I Never Thought I'd See The Day When Jesus Would Be So Profaned [Transcript included]

Tomorrow, October 4, 2011 is the date for release of Dr. David Jeremiah's new book, I Never Thought I'd See The Day - Culture at the Crossroads. I already pre-ordered my book so I hope it arrives tomorrow! Meanwhile, I have thoroughly enjoyed the first three broadcasts on Turning Point T.V., and highly recommend this series.

The three broadcasts are available for viewing at David Jeremiah.org or they can also be seen at LightSource.com.  At the beginning of the video, you will see short presentation of The Account - which is Dr. Jeremiah's way to explain the campaign for moral change that started back in the 1960's - through a public relations campaign for a particular "client."


Excerpt:

Not long ago in America, Jesus Christ was honored and respected as the One worshipped by the majority of citizens. But today Jesus and His name are profaned throughout our culture, especially in entertainment. Once Jesus is known for who He is, profanity will turn to praise.

Yesterday's broadcast entitled When Jesus Would Be So Profaned brought back to my memory the post I shared back on September 19th - The Paganism of the LBGQT Agenda Within the post, I had a cut and paste link to a blog that exposed one of the most vile demonstrations of profanity against Jesus Christ that I have ever seen.

During Dr. Jeremiah's sermon, he stated, quite emphatically, that the example he shared (Stephen Colbert's show which included both mockery of Christ and the act of receiving communion) was without doubt one example of utter blasphemy against Jesus Christ that saddened and angered all of us . But Dr. Jeremiah confessed that he was unable to show the utterly disgusting examples he found via the Internet. Perhaps he also saw what I did at that homosexual event in San Francisco.

This sermon was so awesome that I am compelled to work on transcribing it here. That way, when anyone does a search for Dr. Jeremiah's book and ends up visiting here, they can not only click over to view the video presentation, but also read the powerful biblical message that Dr. Jeremiah presents about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

It is for this very reason that my blog, Talk Wisdom exists:

Talk Wisdom's goal is to defend the tenets and values of Biblical Christian faith. We defend our Constitutional Republic and Charters of Freedom, especially when speaking out against destructive social and political issues. As followers of our Savior and Lord, we should boldly stand up for Jesus Christ in our present circumstances. He is our Savior, Lord, and King, and His love needs to be shed abroad in our hearts and in our world - now.

We must continually pray for the lost. We must pray that their mocking would turn to worship once they know about the REAL Jesus!

Again, don't miss this opportunity to learn about THE REAL JESUS!

Transcript will be forthcoming as time permits. The following outline will assist you in searching for the Scriptures mentioned during the video sermon presentation.

I NEVER THOUGHT I’D SEE THE DAY
Dr. David Jeremiah
“When Jesus Would Be So Profaned”
Hebrews 1:1-3
October 2, 2011
Hebrews 8:1
I. Jesus: The Final Word From God
Hebrews 1:1-2
John 1:1
II. Jesus: The First Cause of Creation
Genesis 1:1
Hebrews 1:2
John 1:1-3
Colossians 1:16
III. Jesus: The Fullness of the Godhead
Hebrews 1:3
Colossians 1:19
John 1:18
1 Timothy 3:16
John 14:9
Hebrews 1:8
IV. Jesus: The Facilitator of All Things
Hebrews 1:3
Colossians 1:17
V. Jesus: The Forgiveness of Our Sins
Hebrews 1:3
Hebrews 9:25-26
VI. Jesus: The Finisher of Our Faith
Hebrews 1:3
Hebrews 12:2
VII. Jesus: Our Faithful High Priest
Hebrews 2:17-18
Hebrews 4:15
John 14:6



Hat tips to all links.

*******

Transcript:

Question: How Do You Picture Jesus?

Dr. Jeremiah: The way people view Jesus in America has changed dramatically. Jesus has gone from the revered Son of God, to the subject of ridicule and jokes. I'm David Jeremiah welcoming you to the third part in a series called "I Never Thought I'd See The Day: Culture at the Crossroads." Today's message, "I Never Thought I'd See The Day When Jesus Would Be So Profaned" focuses on how our modern culture views Jesus Christ. In today's world, many people give Jesus Christ less respect than any other religious leader. And unless Christians aren't careful, they will find themselves in a culture where they treat their Savior with shocking disrespect, something I have rarely seen before. But if we present the picture of Jesus Christ presented in the book of Hebrews, we will see Him as He truly is. That biblical picture is coming up on today's edition of Turning Point.

Chorus: I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, Oh oh Lord. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there is just something about that name. Master, Savior, Jesus, like the fragrance after the rain. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Let all heaven and earth proclaim. Kings and kingdoms will all pass away. But there is something about that name.

Dr. Jeremiah: I have been in ministry four decades and over that time I have seen incredible changes in our world. Some developments have been beneficial, but others have taken our culture away from it's spiritual and moral foundations. In my latest book, I Never Thought I'd See The Day, I discuss some of the ways our moral values have declined and most importantly, how we as Christians can reverse this downward spiral.

Dr. Jeremiah: Stephen Colbert, who is the host of Comedy Central T.V. show The Colbert Report, spoofed a controversial ad designed for television that was about the Doritos brand of corn chips. In 2010, the makers of the Doritos product created a contest to choose a video commercial that would be shown sometime during the 2011 Superbowl. The commercial spoofed by Colbert was one of the entries received by Doritos though it was not chosen and did not air during the Superbowl. Nonetheless, it was picked up by various websites and ultimately spoofed on the Colbert Report. In the commercial, a priest is worried about how to boost attendance in his church. As he is praying for ideas heaven reveals the solution. Replace the bread or communion wafers in the service with Doritos.

[Audience groans]

After the commercial didn't air, Stephen Colbert decided to spoof it on his T.V. show. I will read this to you with the caveat up front that it almost made me cry and I'm sure it will have the same effect on some of you.

Colbert begins, "Now folks, I may be a devout Catholic."

 And the audience cheers and laughs. He pulls out a bag of Doritos nacho chips from beneath his desk.

 "I know that Eucharist is usually bread, but through transubstantiation, it becomes the body of Christ. So I honestly can't understand why Jesus can't be a Dorito. Doritos are unleavened and after all, He did "snackrafice" Himself for us and our sins. And remember at the Last Supper according to Mark 14:20, Jesus said he would be betrayed by one of the twelve - the one who dips with me in the bowl."

 Once again, there is audience laughter and an image of the Bible and the text of Mark 14:20 appears on the screen.

"They had dip," said Colbert, "therefore Jesus was a chip. Everybody knows the Catholic Church could use a little extra scratch right now. What better way than product placement. Next Wednesday, we can all get our foreheads marked with Dorito dust. For the right price, there is no reason why people can't be baptized in Mountain Dew. That would be the most extreme baptism ever. Once and for all, it would show Islam which religion is more radical."

Dr. Jeremiah: Unless you saw Colbert's commercial spoof on his show or on another website, you probably didn't hear much about equating Jesus with a corn chip, or about the saying, "he snackrificed Himself for our sins." Indeed, incorporating Jesus Christ into profane situations here in America is so common that it hardly gains any attention anymore. Never before has the biblical portrayal of Christ been so foreign to our culture.

In fashion, He appears on Urban Outfitters as "Jesus is my homeboy" tee shirts. On television he often appears in the animated shows of The Simpsons and South Park. On the big screen he has been the subject of The DaVinci Code. In a 2010 interview, Elton John provocatively stated that Jesus "was a compassionate, super intelligent gay man that understood human problems." Renowned atheist Richard Dawkins claimed that  "reborn Jesus would gladly wear an atheist for Jesus tee shirt today and "we owe Jesus the honor of separating the genuinely original and radical ethics that he held from the supernatural nonsense which he espoused as a man of his time."

In their book, "Dethroning Jesus," - opposing biblical scholars popular views of Christ - scholars Daryl Bouk and Daniel Wallace claim that the popular view of Jesus today is not of biblical Christianity, it is "Jesusanity."  Jesusanity is a coined term for the alternative story about Jesus Christ. At the center of the story is still Jesus, but Jesus as a prophet or teacher of religious wisdom. His role is one of teacher, guide, or example. Jesus' special insight is into the human condition, and the enlightenment he brings to it. In this story, the key is that Jesus inspires others but there is no throne for Jesus. He is one among many; the best perhaps, and certainly one we can learn from and follow. I never thought I'd see the day in America where Jesus Christ was fair game for comedians and commercial entrepreneurs. Especially those who profess to believe in Him, like the self-professed Catholic Stephen Colbert. My point is not to pick him out and criticize him above the others because he is actually one of the more tell-able stories in this report. Some of the material that I gained in my research I would never tell or speak of because it is so profane and vile.

The point is how easy it is for us Christians to get squeezed into the mold if we are not constantly filtering what we find entertaining and at whose expense.

Someone did some homework on the Colbert Report and said in the months just before the episode where I cited there were 1.2 million viewers of that program. And, according to an ABC Beliefnet poll, 83% of Americans say they are Christians I know that's an inflated number and I know that's not true but that is what they claim. So that means that 83% of the 1.2 million viewers of the Colbert program that night saw what I told you about. Using these unscientific numbers let me ask you why nobody ever said anything about it and you never heard about it, and it never got in the news? It went nowhere. If that's true then somewhere around 800,000 Christian people heard Colbert do that. We are so tolerant these days and so afraid of criticism we let it go by and we never raised our voice.

The Jesus that we need to know will not be found in the secular media. John Piper said that the degree to which the church is trained to distrust the Jesus of the gospels and to look for ever new human creations of Christ, the real Jesus will be blurred and his power to break free from the unbiblical traditions that bind him will be blunted.

Some of you know what "muzak" is. It is elevator music. It is the music that plays in elevators that you don't even know about until you stop and think - oh, there is music playing. When you are in an elevator alone, there is some music playing. It is background music. It plays in elevators and malls,  and in department stores. It sort of just gets into your consciousness without an invitation. Elevator music is always there so we don't pay to much attention to it. But our subconscious mind takes it in.

Cultural messages like the one I just told you that tends to be tolerated is like background music. Little by little it tends to slip into the consciousness of Christian Americans. It is like cultural noise, whether its in our lives from a late night comedian or whether it's from a pastor of a mega church, or it's in the news from the media, or from a new leader of a mainline denomination. Messages about Jesus are always screaming into our heads. And if we are not careful, those messages like a silently stored song, subconsciously change the way we think about the Jesus who is our Savior.

In the midst of this sordid view of Jesus Christ in our culture we have the Bible. And in the Bible, we have the New Testament. And in the New Testament we have the book of Hebrews. And I don't know if you know this, but there is more about Jesus in the book of Hebrews than in any New Testament book except the four gospels. If you want to know about Jesus, obviously, read the four gospels. If you want to know even more about Jesus, read the book of Hebrews. For the book of Hebrews is all about Jesus Christ.

Hebrews was written to a group of first century Christians, most of whom had been saved out of Judaism. Many of them had been exposed to the danger of giving up. They were under great pressure, having been ridiculed and persecuted by their families for having turned from Judaism to Jesus Christ. Many had accepted this adversity joyfully but others were ready to quit. So the letter of Hebrews appeals to these believers to keep their faith anchored in truth and confident in Christ. And the writer of Hebrews, whose identity we do not know, teaches us that no believer can cope with adversity unless Christ fills his horizons and sharpens his priorities and dominates his experiences.

And more importantly from a theological perspective, Hebrews is the only book that begins with the word God. Did you know that? It's the only one. Now, in the Greek it's not like that. For some reason, God caused the book to be translated into English so that the first word in the book of Hebrews is God. Most other books begin with the name of the human writer, Paul, Peter, or John. But, we do not know who the writer of Hebrews was so it begins with God. We have to allow Him to be the writer, right? God is the writer of Hebrews, as He is of all the other books. And the theme of Hebrews, as I have mentioned,  is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the one that these young Hebrew Christians need to know. He's the one they needed to wrap their lives around. Only Jesus Christ, in a full orbed [Note:  means "emblem of sovereignty" in this context] understanding of who He was could get them through the difficulties they were facing. And, my friends, I think that is true of our world today. I believe as Christians we get our thoughts and our minds on a lot of things and we turn away from Christ, and we wonder why we are having such a difficult time.

Jesus Christ is the one who has promised to be closer to us than a brother and keep us in the midst of every situation.  And just as the Hebrew Christians needed Christ we today need Christ in our lives - not as just our Savior, but as the constant friend and companion in our lives.  Not every book is so up front about what it's about, but if you turn to the eighth chapter of the book of Hebrews you will discover what this book is about. 

This is what it says in Hebrews 8:1 (NKJV) Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.

That is what the book of Hebrews is about. It's about Jesus! In the book of Hebrews, we learn that Jesus is better. He's better than everything. He's better than the angels. He's better than Moses. He's better than Joshua. He's better than the old covenant. He's better than the priests. In fact, the word betteris in Hebrews thirteen times! Jesus is better!

I remember reading a book some years ago by Max Lucado, and he was talking about Hebrews. He said, "the best just got better has become the favorite slogan. It's not because the previous product was poor, it's just that the current one is superior."

The book of Hebrews might well use the same slogan. The best just got better. Here in the first few pages of the book of Hebrews is the REAL Jesus. And I think that instead of spending our whole time railing on the world's comprehension of who Jesus is, we do well to focus our attention on what the Bible says about him. You know, there is an old adage that when you are trying to figure out whether a bill is counterfeit - don't study the counterfeit bill - study the real bill. When you know what that looks like, you will spot a counterfeit bill wherever you go! It's easy.

So we need to get back to knowing who Jesus is, according to the Scripture. Now in the first three chapters of Hebrews we learn several; things about him and I'm just going to take you through this because I'm so excited about preaching Hebrews because I get to teach about Jesus straight on. You know I preach about Jesus all the time but he is kind of like in the places between other things. But when you teach Hebrews, Jesus is the focus of every lesson. First of all, Jesus is the final word from God.

In Hebrews 1:1-2a:

Hbr 1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,


Hbr 1:2 has in these last days spoken to us by [His] Son...

Now watch carefully what that says. That says that in the Old Testament, God spoke in various ways and in various times. He spoke to Adam a little bit, He spoke to Moses a little bit, He spoke to Abraham a little bit. He spoke to David and to Solomon here and there. He spoke in various seasons; from Moses in the Pentateuch all the way through the prophets ending with the book of Malachi. But listen, He never spoke it all to any one person or at any one time. So, it what "here a little" and "there a little" and we are blessed because we have the collection of what He said to all of them. But, there was never a time in the Old Testament where there was a full orbed, final word from God! But when you come to the New Testament we are told, "but in these last days he [God] has spoken unto us by His Son..." (Hebrews 1:2 NIV). We know that one of the titles of Jesus is He is the Word. In the beginning was the Word. Jesus is God's last word to man. When Jesus came into his place on this earth, he was simply God walking around in a body. When God wanted to communicate who He was to us, He took Deity and poured it into humanity. This is who I Am and Jesus walked upon this earth!

[audience applauds]

So Jesus is God's final word to man. If you are looking for another word from God besides Jesus, you are going to wait a long time. He has spoken finally, and Jesus is the message. Jesus us God's final word to man. When He spoke in Christ, He said everything that He meant to say. If you want to know who God is, study Jesus! If you want to know what God is like, God is a Spirit. If we try to understand a Spirit, we cannot, so God incarnated Himself in a human body so that now we can know how God is through watching Jesus. Jesus is God in the flesh. Jesus is the final word from God. But if you keep reading in the book of Hebrews you find that Jesus is the First Cause of Creation.

A lot of people read Genesis 1:1 that "God created the heavens and the earth..." and we all believe that but when you get to the New Testament we discover that the part of the Trinity that was involved in the Creation process was Jesus Christ! Did you know that Jesus Christ is the Creator God. You say Jeremiah, where did you find that? Well, I'm glad you asked. Hebrews 1:2 states that, "through whom (Jesus) He also made the worlds." If you didn't get that listen to John 1:1 -

Jhn 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.


Jhn 1:2 He was in the beginning with God.

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

Dr. Jeremiah: Now that's about as clear as you can get and I want to say to people who don't believe that Jesus is the Creator God, what part of that don't you get?

Col 1:16 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.

Dr. Jeremiah: So we are building a little picture of Jesus. He is the last word from God and He is the first cause of Creation. Then the Bible tells us that Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead.

Hbr 1:3 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 on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Colossians 1:19 For it pleased [the Father that] in Him all the fullness should dwell,

Dr. Jeremiah: That means that Jesus Christ is exactly the same as God for He is God! This is one of the clearest statements in the Bible of the Deity of Jesus Christ.

John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

We can't see God, He is a Spirit. The Bible says you can't see God and live but you can see Jesus in the pages of the New Testament the Bible says you have seen God.

In his letter to Timothy, Paul says:

1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Dr. Jeremiah: And Jesus says if you have seen me, you have seen the Father.

John 3:19 He who has seen me has seen the Father.

Dr. Jeremiah: I want to be clear about this because one of the great debates about Jesus Christ today as I have read to you in the "Jesusanity" quote is that he is a good man but he's not God. You cannot believe that and call yourself a biblical Christian. Because the Bible teaches that Jesus is not just a good man, he is the God-man! And if we do not understand that we cannot understand Christianity.

[audience applauds]

Dr. Jeremiah: Here in the first chapter of Hebrews is one verse that is the clearest of proof texts the Deity of Jesus Christ:

Hbr 1:8 But unto the Son [he saith], Thy throne, O God, [is] for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness [is] the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Dr. Jeremiah: Here is God the Father calling Jesus, His Son God! You say 'I don't believe Jesus is God' well you and God don't agree! God says He is God and if you don't think He is God well then you have a problem with the Father! Because the Father said to Jesus, "Your throne O God, is forever and ever."

I read this about a biblical scholar named Scott McKnight who took his students in class through an exercise. On the opening day on Jesus of Nazareth, he gave a standardized, psychological test divided into two parts. The results are nothing short of astounding. The first part is about Jesus. It asks students to imagine Jesus' personality with questions such as, "does He prefer to go his own way or by acting by the rules?" Is he a worrier? The second part asks the same question of the students. But instead of asking "is he a worrier," it asks, "are you a worrier?" And the test is not about right or wrong answers, it is not designed to help students know Jesus. Instead, if given to enough people the test will reveal that we all think Jesus is like us. Introverts think that Jesus is introverted. And on the basis of the same questions, extroverts think Jesus is extroverted. Spiritual formation experts would love to hear that students in my Jesus class are becoming like Jesus. But the test actually reveals the reverse! Students are fashioning Jesus to be like them!

If the test were given to a random sampling of adults, the results would be measurably similar. To one degree or another, we all conform Jesus to our own image - and that's where we get into trouble. Because Jesus isn't who we want him to be - Jesus is who He is! Jesus is who the Bible says He is! The Bible tells us who Jesus is and if we would read our Bibles we wouldn't go down that strange road.

I don't know if this ever happens to you, but people come up to me periodically and if I preach on hell or judgment or something I'll get a letter or email. Invariably, I've had people come up to me and say, "Dr. Jeremiah, my God would never send anybody to hell." And do you know what I tell them? That's exactly right because your god doesn't exist!

[laughter and clapping]

Dr. Jeremiah: He doesn't exist - you made him up! We love to take our faith and when there are hard parts of it that we struggle with, we take the out! We excise them from our understanding. Like hell, we do away with it. You want to find a way to get everybody into heaven? Write a book about it, get on T.V., and everybody will think it is true. But that's NOT true! The Bible says that "it is appointed unto men to die and after that comes the judgment." Do whatever you want to it but you can't take it out of the book. Some people think that 'if I don't want it to be true, then it is not true.' Well, you know what? It's true whether you want it to be true or not!

So, if you want to get any place in your life, find out what is true and get on the bus! But don't go down all of these blind alleys trying to make the Jesus you say you love just like you are. Jesus is not!  He wants you to be just like He is. When you get on that track then something good will happen.

[applause, cheering]

Jesus is the final word from God. Jesus is the First Cause of Creation.  Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead.  And the Bible says in Hebrews 1:13, Jesus is the facilitator of all things.

Hbr 1:3 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 on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

He keeps this whole world from flying off in a different direction or going out of orbit and finally destruct. Jesus has got it into control. He was before history, he was at the beginning of history, he will be at the end of history, and he is the one that controls history. He is the Sustainer and upholder of this world. This is what Paul communicated in his letter to the Colossians when he said to these believers, "He is before all things:

Col 1:17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

There has never been a moment from the beginning of Creation that Jesus has not been performing this mighty work, holding everything together as the facilitator of the universe.

Jesus is the final word from God. Jesus is the First Cause of Creation. Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead. And the Bible says in Hebrews 1:13, Jesus is the facilitator of all things. And here is my favorite on all the list - He is the Forgiveness of Our Sins. Listen to what it says in verse three. In verse three it says:

... when he had by himself purged our sins,...

Christ is not only the revealer of God, He's the redeemer of man. This book of Hebrews is a book about cleansing, and here we are told that Christ purged our sins. He cleansed us. Please note where these words appear in the context of this verse. He who is before all things, and in whom all things are summed up, the one who is the Father's delight and the Father's glory, the one of infinite power and infinite glory; it was He Himself who purged our sins.

For what purpose did he come? He didn't come down to set up his kingdom; primarily he came to seek and to save those who are lost. The Bible says in Hebrews "he came to taste death" for every man. And not one of these things that people talk about when they say these wonderful things about Jesus is worth anything if He didn't come down here to purge our sins.

Think of it, folks. He who created the universe is the one who died for you.

The only one who could do that work on the cross was Jesus Christ. And the Bible says that He Himself purged our sins.

Now remember, I've been telling my people I've been teaching the book of Hebrews for a while and I always tell them about every week that the book of Hebrews was written to that group - the Hebrews. That is a really important thing to keep in mind that it was written to us but it was primarily written to the Hebrews. Now remember, the Jewish Christians knew all about the purging of sins. They had been brought up in Judaism and they knew through Judaism that the blood of bulls and goats and all of that - that their sins were forgiven in advance of the cross. In the Old Testament, the purging of sins was never, ever finished.

Hebrews 9:25-26 says:

Hbr 9:25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;


Hbr 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

I want to tell you some Good News, this Jesus that I'm telling you about that you could tell I'm a bit excited over - this Jesus who is the final word from God, and Jesus is the First Cause of Creation and Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead and is the facilitator of all things, this Jesus is the forgiveness of our sins. And when we come to know Him, He not only hears our prayer for forgiveness, but because of who He is, He can do something about it.

{clapping and cheering from audience]

He can heal us from our sin. He's the final word from God. He's the first cause of Creation. He's the fullness of the Godhead. He's the facilitator of all things. He's the forgiveness of our sin. And He's the finisher of our faith.

Listen to what He says here:

Hebrews 1:3 And He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

In the Old Testament tabernacle, did you know that the high priests never sat down? In fact, in all of the tabernacle with all of its wonderful furniture; there was a lampstand, there was a laver, there was an altar, but there was no chair. If you were an Old Testament high priest you could never sit down because your work was never done. There was always somebody who needed forgiveness and you needed to be there as the high priest. But when Christ entered the Holy of the Holies in High Heaven, the Bible says that He sat down. Say that with me, "He sat down." And I want to tell you something friends, he didn't sit down because he was tired, he sat down cause He was finished!

[clapping and cheering from audience]

He sat down because what He cried on the cross was true. When he was dying on the cross, at the end of it he said, "IT IS FINISHED." And he paid the price for all of our sin and when he went back to heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father, He sat down to signify that nothing else ever needs to be done for sin. He did it all and it's DONE!

[Audience claps and cheers]

Hbr 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

You may be thinking well there is something that I need to do in order for me to go to heaven. Something I need to do for my sins to be forgiven. No, there is not anything that you need do - Jesus did it all. He did it all so well that when He got done He sat down! And He's not waiting for you to do anything except accept what He already did for you! And I'll tell you some more about that in a moment. I'm almost finished, but let me go through this list one more time. He's the final word from God. He's the first cause of Creation. He's the fullness of the Godhead. He's the facilitator of all things. He's the forgiveness of our sin. And He's the finisher of our faith. And here's that last one for all of us faithful Christians - He's our faithful High Priest. Did you know that? This Jesus who created the world. This Jesus who holds it all together. This Jesus who Himself purged our sins on the cross and went to heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father. The Bible says that He is at the right hand of the Father, always there making intercession for the saints.

And over in the second chapter of Hebrews:

Hbr 2:17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like [His] brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.


Hbr 2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

What that means is that Jesus became for a limited time a little lower than the angels. That He might be one of us and walk among us, and live as we have lived on this earth. And the Bible says over in the fourth chapter:

Hbr 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.

Let me expel some of the nonsense that is out there about this fact. People say, "well if Jesus couldn't sin, how could he be tempted like we are?" Let's face it, I can't not sin. So if Jesus wasn't able to sin, there is this big argument. Was Jesus not able to sin or was he not to sin? Well, I believe Jesus was not able to sin. He was the sinless Son of God. So now they say, "well how could he have been tempted like we are?"

Now I remember reading this somewhere that "is a bridge tested fully when the first car drives over the bridge or is it tested fully when cars have been driving over that bridge for years and years and years? Let me ask you this question. Is a bridge tested when it is found first not to fail? Or is it tested when it is found never to fail?

Jesus didn't give in to any temptation so he felt the full brunt of it all. Whatever it is that you went through, you haven't faced anything like what Jesus faced. You know why that's true? Because you gave in! And the temptation of Jesus was to the fullest extent, yet He never sinned. And the Bible says that when I go to Jesus with my trouble, I can talk to someone who knows what it's like to be a human. He became like us and he exposed himself to all the hazards and perils of life and death and He was not protected from troubles and adversity. When we find ourselves immersed in the harsh realities of human experience where do we go? We go to Jesus.

Think of the blessing of it all. How He shares our labors. How He knows the dull, drab drudgery of some of the common tasks we have to do. The heavy misery of back-breaking toil. He shares our trials and limitations. He was poor with no place to lay his head. He was hungry. He was thirsty begging water from a Samaritan woman. He was weary and exhausted and sat for a while on the well. He bore our sorrows and our heartaches. When there was death in the home it brought tears to his eyes. When he looked upon the crippled, the leper, the blind and the helpless, his heart was moved to compassion. Anybody could approach the Lord Jesus and be welcomed. The poor, the weak, the publican, the simple. In Jesus, God is with us.

In all love and infinite blessing, my favorite name for Jesus outside of the name Jesus is Immanuel - God with us.

Yes, He is the Creator of the universe. He's the one that holds it all together. He's the one that purged our sins. But He's the one who hears your prayer when you cry out to Him in the darkness of the night. When you are going through that thing that you thought you never would go through. When you go through that thing that I've written about - a bend in the road. And you wonder if you know of anyone who has experienced what I've experienced. I'm telling you - there is One. There's One who felt the pressure of it all! And He is our High Priest.

Now I'm going to tell you something - if you haven't figured this out - I'm recommending Jesus to you. I'm recommending Him to you. The book of Hebrews says that we need to do something with Jesus. The Bible says you have to receive Him, you have to accept Him. The book of Hebrews says you need to consider Him, you need to accept Him. You need to be careful that you don't harden your heart against Him. In fact, in chapters 3 and 4, on four occasions we are warned against hardening our hearts against God. And the Bible says today - if you will receive Him do not hardened your heart.

You know people come to churches and they come to events like this and they've heard the Gospel so many times - on Christian radio, on Christian television, in their churches, in their Bible studies, but they still haven't yet received Him. And every time you hear the Gospel and you don't receive it, another little callous forms on your heart, and your heart gets harder. And the Bible warns us that now we know who Jesus is, there is something that we need to do with Him. John 14:6 -

Jhn 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

If you want to go to heaven some day, if you want to spend eternity with your Creator God, if you want to be with other members of your family who are Christians and have already gone ahead you better be sure that you have accepted Jesus into your life. Because He is your Creator, He is your Sustainer, He is the one who purged your sins, He's the one who is coming back some day and those who have received Him with be caught up together with Him and to be with Him and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

[audience clapping and cheering]

I went through my Bible in these first few chapters of Hebrews and I put a circle around the word "today" every place I found it. I've come to this conclusion: today is God's Word, tomorrow is Satan's word.

Let me tell you what I have been learning in studying the book of Hebrews. Also, before that in the study of the book of Galatians. Listen carefully, when God tells us to do something and we hear His voice clearly, the space between having heard what He told us to do and understanding it and doing it, does not belong to God - it belongs to the enemy. The Word from God says, "do this." The enemy says "no, you can do that tomorrow." Some say, "I'm going to do that someday. I'm going to get my affairs in order, then I'm going to take care of Christ." But the Bible says in between the command and obedience is the wasteland of the wilderness and Satan occupies that territory like no other part of your life. When you hear what God tells you to do - you should say, "TODAY!" But if you don't say that, you will hear tomorrow ringing in your ears. And, one of these days there will be a tomorrow that's too late.

D.L. Moody was a great evangelist. When he started to preach in Chicago, he would have four or five days of meetings. His method of preaching was that he would preach the Gospel with enthusiasm and passion. At the end of the service, he would say to the people, "I want you to go home tonight and think about what I've said, and come back tomorrow night ready to make a decision." He did that for a number of years, and one night he did that and the Chicago fire happened. And many of the people who were in his congregation, the night he had told them to go home and think about it and come back the next night, perished in that fire and never had a next night. From that day until he died, Moody never ever did that again. He learned the power of today. He realized that the message of the Gospel, when it comes home to our hearts, usually comes home to our hearts in a meeting something like this. Maybe a light goes on. Maybe you've know about Jesus but you've never trusted Him as my Savior. When that happens and you know God is speaking to you, the time to do something about it is not tomorrow, not the next time you meet with God's people, but TODAY!

Dr. Jeremiah's final comments:

Has your picture of Jesus been influenced by how our culture depicts Him? Do you find yourself laughing along with comedians when Jesus is made the object of crass humor? There is no better way to keep a biblical picture of Jesus in mind than by dwelling on the embodiment of Him in Scripture.

*******

Please go to David Jeremiah.org to get the resources that will help you in your decision making about Christ, and/or your current walk with Christ if you are already a born again Christian.


If you are not already a Christian, please see my sister site, Angels Helper: Becoming a Christian


May God richly bless each and every reader who took the time to either view the video message or read the transcript.


Yours in Christ's service,


~ Christine


Hat tips to all links.

Certainly

Tuesday, June 21

Certainly

I will certainly be with you....
Exodus 3:12

Recommended Reading
Psalm 66:16-20


What does actor Nicolas Cage have in common with basketball legend Julius (Dr. "J") Erving? Or with the hip-hop artist Chamillionaire? Or with former Detroit Red Wings hockey star Sergei Federov? Or with Patricia Kluge, multi-millionaire ex-wife of a media mogul? All have gone through foreclosure proceedings on their homes. In Kluge's case, the home was a whopping palatial estate in Virginia once valued at $100 million. It seems not even the so-called rich and famous are immune from the shifting economic landscape.

There's no permanence in money and no lasting security in our economy. Proverbs 23:5 says, "Riches certainly make themselves wings." In fact, nothing in this world provides certainty except for our Lord Jesus Christ. He will certainly be with us. He will certainly hear us (Psalm 66:19).

If you're pinched and pressured right now, you're in good company. These are uncertain times. But we have a sure and certain hope. We walk by faith; and faith is "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1, NIV, 1984). You can certainly trust Him with your hopes, your dreams--your very life.

Yes, it was love made Him die on the tree; Oh, I am certain that Jesus loves me!
Philip Bliss

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 96:1-102:28

Why Christians Should NEVER Vote For Obama

In the 2008 election campaign, Barack Hussein Obama lied to just about every group that he appeared in front of at his campaign rallies. Now that we have seen the carnage his awful policies have created, the further destruction of our economy, the ineptness of his handling of foreign affairs, the anti-Christian rhetoric that he and his minions project via the media, and the horrible anti-Israel, neo-Fascist, pro-Islamic, anti-Christian, anti-Constitutional Republic Fabian Socialist agenda that is being forced upon our people and nation, I have decided to dedicate this particular blog to alert my Christian friends to all the reasons why NO true follower of Jesus Christ should EVER elect this man for ANY government position - especially when it comes to the presidency of the United States of America.

The presidential election of 2012 is going to be THE most important in the history of the United States. Will we drift further down that despicable Fabian Socialist, radical Islam appeasement road with pResident Obama? Or has our country FINALLY been awakened to the dangers that this puppetman and his puppet masters have wreaked upon our beloved nation and elect a Conservative who believes in the Constitutional Republic ideals that our Founders created?

Christian voters - what would God have you do in such a time as this?

In this effort, I am willing to post essays, commentary, guest blogger emails, and blog posts from other blogs out there that share the same concerns and want to alert the voters - all voters, but especially Christian voters who may not be paying close enough attention to the carnage of the Obamafraud administration - here at this blog for the duration of time until election day of 2012.

I will begin with a blog post that I recently posted at Talk Wisdom blog.

In Christ's Service,
Christine

*******

I became interested in learning more about possible presidential candidate Herman Cain when he was endorsed by Sarah Palin.

Mr. Cain discusses the fact that he wants Obama's eligibility proof because he himself is willing and able to produce his own long form COLB. You can read the entire interview here:

WorldNetDaily: Another presidential hopeful wants Obama eligibility proof
Says during interview: 'I'd produce birth certificate. End of discussion'

One point that Cain hit upon has been utmost in my mind ever since Obama came onto the national scene. I have had many of my own questions about how Obama mistreats Christianity and disregards our Christian heritage. I think that it is appalling how he mistreats Christians who adhere to Bible-based faith and happen to be Conservative in their morals and values. Obama's fuzzy faith is highly apparent in all of the things that he does (omitting "Creator" three times from the Declaration of Independence), as well as the things he doesn't do (Read the Bible or go to church regularly).

Excerpt:

He [Herman Cain] earlier leveled another type of criticism against Obama.

He said Barack Obama's long list of incidents in which he disregards America's Christian heritage may be intentional.

"I have been able to get the pulse of the American people of not only what's in their head but what's in their heart," Cain told CBN News Correspondent David Brody in an interview. "What's in their heart is they love this country. They love the values upon which this country was founded, and they don't like it when the president omits 'endowed by their Creator' from reciting the Declaration of Independence."

Brody asked Cain, "Do you believe that was intentional by the president?"

"I believe it was intentional because he did it three times, two of which I know about, and a friend of mine actually knows of a third one," Cain answered. "With all of his teleprompters, how could you not put that in there? No. I believe it was intentional."

The initial reason why I could never vote for Obama for office was the fact that his ideology was so rabidly pro-death to unborn babies that he voted against the Born Alive Infants Protection Act of 2000 - legislation that allowed medical personel to give medical care to babies born as a result of a botched abortion attempt. The second reason that I could never vote for him was because I perceived him as being such an overtly fake Christian. It appears that Herman Cain sees right through his facade as well.

Read it all and view a brief video HERE



Hat Tip:

WorldNetDaily

Galatians 5 and Commentary

Galatians 5 is an illustration of good vs. evil. In Galatians 5 verses 16-21, we learn how the evil of various sins keeps us from walking in the Spirit of Christ.

Then, Galatians 5:22-25 describes the good that is achieved by the fruit of walking in the Spirit.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,


Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.


Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.


Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Paul is instructing us that we first must live in the Spirit, before we can walk in the Spirit. What solid truth this is! If we do not live according to the fruit of the Spirit of God, how could we ever claim to walk in His Spirit?

The answer is: we can't!

It is only with God indwelling within our hearts that we can truly walk in what He declares through His Word - the good that results in following Christ, who alone, is righteous.

What is good?

Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. When we walk in such things as those, notice that the Bible states "against such there is no law."

The law was set into motion in order to show us our sinful nature and to get us to realize that without Christ's sacrifice for our sins, we would not (and could not) EVER be forgiven for them. It is through giving our whole selves over to Jesus Christ that we become His own. And when we are His (e.g. we belong forever to Him) it is then that the miracle of crucifying our own flesh can happen.

Ask anyone who is born again in Jesus Christ how they have been miraculously transformed into a new person! The "affections and lusts" of the past in their lives have now been tossed aside, and they are now a new person in Jesus Christ.

Such transformation happens as a result of sanctification. this is something that occurs to the Christian for the rest of his/her life. We will never completely "arrive" on this side of heaven, but as time goes by we discover that the old desires of the past are now meaningless to us. Eventually- they are destroyed! The desire to do them does not exist anymore. The old self has become transformed into a new life in Christ!

Notice that there is one negative "fruit of the Spirit." It is called longsuffering. The Bible is an honest book. The truth is declared throughout its pages and even Christ himself told us that we would endure longsuffering here on this earth.

Jhn 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

What a paradox that verse is! Jesus speaks to us of having peace - despite the fact that we will have tribulation (trouble) in this world.

So, why (and how) can we be of good cheer?

Answer: Because Christ has overcome the world!

How?

Precisely because of his sacrificial death on the cross for our sins!

I was reading in Max Lucado's book - "Traveling Light" - that even when the time for our physical death on this earth arrives, it pales in comparison to what Christ endured for us on the cross.

Lucado explained via a story. He mentioned that in Psalm 23, David wrote, "Yea though I walk through the shadow of the valley of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me."

Then, he asked a child who was fearful of the concept of death (something that we are all destined to do) if he would rather be run over by a bus or by the shadow of a bus. The child answered - "the shadow of the bus." Lucado continued to explain that the child answered correctly. And, it is because Jesus took the sins of the world upon himself and that Christ experienced the "run over by a bus" kind of death, that we wouldn't ever have to experience such a death. Instead, we will pass through "the valley of the shadow of death." This is another way to say that we do not die spiritually because of what Christ has done for us! What a marvelous Savior we worship and belong to!!

I thought that was a great analogy to put forth the point that Christ's sacrifice for our sakes was the greatest event in human history! And, his subsequent resurrection from the dead shows us that his word is absolutely true! We can confidently trust him with our very lives!


No other spiritual leader ever claimed to die for the sins of mankind. No other savior could prove exactly who he was by rising from the grave. Jesus was the only one who accomplished that!! Therefore, we can trust him wholeheartedly with our lives! We can trust in his promises! Like this one:

Jhn 14:2
In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Jhn 14:3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.

The book of Ephesians, Chapter 5 discusses the fruit of the Spirit. Verse 8 informs us that were all "sometimes[in] darkness. But now, as born again Christians we are now "light in the Lord." The light [meaning holiness, righteousness] shines from Jesus Christ! To walk as children of light, we are to be reflectors of HIS LIGHT [righteousness, holiness]! This is why no one can brag about anything within ourselves. All glory, honor, thanksgiving, and worship belongs to Christ alone!

Here's a verse that humbles each and every believer:

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

But we are brought back from our uncleanness through the Lord:

Eph 5:8 ¶ For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light:


Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)


Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Reference: Blue Letter Bible

*******
10/6/09 - Update

Here is a link to a good commentary about longsuffering:

Cobblestone Ministries: Patience/Longsuffering Bible Study

Daily Light

Daily Light on the Daily Path Devotional
Friday March 20, 2009
Morning
The entrance of thy words giveth light.

This . . . is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.--God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.--The Word was God.--In him was life; and the life was the light of men.--If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.--Ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

Ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light.--Ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

Ps 119:130 1Jo 1:5 2Co 4:6 Joh 1:1,4 1Jo 1:7 Ps 119:11 Joh 15:3 Eph 5:8 1Pe 2:9




Daily Light on the Daily Path Devotional
Friday March 20, 2009
http://bible.christiansunite.com/devotionals.shtml


Evening

Noah was a just man.

The just shall live by faith.--Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the LORD smelled a sweet savour.--The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.

We . . . joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.--[It is] God that justifieth.-- Whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified.

Ge 6:9 Ga 3:11 Ge 8:20,21 Re 13:8 Ro 5:1 3:20-22 5:11 8:33,30

The Beauty of Tea, Creation and Friends

While checking out some new blogs, I found a wonderful writers blog named Melissa's Cozy Teacup via Stacy's Active Christian Media blog.

If you go to Melissa's site, you will see an invitation to write about a photo posted there. The caption in the following "Writing Wednesdays" icon states "the more you write, the better you get!!!"




So, I thought... why not? The following is my submission for Wednesday, September 10, 2008:


The Beauty of Tea, Creation and Friends

Ahhh! How delightful! The simple pleasures in life can be seen in the enjoyment of a cup of tea while in the midst of a beautiful view of the mountains.

How nice to taste a wonderful beverage while waiting for two friends to join me. All three of such pleasures - tea, creation, and friends - are wonderful presents from God.

When my friends get here, we may start chatting immediately. However, our conversation may start to decrease as we sip our tea and look out, in awe, at the beautiful scene of creation that God has provided before us this day.

A Bible verse just came to my mind. "Be still and know that I am God." In our busy day to day routines, sometimes we forget to take in the beauty that the Lord has given us. Why don't we praise Him more often for all that He provides?

I truly believe that beauty is evidence of God's love, mercy and grace. While witnessing a pretty and photogenic scene in nature, we are given a glimpse of what Eden must have been like before the Fall of man.

God intended for Adam and Eve to live in paradise, forever. But sin ruined that and separated them (and us) from Him. They, as well as every person born since then, have been held captive by our failings. Thank God that He has provided His Son, Jesus Christ, as the way, the truth, and the life for us to be reconciled back to Him! Through repentance, we can be born again and saved by grace through faith via what Jesus did for us at the cross.

The horrible state of sin on our souls in this world has been overcome by our Savior! All we need to do is "drink in," and accept, what the Lord has done to save our souls from eternal death!

In the Millennium, when Christ returns, paradise will be restored for all who believe in Him. We will get to eat from the Tree of Life and drink the living waters of eternal life.

My friends have now arrived! Did I tell you that they have not been born again in Christ...yet? I have been waiting for the right moment to share the gospel with them. There is no time like the present. Amen?
__________________
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8

The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth to show Himself strong to those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9

The Truth Project: Lesson 7

Sexchanging the Truth For a Lie

Did that title grab your attention? I had hoped that it would! However, before we get to the explanation of that title, I wanted to share with readers a few portions of Lesson 7 in “The Truth Project” series; as well as some of my notes.

If you get the chance to participate in this DVD series, I would encourage you to do so. Personally, I would describe it as gaining a Christian college education, condensed into an awesome 13 week DVD and lesson series which, if left to your own devices for study, might take you years of studying to learn on your own! Yes! It is THAT GOOD!

I think that if more Christians get involved in “The Truth Project” - by first being a participant - and then a leader for a new group in their homes, then a Christian Truth Revival would be taking place across the U.S.A. that would transform this nation for Jesus Christ - who is - “the way, the truth and the life.”

Christine

*******

The Truth Project

Lesson 7 - Sociology: The Divine Imprint

Themes
We begin where we left off in Tour 5: with the voice of nature making loud and unmistakable statements about the nature and character of God. "Ask the animals, and they will teach you," says Job, "and the birds of the air, and they will tell you" (Job 12:7, 8). In this case, order is one of the overwhelming messages with which creation bombards us. From the atom to the solar system, from photosynthesis to the cleansing tides, from the human body to the design of a chicken egg – everywhere we look we see obvious indications of purposeful design in the things God has made. This, of course, is a serious problem for those who argue that the universe is the product of "random, mindless forces."

The same element of order is apparent in the social systems God has instituted. Dr. Tackett lays out six that he see in Scripture: family, labor, church, state, community, and the relationship between man and his Maker. But the order we detect in this area is not simply an expression of the Lord's creative design. Instead, it flows out of His very nature. It is a reflection of who He is. As Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Triune God embodies in Himself the ultimate resolution of the old philosophical problem of "the one and the many." He exemplifies diversity within unity and the answer to why it is "not good for man to be alone" is bound up in the Triune Essence. Relationship, union, communion, intimacy, fellowship, love, and community – these things have existed from all eternity within the economy of the Godhead. Accordingly, they serve as the basis for the smooth and ordered functioning of creation. It is for this very reason, Dr. Tackett argues, that basic social institutions such as marriage, family, and church have come under such heavy attack in our day: just as the world, the flesh, and the devil hate the Creator with a fervent and undying hatred, so they inevitably stand opposed to the social order that bears the imprint of His divine nature.

As this tour unfolds, the principles of order and relationship will be examined specifically as we find them manifested in three of the social systems designed by God: the family, the church, and the union between God and man ("The Intimate Three"). During the course of this discussion, Dr. Tackett will explain how the threefold Trinitarian pattern is reflected in and fundamental to the internal functioning of each of these spheres. Special attention will be given to the subject of the family and some of the pathologies associated with disregard for the divine plan in this crucial area of human life.

I. Introduction – The God of Order
A. Psalm 19 – "The heavens declare the glory of God ..."
B. Job 12 – "But ask the animals, and they will teach you ..."
C. Listening to a chicken egg – The exquisite design and intricacy seen in a chicken egg
D. Scriptural emphasis of order – Job 25:2, 1 Corinthians 14:33, James 3:16

My Notes:

James 3:16

God of order - not disorder.
Atom
Cell
Skeletal System
Circulatory System
Photosynthesis
Coral Reef
Metamorphosis
Pollination
Water Cycle
Lunar Tides
Solar System

Result of just chance?

Evolved or Design of God?

This is where the battle rages.

“It is good” is said 7 times in Genesis.

Genesis 2:18 is the first time we read, "it is not good..."


Gen 2:18
¶
And the LORD God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

Must ask : is this a qualitative or ethical statement? Pragmatic or moral?

Our Source of Truth.

The Nature of God.

The Trinity.

Truth Project Notes:

In this tour and in the ones to follow, we are emphasizing the "roles" within the Triune nature of God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We have done so to highlight its imprint upon the social order that He has created. In doing so, however, it is possible that someone may wrongly begin to perceive the persons of the Trinity as separate beings. They are not.

One must never lose sight of the reality that God is One—one in essence and being. He exists in three persons, yet each is fully and wholly God. The Son is fully God, not a separate God. The Holy Spirit is fully God, not a separate being. So God is truly one in essence because each person of the Trinity is one in essence with the other.

But, God is not only one in essence, but He is one in unity. The three persons of the Trinity exist in complete oneness. Each person of the Trinity carries out a unique role and performs unique operations, yet they remain one in essence and one in unity. This is the nature of the eternal God.

All of this is mysterious, yes. But not so mysterious that we cannot comprehend its reality. The "mystical union" that exists within the Triune nature of God has also been impressed upon His creation. I do not understand how the flesh and the spirit within me are joined together. I do not understand how my wife and I have become "one flesh". I do not understand how the Spirit of God can dwell within me and somehow be united with me. Paul cries out in reference to these matters and calls it a "profound mystery".

So, when we refer to the Son being in submission to the Father, we are referring to the relationship that exists between the second "person" of the Trinity and the first "person" of the Trinity. When we refer to the Holy Spirit "proceeding" from the Father and the Son, we are referring to the unique operation that the Father and the Son carry out and the implied relationship that exists between the Holy Spirit and the Father and the Son. Yet, we are dealing with one God, one Being, one in essence and unity.

II. Social Order – The Divine Imprint
A. "It is not good" – Genesis 2:18 – Why was it "not good" for man to be alone?
B. Triune structure stamped upon Social Order
1. God – Father, Son, Holy Spirit
2. Family – Husband, Wife, Children
3. Church – Christ, Leaders, Flock
4. Our world – Three realms – Physical, Spiritual and Social
C. Relationships, Roles, Authority, Submission and Unity within social spheres

My lesson notes:

God is one in three Persons. There is relationship in the heart of God.

One in essence - three in Persons.

Relationship: Anything that unifies and brings coherence in diversity.

[See Westminster Confession]

Draw a circle. In it, place Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Triune nature of God.

These three are in perfect harmony and relationship with each other.

God created the family unit in a similar way.

Draw a circle. In it, place husband, wife, and children.

Submission is a negative word?

No! It’s a glorious word. The world has distorted it! Made it ugly.

Children come from husband and wife.

Picture of triune nature of God.

Devil hates both!

The Divine Mark

Primary colors
Atom
Solid, liquid, gas.

There are 3’s everywhere!

Physical realm.
Spiritual realm.
Social realm.

How has God designed these spheres? If we go against these three, we go against nature of God.

It’s about relationships.

Results of the Fall.
Relationships severed.

Between God and man.
Between man and man.
Between man and creation.

Truth Project Notes:

Importance of relationships
A. What happened at the fall? – Relationships were severed and damaged – between God & man, man & man, and man & creation
B. Aloneness - "It is not good for man to be alone" – Aloneness is contrary to God's nature; in all eternity, there had never been aloneness before
C. God's design of social institutions and social laws
D. Intimate Three – God's design for unity, intimacy, oneness - Family, Church, God and Man

In Scripture, Gen. 2:18 is the first verse that states, “not good.”

Gen 2:18 And the LORD God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

What is “not good” in this verse?
It is “not good for man to be alone. Again, this goes against God’s nature. Del called this, “the Divine pause.”

God paused to make a Divine statement about His nature.

There had never been “aloneness” before. This is the Divine Mark.

One - aloneness.
Two - Relationship and intimacy.
Three - Community.

(Four doesn’t add anything!)

Natural Law of God - when gives it - structures based upon His own Nature. To go against theses laws - we go against God’s nature.

Social Laws.

Truth Project Notes:

IV. Family & Church
A. Ephesians 5 – Roles and relationships of members in these spheres – Authority, Submission, Oneness
B. Love and Respect between husband and wife
C. Honor between children and parents, flock and church leaders

Will find ourselves more in His nature.

Intimate 3

Trinity
Family
Church

God, Family and the Church. In that order everything works. Out of that order, nothing works!

Our reverence for God includes recognizing His Authority in our lives. Second, our submission to His worthiness (our worship of Him) through confession of sin through His Son, Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, acceptance of Jesus into our hearts as Lord and Savior, and our willingness to live for Him - striving for holiness and righteousness.

God, Family and Church is designed to help us behold the glory of God! In each relationship, submission is required. As was said before, that term “submission” has been twisted in this world to make people believe that is it bad. However, submission is a great part of being born again in Christ. Submission is what keeps order in the marriage and family.

Unfortunately, we have lost the awe of what God created and have, instead, exchanged the truth for a lie.

I just created a typo and it read: “sexchanged the truth for a lie.” Hmmm…. The Microsoft Word editor automatically corrected it, so I had to re-type it to show you! What a message! That typo can actually be used to describe the various pathologies involved with humankind’s twisting of God’s design for sex and marriage.

But first, let us look at God’s design.

Ephesians 5:22-24

In the church, leaders submit to Christ and the church body submits to the leaders. Notice that if the leaders do not genuinely submit to Christ, then the body should not be obligated to submit to the leaders (in other words, find a new church that DOES submit to Christ’s authority!).

In marriage, the husband should give himself up for his wife, just as Christ gave himself up for his beloved church (people, not a building).

Ephesians 5:26-27
Ephesians 5:28-30
Ephesians 5:31-32 (ESV)

Ephesians 5:33 (ESV)

It is good to remember that the husband needs respect like the wife needs love. It’s not about worthiness - its about the design of God.

Establishing a sphere of authority is essential in any relationship.

Titus 1:5-6 discusses this pattern in the church.

Christ
Leaders
Flock

Acts 20:28
Hebrews 13:17
1 Timothy 5:17

Today, when the question is asked, “What is Family?” we find two things:

1. It’s under great attack.
2. It still evokes emotion.

The key point that was made in the video was this:

“The family unit is not ours to manipulate!”

Of course, the world disagrees. The world says, “throw off the chains.”

However, when we diligently follow God’s design - there is contentment, even in this fallen world!

Malachi 2:16 tells us that God hates divorce!

There is much pain in this world due to divorce.

Truth Project Notes:

Statements from video interviewees poignantly highlight the pain, confusion, and deep emotional reactions connected with almost any examination of family life and family-related issues. Similar emotions are almost certain to arise during group discussion. The video segments also present a broad range of popular definitions of "family," a subject that has the potential to stir up equally diversified reactions from group participants. In addition, Dr. Tackett and his students fearlessly broach the often troublesome topic of authority and submission within the context of marriage, the church, and other aspects of God's social design.

1 Peter 3:7

Malachi 2:13-17

Divorce is serious with God! “Where is the God of Justice?” Consequences are deep!

1 Peter 3
Great worth in God’s sight.

The pathologies of the family are huge. The heart of God weeps over them all.

Picture a child crouching in a corner while his parents are fighting.

Who can excuse abuse in this unity?

The union of oneness of the marriage union is reflected and positively emphasized by children who honor their parents.

*******

V. Conclusion – Pathologies of the Family
A. Divorce – Malachi 2:16 – "I hate divorce ..."
B. Lack of respect – 1 Peter 3:7 – " ... so that nothing will hinder your prayers ..."

The section about “pathologies of the family” was very convicting for all. Who hasn’t been touched by divorce? Who hasn’t been exposed to conflict, strife, verbal and/or physical abuse because God’s proper order and design for the family unit has not been followed? Why? Because of lack of submission. Yes…that “dirty word” again. People don’t like that word. However, it is THE WORD of liberation in Christian life!!

We could take any number of the pathologies that currently rage in relationships and see how they are utterly meant to destroy God’s design for relationships.

What are some of the pathologies that are intent on destroying God’s design for relationships?

Here are just a few:

1. Sexchanging the truth for a lie = adultery
2. Sexchanging the truth for a lie = fornication
3. Sexchanging the truth for a lie = pornography
4. Sexchanging the truth for a lie = prostitution
5. Sexchanging the truth for a lie = incest
6. Sexchanging the truth for a lie = child molestation
7. Sexchanging the truth for a lie = rape
8. Sexchanging the truth for a lie = homosexuality
9. Sexchanging the truth for a lie = polygamy
10. Sexchanging the truth for a lie = poly-amory
11. Sexchanging the truth for a lie = bi-sexuality
12. Sexchanging the truth for a lie = transvestitism
13. Sexchanging the truth for a lie = transgender
14. Sexchanging the truth for a lie = sexual abuse
15. Sexchanging the truth for a lie = pederasty
16. Sexchanging the truth for a lie = pedophilia
17. Sexchanging the truth for a lie = human sexual trafficking
18. Sexchanging the truth for a lie = group sexual encounters
19. Sexchanging the truth for a lie = abortion

Have I left any out? I’m sure that there are several more that could be added to this list.

This list is proof positive that sexual deviancy of any kind is detrimental to the life-blood of God’s design for the family.

And, those who think that the word "submit" in the phrase - “wives submit to your husbands” is STILL a “dirty word” consider this verse:

1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

Did you read that? This is how VERY important the true family unit is to God. Scripture informs, (as well as provides a type of warning) that “your prayers may not be hindered” when you follow God’s design in marriage!

I will conclude with the rest of 1 Peter 3


1 Pe 3:8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;#[fn1]

1Pe 3:9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

1Pe 3:10 For
"He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.

1Pe 3:11 Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.

1Pe 3:12 For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil."#[fn2]

1Pe 3:13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?

1Pe 3:14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled."#[fn3]

1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God#[fn4] in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

1Pe 3:16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

1Pe 3:17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

1Pe 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us#[fn5] to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

1Pe 3:19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,

1Pe 3:20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited#[fn6] in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

1Pe 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

1Pe 3:22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.



Footnotes:
#3:8 NU-Text reads humble.
#3:12 Psalm 34:12-16
#3:14 Isaiah 8:12
#3:15 NU-Text reads Christ as Lord.
#3:18 NU-Text and M-Text read you.
#3:20 NU-Text and M-Text


HT: The Truth Project
Blue Letter Bible