Purpose

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

 

This is considered by many to be their “Life Verse” from the Bible. In it, the Lord [God] proclaims that He has a good plan and purpose for each of our lives. And though we live in a fallen world of sin and unbelief, the Lord has plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. To be successful, we need to have a godly vision which is driven by a righteous desire of where we want to be, then an honorable plan of action can be formed with realistic action steps to achieve goals sets. 

 

What is amazing about life is that it falls under God’s over-arching plan of history, but also under God’s specific plans, which He righteously orchestrates within this place and time in that history. to give us direction. We are not meaningless beings with no plan or purpose, occupying space in insignificantly wandering through life aimlessly. God-rejecting people may ignore the truth and claim that we are Cosmic accidents accountable to our Creator, but the evidence in nature proves just the opposite. You are not a Cosmic accident because you have been fearfully and wonderfully made by our loving Almighty Maker and He has plans for you. Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines the word “purpose” as: That which a person sets before himself as an object to be reached or accomplished; the end or aim to which the view is directed in any plan, measure or exertion. We believe the Supreme Being created intelligent beings for some benevolent and glorious purpose, and if so, how glorious and benevolent must be his purpose in the plan of redemption! 

 

We are so prone to become distracted and deceived by the desires of the flesh and alluring things of this world which promise fame, fortune, pleasure, power, acceptance and position in society in the pursuit of happiness defined by us. We plan for our temporal physical well-being, but tend to lose sight of the Lord in the process and leave our spiritual well-being behind, if we don’t foundationally seek first the Kingdom. How many have the house of their life built on the wrong or no foundation and no plan, which drives an erroneous purpose. Yet, we are part of God’s grand design and purpose, being born into this time and place for a glorious purpose in earth when our will is aligned with our Heavenly Father’s will. It is a truly wonderful plan for our welfare and not for evil, to give you and I a future and a hope. Step into God’s plan and purpose for your life.

In Christ, Brian        

Chasing

In Ecclesiastes 6:1-2, King Solomon declares, “There is another serious tragedy I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily on humanity. God gives some people great wealth and honor and everything they could ever want, but then he doesn’t give them the chance to enjoy these things. They die, and someone else, even a stranger, ends up enjoying their wealth! This is meaningless—a sickening tragedy.”

 

There is an old saying: “The one with the most at the end wins.” But, consider the source; what is their life purpose, their life priorities, and what exactly do they win? King Solomon was the richest man in the world in his day, yet found no lasting satisfaction in his prosperity. He died in 931 B.C. and didn’t take a penny with him. John D. Rockefeller, the founder of the Standard Oil Company, the first billionaire of the United States of America (Net Worth of 340 Billion dollars) and once the richest man on Earth was asked by a reporter, “How much money is enough?” He calmly replied, “Just a little bit more”. He died on May 23, 1937 and didn’t take a penny with him. You can’t take it with you when you go, but the more important question is: “Where are you going when you leave this earth, not how much you had on this earth while here?”

 

Fame, fortune and fads is fleeing, yet living in a material world, how many make seeking both the priority of their life as “the good life” and chase after them? The question is: What is happiness and where does true happiness come from? But, Proverbs 22:1 rightly states, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” Paul McCartney of the Beatles wrote: “Money can’t buy me love.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 proclaims, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love n ever fails. A good question is: What does God (your Designer and Maker) want you to do with your life? Surely, love God and love your neighbor, but how do you live that out daily?

 

Jesus asks us in Matthew 16:26 “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? Don’t sell yourself out to this world; go all in with Jesus Christ, the Author and Perfecter of your life. King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 6:9 concludes, “It's better to enjoy what we have than to always want something else, because that makes no more sense than chasing the wind.” Galatians 5:22-26 tells us, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Chase after the Lord and be truly blessed. 

 

In Christ, Brian

Awesome God

 

Deuteronomy 10:12-17a, 20-21 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good? Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it. The Lord delighted only in your fathers, to love them; and He chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as it is this day. Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome. You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name. He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen.”

 

Awesome is a word that is loosely thrown around in our culture today; it is used everywhere for everything. I hear that this is awesome, that is awesome, people are awesome and things are awesome. But, are they really? Has society today taken a word that is meant of high and extraordinary, and made it common and ordinary? 

 

The word that the New King James version translates as “awesome” is translated as “terrible” in the old King James version. It is the Hebrew word “yārē'”, meaning to fear, to be afraid; to stand in awe of, to be awed; to reverence, to honor, and to respect. The 1828 Webster’s dictionary does not have the word “awesome”, but the word “awe” is defined as: Fear mingled with admiration or reverence; reverential fear. This definition includes the Bible verse Psalm 4:3-5 as reference and states: “know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for Himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto Him. Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.” The second definition given by Webster is: Fear; dread inspired by something great, or terrific. To strike with fear and reverence; to influence by fear, terror or respect; as, his majesty (greatness of appearance; dignity; grandeur; dignity of aspect or manner; the quality or state of a person or thing which inspires awe or reverence in the beholder; applied with peculiar propriety to God and His works) awed them into silence.

 

Pastor Frances Chan points out that we have become so familiar with the thought of God, that many people today cannot imagine being afraid of God’s presence, yet every person in the Bible who comes into contact with God falls to the ground in fear. For most of us, it is difficult to consistently see God for who He truly is. Frankly, the thought of coming face-to-face with an infinite, holy, all-powerful, all-knowing, sovereign and supreme Being that spoke all creation into existence is perplexing and terrifying; it’s awesome! In worship and prayer, we stand in the presence of unlimited power and pure holiness. It is absolutely essential for us to come to this awesome God for who He is, not for who we’d like Him to be. Reverential fear mingled with admiration is the natural response to God.  

 

God is the source of life and satisfaction, and until we come to God as He is, we will never find what we are looking for. Our God is an awesome God!

In Christ, Brian

 

The Fear of the Lord

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” 

Last night, our Wednesday Evening Bible Study group at church began a new video study series by Pastor Francis Chan titled "BASIC", and the first session was on the fear of God - what that really means and this essential element of the Christian faith implications in our life produces. The Hebrew word for “fear” here is “yir'â”, meaning fear, terror, an awesome or terrifying thing (object causing fear) and the fear (of God), respect, reverence, piety. The infinite, almighty God, who created everything (time, space, matter, life, the Cosmos (universe), the life-sustaining Earth and all that lives, moves, breathes and has its being, is a truly awesome and terrifying Creator in magnitude, power and ability, but knowing it is a healthy fear. Let’s look at some Bible verses that list our benefits from this Wholesome fear of the Lord.

 

Proverbs 2:1-5 “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”  

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” 

 

Proverbs 14:26-27 “Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.” Proverbs 14:26-27

 

Proverbs 16:6 “Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided.” 

 

Proverbs 19:23 “The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.”  

 

Proverbs 22:2-4 “Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all. The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life.”   

 

Psalms 34:9 “Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.” 

 

Psalms 111:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.”   

 

Isaiah 33:6 “He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.”  

In Christ, Brian

Virtue

 

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” 

 

Singer and songwriter Jimmy Buffet may be “making the best of every virtue and vice” with his cheeseburger in paradise, but what exactly is a virtue? We do not use that term all that much anymore, but the Apostle Paul instructs us to meditate on any virtue we possess, so we need to know what one is. The Strong’s Concordance translates the English word “virtue” from the Greek word “aretē”, meaning (1) a virtuous course of thought, feeling and action; moral goodness. (2) any particular moral excellence, as modesty, purity, patience, et cetera. 

 

The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines “virtue” as: Moral goodness; the practice of moral duties and the abstaining from vice, or a conformity of life and conversation to the Moral Law of God. In this sense, virtue may be, and in many instances must be, distinguished from religion. Why you ask? Religion, in its most comprehensive sense, includes a belief in the being and perfections of God, in the revelation of His will to man, in man's obligation to obey his commands, in a state of reward and punishment, and in man's accountableness to God; and also true godliness or piety of life, with the practice of all moral duties from love to God and His law. It therefore comprehends theology, as a system of doctrines or principles, as well as practical piety. Godliness or “real” piety in practice; the practice of moral duties consisting in the performance of all known duties to God and our fellow men, in obedience to divine command from sincere love to God and His Laws is virtue and religion, as different branches of one system. In this sense it is true virtue, to truth. 

 

Matthew 5:46-47 “If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.”

 

The practice of moral duties merely from motives of convenience, or from compulsion, or from regard to reputation, is virtue, as distinct from religion because the practice of moral duties without a belief in a Divine lawgiver, a love of God and without reference to His will or commands, is not religion. Virtue can be a particular moral excellence also; as the virtue of temperance (moderation; particularly, habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions; restrained indulgence), as the virtue of chastity, or the virtue of charity. 

 

 In ethics, a vice is defined as any voluntary action or course of conduct which deviates from the rules of moral rectitude, or from the plain rules of propriety; any moral unfitness of conduct, either from defect of duty, or from the transgression of known principles of rectitude. Vice differs from crime, in being less enormous. We never call murder or robbery a vice; but every act of intemperance, all falsehood, duplicity, deception, lewdness, the excessive indulgence of passions and appetites, and the like, is a vice. 

 

Virtues and vices are choices. With godliness, choose virtue.

In Christ, Brian

True Light - Part 2

 

Continuing, Jesus tells us in John 3:18-20 “He who believes in Him [Jesus Christ] is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” Romans 1:21 explains, “Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Bible commentator Matthew Henry points out that the darkness of pride, ignorance, sin and unbelief overpowered and quite eclipsed this light; the light shone; but such was the darkness of their understandings and rebellion that they could not see it. 

 

The Prophet John the Baptist was a man sent of God to bear witness to the Light; he was God’s messenger, for the testimony of Christ is the testimony of God. Christ’s light does not need man’s testimony, but the world’s darkness does. He was sent of God to tell the world that the long-looked-for Messiah has now come, and to proclaim that dispensation at hand which would brings life and immortality to light. In John 1:29 John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" The design and purpose of his testimony was that all people through him might believe; not in him, but in Christ, whose way he was sent to prepare; through the doctrine of repentance for sin to that of saving faith in Christ, His lessons on life and his gospel of Salvation, by awakening them to a sight and sense of sin.

 

Matthew Henry goes on to say that John the Baptist was not that Light that was expected and promised, but only was sent to bear witness of that great and ruling Light of the Messiah - Jesus Christ. He was a star that pointed the way, like that which guided the wise men to Christ; a light but he was not the Sun. He was great as the prophet of the Highest, but not the Highest himself. Note, We must take heed of over-valuing ministers, as well as of under-valuing them; they are not our lords, nor have they dominion over our faith, but teachers and ministers by whom we receive teaching and counsel, stewards of our Lord’s house; they are not that light; but we must attend to and receive their testimony; for they are called and sent to bear witness of that Light; so then let us esteem them, and not otherwise. 

 

The commentator concludes that having shown in the beginning verses of the chapter the glories of his Godhead, the Apostle John here in John 1:9 comes to show the graces of Christ's incarnation, and his favors to mankind as Mediator. Christ was the true Light. The true light; those rays of His light with which this dark world of ours is enlightened. But how does Christ enlighten every man and woman that comes into the world? (1) He enlightens every Believer with the light of reason; that life which is the light of mankind is from. (2) By the publication of His gospel to every nation and language, he does in effect enlighten every man and woman. John Baptist was a light, but Christ is the true Light, for he is the light to enlighten the Sinner unto salvation. Divine revelation is to be diffused and spread to all people. (3) By the operation of his Spirit and grace, he enlightens all those that are enlightened unto the Way, the Truth and the Life; and those that are not enlightened by him the wages of sin to perish in outer darkness. The light of the knowledge of the glory of God is in the face of the true Light Jesus Christ. Whatever light any man  or woman has, they is indebted to Christ for it, whether it be natural or supernatural. 

In Christ, Brian

True Light - Part 1

John 1:1-4 tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.”

 

Light & Darkness – The word “light” in this passage of holy Scripture is the Greek word “phōs”, meaning luminousness, (A) of truth and its knowledge, together with the spiritual purity associated with it. (B) that which is revealed and exposed to the view of all, openly, publicly reason, mind. (C) the power of understanding, especially moral and spiritual truth. Contrastingly, the word “darkness” in this passage is the Greek word “scotia”, meaning the darkness due to want of light, dimness, or obscurity. Here, metaphorically used of ignorance of divine things, and its associated wickedness, and the resultant misery in hell.  

 

The word “darkness” is defined in the 1828 Noah Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language as: 1. Absence of light. (Note, light is not the absence of darkness – light expels darkness and not vice-versa). 2. Obscurity (unrevealed, cannot be seen, incomprehensibility, vagueness, dimness, foggy); want of clearness or perspicuity (articulacy, clarity, fluency, lucidity); that quality or state which renders anything difficult to be understood (lacking enough facts to make an informed decision; missing all pieces of the puzzle). 3. A state of being intellectually clouded; ignorance. (an obstructed view that does not allow you to see, comprehend, ascend to the full truth). 4. A private place; secrecy; privacy. (Hidden, out of the sight of others, behind the scenes, behind closed doors, not wanting the attention or notice of others). 5. Infernal gloom; hell; as utter darkness. (eternal damnation as the wages of sin and unbelief). 6. Great trouble and distress; calamities; perplexities. 7. Empire of Satan. (the power of darkness). 8. Opakeness or Opaqueness. (land of darkness, being impervious to light, the grave).

 

Bible Commentator Matthew Henry states, the light of reason, as well as the soul life of sense, is derived from Him, and depends upon Him. This proves Him fit to undertake our salvation; for spiritual and eternal life & light are the two great things that fallen man, who lies so much under the power of death and darkness, has need of. From whom may we better expect the light of divine revelation than from Him who gave us the light of human reason? John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” The light of nature is this light shining in darkness. Something of the power of the divine Word, both as creating and as commanding, all mankind have an innate sense of. 

The light shines, but the darkness comprehends it not. Henry continues, the eternal Word, as God, shines in the darkness of natural conscience. Though mankind by “the Fall” in the Garden of Eden have become darkness, yet that which may be known of God is manifested in them by the light of God, the Light of God's Word and the light of God's Son - Jesus Christ.

Let's continue this light study in the next post.

In Christ, Brian 

The Author of our being

John 1:1-4 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

 

God in this passage of Gospel Scripture is the Greek word “Theos”, meaning the Godhead, the Divine Trinity - God the Father, the first person in the trinity / Christ, the second person of the trinity / Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity. The word “God” is defined in the 1828 Webster’s dictionary as: The Supreme Being; Jehovah; the eternal and infinite Spirit, the Creator, and the Sovereign of the universe. And quotes “God is a spirit; and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth” from John 4:24. From Theos we get the English words “theology” (the study of God & “enthusiasm” (Greek ἐνθουσιασμός from ἐν (en, “in”) and θεός (theós, “God”) and οὐσία (ousía, “essence”) meaning intense & eager enjoyment, religious fervor resulting directly by divine inspiration, possessed by God, in God’s essence.

 

Time, Space and Matter were created “from” the beginning, but the Word was “in” the beginning. The Word is Jesus Christ as evidenced by John 1:14, which states, “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” and John 3:16which confirms, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. The original Nicene Creed profession of faith was first adopted at the First Council of Nicaea in 325. In 381, and proclaims: “I believe in one God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father, through Whom all things were made.

 

In the first chapter of his book “Mere Christianity”, C.S. Lewis gets right to the crux of Christianity. “The Nicene Creed says that Christ is the Son of God ‘begotten, not created’; and it adds ‘begotten by his Father before all worlds (ages)’.” Lewis correctly points us to the “before the beginning”. Though the virgin birth of Jesus is the onset of a whole new revelation of God to his creation, “We are thinking about something that happened before God’s physical realm of Nature and Life was created at all,” Lewis says, “before time began. ‘Before all worlds’ Christ is begotten, not created.” Lewis explains begetting is of the same being with the Father, as the creed affirms. “When you beget, you beget something of the same kind as yourself.”

 

Bible Commentator Matthew Henry explains that this passage in John 1:1-4 speaks to Christ’s work in making the world. All things were made by Him. Jesus was with God to be active in the divine operations in the beginning of time. God made the world by a word as Psalm 33:6 declares, “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth”, and Christ was the Word. By Him, not as a subordinate instrument, but as a co-ordinate agent, God made the world and universe as Hebrews 1:1-2 asserts, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 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.”

 

And as John 1:3 affirms, the contrary is denied: “Without Him [Christ] was not anything made that was made”. God the Father did nothing without Christ in that work. Now, this proves that He is God; for He that created and built all things is God. This also proves the excellency of the Christian religion, that the author and founder of Christianity (Christ’s church body) is the same that was the author and founder of the world. He is the fountain (the source) of all excellency because as Romans 1:19-20 declares, “what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse”! When we worship Christ, we worship the Creator of the world, and on whom all creatures depend; the Author of our being.

 

In Christ, Brian

Float Your Boat

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

 

This last Sunday, Retired pastor and Reserve US Coast Guard officer Wayne Palmer preached a Sunday sermon message on “Salvation”. With his prop “Coastie the robotic Cutter” ship, he stated that the primary objective of the US Coast Guard was to save lives as an military organizational instrument of salvation.

 

Psalm 3:8 “Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people.” 

 

The Greek word for “Salvation” here is “yᵊšûʿâ”, meaning welfare, prosperity, deliverance from sin, salvation by God, victory over death. Psalm 18:2 states, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” The two forms of salvation are physical and spiritual. Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines “salvation” as: (1) The act of saving; preservation from destruction, danger or great calamity. (2) Appropriately in theology, the redemption of man from the bondage of sin and liability to eternal death, and the conferring on him everlasting happiness. This is the great salvation. Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation. 2Corinthians 7. (3) Deliverance from enemies; victory. Exodus 14. (4) Remission of sins, or saving graces. Luke 19. Luke 19:10 affirms, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

 

There are many types of physical destructive items and behaviors, dangers and calamities in life, but many means of physical salvation items and methods which are of great importance. Yet, it is only temporary in this earthly existence. So, what are we saved from by Jesus is spiritual death and eternal destruction. Why is this salvation necessary?  Romans 3:21-24 explains, “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

 

Ephesians 2:1-8 confirms that “you He [God] made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. 

 

One day, each of us will die and stand before Jesus on Judgment Day. Romans 6:22-23 states, “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. Romans 10:9 proclaims: “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.”

 

Jesus is Lord and our spiritual life preserver. Believing and following Him alone floats our boat. Be accountable to God and counted for. Set spiritual goals that guide your physical thoughts, words and actions, then use them or lose them. And as Jesus commissioned us all, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you”, because Jesus said: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Amen. He is the way, the truth and the life.

 

In Christ, Brian

Creator of Life

John 1:1-2 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” Time, Space and Matter are “from” the beginning, but the Word was “in” the beginning.

 

God in this passage of Scripture is the Greek word “Theos”, meaning the Godhead, the trinity - God the Father, the first person in the trinity / Christ, the second person of the trinity / Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity. God is defined in the 1828 Webster’s dictionary as: The Supreme Being; Jehovah; the eternal and infinite Spirit, the Creator, and the Sovereign of the universe. God is a spirit; and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24. We get “theology” (the study of God) & “enthusiasm” (Greek ἐνθουσιασμός from ἐν (en, “in”) and θεός (theós, “god”) and οὐσία (ousía, “essence”) meaning intense & eager enjoyment, religious fervor resulting directly by divine inspiration, possessed by God, in God’s essence.

 

John 1:3 “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made..”

 

British Bible Commentator Matthew Henry states that this passage speaks to His agency in making the world. This is here, expressly asserted: (1.) All things were made by him. Jesus was with God to be active in the divine operations in the beginning of time (Genesis 1:26). God made the world by a word (Ps. 33:6) and Christ was the Word. By Him, not as a subordinate instrument, but as a co-ordinate agent, God made the world and universe (Hebrews 1:2), not as the workman cuts by his axe, but as the body sees by the eye. (2.) The contrary is denied: Without Him was not anything made that was made, from the highest angel to the meanest worm. God the Father did nothing without Him in that work. Now, this proves that He is God; for He that built all things is God. This proves the excellency of the Christian religion, that the author and founder of Christianity is the same that was the author and founder of the world. He is the fountain of all excellency! When we worship Christ, we worship Him to whom the patriarchs gave honor as the Creator of the world, and on whom all creatures depend. (3.) This shows how well qualified He was for the work of our redemption and salvation. Help was laid upon one that was mighty indeed; for it was laid upon Him that made all things; and He is appointed the author of our bliss who was the author of our being. 

 

John 1:4 “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

 

Henry asserts that this verse proclaims the origin of life and light is in Christ. This further proves that Jesus is God, and every way qualified for His earthly visitation undertaking; for, (1) He has life in himself; not only the “true” God, but the “living” God. God is life (2) All living creatures have their life in Him; not only all the matter of the creation was made by Him, but all the life too that is in the creation is derived from Him and supported by Him. It was the Word of God that produced the moving creatures that had life, in Genesis 1:20, when God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” Jesus is the Truth and illuminates the truth of life.

in christ, Brian

Fear

 

“What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:27-28

 

I remember growing up and thinking about how awesome Creator God was. It was obvious in nature and in looking up at a night sky that all this didn’t just happen by accident. And thankfully, I was taught the basic Creation story, about Noah’s flood, the Ten Commandments and the basic gospel of Jesus Christ at an early age. I needed to refine the details of obeying the Word of God and what it means to follow Jesus as Savior and Lord, but I had faith. I was taught that fear of the Lord meant honor, respect, revere, adoration and never desiring to ever let our awesome God down by thinking, saying or doing anything that was not “right” in the eyes of my all-seeing, all-knowing, ever-present and all-powerful Lord God. It was a comforting and secure feeling having Almighty God as my heavenly Father. Verses like Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” and Proverbs 19:23 “The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble” confirmed this belief. Sure, but seems honor, respect, reverence, adoration and desiring to do God's Will, but there was something more, something bigger behind it, much bigger.   

 

I am a human being existing in a material world which was spoke into existence by the sovereign Creator of the heavens and the earth; all time, space and matter. Was my finite mind able to wrap around how infinitely big God really was? What would I do if I encountered God face-to-face? The Bible gives a clue from how the great patriarchs reacted in a personal visit by their Creator. Genesis 17:1-3 says, “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” Abram fell facedown”  

 

How about the Israelites at Mt. Sinai in Exodus 19:16-19, Exodus 20:18-21? “On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. “When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.” 

 

Later, in Exodus 33:17-20, the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”” How amazingly awesome must God be that we cannot look upon His face and live? My thinking was too small about His greatness, authority and power. It is not casual Christianity. 

 

The prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 18:37-39 requested of God, “Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”” How do you stand in the presence of the supernatural Creator of all things? 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 tells us, “When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lordfilled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “He is good; his love endures forever.”” 

 

Revelation 11:15-17 tells us that even in Heaven, “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.” This infinite Creator God of ours is naturally terrifying to encounter because He is infinitely powerful and that must always be the base of our faith., which we build our lives upon.Hallelujah!

As Isaiah 33:6 says, “He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.” Have a healthy fear of God, because our God is an awesome God!

 

In Christ, Brian

 

Happy Fourth of July 2023

Happy Birthday America

Remembering our Independence as a sovereign nation

Remembering our Dependence of Almighty God

In God We Trust

Happy Fourth of July

Liberty

Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

 

We are coming up on Fourth of July, which is Independence Day (a federal holiday in the United States) commemorating the Declaration of Independence, which was ratified by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America. The Founding Father delegates of the Second Continental Congress declared that the thirteen Colonies were no longer subject (and subordinate) to the monarch of Britain, King George III, and were now united, free, and independent states. But, in their declaration of independence, they also made a declaration of dependence on almighty Creator God, the Author of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness by His unalienable Rights given to mankind, made in His image. The first sentence proclaims: “the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, and almighty God is mentioned four times in the document.

 

It has become a well-known statement on human rights, particularly its second sentence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." The declaration was made to guarantee equal rights for every person and freedom of the will. Yet, we must remember that freedom isn’t free.

 

The Declaration of Independence concludes with these words: "We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."

 

Liberty is defined as: Freedom from restraint, in a general sense, and applicable to the body, or to the will or mind. The body is at liberty, when not confined; the will or mind is at liberty, when not checked or controlled. People enjoy liberty, when no physical force operates to restrain their actions or volitions. God-given natural liberty, consists in the power of acting as one thinks fit, without any restraint or control, except from the laws of nature and nature’s God. 

 

Our nation’s original coinage bore the image of Liberty. The Coinage Act of 1792 specified that all coins have an “impression emblematic of liberty,” the inscription “LIBERTY,” and the year of coinage on the obverse side. Congress chose to personify the concept of liberty rather than a real person. The face of Lady Liberty appeared on our circulating coins for more than 150 years. Liberty and Freedom are the building blocks of America, but almighty is the Foundation on which this nation stands. Remember this on Independence Day and thank the Lord for His providential hands in guiding and preserving this “Land of the Free and Home of the Brave”. One nation under God, with liberty and justice for all!

 

In God We Trust, 

In Christ, Brian