worship, and the voice of believers spreading the good news of the gospel. Today, however, we find many man-centered endeavors to win converts. Such churches rely on slick methods, programs, packets, ideas and schemes rather than on presenting sound doctrine. I do not wish to diminish the right use of well-intentioned programs; however, a good church is one whose members seek to live as ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ.
If you are seeking a church, seek one where the Word is proclaimed, where the sacraments and prayer are honored, and where worship is reverent. Seek a church where the fellowship is characterized by joy and generosity, and where the gospel is boldly proclaimed. It’s that simple.
-Alistair Begg
.....Glorify and Praise God!
"Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them." - Luke 2:20
What was the subject of their praise? They praised God for what they had heard - for the good tidings of great joy that a Savior was born unto them. Let us copy them; let us also raise a song of thanksgiving that we have heard of Jesus and His salvation.
They also praised God for what they had seen. There is the sweetest music - what we have experienced, what we have felt within, what we have made our own. It is not enough to hear about Jesus: Mere hearing may tune the harp, but the fingers of living faith must create the music. If you have seen Jesus with the God-giving sight of faith, suffer no cobwebs to linger among the harp-strings, but loud with the praise of sovereign grace, awake your psaltery and harp.
One point for which they praised God was the agreement between what they had heard and what they had seen. Observe the last sentence - "as it was told them." Have you not found the Gospel to be in yourselves just what the Bible said it would be? Jesus said He would give you rest - have you not enjoyed the sweetest peace in Him?
He said you would have joy and comfort and life through believing in Him - have you not received all these? Are not His ways ways of pleasantness, and His paths paths of peace? Surely you can say with the queen of Sheba, "The half was not told me." - 1 Kings 10:7
I have found Christ more sweet than His servants ever said He was. I looked upon His likeness as they painted it, but it was a mere daub compared with Himself; for the King in His beauty outshines all imaginable loveliness. Surely what we have "seen" keeps pace with, no, far exceeds what we have "heard." Let us, then, glorify and praise God for a Savior so precious and so satisfying.
Thank You Jesus!
What was the subject of their praise? They praised God for what they had heard - for the good tidings of great joy that a Savior was born unto them. Let us copy them; let us also raise a song of thanksgiving that we have heard of Jesus and His salvation.
They also praised God for what they had seen. There is the sweetest music - what we have experienced, what we have felt within, what we have made our own. It is not enough to hear about Jesus: Mere hearing may tune the harp, but the fingers of living faith must create the music. If you have seen Jesus with the God-giving sight of faith, suffer no cobwebs to linger among the harp-strings, but loud with the praise of sovereign grace, awake your psaltery and harp.
One point for which they praised God was the agreement between what they had heard and what they had seen. Observe the last sentence - "as it was told them." Have you not found the Gospel to be in yourselves just what the Bible said it would be? Jesus said He would give you rest - have you not enjoyed the sweetest peace in Him?
He said you would have joy and comfort and life through believing in Him - have you not received all these? Are not His ways ways of pleasantness, and His paths paths of peace? Surely you can say with the queen of Sheba, "The half was not told me." - 1 Kings 10:7
I have found Christ more sweet than His servants ever said He was. I looked upon His likeness as they painted it, but it was a mere daub compared with Himself; for the King in His beauty outshines all imaginable loveliness. Surely what we have "seen" keeps pace with, no, far exceeds what we have "heard." Let us, then, glorify and praise God for a Savior so precious and so satisfying.
Thank You Jesus!
.....God's ID Tag!
"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise..." - Ephesians 1:13
In the apostle Paul's day, when goods would be shipped from one place to another, they would be stamped with a wax seal and imprinted with a signet ring that bore a unique mark of ownership. The same was true of an important document. It would be sealed in wax and then imprinted with a seal, and no one dared open it other than the intended recipient. So when Ephesians 1:13 says that a believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit, it means that God has put His imprint on that person's life.
In more contemporary terms, think of it as God's ID tag. You put an ID tag on your luggage so you can identify it as yours. After watching black suitcase after black suitcase come down the conveyor belt at the airport's baggage claim, I went out and bought some fluorescent smiley faces for my bag. I might look like a moron, but now I can quickly identify which suitcase is mine.
God has put an ID tag on believers as well. So when the devil comes to wreak havoc in their lives, he sees an ID tag that says they are the property of the Lord Jesus Christ. And he backs off. Not only do Christians have an ID tag that says they belong to God, but a deposit has been made in their lives. Ephesians 1:14 says the Holy Spirit "is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." The Holy Spirit is a deposit, proof that God is working in the believer's life.
If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then the Holy Spirit has been placed in your life. And He will make himself known to you, working in you and through you.
-Greg Laurie
In the apostle Paul's day, when goods would be shipped from one place to another, they would be stamped with a wax seal and imprinted with a signet ring that bore a unique mark of ownership. The same was true of an important document. It would be sealed in wax and then imprinted with a seal, and no one dared open it other than the intended recipient. So when Ephesians 1:13 says that a believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit, it means that God has put His imprint on that person's life.
In more contemporary terms, think of it as God's ID tag. You put an ID tag on your luggage so you can identify it as yours. After watching black suitcase after black suitcase come down the conveyor belt at the airport's baggage claim, I went out and bought some fluorescent smiley faces for my bag. I might look like a moron, but now I can quickly identify which suitcase is mine.
God has put an ID tag on believers as well. So when the devil comes to wreak havoc in their lives, he sees an ID tag that says they are the property of the Lord Jesus Christ. And he backs off. Not only do Christians have an ID tag that says they belong to God, but a deposit has been made in their lives. Ephesians 1:14 says the Holy Spirit "is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." The Holy Spirit is a deposit, proof that God is working in the believer's life.
If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then the Holy Spirit has been placed in your life. And He will make himself known to you, working in you and through you.
-Greg Laurie
