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Genesis 1:1

How Old Is The Earth?

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
July 22, 2011

Some think that the young earth/old earth debate is between Christians and evolutionists. But the truth is many evangelical Christians believe in an old earth. Those that support a young earth normally estimate the age to be between 6000 and 10000 years old. Others allow for millions and sometimes billions of years. Those who argue for a young earth connect their view to a literal interpretation of Genesis 1 &2, along with the laws regarding the seventh day in Exodus 20. You might find it interesting, however, to know that the old earthers claim the same basic hermeneutic (basis for Bible Interpretation). They insist the language of the days of creation could honestly allow for the billions of years view to be accurate also. The age of the earth is not a test of true Christianity. Sincere believers are on both sides of the issue. Neither view can be proven scientifically as far as we know. The fact of creation is a much more important issue and the common enemy of all true believers is naturalistic evolution, not the “how” of God’s creation as expressed in Genesis 1 & 2.

However, with that said, I find it less cumbersome to subscribe to the younger earth position with a few personal variances. I’ll give you my reasons for believing this and you can disagree with me and we can still remain friends. ( I hope!) The normal use of the word “day” in Genesis refers to a 24 hour period. Whenever days are numbered in the Old Testament they always refers to 24 hour days. The use of “Evening and Morning” in the creation accounts supports the idea of a 24 hour day. According to Exodus 20, the work week was to be followed by a day of rest. It’s called the Sabbath. This illustrates that the work week parallels God’s creative work week of six literal days of creation after which he rested. However, I must admit that I’ve heard good biblical arguments that refute each of my reasons. So, we can dialogue about this issue and continue as brothers & sisters in Christ.

There is no necessary conflict between Genesis and the belief that the universe is millions or even billions of years old. Indeed, of all the ways of interpreting Genesis 1–2, only those who say Genesis is simply a myth hold to a totally incompatible view since they reject the Bible as providing literal information about the origins of our universe.

Chuck
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

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Philippians 4:6

Should I Pray to the Holy Spirit?

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
July 21, 2011

I’d argue that we pray “in the Holy Spirit” but not to the Holy Spirit. Prayer in the Spirit means to pray along the same lines or about the same things, or by “means of” the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 says we are to be “filled with the Holy Spirit.” Therefore our prayers are in complete reliance on the Holy Spirit. Our prayers are to be addressed to God the Father in the Name of Jesus the Son, in accordance with the Holy Spirit. We are often deeply immersed in Spiritual warfare and find ourselves often under attack spiritually. Paul instructs us about our spiritual armor in Ephesians Chapter 6 and then instructs us further regarding prayer. He says in verse 18, “with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit.” Jude 20 adds the idea that prayer in the Spirit is that which builds us up in our faith. It says, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit.”

There is no recorded prayer in the Bible that is addressed specifically to the Holy Spirit, and Jesus always prayed to God the Father. He also taught the disciples to do that when he said that they should pray in this way, “Our Father who art in heaven…” Galatians 4:6 also teaches that: God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, “crying, Abba, Father.” It seems best to me for us to pray to the Father in Jesus Name depending on the Spirit to help us. However, there may be times when we might appeal directly to Christ like Stephen did. Acts 7:59 says, “And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’”

But to be honest, not all evangelical believers agree with me. The Emmaus Journal had an article by Larry Dixon on “The Shy Member of the Trinity.” In it he says, “If the Holy Spirit is God, then worshiping Him and praying to Him seem justified. Some Christians object to praying to the Spirit because we have no explicit text of anyone praying to the Spirit. …I personally believe that the more we understand about the ministries of the Spirit, the more opportunity we have to ask Him to convict of sin, illumine our minds as we study Scripture, remind us of our sonship, etc.” He may be right!

Chuck
“…but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6

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Luke 12:40

Are We In or Near The End Times?

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
July 20, 2011

There have been many who have suggested a time or even date for the End Times. There is one prediction that failed in May so was changed to October 21, 2011. If we learn anything from Jesus’ words, we learn that only the father knows. I dealt with this question yesterday when I discussed the different roles of the Persons in the God head. In the Gospels Jesus tells of great calamities that will fall upon “This generation.” (Mark 13, Matthew 24) Many solid commentators argue that these events were adequately fulfilled with the fall of Jerusalem and the total destruction of the temple in 70AD. Since in the very next passage, Jesus says he does not know when the end times will be many accept this interpretation. Some argue that it refers to the ultimate end times. Others see a dual fulfillment. Those signs of the end are pre-figuring the great end times as well. I have gone back and forth in my understanding of this. Thus, I am left with the same confusion the disciples had regarding the end times.

The bottom line regarding this issue for me concerns the practical conclusion that Jesus draws regarding the subject. We know it’s coming! But we do not know when. We all live with the shadow of the end looming over us, both personally and corporately. We never know when it will fall. But that is no reason to be fearful or hysterical over that expectation, but at the same time we know that to forget about God and to become consumed with the things of earth is a very foolish way to live.

The scriptures teach us clearly that the wise man never forgets his mortal state and knows that he must be ready when the summons comes. What it should motivate us to consider is that each day we have life we have something to be thankful and grateful for. We have good work to do which is not a chore but a privilege. It means that we must live our lives in such a way that it doesn’t matter when He comes. Let’s make every day of our lives fit for Him to see. Let’s live in such a way that we’re ready to meet him face to face at any moment. If we live like this the end will not be a terror, but an eternal joy.

Chuck
“You also must be ready. The Son of Man will come at an hour when you don’t expect him.” Luke 12:40

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1 Corinthians 15:24

How Do The Persons In The Trinity Differ?

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
July 19, 2011

The actual question was why is it that only the Father knows the day and the hour of Christ’s return. Let me begin answering this by saying The Trinity is one of the most, if not the absolute most, difficult concept in Christianity. It teaches that although God is a total unity (one!), within that unity there exists three unique persons known as the Father, Son & Holy Spirit. This question can be resolved when we understand the “functional” differences in the persons of the Trinity. All three are fully God. All three are “in essence” completely equal. But each person has a different function. Let me show how this works out in God’s plan of salvation for all mankind. The Father’s role is seen in Scripture as the Source, the Sender, and the Planner of salvation. The Son on the other hand is the Means, the Sent One, and the Achiever of salvation. The Father sent the Son (John 3:16), the Father planned it but the Son accomplished it on Calvary’s cross for us all. The Father and the Son send the Spirit (John 15:26). Although there is much controversy over this issue, I believe the function filled by the Son represents a voluntarily subordinate role to the Father (See Philippians 2). The function fulfilled by the Spirit is a subordinate role to both the Father & the Son.

The Father is the planner, thus the knowledge of the coming of the end is His only. The Son is the Accomplisher (as we saw in His first coming and will see again in His second coming). The Holy Spirit is the Applier of salvation to believers. It is He who testifies concerning Jesus and convicts of sin, convinces of the need of salvation and is active in a person’s conversion.

My friend, Norm Geisler, explains that the subordinate roles of the Son and the Holy Spirit are eternal roles, not just temporary roles as well. He explains, “For example, the Son is an eternal Son (see Prov. 30:4; Heb. 1:3). He did not become God’s Son; He always was related to God the Father as a Son and always will be. His submission to the Father was not just for time but will be for all eternity.” 1 Corinthians 15:24 & 28, makes this clear. It says, “Then the end will come, when he (Jesus) hands over the kingdom of God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power … When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all…”

Chuck
“…but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant …he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:7-8

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Matthew 13:55

Did Jesus Have Blood Brothers?

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
July 18, 2011

This question is really a question about Jesus human mother, Mary. Mariolatry is the worship of Mary. Mariology is the study on the doctrine of Mary. These terms have divided Catholics and Protestants for centuries. Actually, they have much in common regarding Mary. They agree that she’s “most blessed among women” in that she was chosen by God as the vessel from which He would bring forth the savior of the world, she conceived Christ as a virgin, and she lived an exemplary life of faith. But it’s the differences in their views that have caused much division. The most important of these differences are: The perpetual virginity of Mary, the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Bodily assumption of Mary, Mary’s role as the Mediator between man and Christ, as well as the veneration of Mary and her images. The question I’m attempting to answer concerns the perpetual virginity of Mary.

According to Ott’s “Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma,” The Lateran Synod of A.D. 649 was the first to stress the threefold character of Mary’s virginity. As a result, Catholics believe that “Mary was a Virgin before, during and after the Birth of Jesus Christ.” All agree that Mary was a virgin at conception. The question is did she remain one. Ott finds Biblical support in several passages. Mary’s statement to the angel that announced her conception of Jesus, “…I have known not a man,” infers that she took an oath of perpetual virginity. That Jesus entrusted the care of His mother to the Apostle John is evidence that there were no other children to care for her after His death. Regarding the references to Jesus’ brothers, Ott points out that the term might also be translated as “cousins.” Further, Joseph may have been a widower with children from a previous marriage. As a side note, Martin Luther accepted the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary and said it wasn’t an essential doctrine of the faith.

That she had made a vow of virginity is contradicted by the Bible in that she was already “betrothed” to Joseph. That Christ entrusted His mother in the hands of John is not evidence that she had no other children, only that they weren’t present at the cross. Also, they did not become believers until later. Regarding the “brother/cousin” debate, Matthew 13:55 says, “Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us?” To include cousins in this statement seems inconsistent with its purpose. Besides, there is a Greek word for cousin that’s used in Colossians 4:10 connecting Mark and Barnabas. There is no single example where the Greek word “Adelphos” is used to mean cousin. Finally, if these “brothers” are children of Joseph from a previous marriage, the oldest son would have been the physical heir to David’s throne, not Jesus. So much more could be said!

Chuck
“…and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.” Matthew 1:16

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Colossians 1:27

Is Christ or The Holy Spirit in us?

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
July 15, 2011

Colossians 1:27 says, “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Notice that “Christ in you” is described as the “mystery.” The “Christ” or “Messiah” prophesied in the Old Testament is not only for the Jews, but it also for the Gentiles, it’s for all mankind. That’s the great mystery that has been made known to all mankind.

Paul preached Christ to the Gentiles. We all relate to God on the same basis now, through the work of Christ on the cross. When we talk about becoming a Christian we use language like: “accepting Christ, inviting Christ into our lives, receiving Christ, surrendering our lives to Christ, giving our lives in faith to Christ, being born again by allowing Christ to be born in us, receiving Christ as Savior.” Roman’s 8:28-29 is a statement purpose that God gives us explaining His purpose for us. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” There is no conflict between having God’s Spirit live in us or having Christ dwell in us. Those are similar concepts. I’d put it a little more biblically by saying, Christ lives in us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

God, the Father, is always working in the life of a believer to conform him to the image of Jesus. It is the work assigned to the Holy Spirit that helps us resist temptation and surrender to God’s will for our molding into the image of His Son, as true children, through the power of the Holy Spirit. All three persons of the God head are present in us as believers. Paul Tells us in Romans 8:13-14, “But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” When we confess our sins and look to the Cross of Christ for forgiveness, we are accepted by God and given the Holy Spirit to comfort, exhort, and nurture us in our journey to be conformed to the image of His Son.

Chuck
“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God…” Colossians 3:3

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Luke 16:28

What is Hell Like?

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
July 14, 2011

I once read of a church sign that asked “what is hell like?” Immediately following that question was the invitation, “come hear our pastor this Sunday.” Some of you may feel there is some truth to this bit of humor, but I’d like to make a serious attempt to explain what Hell is like from a biblical perspective. Many verses give us imagery to help us imagine what Hell is like. All of them speak of it as a horrifying reality. It’s like being left outside in the dark forever. It’s like a wandering star, a waterless cloud, a perpetually burning dump, a bottomless pit, an everlasting prison. Hell is a place of anguish and regret. (Matt. 8:12; Jude 13; Jude 12; Mark 9:44–48; Rev. 20:1, 3; 1 Peter 3:19; Luke 16:28) But Hell is most often visualized as a place with fire.

These images are not literal descriptions, but images that help us understand that it is a place of torment. If taken literally the images contradict each other. There’s fire but total darkness. It’s a burning dump, yet a bottomless pit. I don’t believe the “fire” is necessarily a physical fire. Those in hell have imperishable bodies so normal fire won’t affect them. C. S. Lewis pictures it as eternal separation from God in his book, “The Great Divorce.” The bible teaches us “with God there are pleasures forever.” Outside of God, away from God is gnashing of teeth and deep regret over the loss of what might have been. Jesus says there is “a great gulf” between heaven & hell and no one can transit that gulf. The torment of hell might be described as the torment of having “to live with the consequences of our own decisions.”

Hell is often depicted by those who wish to paint God as a cruel, sadistic mad man as a torture chamber with God wielding the whip with some crazed laughter. The scriptures never present Hell to us in this way. People will not be forced against their will to experience agonizing pain inflicted upon them by another. The torment of hell is self-inflected. The great torment of hell comes from realizing we used our freedom to choose wrongly and that there is now nothing we can do to change those decisions. That’s why there is much weeping and gnashing of teeth. Everyone there will know that they are there by their own will. 2 Peter 3:9 makes it perfectly clear that God “wants no one to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Chuck
“God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

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1 Timothy 4:1

What is Urantia?

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
July 13, 2011

The Apostle Paul said that in the last “times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). Urantia is one of the newer of these false teachings that twist the scriptures. It was administered to its founder through a spirit mediator. Thus, we can readily connect it with Paul’s teaching. Further, Deuteronomy forbids our dabbling in the “spirits” and spirit guides.

This New Age cult began in the 1930’s but found an open audience in the late 60’s with the Aquarian movement focusing on mind control and drug experimentation while dabbling in the UFO movement. Its doctrine can be found in the “Urantia Book.” It’s a huge tome which contradicts the scriptures on many key doctrines of the faith. My copy of the book has 2097 pages. “987,000,000,000 years ago associate force organizer and then acting inspector number 811,307 of the Orvonton series, traveling out from Uversa, reported to the Ancients of Days that space conditions were favorable for the initiation of materialization phenomena in a certain sector of the, then, easterly segment of Orvonton.” “875,000,000,000 years ago the enormous Andronover nebula number 876,926 was duly initiated.” If this sounds like a science fiction movie you may be right. It is sometimes referred to as a “UFO” religion like Scientology.

Like other cults that claim extra-Biblical revelations, it is claimed that the Urantia book compliments the Bible, and that Christians should not be wary of it. But in reality, the Urantia book is in direct conflict with the Bible on many important doctrines, including the most important one which is the issue of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone. The Jesus of Urantia is not the Jesus of the Bible. According to its scenario, planet earth, originally called Urantia, was created by Michael of Nebadon one trillion years ago. Michael eventually came to earth as the man Jesus. The one thing all cults have in common is a denial of the deity of Christ and Christ work on the cross as being all sufficient payment for sins of those who believe.

Chuck
“Do you believe that I am the one I claim to be? If you don’t, you will certainly die in your sins.” John 8:24 (NIRV)

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