It seems like Christianity and Jesus are increasingly under attack. What's going on? What we'll be looking at is what happens when Christians use human wisdom to interpret the Bible, twisting scripture away from its intended message. This blog is dedicated to using Scripture itself to interpret and help us understand Scripture. You are welcome to add your comments and thoughts. Other viewpoints are welcome. Disagreements are welcome.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Defeating Satan
The following is a quote from a book called "10 Things Satan Doesn't Want You To Know." This is one of the things we need to do to make Christ's victory, and Satan's defeat, applicable in our life.
"...be positive and consistent in our testimony for the Lord. It is a fatal mistake to believe that while faith in Christ is required, testimony for Christ is optional. No testimony by both life and mouth means no defeat for Satan."
"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, 'Did God really say, You must not eat from any tree in the garden?'
The woman said to the serpent, 'We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'
'You will surely not die,' the serpent said to the woman. 'For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'"
We all know what happens next. Eve ate some of the fruit, offered to Adam and he also ate the fruit. They disobeyed God. For the first time disobedience of God entered the world... sin.
What if God never told us about the events recorded in Genesis 3? Let's say the history recorded in Genesis 3 was not included in the Bible. It's not very long. Only 24 verses. Would the Bible still make sense?
No.
If God had not told us that sin entered the world, we would not understand the need for Jesus to pay the penalty for our sin. What sin? I'm a good person! that's what you'd hear. Actually that is what you do hear today. When I ask people why they think they'll go to heaven, and most people think they are going to heaven, the #1 answer is "because I'm a good person."
What about Genesis 3? People don't know about sin. They don't understand they are sinners, heading for the just consequences of their sin, the firey pit of hell. It's just as though Genesis 3 did not exist. And that is why we must tell people about sin when we are witnessing. No in a mean or angry way, but in a loving way. People need to understand their situation. That's why God gave us Genesis 3. So we would understand our situation.
What if God had not given us Genesis 3? We'd be in the same situation as the people I witness to. We would not know our need for a Savior.
The book of Romans is essentially a record of what Paul was preaching. It starts with a presentation of the gospel.
Where does Paul start? God has a wonderful plan for your life? No. You have a God-shaped hole in soul? No. Paul starts with sin and God's anger at sin.
Verses 1:1 through 1:15 are greetings and an introduction. In verse 1:16 Paul states that he is not ashamed of the Good News (gospel).
Starting in verse 1:18 Paul talks about sin. He continues through verse 3:20. Only after he has completely discussed sin does he give the Good News about Jesus Christ in verses 3:21 through 3:28. That's 64 verses on sin and and 7 verses on salvation.
People don't know they are in need of a Saviour, until they know they are sinners; and know what sin is; and know how serious sin is.
Today is Thanksgiving Day. We are thankful to the Lord that today we have opened our FREE Online Witnessing School.
The MTA Online Gospel Witnessing School provides video lessons to help you learn about share the gospel and to fill your witnessing toolbox. It features video lessons, commentary, music and links to books that will help to build your witnessing skills.
God has commanded us to share the gospel. Sharing is a skill you can learn and continue to improve. The MTA Online Gospel Witnessing School helps you to do that.
"God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if there is even one with real understanding, one who seeks God."
"But no, all have turned away from God; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not even one!" (NLT)
No one seeks God. Many people think they are seeking God. But is that true? Yes, they are seeking a god, but they are not seeking THE God. They are seeking a god made in their image. They a seeking a god that is acceptable to them. They are judging god based on their human standards. Many find a god who is what they expect a god to be... They may call that human created god "god", or Jesus, or Allah or say that it is nothing such as in Budhism. But it is not the God who created the universe... the God of the Bible.
God is very easy to find. He reveals Himself to us through what He has created, and more specifically through the Bible. God is not hiding. The truth is we don't really want to find Him. We are born enimies of God, yet we still feel our need for God, so we search until we find the man-made god that best suits our desires.
Turn to God. Recognize that you are sinning... that no one does good, not even you! You have disobeyed God and the only way you can be saved from the consequences (hell) is let God save you.
This is the story of the rich young man who comes to Jesus asking how he can be saved. In my last posting I asked how we can say we love our neighbor, if we have not shared the gospel with them? This story illustrates how Jesuus shared the gospel. What better opening question is there than for someone to come up to you and ask how they can be saved? Here is what happened (from the NIV):
"As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inheret eternal life?"
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, not not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"
"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."
Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said, "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth."
What did Jesus do? He took the rich young man to the Ten Commandments. When the the rich young man would not admit to having broken any of the commandments--in other words he thought he was a good person--Jesus then showed that the rich man was breaking the first and second commandments right at that moment.
Have no other Gods before me - the rich man's wealth was a "god" that he held in high esteem that God almighty creator of the universe.
Do not make idols - the rich man's wealth was an idol that he worshipped instead of God.
People can not be saved until they know they need saving. How well have you kept the Ten Commandments? Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen anything? Have you ever looked at another person with lust--Jesus said that if you look at another person with lust you have committed adultery in your heart. Have you ever used the name of God in vain (as a cuss word for example)? These are just four of the Ten Commandments.
When you stand before God to be judged will you be innocent or guilty of breaking his commandments? Will you be going to heaven or hell?
Read the above story again. Jesus said that "No one is good--except God alone." Only God is good. All of us like to think that we are a good person, but we are not. We have broken God's laws and must pay the penalty. That penalty is death, it is called hell. For example, the Bible says that liars will spend eternity in the lake of fire. Have you every told a lie? Even a small "white" lie?
But there is good news. For there to be justice the penalty you owe for breaking God's laws must be paid. Jesus has done that for you. He has paid your penalty. He offers this to you as a free gift. All you need to do is accept this gift. Turn away from disobeying God and strive to obey His commands, and trust that Jesus has paid the penalty for every time in the past (and future) that you have broken God's laws.
I find this to be a very interesting verse. It says:
"Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat."
The words to notice are, "AND SPEED ITS COMING".
How we live our lives has a direct effect on how soon Jesus returns. YOU are very important. We are looking forward to the day that Jesus returns, and how we live our lives will effect how soon that will be.
Are you desiring to live a holy and Godly life? Do you love God and your neighbor? If you love your neighbor have you told them about the gospel? We are here on earth for only a brief moment, and in that brief moment your neighbors, your family and your eternal destiny will be determined. How can we not warn people that they are heading for hell unless they repent and trust in Jesus? How can we say we love our neighbor, when we haven't told our neighbor the most important thing they need to know?
"'...You are my witnesses', declares the LORD 'that I am God...'"
We are called by God to be His witnesses.
In the past hour over 7,000 people who did not trust Jesus as their Savior went to hell.
Carl F. H. Henry said, "The gospel is only good news it it arrives in time."
Mark 16:15 says, "Go into ALL the world and preach the good news to all creation."
What are you doing to bring the good news of the gospel to the world? The great missionary William Carey said, "Attempt great things for God. Expect great things from God."
The pioneering missionary to China, J. Hudson Taylor, said, "The Great Commission is not an option to be considered, it is a command to be obeyed."
You don't think you can bring the good news of the gospel to others? You don't think there is anything you can do to support others who are bringing the gospel to others? Keep this thought in mind:
"You do not test the resources of God until you attempt the impossible." - F. B. Meyer
