Everybody just loves that little baby Jesus. He's so cute. So adorable. so harmless. STOP! False impressions of the Saviour stem from our misconception of who He is , why He came and His subsequent return in glory.
Who is He?
John tells us" the Word became flesh and dwelt upon us. Some may say, who does that mean? The term "the Word conveys the notion of divine self-expression or speech and has a rich OT background. God's Word is effective: God speaks, and things come into being (Gen. 1:3, 9; Ps. 33:6; 107:20; Isa. 55:10–11), and by speech he relates personally to his people.(ESV study Bible).
16th century reformer and theologial John Calvin said, "God, in so speaking, lisps with us as nurses are wont to do with little children" (Institutes, 1.13.1). O how precious is the baby talk of God. It is not like grass that withers or flowers that fades. It abides forever (Isaiah 40:8). (John Piper Desiring God) The Bible is God's own baby talk to His chosen children.
Human language is precious. It sets us off from the animals. It makes our most sophisticated scientific discoveries and our deepest emotions sharable. Above all, God chose to reveal himself to us through human language in the Bible. (Desiring God)
"1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. "
Right after Adam and Eve disobeyed God and believed the lie and all humanity fell into a life of sin that leads to death, the prophet Moses wrote, " 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel. " This defeat is implied by the serpent's being bruised in the head, which is more serious than the offspring of Eve being bruised in the heel. Pointing forward to the defeat of the serpent by a future descendant of the woman. The serpent is viewed as more than a mere snake, something which the narrative itself implies, given the serpent's ability to speak and the vile things he says. While the present chapter does not explicitly identify the serpent with Satan, such an identification is a legitimate inference and is clearly what the apostle John has in view in Rev. 12:9 and 20:2." (ESV Study Bible)
The prophet Jeremiah spoke and Baruch wrote down his words 15 ‘ In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David A Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.... And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.(Jeremiah 33) John speaks of Him in his first letter when he writes "1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
The prophet Isaiah likewise proclaimed 1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. (Isaiah 11) [fulfilled in Jesus The Christ] 6 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him,1 and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matt 3]
In contrast to the way in which all other human beings live in rebellion against God, the coming Messiah will be the ideal in his human faithfulness, finding deep joy in living before God in reverence. The reason that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of both knowledge and wisdom (Proverbs 1:7) is that the moral life begins with reverence and humility before the Maker and Redeemer. The idea of a quest for knowledge sets biblical wisdom in the broad context of the ancient Near Eastern quest for truth, and this verse also validates such a quest as legitimate and good. At the same time, it distinguishes the biblical pursuit of knowledge and wisdom from those of the surrounding cultures, for it asserts that submission to the Lord is foundational to the attainment of real understanding [Ps 111:10.] (ESV Study Bible)
Isaiah speaks of the Messiah's suffering, His death and His victory over death in Chapter 53 of His book.
Micah tells us where He is to be born
2 “ But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.” (Micah 5:2)
Zechariah speaks of His return in victory over a rebellious world.
"The day of the LORD is coming....in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west....Thus the LORD my God will come, And all the saints with You."
John speaks of His coming as this mighty warrior to exact vengence on the rebellious. To execute judgement and righteousness. (Jeremiah 33)
1 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had[e] a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 4 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean,[f] followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse.
Remember at Christmas that little babe depicted in that manger is the one to whom God has committed all judgement. He will be the one to say, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord. Or ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: I never knew you."
Where will you stand on that day? Do you know the real Christ child. Or the child of your own imagination? Which is nothing more than an idol created to sooth and comfort your own evil heart.
Child in the manger, Infant of Mary
Outcast and stranger, Lord of all
Child who inherits
All our transgressions
All our demerits on Him fall
Once the most holy
Child of salvation
Genlty and lowly,lived below
Now as our glorios Mighty Redeemer
See Him victorios
O'er each foe
Prophets foretold Him
Infant of wonder
Angels behold Him On His throne
Worthy our Savior
Of all our praises
Happy forever
Are His own
And the Lord God said "this is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. hear Him.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Christ, Christmas and Marriage
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. And the Lord God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2)
(Jesus words Mark 10) from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.' 7 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.
Porneia (from which we get our word pornography) is illicit sexual intercourse 1. adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc. 2. sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18 3. sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mk. 10:11.
Some say Jesus did not condemn homosexuality.That's simply not true.
20 And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, (porneia) murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.
Fornications are included in said transgressions against God. It is seen by Jesus as evil. Less you think those are rather strong, politically incorrect ideas, Jesus Himself was the one who said, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Matt 7) There are others likewise condemned, in fact in the same passage....Then there is the following... "Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves...For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due." (Romans 1)
It needs no explanation.Plain, to the point. As are the words in Jude "7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. "
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 cor 6)"the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men....(romans 1:18)
That's why there is Christmas. The coming of God's one and only Son into the world. It's a BIG DEAL because SIN IS A BIG DEAL. It's a difference between an eternity with or separated from God. The Corinthians pretty much did it all. They practiced what Paul had just preached in those verses. But there was/is hope when he added this...
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Without Christ there is no hope. NONE.
10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,(Romans 3)the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6)
That Free Gift was given over 2000 years ago.
(Phil) 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (Gal 4)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Cor. 4) 5 The devil led him (Jesus) up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And the devil said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me.....Luke 4)
10 He (Jesus) was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth....
Being born again (that is literally "born from above") is an absolute necessity for heavenly occuptation.( 50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 1 cor 15)
How does one come to Christ? Humbly. 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."(James 4) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works,lest anyone should boast.(Eph 2)
Christmas reminds us of that gift. A gift given by a Holy, Righteousness, God who so loved the world that he gave His only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.
It is a Big Deal. Not to be taken lightly, as it is today in this world (and the church, I'm sorry to say)
When you close your eyes in death, it will be too late to say, "Gee God if you really existed, if you really hated sin, if you really...." it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment..." (Heb. 9:27)14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city
The reality is too horrible to imagine.
15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. (rev 22) the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, (Homosexuality is called this) murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.(Rev 21)
I do not suspect that anyone will be laughing on the day of judgement. A day when Jesus will either say "well done good and fateful servant enter into the joy of the Lord" Or "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
I am in awe what God has done for us. Everyday I breathe is an absolute gift from God He can remove in an instant. (He gives to all life, breath, and all things... for in Him we live and move and have our being...acts 17)
Just because some marriages between men and women don't work doesn't make it right in any way to condone marriage between two members of the same gender. Two wrongs do not make a right. The argument is all wrong. According to what the Bible says about the subject.
I don't write this out of hate. But out of love. God opened my heart to believe just 20 years ago. 1990. I was at home. Not a church. I cried out, just like that tax collector and God answered. And opened my heart to believe. And believe me I knew it. Heck, most baptists would say a 42 year old man, why brother, that's to old to be saved. Hog wash. God can do anything, at any time, to anyone when He pleases. But God saw it to do it at that time. And no one was more surprised than me. But as Paul said, "woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!"
My prayer is that at the end of my life, I can say, "7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." I pray when you see the manger, you see the cross.
10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
Simeon,came by the Spirit into the temple,And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
29 “ Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2)
(Jesus words Mark 10) from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.' 7 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.
Porneia (from which we get our word pornography) is illicit sexual intercourse 1. adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc. 2. sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18 3. sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mk. 10:11.
Some say Jesus did not condemn homosexuality.That's simply not true.
20 And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, (porneia) murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.
Fornications are included in said transgressions against God. It is seen by Jesus as evil. Less you think those are rather strong, politically incorrect ideas, Jesus Himself was the one who said, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Matt 7) There are others likewise condemned, in fact in the same passage....Then there is the following... "Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves...For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due." (Romans 1)
It needs no explanation.Plain, to the point. As are the words in Jude "7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. "
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 cor 6)"the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men....(romans 1:18)
That's why there is Christmas. The coming of God's one and only Son into the world. It's a BIG DEAL because SIN IS A BIG DEAL. It's a difference between an eternity with or separated from God. The Corinthians pretty much did it all. They practiced what Paul had just preached in those verses. But there was/is hope when he added this...
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Without Christ there is no hope. NONE.
10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,(Romans 3)the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6)
That Free Gift was given over 2000 years ago.
(Phil) 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (Gal 4)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Cor. 4) 5 The devil led him (Jesus) up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And the devil said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me.....Luke 4)
10 He (Jesus) was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth....
Being born again (that is literally "born from above") is an absolute necessity for heavenly occuptation.( 50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 1 cor 15)
How does one come to Christ? Humbly. 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."(James 4) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works,lest anyone should boast.(Eph 2)
Christmas reminds us of that gift. A gift given by a Holy, Righteousness, God who so loved the world that he gave His only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.
It is a Big Deal. Not to be taken lightly, as it is today in this world (and the church, I'm sorry to say)
When you close your eyes in death, it will be too late to say, "Gee God if you really existed, if you really hated sin, if you really...." it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment..." (Heb. 9:27)14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city
The reality is too horrible to imagine.
15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. (rev 22) the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, (Homosexuality is called this) murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.(Rev 21)
I do not suspect that anyone will be laughing on the day of judgement. A day when Jesus will either say "well done good and fateful servant enter into the joy of the Lord" Or "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
I am in awe what God has done for us. Everyday I breathe is an absolute gift from God He can remove in an instant. (He gives to all life, breath, and all things... for in Him we live and move and have our being...acts 17)
Just because some marriages between men and women don't work doesn't make it right in any way to condone marriage between two members of the same gender. Two wrongs do not make a right. The argument is all wrong. According to what the Bible says about the subject.
I don't write this out of hate. But out of love. God opened my heart to believe just 20 years ago. 1990. I was at home. Not a church. I cried out, just like that tax collector and God answered. And opened my heart to believe. And believe me I knew it. Heck, most baptists would say a 42 year old man, why brother, that's to old to be saved. Hog wash. God can do anything, at any time, to anyone when He pleases. But God saw it to do it at that time. And no one was more surprised than me. But as Paul said, "woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!"
My prayer is that at the end of my life, I can say, "7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." I pray when you see the manger, you see the cross.
10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
Simeon,came by the Spirit into the temple,And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
29 “ Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2)
Sunday, December 5, 2010
No Other Gods
The God of the Bible; the God of Judaism and Christianity says, we are not to have any other gods. The New Testament Apostle Paul says when you worship and follow or sacrifice to other gods and worship them you are worshipping demons. ALL OTHER religions.....ALL OTHER so called faiths that take you away from the one true God are of this variety. Any religion that takes away from the work of Jesus Christ can be slotted into this category. For Jesus is the way, the truth and life, no one comes to the Father except through Him...(John14:6) The only name under heaven by which anyone can be saved. (Acts 4:12) We can't do enough good before a Holy Righteous God. We're tainted from birth. We're corrupted by the flesh as we emerge from our mothers womb. And all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. (Is. 64:6) We're not sinners because we sin. We sin because we are sinners. We're born that way. It's in our nature. That's very plain from Scripture. It's also evident that when our first parents failed, believed a lie when the tempter said, "You won't die, you'll be like God" that God had a plan to save mankind. Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. No form, no beauty , despised and rejected, He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors." 750 years before Jesus Christ was born, Isaiah the prophet wrote this. Exactly describing Jesus, even down to the fact He is like a lamb led to the slaughter." Reminds me of John the Baptists words when he saw Jesus and replied, "Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29)
The great sin of this world is that God can be clearly seen in His creation. But the carnal mind is enmity with God.The God of scripture is offensive, unreasonable, mean. He wouldn't damn people to hell. So they may say, "Jesus I like, but not that mean God of the Old Testament. It will be Jesus who says, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels...And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matt 26)
Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, invoked the ancient jaguar goddess Ixchel in her opening statement to delegates gathered in Cancun, Mexico, noting that Ixchel was not only goddess of the moon, but also "the goddess of reason, creativity and weaving.
"I am convinced that 20 years from now, we will admire the policy tapestry that you have woven together and think back fondly to Cancun and the inspiration of Ixchel."(an ancient fertility goddess, Ix-Chel was responsible for sending rain to nourish the crops. When fulfilling that function she was called “Lady Rainbow”. She helped insure fertility by overturning her sacred womb jar so that the waters would flow.)
Delegates from 193 countries are gathered in Cancun for the two-week meeting, Invoking an ancient pagan goddess at a UN climate summit. Imagine what the out come would be if someone mentioned Jesus or the Bible at a meeting like this? The preacher said there is nothing new under the sun.
God saw that "the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:1-10)
Judges 2:11-13 notes: "And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord unto anger. And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth."(Canaanite fertility goddess 2nd millennium BC Phoenician goddess Astarte, an equivalent of the Babylonian Ishtar, and the earlier Sumerian Inanna. )
ll the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods, We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and will pour out drink offerings to her 19 The women added, “When we burned incense to the Queen of Heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, did not our husbands know that we were making cakes impressed with her image and pouring out drink offerings to her? 20 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, both men and women,2 When the LORD could no longer endure your wicked actions and the detestable things you did, your land became a curse and a desolate waste without inhabitants, as it is today. 23 Because you have burned incense and have sinned against the LORD and have not obeyed him or followed his law or his decrees or his stipulations, this disaster has come upon you, as you now see.” (Jeremiah 44)
1 Now concerning things offered to idols: we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.(1 Cor. 8)
3 “You shall have no other gods before[a] me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them...(Exodus 20)
the LORD has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention. 5 They said, “Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices..Do not follow other gods to serve and worship them; do not arouse my anger with what your hands have made. Then I will not harm you.(Jer. 25)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.(John1)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.(Col 1)
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,(Phil 2)
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself[a] purged our[b] sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.(Heb 1)
26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”(John20)
Jesus said, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God...the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.(John5)
I and My Father are one.
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2 Cor 13)
The God of Scripture is God. The only God who spoke all things into existence. He gives us life, breath and all things. Get to know Him. Come to Him for rest. When you know Him and walk in His truth you'll have real peace.
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John14:27)
The great sin of this world is that God can be clearly seen in His creation. But the carnal mind is enmity with God.The God of scripture is offensive, unreasonable, mean. He wouldn't damn people to hell. So they may say, "Jesus I like, but not that mean God of the Old Testament. It will be Jesus who says, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels...And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matt 26)
Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, invoked the ancient jaguar goddess Ixchel in her opening statement to delegates gathered in Cancun, Mexico, noting that Ixchel was not only goddess of the moon, but also "the goddess of reason, creativity and weaving.
"I am convinced that 20 years from now, we will admire the policy tapestry that you have woven together and think back fondly to Cancun and the inspiration of Ixchel."(an ancient fertility goddess, Ix-Chel was responsible for sending rain to nourish the crops. When fulfilling that function she was called “Lady Rainbow”. She helped insure fertility by overturning her sacred womb jar so that the waters would flow.)
Delegates from 193 countries are gathered in Cancun for the two-week meeting, Invoking an ancient pagan goddess at a UN climate summit. Imagine what the out come would be if someone mentioned Jesus or the Bible at a meeting like this? The preacher said there is nothing new under the sun.
God saw that "the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:1-10)
Judges 2:11-13 notes: "And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord unto anger. And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth."(Canaanite fertility goddess 2nd millennium BC Phoenician goddess Astarte, an equivalent of the Babylonian Ishtar, and the earlier Sumerian Inanna. )
ll the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods, We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and will pour out drink offerings to her 19 The women added, “When we burned incense to the Queen of Heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, did not our husbands know that we were making cakes impressed with her image and pouring out drink offerings to her? 20 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, both men and women,2 When the LORD could no longer endure your wicked actions and the detestable things you did, your land became a curse and a desolate waste without inhabitants, as it is today. 23 Because you have burned incense and have sinned against the LORD and have not obeyed him or followed his law or his decrees or his stipulations, this disaster has come upon you, as you now see.” (Jeremiah 44)
1 Now concerning things offered to idols: we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.(1 Cor. 8)
3 “You shall have no other gods before[a] me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them...(Exodus 20)
the LORD has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention. 5 They said, “Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices..Do not follow other gods to serve and worship them; do not arouse my anger with what your hands have made. Then I will not harm you.(Jer. 25)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.(John1)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.(Col 1)
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,(Phil 2)
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself[a] purged our[b] sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.(Heb 1)
26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”(John20)
Jesus said, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God...the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.(John5)
I and My Father are one.
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2 Cor 13)
The God of Scripture is God. The only God who spoke all things into existence. He gives us life, breath and all things. Get to know Him. Come to Him for rest. When you know Him and walk in His truth you'll have real peace.
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John14:27)
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