Sunday, December 25, 2011

Are Christmas Trees Condemned in Jeremiah 10?

I have heard on a few occasions that God condemns the use of Christmas trees in Jeremiah 10:3-4. Read these words:
3 For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. 4 They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter.
At firsts reading, this looks like a contemporary Christmas tree. At first glance, it looks as if these verses can be used to condemn the use of a Christmas tree. However, it is always imperative that one reads the context of the verses and not simply pull them out of the Bible and use them as a proof text. Is God condemning Christmas tress is Jeremiah 10? Verse 5 answers that question for us:
5 Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.
As you read verse five, you realize that God is not condemning Christmas trees but idols carved out of word, adorned, and used as worship. A Little history of the Christmas tree might be helpful: The Christmas Tree originated in Germany about 2000 years after Jeremiah’s condemnation of wooden idols. An article from the Christian Research Institute says, “It originated from two Christian symbols found in homes at Christmas time. The first was a “Paradise tree,” an evergreen which was hung with apples which represented the tree of life in the Garden of Eden. The second symbol was a “Christmas pyramid.” This of course was a triangular shelf holding Christmas figurines and decorated with a star. By about the 16th century these two symbols had been combined into the Christian Christmas tree.”
The real issue with all the secular “trappings” of Christmas is this: How’s your focus? Another way of asking this question is simply, “How’s your heart?” There is nothing wrong with having a Christmas Tree or other more secular decorations unless they are tearing your away from the true message and meaning of the season. Idols divide your heart. Use your decorations as a means to sharpen your focus on God’s gift and to communicate the gospel message to people who walk through your home. For instance, the Christmas Tree is an evergreen. You could point people to the truth of eternal life through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Use the Christmas decorations as a catalyst to enhance your worship. Let the wreath, tree, and other decorations remind you of the amazing love of our Savior. Even Santa Claus can be redeemed. Do a historical study of the “real” Santa Claus. You can even teach your children about the real “gift giver, “namely God Himself.
The question for us all this Christmas season is this: Are you being trapped under the weight of the American Christmas picture, or are you in true and authentic worship of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As I have said many times this year, allow yourself to be amazed. The creator of the universe chose to leave His throne, become a fetus in the womb of Mary and be born of a virgin. Every time you see Christmas decorations allow your heart to leap for joy and bow your knee in humble adoration.

Merry Christmas!

Friday, June 24, 2011

Did Jesus Complete the Work of Atonement on the Cross?

Is the death of Jesus Christ on the cross sufficient to atone for our sins? If you follow many of the word of faith teachers, you may have heard the m teach that Jesus had to descend into hell to complete the atonement process. The cross of Jesus was not sufficient. This teaching has been put forth my many teachers like Joyce Meyer, Kenneth Copeland and Joel Osteen just to name a few.

“In her 1991 booklet, "The Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make", Meyer teaches a hallmark doctrine of Faith theology, namely, that Christ had to suffer in hell to atone for our sins and be born again: ‘During that time He entered hell, where you and I deserved to go (legally) because of our sin….He paid the price there.…no plan was too extreme…Jesus paid on the cross and in hell….God rose up from His throne and said to demon powers tormenting the sinless Son of God, “Let Him go.” Then the resurrection power of Almighty God went through hell and filled Jesus….He was resurrected from the dead’” (http://www.equip.org/articles/the-teachings-of-joyce-meyer)

Sadly, this is a teaching I am seeing far too much on television and the internet. Is it true? Did Jesus have to descend into hell to finish the atoning work of Jesus Christ? While Christians have long debated whether or not Jesus descended into hell, and if he did, what did he do in hell, true Christianity never strays far from the orthodox view that everything needed for the atonement of sin was sufficiently accomplished on the cross.

Let me outline three biblical reasons Jesus did not need to descend into hell to finish the atoning work of the cross. First, there are the Words of Christ. Luke 23:43 Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” It is imperative we understand what the Greek word “today” means. It means today, this very day; the same day you are currently living in. The promise of Christ was the thief on the cross would be with Christ in paradise “today.” In John 19:30, Jesus utters His most powerful words, “It is finished.” This is one Greek word meaning “paid in full.” Warren Wiersbe reminds us the Greek word tetelestai means “it is finished, it stands finished, and it always will be finished.” Wiersbe continues, “When He gave Himself on the cross, Jesus fully met the righteous demands of a holy law; He paid our debt in full” (The Bible Exposition Commentary – Matthew-Galatians pg 384). Christ’s word on the cross assures us that everything that was needed to be done was done on the cross and nothing further needed to be done.
Secondly, there is the Work of the Cross. Throughout the Pauline Epistles we see the depravity of man, the grace of God through salvation, the transformation of our lives by the Spirit and the practical nature of the walk and witness of every Christian. But central to Pauline theology is the cross and Jesus crucified. Paul’s very brief statement captures his passion well, “We preach Christ crucified” (1 Cor 1:23). In his letter to the saints in Christ at Colossae we again see the centrality of the cross and the sufficiency of the atonement of Christ on the cross. Paul reminds his reader that God has “rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves… (Col 1:13). How did God rescue us? “and through him (Christ) to reconcile to himself all things whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” We have gained peace through the blood shed of Christ on the cross. There is not even a hint at receiving peace with God through Jesus’ descent into hell. Paul continues and settles the matter once and for all when he writes, “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written cod, with its regulations that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away nailing it to the cross (emphasis mine). And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross ( Col 2:13-15). Is there really any doubt? Christ took our guilt upon the cross and triumphed over our enemies on the cross. The work of Jesus on the Cross has set us free.

Finally, not only can we look at the word of Christ and the work of the cross to affirm the sufficiency of the cross, we can also examine the Washing of Blood. The verses referring to the efficiency of the blood of Christ are too numerous to list. Here is a short list: We are justified by His blood (Ro 5:8), We are redeemed by His blood (Eph 1:7, 1 Peter 1:19), We have peace with God through His blood (Col 1:20), We have forgiveness of our sin through His blood (Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 9:22, 1 John 1:7), and we have access to the Most Holy Place through His blood (Hebrews 10:19). Praise be to God! As Peter so aptly reminds us, “For you know it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19). What were we redeemed with?
I believe Scripture is clear. The cross is sufficient for the redemption of mankind. When Christ gave His life upon the cross He did all that was needed to be done and there is nothing else we could do. But this one thing we can be certain of, we are great sinners in need of a great Savior. Our sin makes us, not bad people, but dead people. Through God’s grace in faith we are made alive in Christ because of His death on the cross. Jesus paid our debt in full on the cross. Have you left the empty life in which you once lived? Have you crossed over to a full and abundant life in Christ? In faith, turn to Christ. Believe He is the Christ and has paid your debt. Decide to follow Him from this day forward wholeheartedly and with sincere reverence and devotion. To God be the glory for the great things He has done.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Camping and The Rapture

Is the Rapture occurring May 21st?

Many of you have probably already heard about Harold Camping’s prediction about the Rapture occurring on May 21, 2001. I am now seeing it all over Facebook. I have actually been following this for many months thanks to the ministry of Hank Hanegraaff. Camping is not only predicting a May 21st Rapture, but he is guaranteeing our Lord’s return. He goes on to even give us the time; the rapture will occur at 6:00 pm on May 21st. The rapture will be ushered in via major worldwide earthquake. An earthquake unlike the world has ever seen. Furthermore, he further states the end of the world will occur on October 21, 2011. On this date, the earth and universe will be totally consumed and destroyed. Is the rapture occurring this week? Can we expect the earth and universe to be totally destroyed in a few months?
It is important to note, that Camping has already been proven to be a false prophet. This is not his first rapture prediction. He has previously guaranteed the rapture would occur in 1994 and no one would be saved after that date. Remember, the test of a true prophet is 100% accuracy. Deuteronomy 18:21-22 states, “ Now if you say to yourselves, ‘How can we tell that a message is not from the LORD?’ whenever a prophet speaks in my name and the prediction is not fulfilled, then I have not spoken it; the prophet has presumed to speak it, so you need not fear him.” Camping is a false prophet. Do not listen to him.

Camping has used numerology on numerous occasions to come up with his very imaginative prophecies. His May 21st day is very imaginative indeed. Here are Camping’s own words:
The best place in the Bible that focuses on 2011 is a passage in 2 Peter 3:8 where God is talking about two judgments. One judgment is the judgment of the flood of Noah's day and the other is the judgment at the end of the world. And in that context God says "Beloved, there's one thing that I do not want you to be ignorant of, and that is that a day is a thousand years, and a thousand years is a day." That's a very, very intriguing statement and it's very curious that when we—because we know that the flood occurred in 4990 BC, and if we go seven days, that is 7000 years from there, we land on the year 2011....2011 keeps shining through as the probable date for the - probable year that will end this earth's existence (http://www.equip.org/hank_speaks_outs/d-day-declarations-revisited - you can also just do quick internet search – it is not hard to find his comments – although I have enjoyed Hank Hanegraaff response to Camping).

Are you serious? Do people actually believe this stuff? First of all, the Word of God does not say, “a day is a thousand years, and a thousand years is a day.” I challenge anyone to find me a verse that says that phrase. You will not find it. Secondly, there is absolutely no way of accurately dating Noah’s Flood. To have such a dogmatic date is completely bogus. Furthermore, the Word of God explains the earth and universe will not be completely destroyed and consumed but God will restore and recreate it into a “new heaven and new earth (Rev 21). We must also not forget that Matthew 24 assures us that “no one know about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven or the Son” (verse 36). I would had not even Camping knows the date.
So how should we respond to such a blatant misuse of God’s Words? First, we must test the word against the Word. You must be so familiar with God’s Word that you can spot a counterfeit from a mile away. How many of you stumbled over my comment about the 1000 years is a day comment? Look at what Camping wrote: “that a day is a thousand years, and a thousand years is a day.” If you are not familiar with the Word of God you may accept that phrase as being authentic. However, scripture says, “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day.” The one word, “Like” makes a huge difference in the meaning of the verse. The verse that Camping quotes is not in scripture. But if you did not know the Word of God, you may believe Camping and come to think that Peter was giving us a dating method.
If I were to say, “It’s raining like cats and dogs,” how many of you would go outside expecting cats and dogs to be falling from the sky? You know it is only a metaphor I was using to express how hard it was raining. Likewise, when you go to the context of this verse, you know that Peter is using a metaphor expressing the idea that time is relative to God. Time means nothing to God. Peter was not giving us a new dating device but telling us that God is not slow in keeping his promises because God is outside of time. It is interesting to note that just a few verses later Peter tells us “the day of the Lord will come like a thief.” The same Greek word for “like” is used in both verse 8 and 10 of 2 Peter 3. In both cases, Peter is using metaphorical language that is evident in context.

Not only do we need to test the word, we must also use this time as an opportunity for an open dialogue and a forum on the truths of Scripture. When May 21st comes and goes, there may be many people who believe Camping speaks for all Christians. It will open up the door to a wonderful opportunity to spread the true message of Christ and His second coming. The orthodox Christian belief that we dogmatically stand upon is Christ is coming again. We do not know when but we know He is coming. It will be a glorious day where God breaks in on history by sending His Son, eradicating evil, vindicating His people, restoring His Kingdom and ushering in the new heaven and new earth. Christians at times disagree and debate the “how” of this process but the eventual outcome is not up for debate: Jesus is coming again and He wins in the end and He wins eternally. When May 21 comes and goes, we must be ready to step in and teach the truth of the Gospel with grace. This event may actually open a wonderful opportunity for us to dialogue about the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ. Look for opportunities in the coming days to expound truth to those who might be ready to listen and more open to the truth.
Finally, this reminds us of the importance of living expectantly. We must live ready for Christ’s coming at any moment. This is the thought that purifies us (1 John 3:3). We must not only live expecting Christ to return at any moment, we must also live expecting to live a long time and to have a long fruitful ministry for our Lord. These two opposing ideas are always kept in balance and under constant tension. There is a chance Jesus will come back very soon. There is also a chance we might live a long time and never personally experience the second coming. We must be living and loving while expecting both. Are you ready for His return? You don’t want to be caught off guard. Is your life making an eternal difference? When you greet our Lord, will He say, “Well done!”

It matters not when Christ returns. Are you ready today to meet Christ? His return may be this afternoon or in 30 years or 100 years. We simply do not know. But we must live every moment in obedience to God; we must love Him wholly and only and seek to glorify Him in all we do. Don’t worry about dates – you may meet Christ on your return home today. Are you ready? By the way, I have a great sermon on knowing and doing the will of God. I am fairly confident I will be able to deliver my sermon on Sunday, May 22nd. See you then.