Pillars 5: Repent

In my work, I have many occasion to ask certain people what the difference is between the rules of the organization and one or more of their own actions.  Over the years, I have developed a working theory that is surprisingly accurate.  Those who quickly identify that their actions are not compliant with the standards set for them; and demonstrate a genuine contrite attitude over their shortcoming are almost certain to not make those same mistakes in judgement again.  However, those who blame others, blame their circumstances, or deny any wrongdoing altogether, are the same individuals who are doomed to repeat said offense multiple times.  This pattern of action, then denial or excuse, continues until a consequence is necessary.  In short, people do not stop doing something wrong until they admit to the wrong, and are convicted in their own minds to change their own behavior.  This is the Biblical principle of repentance at work. 

In the book of 2 Chronicles 7:14, God says this:
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

I love this verse.  It illustrates the principle of repentance.  God says, first we must humble ourselves.  We must do battle with the pride that lies within ourselves and admit that we messed up.  Then we can turn away from the wickedness (sin) in our lives.  The turning away from is repentance.  In turning away, or repenting from sin, we are telling God that we agree with Him that we have sinned.  We are also making a real effort to do away with our sin.  Repentance does not mean we stop sinning--we cannot stop sinning.  We can change our mind about sin.  We can agree with God that some actions we may have been making excuses for, or believing were right actions are actually sinful actions.  That is repentance. 

You see, repentance is key to a relationship with God through Jesus because God is holy, and a holy God cannot abide in sin.  Therefore our sin is a barrier between ourselves and God.  Thus, repentance is critical.

Jesus said in Luke 13:3, "Except ye repent, ye shall all like-wise perish."  Perish does not mean die, because 100% of us will die.  Perish means that our souls with spend eternity in damnation.  So, you see here how serious it is that we all repent.  Let us all repent and agree with God that we are sinful and recognize that we need the salvation of the cross.

Pillars of the Faith: The Infallibility of Scripture

There are two types of biographies available on bookshelves today.  There are authorized biographies, and there are unauthorized biographies.  The authorized biographies are written in conjunction with the person whom the book is about.  The unauthorized version is not.  If you want the facts straight; which biography do you choose?

The argument that some people have, even some Christians, is that the Bible is an unauthorized biography because it was written by men.  However, the same critics, believe that Jesus existed, and they do not criticize his words. 

I would say to anyone who believes that the Bible is flawed, to closely examine the evidence on their own.  The Bible is comprised of 66 books, written over a period of 1400 years by 40 different authors.  Although so much time and so many different people were involved--the Bible never contradicts itself.  Now folks, you can't get two people who witnessed a purse snatched to agree on the facts.  These are 40 different men over 1400 years.  The reason the Bible is so consistent is because it is God speaking through men, and God is immutable, and so is His word. 

I did not write the next part, but it is interesting.

There were several secular historians who wrote about the events of the New Testament at the same time the Bible was being written. Josephus is the most well-known of them. He was a Jewish historian. Tacitus was a Roman historian who would have no benefit from not telling the truth. Both these men, as well as others, can be used to back up the historical accuracy of the Bible.


There are historical discoveries regularly coming to light that continue to support the accuracy of the Bible. Merrill Unger, who compiled a Bible dictionary wrote, “Old Testament archeology has rediscovered whole nations, resurrected important peoples, and in a most astonishing manner filled in historical gaps, adding immeasurably to the knowledge of Biblical backgrounds.”

There are more than 3,200 verses with fulfilled prophecy either within the Bible itself or since the Bible was written. But there are still more than 3,100 verses with unfulfilled prophecies.


Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/10-amazing-bible-facts/#ixzz2Hu9Org21

Ok, me again.

No other book can claim to have 3,200 verses of prophecy fulfilled.  If this is not proof that the Bible is the infallible word of God, I don't know what is. 

Lastly, Brothers and Sisters, Jesus.  If Jesus was who he said he was, and I believe he was, then we can never deny the infallibility of scripture.  Why?  Because Jesus quoted the Bible 78 times in the Gospels.  So, then, we have the man whom the book is about, quoting from the book which was written about Him before the book was finished.  Incidentally, we also have that man quoting scriptures about himself that were written hundreds of years before he was born.  The evidence in favor of the infallibility of scripture in the life and words of Jesus Christ alone is staggering.

Pillar 3: The Gospel continued-- Jesus is God

2 things before I begin brothers and sisters.  1.  I prayed about this Christmas.  I prayed that God would provide all that we needed.  And He did!  Praise the Lord!  God forgive me for worrying.    2.  If any of you went out and brought extra water, generators, guns, dry foods, in case the end was near, please repent.  Jesus is clear.  No man knows the day.  Therefore the only thing we can expect is that whichever day is predicted as the end, it will not be that day; because God is not a liar.  Some of you will catch that later.

In our previous post, we looked at the Gospel in a nutshell.  However, it is much deeper than it appears.  It is the most beautiful tale of sacrifice and love ever told.  But, in my haste to present the gospel, I neglected to discuss two other very important pillars of our faith.  Again, before one can truly understand and believe in the Gospel, they must believe in the infallibility of scripture (next post) and the deity of Jesus Christ.

I'm not here to pick a fight.  Some will feel as if I'm doing just that, and they will feel that way for a reason.  Here is the the statement that draws the line in the dirt.  Jesus Christ is God.  Either people are going to believe that, or they are not.  If they do not believe that, then there is not a whole lot we can do except pray for them.  We must pray that God reveals Himself to them, and that Christian sowers continue to plant seeds.    
Otherwise, if one denies the deity of Christ, then they cannot enter into his kingdom (Heaven).  How would it look if I went to live in someones home, and I refused to acknowledge that person as the owner?

If you ask anyone who Jesus was, you will get many different answers.  However, the historical record of Jesus is the Bible.  Regardless of what people believe about Jesus; we have to examine what Jesus said about himself.  Jesus said the following things concerning his deity:

John 8:24

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁴ Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

John 10:30-33

New King James Version (NKJV)

³⁰ I and My Father are one.
³¹ Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. ³² Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?”
³³ The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”

John 14:9-11

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. ¹¹ Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

Matthew 1:23

New King James Version (NKJV)

²³ “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

John 20:28

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁸ And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

Acts 20:28

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁸ Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God^[a] which He purchased with His own blood.


Those are just a few.  There are many more.  We see here that Jesus was more than a mere prophet.  He was more than just a teacher of the law.  He was much more than just a moral leader.  In fact, many of his teachings went against the morals and cultural norms of his day.  But in his own words Jesus has said that He  is God.  

Either is Jesus is God, or he was just plain crazy.  The way he presented Himself was as a complete package.  There was no option to break it up and buy just the pieces we like.  Either we believe it all or we don't. 

Watch/Listen to C.S. Lewis as he explains the deity of Christ:

Pillar 3: The Gospel

This, in my opinion, should be 1.  However, in order to comprehend this one, we must first have an understanding of our depravity, and election.  If you have missed those two posts go back and read them first. 

The Gospel, in the most simple terms I can use is that God created man.  Man rebelled against God and broke God's law.  God, being a just judge (just judges must punish) has an obligation to apply the law to Man and execute the law.  The wages of our rebellion (sin) is death.  Death is hell.  God must send Man to hell for breaking the law.  God, being good, gracious, and merciful, built a loophole into the law.  He never said who had to die--he just said that death is the punishment for transgressing the law.  So God became flesh and came to earth.  He lived a sinless life, never breaking the law.  He then offered himself as a sacrifice to die in our place so that the punishment we deserve is satisfied, and we are no longer bound by the law.  All we have to do is believe in Jesus (the God-Man), and repent of our sins, and we shall be saved from the punishment we deserve because Jesus died in our place.  That is the Gospel, or Good news in a nutshell.  There is a lot more to the story, and it is all beautiful and perfect.

If you prefer the Gospel presented more artistically, check out the video.  He does a great job explaining it.