Go therefore and make disciples of all nations
I recently had a discussion with a friend who goes on missions to South America at least once a year. I think that’s great. Jesus commanded that the Gospel be taken to all nations. And this is where our discussion got interesting. I mentioned that Christians that do not go to other countries are also obeying the command. He disagreed with me. The verse he cited was:
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Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19 (ESV)
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The knock!
“With unfailing love I have I drawn you to myself.”
-Jeremiah 31:3
The Master came one night to the door, and
knocked with the iron hand of the law; the
door shook and trembled upon its hinges.
But the man piled every piece of furniture
which he could find against the door, for he
said, “I will not admit that man.” read more…
A Recommendation
I have a long list of “recommends” ranging from books, blogs and websites. I have started a list and will be alternating between each. Today, I would like to recommend a website, Desiring God by Pastor John Piper. This is a website that has an incredible amount of resources from books, sermons and a blog. Desiring God makes available John Piper’s sermons either via audio or by video which can be viewed on the site. John Piper is a prolific author and his books can be purchased on the website as well. For those that are experiencing financial difficulties, they have a program where they will give away the books at either a reduced rate or for free to those that are unable to pay. Their philosophy is that those that cannot afford material should not be prevented from receiving material. They have also made available a vast amount of books in PDF format for anyone who wishes to read online.
As Christians, we don’t question whether the Bible is the Word of God. Christians, however, should understand why we accept and believe it is. Christians will say, if they are unable offer an explanation, “I believe by faith.” Sure we believe by faith but God has never demanded that we believe in blind faith. In the Old Testament, people believed because God always gave reasons to believe. God proved His prophets were acting and speaking on His behalf through acts of miracles. Even Jesus proved who He said He was through miracles and signs. We should, as Christians, know why we accept and believe that the Bible is God’s Word. Blind faith is only an answer if we do not know why and certainly is not something that we should be sharing with non Christians.
Abraham Lincoln
Washington, DC—October 3, 1863
The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
God sends on them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:11, God sends a strong delusion so that they may believe what is false. Many have asked why does God send a strong delusion so that people will believe what is false. Christians have wondered about this verse and non Christians have used this verse to say that God is morally wrong to deceive people. What is God saying?
It is really important – actually, it is critically important to read verses in context. That scripture standing alone is misleading unless one reads it in context with the rest of the text. The setting or context is the discussion of the Day of the Lord. The historical context is a serious problem stemming from the false teachers about the coming of the Day of the Lord. Paul reassured the Thessalonian believers that the Day of the Lord had not yet happened and would not until other events took place. Paul assures the Thessalonians that the Day of the Lord will not occur unless the apostasy comes first, the man of lawlessness, the son of destruction, and takes his seat in the temple of God.
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Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (ESV)
that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two (Jew and gentile)
Many years ago, I started attending a Messianic Congregation. For those that may not know what that is, it is a church comprised of Jews and gentiles. It is Jewish believers in Jesus the Messiah promised in the Old Testament. One aspect that Messianic congregations devote time is to evangelism of their brethren, fellow Jews. This is something that should be promoted and encouraged. Jewish people understand Jewish culture. Paul understood this. Paul was a Jew to the Jews, to those under the law, he became as one under the law, to those outside the law, he became as one outside the law. (1 Corinthians 9:20-23) He did this in order that he could become all things to all people so that through him, people would be saved. He did this for the sake of the gospel. Messianic congregations cite Romans 1:16 as the reason they evangelize Jews first. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5)
In my post Christians, Internet and Fruit of the Spirit I mentioned that there were some Christians that were distinguishing the wicked versus the righteous incorrectly. The position taken was that the wicked were those that were not deserving of prayers of salvation. The mistake is that the view is that the wicked are those that are committing acts of depravity or wickedness. It certainly is true that there are exceedingly wicked acts that we read and hear about in our society. Who are the wicked as opposed to the righteous?
The first instance in the Word of God that the word “wicked” is found is in Genesis 13:13 “Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD.” Strong’s defines it as bad morally or naturally. We tend to look at wicked in a different sense in that a wicked person is one who commits exceedingly evil acts. We may look at a person who lies not really wicked but doing something wrong whereas a wicked person is one who commits a depraved act such as cold blooded murderer. The question really is this the view that God takes? Who does He see as wicked and who does He see as righteous.
Charles Spurgeon
A bird that is tied by a string
“For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” Acts 8:23
“If the Son sets you free–you will be free indeed!” John 8:36
A bird that is tied by a string–seems to have more liberty than a bird in a cage; it flutters up and down–and yet it is held just as fast.
A Recommendation
Today’s recommendation is a blog that was introduced to me. The title of the blog is He is my Delight. As I read through the blog, I realized that the blogger did indeed delight in the Lord. It is not a site where one would learn theology. It is not a site where you would read about doctrine. It is a site to sit back and delight in the Lord with a fellow Christian.
The blogger shares some of her life experiences. One such story that touched me was her experience in joining the prison ministry of her church. After receiving the phone call a mere 2 hours before they were to be at the prison that she was an approved visitor, excited and yet unprepared, they met with a small group of prisoners and worshiped with them. She sat on the bench while the other members shared stories or songs wishing she had something she could share.
