October 14, 2020

TheoFam: Grace Taught Homes

“Who Am I?” Approximately 6,000 years ago, I came into existence! I was a criteria used by God for forming the nations! I am used as a description of the church of Jesus Christ! I was designed by God, created by God, and have been used by God since day six of the creation week. I have been and continued to be under attack by Satan and this world’s system. People have tried to minimize and marginalize me. People have attempted to corrupt and change me from my original design. Yet by God’s grace and through His strength, I am still designed to bring glory to God! I am still a vital component of every nation and every church. I am still God’s design for raising a godly seed!
Wow! Whoever is the answer from those clues must be pretty important from God’s perspective and therefore ought to be from our perspective as well. Any guesses? The title of this article might have given you a clue. But the answer to the question, “who am I,” is the family. Last year, I introduced us to a unique term, “TheoFam.” The term, TheoFam, is an attempt to reclaim God’s design for our families. God designed the family to be a theological community; a place where God is known and made known. The family is designed to be a theological community! Yet, sadly in many homes to-day, God’s name is not even mentioned unless it is used as a curse word.

The New Testament speaks about three God-given institutions that have a governing influence in a believer’s life: Human Government (Romans 13), the church (1 Timothy 3), and the home (1 Timothy 3:4). All three are important. All three were de-signed by God. Yet the one that God created first (Genesis 2:2-25) and the one which was to be responsible for raising a godly seed (Malachi 2:15) was the family! When the Apostle Paul wrote letters to the churches, he often included specific instructions for various family relationships (Ephesians 5:22-6:4; Colossians 3:18-25). You see, the Lord has a vital concern for the family. And His Word teaches us how we ought to conduct our family relationships for the glory of God. Our homes are to be TheoFams; theological communities that are following the Lord so that He is known and made known in and through them.

But as our “Who Am I” game indicated, Satan and this world’s system continue to attack the family. They continue to try to change and corrupt the family from its original design. Therefore, we as believers must continue to remind ourselves of God’s design for the family and allow our homes to be taught by God’s grace and led by God’s grace. Starting Sunday, October 4th at 6:00 p.m., I will be bringing a series of messages entitled: “TheoFam: Grace Taught Homes,” as we resume our Sunday evening services. No matter your family situation, I would encourage you to come and to invite others to join you for these services!

October 8, 2019

When Global Warming Strikes

No matter where you turn, it is likely you will hear someone say something about global warming or climate change. This subject has infiltrated our public education system, it has dominated political events, and it
frequently is promoted through news outlets. Some will make doomsday predictions, while others claim that the science does not support the alarming cries. How is anyone to know what to believe about what is going to happen to the earth? For the Christian, our final authority is the Word of God. So what does the Bible say about a theology of the
earth?

We don’t have to read too far in the Scriptures to see the first reference to the earth.  Genesis 1:1 states, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Truth #1 is that God created the earth. An important sub-point is that all things God created are designed to bring glory to God. Truth
#2 is described in Genesis 6-8; that God destroyed the earth by a worldwide flood. Genesis 7:17-20 makes it clear that this was not a local flood, but a worldwide flood that covered the mountains and every high hill under
the whole heaven.

Both of the truths from Genesis concerning the earth also teach us something about God. God is the Creator of all things and therefore He is to be worshipped. God is also the judge. Therefore, one’s view of the
earth’s history will also be seen in one’s theology of God. Romans 1:18-25 describes man suppressing the truth in his unrighteous state. It is not that man doesn’t know the truth of who God is, because God has shown it to them in the creation. But unrighteous man changes the truth of God into a lie and worships and serves the creature rather than
the Creator.  2 Peter 3 describes how false teachers willingly forget that God destroyed the world by a flood.

Not only does the Bible begin in Genesis talking about the earth, but it concludes in Revelation by also talking about the earth. In Revelation 13, during the future 7-year tribulation period when the Anti-Christ has gained political control over all the earth, he will demand that people worship him. The Anti-Christ will have a press secretary called the “False Prophet,” and the False Prophet will not only cause the people who dwell on the earth to worship the Anti-Christ, but he will also cause the earth to worship the Anti-Christ (13:12). The false worship system of man will reach its climax during this period. A key component of it will be that earth, which is designed to bring glory to its Creator, will become part of a political agenda that worships a man.

Revelation also tells us what is going to happen to this earth after Christ returns to the earth and rules and reigns on the earth for a thousand years. In Revelation 21, John saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first
heaven and the first earth had passed away.  2 Peter 3 provides the details for how this earth will pass away. This time it won’t be by water but by fire. The Lord is going to judge the earth again for its rebellion against its Creator. Global warming will strike. But the cause will not be man, but rather our Creator God as He judges this world.

So when you hear the chatter about global warming or climate change, use it to testify of our Creator God who is coming to judge the earth. Warn them of the time when global warming will truly strike when He destroys the
earth by fire. Share with them the good news of how Jesus Christ came to earth the first time to die for our sins.

October 9, 2018

Do Not Be Afraid!

John, the human author of the book entitled, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, had a shocking experience when He saw the Lord Jesus Christ. The experience was so shocking that John fell at Jesus’ feet as if he were dead (Revelation 1:17a). He saw Jesus who had eyes like a flame of fire (1:14), out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword (1:16), and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength (1:16). And when John saw Jesus in His glory he fell at Christ’s feet as dead!

John had every reason to be afraid. The image of Christ must have been blinding to him. And to see someone with a sharp two-edged sword would also be a reason to be afraid. But as John was lying at Jesus’ feet as dead, Jesus commanded him, “Do not be afraid.” So the question we want to ask is, ‘How can a person not be afraid when they are in the presence of the King of kings?’ This question is especially important as one continues through the book and sees the various judgments that the Lord will bring on the world, including when he comes in Revelation 19 and strikes the nations with the sharp double edged sword that is in His mouth. Some have commented that the book of The Revelation of Jesus Christ is a scary book, and they are afraid to read it. Yet, the first command that Jesus gives to John after commanding Him to write the book and send it to the churches is, “Do not be afraid.”

For believers in Jesus Christ, called Christ’s servants in Revelation 1:1, the book of The Revelation of Jesus Christ is not designed to fright-en. Rather, it is written to encourage believers to walk by faith even as they face tribulation that could lead to death (Revelation 2:10). It is a book that begins with grace and peace from Jesus Christ to His servants. You see the reason why believers do not need to fear is because Jesus Christ holds the keys of Hades and of death. In other words, Jesus is the judge and can sentence people to eternal death. Man can kill the body, but man does not have control over the eternal state of the soul (Matthew 10:28). So as the King of Kings, Jesus Christ is the final judge. He can sentence people to eternal hell! That is why Revelation 1:5 is so important for believers to understand as they consider meeting their Lord. This verse declares that Jesus “loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” Jesus doesn’t just randomly send people to hell because He is a just judge. People will be sentenced to an eternal death because of their sins. But for believers in Jesus Christ, we have been washed from our sins by His own blood. In other words, we don’t need to fear because we stand before the Lord forgiven. Since Christ’s death satisfies the just demands of a holy God, Jesus doesn’t send the believer to hell. The believer is able to enter the eternal heavens because of the work of the Lamb of God (Revelation 22:3) on the cross and His victory over the grave (Revelation 1:18).

For those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, though, they ought to be greatly afraid at the coming judgment of God. This final judgment scene is found in Rev-elation 20:11-15, when the unbelievers stand before the Lord and the one who has the keys to Hades and death will cast them into the Lake of Fire. This takes place after the Lord comes and strikes the nations with the sharp sword that proceeds from His mouth (Revelation 19:15). The only hope for this world is the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

When Jesus came the first time the angel announced, “do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people, for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord.” For the one who has been washed in the blood of Christ, Revelation announces in a similar manner, “do not be afraid.”