8/12/19

"THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN" Having Confidence At Christ's Coming (2:28-29) by Mark Copeland


"THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN"

Having Confidence At Christ's Coming (2:28-29)

INTRODUCTION

1. The time is coming when we shall have to stand before the judgment 
   seat of Christ
   a. God has ordained Christ to be the judge of the world - 
      Jn 5:22,26-27; Ac 17;30-31
   b. Therefore we must all appear before Christ - 2Co 5:10

2. Many people, if they think of the Day of Judgment at all, do so with
   great apprehension
   a. For some, it is probably for good reason they fear that Day, for 
      they know their lives are not right with God
   b. But there are some who fear the coming of that Day, who really 
      shouldn't, but can look forward to that day knowing they will 
      stand before Him with great boldness!
      
3. Indeed, John wrote his first epistle with the desire to help his 
   readers understand that they can have confidence before the Lord 
   when He comes...
   
   "And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, 
   we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His 
   coming."  (1Jn 2:28)

4. In this study, I would like for us to take a close look at...
   a. John's goal for his "little children"
   b. John's solution for obtaining this goal

[We begin, then, by determining...]

I. JOHN'S GOAL FOR HIS "LITTLE CHILDREN"

   A. TO HAVE "CONFIDENCE" WHEN CHRIST APPEARS...
      1. The word for "confidence" is parrhesia, {par-rhay-see'-ah}
         a. It means "all out-spokenness, i.e. frankness, bluntness, 
            publicity; by impl. assurance:--bold, confidence"
         b. It is used elsewhere to describe:
            1) The boldness of Peter and John before the council - Ac 4:13
            2) The boldness of Paul's preaching - Ac 9:27
      2. Even now, in Christ we can have...
         a. "...boldness and access with confidence" to God - Ep 3:12
         b. Bold access to the throne of God for mercy and grace to 
            help - He 4:14-16
      3. Therefore it is John's goal that we have the same sort of 
         "boldness" and "confidence" at Christ's appearing that we have now!
         a. Just as we can now boldly approach God's throne of grace...
         b. ...so we can then stand with confidence before Christ's 
            throne of judgment!

   B. TO NOT BE "ASHAMED" WHEN HE COMES...
      1. The word here is aischunomai {ahee-skhoo'-nom-ahee}
         a. Which is from aischos (disfigurement, i.e. disgrace); to 
            feel shame (for oneself):--be ashamed
         b. It is used to describe the unjust steward's attitude toward
            begging - Lk 16:3
      2. To be "ashamed", then, is the opposite of having "boldness" 
         and "confidence"
      3. John does not want us to be ashamed of ourselves when Christ 
         comes again!

[To stand before Jesus at His coming, with confidence and no shame, 
that is John's goal for his "little children"!  Is that not the goal 
for ourselves as well?

How can we be sure that will be true of us?  Consider...]

II. JOHN'S SOLUTION FOR OBTAINING THIS GOAL

   A. "ABIDE IN HIM"
      1. Here is the key to having "confidence" at Christ's appearing
      2. This is the answer if we do not want to be "ashamed" at His coming
      -- But how does one "abide in Christ"?

   B. ABIDING IN CHRIST...
      1. Involves letting His Word abide in us
         a. As John stated earlier - 1Jn 2:24
         b. And as explained by Jesus Himself - Jn 14:21,23; 15:10
      2. Letting His Word abide in us therefore involves two important concepts:
         a. That we "know" His Word
         b. That we "keep" His Word
      3. I am persuaded that the lack of confidence many Christians 
         have is the result of not "knowing" the words of Jesus...
         a. It is akin to the apprehension many feel before taking a test
            1) Not having properly studied the material, naturally they
               don't know it very well
            2) Whereas one who has mastered the material has confidence
               going into the test
         b. When brethren do not read and study God's word, the Bible, 
            it is understandable why they would be apprehensive about 
            being judged by it!
         c. But the solution to not knowing God's Word, and those of 
            His Son, is a simple one:  READ!
      4. It is not enough, though, to "know", we must also "keep" His Word...
         a. We must be "doers" of the Word - cf. Mt 7:21, 24-27
         b. Only the one who "practices righteousness" is truly born of
            God and abiding in Jesus - cf. 1Jn 2:29
         c. But if you know what Jesus has actually taught, it is not 
            that "hard" to do what He says! - cf. 1Jn 5:3
         d. Add to this the promise of the cleansing power of Jesus' 
            blood when we sin (1Jn 1:9), we have every reason to 
            have "confidence"!

CONCLUSION

1. The story is told about a conversation between two little boys...
   
   One of the boys noticed that the other's grandmother spent a lot of
   time reading her Bible.  "Why does she read the Bible so much?" the
   boy asked his friend.  The other boy replied, "She is cramming for 
   her final exam!"

2. The more we "know", and the more we "keep" the words of our Lord, 
   the greater our confidence that we shall stand before our Lord on 
   that great Day of Judgment with all boldness!

3. As John says, "Abide in Him," which we have seen occurs when we 
   follow his earlier admonition:

   "Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the 
   beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you,
   you also will abide in the Son and in the Father."  (1Jn 2:24)

Are you letting the Word of God abide in you, so that you are truly 
abiding in the Son and in the Father?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016

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Zero Energy Balance and Universes Popping Into Existence by Jeff Miller, Ph.D.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=4587


Zero Energy Balance and Universes Popping Into Existence

by Jeff Miller, Ph.D.


Perhaps it seems like common sense to you that universes do not create themselves—popping into existence all over the place, but many naturalistic scientists are latching on to such bizarre ideas due to their lack of a naturalistic explanation for the origin of the Universe. Famous atheist, theoretical physicist, and cosmologist of Cambridge University, Stephen Hawking, said, “Bodies such as stars or black holes cannot just appear out of nothing. But a whole universe can…. Because there is a law like gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing” (2010, p. 180, emp. added). Is there any empirical evidence suggesting that universes can pop into existence? Absolutely not. Is there evidence that anything can pop into existence from nothing? Nope. We have a law of science that prohibits it—the First Law of Thermodynamics (cf. Miller, 2013). Does the idea that something could pop into existence from nothing remind you of a magician’s trick? Probably. But to many in the scientific community today, naturalism must be true. They will not consider God.  He is not allowed in the discussion. “Creation is unacceptable, but witchcraft? Now that…we’ll consider.”

THE PROBLEM FOR THE NATURALIST

According to the First Law of Thermodynamics, “energy can be neither created nor destroyed; it can only change forms” (Cengel and Boles, 2002, p. 166). This poses a problem for the atheist, since the energy and matter of the Universe had to come from somewhere. Hawking said:
The idea of inflation could also explain why there is so much matter in the universe. There are something like ten million million million million million million million million million million million million million million (1 with eighty zeros after it) particles in the region of the universe that we can observe. Where did they all come from? The answer is that, in quantum theory, particles can be created out of energy in the form of particle/antiparticle pairs. But that just raises the question of where the energy came from (1988, p. 129, emp. added, parenthetical item in orig.).
Evolutionary physicist Victor Stenger, in his book, God: The Failed Hypothesis, said:
[W]here does the energy come from? The law of conservation of energy, also known as the first law of thermodynamicsrequires that energy come from somewhere. In principle, the creation hypothesis could be confirmed by the direct observation or theoretical requirement that conservation of energy was violated 13.7 billion years ago at the start of the big bang (2007, p. 116, ital. in orig., emp. added).

THE NATURALIST’S RESPONSE

Hawking believes he has an answer to this problem for the naturalist—one that is in keeping with the First Law:
The answer is that the total energy of the universe is exactly zero. The matter in the universe is made out of positive energy. However, the matter is all attracting itself by gravity…. Thus, in a sense, the gravitational field has negative energy. In the case of a universe that is approximately uniform in space, one can show that this negative gravitational energy exactly cancels the positive energy represented by the matter. So the total energy of the universe is zero (1988, p. 129).
Stenger concurs:
The first law allows energy to convert from one type to another as long as the total for a closed system remains fixed. Remarkably, the total energy of the universe appears to be zero (2007, p. 116).
So, in essence, these physicists assert that there would have been zero energy in the Universe before the alleged big bang (a theory which we do not support, cf. Thompson, et al., 2003), and then there would have been zero energy in the Universe after the big bang, since “matter energy” can be considered to be positive and “gravitational energy” can be considered to be negative. According to Hawking and Stenger, these two amounts cancel each other out, leaving zero energy in the Universe—zero energy before the bang, and zero energy after. Sound reasonable to you?

THE EVIDENCE FROM SCIENCE AND SENSE

First of all, notice that Hawking boldly proclaims two significant assumptions that cannot even remotely be verified. (1) The Universe must be “approximately uniform in space”; and (2) The “negative gravitational energy exactly cancels the positive energy represented by the matter. So the total energy of the universe is zero” (1988, p. 129, emp. added). How, pray tell, could Hawking know such things about this vast and infinitely complex Universe without being omniscient? Not only can he not know such things, but he cannot even claim such things with the meager evidence about the entirety of the Universe he has at his disposal. It is quite a leap to hold to such unverified assumptions. It is a blind faith in a proposition that cannot be established scientifically. The rational man’s beliefs are based on the evidence—not baseless speculation.
Second, notice that he says, “in a sense, the gravitational field has negative energy” (1988, p. 129, emp. added). The words, “in a sense,” are significant, because they highlight the fact that gravitational energy is not really inherently “negative.” We call it “negative” from a certain viewpoint when we have such a thing as a directional axis to compare its effect with; but, in actuality, gravitational energy is simply energy—regardless of its sign. Hawking, himself, used the term “energy” to describe gravity. Whether or not it is considered “negative” is not the question. The question in light of the First Law is, where did it come from?
Third, this line of reasoning implies that things could and should be popping into existence all around us all the time, as long as those items have enough negative gravitational energy to offset them. Particles, rocks, and infinitely complex Universes should be popping into existence, since such occurrences—according to these physicists—would not violate a natural law. But wait. That does not happen. It has never been observed to occur even once. And our common sense verifies that it will not happen. Science does not support such a hypothesis. The hypothesis is unscientific.
Fourth, consider: is there energy in the Universe today that would not have been in existence before the supposed big bang? Yes. If I were to ask Hawking and Stenger if energy exists in the Universe today, what do you suppose they would say? To ask is to answer. But the First Law prohibits the creation of energy. So, the question is not whether the energy balance before and after the big bang is still zero. The important question in light of the First Law is whether or not there is energy in the Universe today that was not there before the big bang. The answer would have to be, “yes.” In fact, there are, by Hawking’s own admission, “negative” and “positive” energies in existence. According to the First Law of Thermodynamics, they could not have created themselves. Therefore, God must exist.
In essence, Hawking and those who hold to his position are playing word games with “zero.” It is like the man who holds out an empty fist and asks a child, “What am I holding in my hand?” The child responds, “Nothing.” The man continues, “What is stronger than God?” The child responds, “Nothing.” The man then concludes, “So, what I’m holding in my hand is stronger than God.” In logic, this is known as a “fallacy of equivocation,” which the Collins English Dictionary defines as “a fallacy based on the use of the same term in different senses, esp. as the middle term of a syllogism, as the badger lives in the bank, and the bank is in the High Street, so the badger lives in the High Street” (2003, ital. in orig.; cf. Baum, 1975, pp. 477-478). While there is a Universal energy balance of zero in Hawking’s model, it does not mean that there is actually zero energy in the Universe. On the contrary, the exorbitant amount of energy in the Universe calls for an explanation that can only be given by the Creation model.

CONCLUSION

In the words of Stenger:
Conservation of energy [i.e., the First Law of Thermodynamics—JM] and other basic laws hold true in the most distant observed galaxy and in the cosmic microwave background, implying that these laws have been valid for over thirteen billion years [NOTE: we do not hold to this deep time supposition—JM]. Surely any observation of their violation during the puny human life span would be reasonably termed a miracle…. In principle, the creation hypothesis could be confirmed by the direct observation or theoretical requirement that conservation of energy was violated 13.7 billion years ago at the start of the big bang (pp. 115-116, emp. added).
It is truly ironic that Stenger, himself, while attempting to dismiss the necessity of the supernatural in explaining the origin of the Universe, “confirmed” the existence of God through the “theoretical requirement that conservation of energy was violated” in the beginning of time. It is sad that Stenger’s admission on this point illustrates that, prior to Hawking’s development of this argument, Stenger recognized the need for the supernatural in explaining the origin of energy, since no “scientific” argument was available. Why, sir, did you not accept God before that point? And why, sir, do you not accept Him now, since He alone can account for the existence of the awesome Universe in which we reside?

REFERENCES

Baum, Robert (1975), Logic(New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston).
Cengel, Yunus A. and Michael A. Boles (2002), Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach (New York: McGraw-Hill), fourth edition.
Collins English Dictionary (2003), (New York: HarperCollins Publishers), http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Logical+fallacy%2FEquivocation.
Hawking, Stephen (1988), A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes (New York: Bantam).
Hawking, Stephen (2010), The Grand Design (New York, NY: Bantam Books).
Miller, Jeff (2013), “Evolution and the Laws of Science: The Laws of Thermodynamics,” Apologetics Press, http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=9&article= 2786.
Stenger, Victor J. (2007), God: The Failed Hypothesis (Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books).
Thompson, Bert, Brad Harrub, and Branyon May (2003), “The Big Bang Theory—A Scientific Critique [Part 1],” Reason & Revelation, 23[5]:32-34,36-47.

Wrong is Always Wrong by Wayne Jackson, M.A.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=234


Wrong is Always Wrong

by Wayne Jackson, M.A.


Sinful human beings are ever attempting to blur the distinction between “right” and “wrong.” This inclination reaches far back into antiquity. The book of Proverbs declares: “He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination unto Jehovah” (17:15). Later, the prophet Isaiah affirmed: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20). Amos spoke of those who “turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth” (Amos 5:7).
“Right” and “wrong” do exist. They are not merely “evolved inclinations” that have been humanly contrived in order to introduce a sense of order and security into society. Nor are “right” and “wrong” subjectively determined so that, practically speaking, each person functions as his own law-maker. Rather, morality is to be measured by the laws and principles of divine revelation, as made known in the inspired writings of the Bible. Ultimately, morality is grounded in the very nature of God Himself. “[A]s he who calls you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy” (1 Peter 1:15). Though such a concept is almost wholly rejected by modern society, there is ample evidence to support it.
Let us contemplate briefly some of the principles contained in Scripture that assist us in putting “right” and “wrong” things into proper focus.
1. “Wrong” is not determined by the perpetrator’s moral sensitivity to an act. A wrong act is still wrong whether or not the violator is aware of it, or whether or not he feels comfortable with the situation. Saul of Tarsus did not know that he was doing wrong when he persecuted Christianity (see Acts 23:1; 26:9; 1 Timothy 1:13), but he was violating the will of God nonetheless. Ignorance is no excuse (Acts 17:30). In modern society, for example, many have entangled themselves in adulterous “marital” relationships. Frequently it is argued that such liaisons may be sustained because the parties “did not know” the intricacies of God’s marriage law when the unions were made. The logic is fallacious. Will a similar argument eventually be offered to defend the concept of same-sex “marriages”?
2. “Right” is not established merely by what man is able to accomplish by means of his genius and/or ability. Pragmatism does not provide the criteria for ethics. One human being presumptively can take another’s life, but that does not make the act moral. Two unmarried youngsters are able to conceive a child apart from the sacred vows of matrimony, but the act is illegitimate nonetheless. “Might” does not make “right,” and autocratic decisions relating to moral matters are condemned in Scripture (see Habakkuk 1:11). Radical attempts at human genetic engineering, or cloning, may be accomplished eventually through the manipulation of genetic laws, but the achievement, in and of itself, does not license the practice as ethical. The issue must ever be: Is a procedure consistent with the principles of God’s inspired revelation?
3. “Right” and “wrong” are not determined by what is legal. In the Roman world of the Caesars, infanticide was legal, but it was not moral. In some ancient cultures, a woman was not a person; she was mere property to be abused, or disposed of, at the whim of her husband. There are few who would defend the ethics of this custom. Homosexuality is legal, but it is moral perversion (Romans 1:26-27). The destruction of human life by means of abortion has the sanction of civil law, but the practice is abominable before the eyes of the Creator (Proverbs 6:17).
4. “Right” and “wrong” are not grounded in what a majority of the population “feels” is ethical. Jesus Christ is a King; He has not implemented a democracy to determine, by majority vote, how human beings ought to live. In the first place, man never can be his own guide. “O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). Second, fallible opinion, multiplied a thousand times, does not change wrong into right. Moses solemnly warned: “Thou shall not follow a multitude to do evil” (Exodus 23:2). It hardly is necessary to remind ourselves that the path of the majority is the way of destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).
5. “Wrong” is wrong, whether or not one is ever caught. In the isolated environment of ancient Egypt, separated from his kinsmen, Joseph might well have rationalized an illicit relationship with Potiphar’s wife on the ground that his indiscretion never would be known by his family. His reasoning, however, was: “[H]ow then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). There will be a time when the “skeletons come out of the closet” and “the chickens come home to roost.” Many things that have been perpetrated in darkness will be revealed in light, and secret evils will be proclaimed from the rooftops (see Luke 12:3). Secrecy does not sanctify!
6. “Wrong” does not become right by virtue of passing time. It is certainly the case that the public’s conscience sometimes becomes dull with the passing of years, so that what once was horrifying eventually becomes commonplace. But wrong still is wrong, though a millennium passes. Eventually, there will be accountability (2 Corinthians 5:10).
May God help us to examine our practices by the illumination of His glorious Word (Psalm 119:105), and to determine “right” and “wrong” issued upon that reliable basis.

Woe to You When All Men Speak Well of You by Kyle Butt, M.Div.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=2815


Woe to You When All Men Speak Well of You

by Kyle Butt, M.Div.


It is true that you can tell a great deal about people or groups by who their friends are, but it is also the case that you can sometimes tell just as much by who their enemies are. In fact, Jesus warned that if His disciples were living such unaffecting lives that all men, regardless of their relationship to God, were speaking well of them, then His disciples would not be faithfully carrying out His mission (Luke 6:26).
We at Apologetics Press can safely say that we do not have the problem of “all men speaking well of us.” In fact, with the advent of new mass media outlets for our materials, we have been faced with several vitriolic rebukes.
For instance, when we posted the video of the complete debate between Dan Barker and myself on YouTube.com, we left the comment section open for viewers to express their opinions about the debate. Here are a few that have come from those in the atheistic community and other detractors from our work:
“Kyle Butt is an ­­­---, no pun intended....”
“I can forgive the name Kyle but his parents should have given him some brains or honesty....”
“What a ­­­­­­­---- preacher....”
“Unbelievable...Kyle Butt is clearly insane.”
“Kyle Butts is an absolute moron.”
In an e-mail regarding an article on our Web site titled, “Does Picking Up Sticks on the Sabbath Deserve the Death Penalty?” Danny wrote:
Thanks Kyle!
I’ve never been more proud and confident in being an Ex-Christian than after reading your warped little justification for outright murder. Also, congratulations for providing me with a wealth of information when I need to counter the notion that your particular social culture tribe is morally superior to other social culture tribes. I’ve saved your post as a pdf for future usage. I expect that it will see a lot of mileage.
Respectfully,
Former Bible Believing Conservative Evangelical Pre-Millennial KJV-Only Used To Pass Out Tracts and go to Wednesday services
Danny.
Regarding our Web site in general, Jack e-mailed us and said:
While your website has been around for ten years, you are thousands of years behind on many of your answers. It’s not so much that you haven’t caught up to modern science, but in many instances you are dead wrong on your answers. Your website is absolutely horrible.
It would be lovely if you could catch up to the 21st century.
One writer posted this statement on his site: “Apologetics Press is so intellectually anorexic, it’s frightening to imagine the base level of research involved in its preparation of creationist material.”
Of course, these are just a few of the many insulting barbs hurled at our work on a regular basis. We could continue with numerous pages of similar quotes and comments. Needless to say, not everyone likes our work. When we see the sources of these comments, however, we are encouraged by the teachings of Christ who stated: “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19). Because of the world’s sinful mentality, we should expect just such attacks against the truth. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake” (Matthew 5:11). Needless to say, in many, many ways, we at Apologetics Press are blessed.

Teachings of Christ (Part 26) Are Only A Few Going To be Saved by Ben Fronczek

http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?p=1873

Teachings of Christ (Part 26) Are Only A Few Going To be Saved

Polio is a disease caused by tiny virus particles which attacks the brain and spinal cord. Sixty years ago polio was a kind of AIDS in American society. Why is polio not feared as it once was? Because Dr. Jonas Edward Salk, an American research scientist, announced in 1953 that he had developed a trial vaccine for polio. By 1955, his discovery was being used across the world.
No one asked why was there only one vaccine? No one asked that question for the simple reason only one vaccine was needed. Across the world, millions of people made sure they were vaccinated. Today polio is virtually no threat to world health.
Unfortunately, there is another disease which still exists today, and is far worse than polio and AIDS. This disease has infected every person who has ever lived, and is always fatal. Fortunately, there is a cure which will work for every person on earth, and it is free of charge. The disease, of course, is sin, and it has destroyed our relationship with God. There is only one cure, and one alone. And that is salvation through Jesus Christ, His Son.
Someone once asked Jesus an important question. In Luke 13:22-30 says, “Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”
He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”
The question was: “Are only a few going to be saved (v. 23)?” The assumption here is that some are not. But that’s not what people in our culture today think. Whether pop-culture or post-modern culture, the prevailing theology denies a hell and judgment. Some believe we just cease to exist at death. Some who are optimistic believe that since God is Love, there can be no judgment and all go to heaven. Others even think hell won’t be so bad; all their friends are going to be there and they think that there is going to be some kind of party there with them
When surveyed only 20 % of Adult Americans who call themselves a Christian said that living a life according to God’s will is the single most important thing in their lives. So, the flip side is that 80% of the American Christians have implied that God, and their walk with Him is not a priority. And I say that this is a dangerous way to live. I believe Jesus was letting hearers know over and over that even many who seemed religious in His day and went to church were in danger of hell.
It doesn’t seem like people fear the prospect of hell very much. Some have created a false picture of hell. Often it resembles a cavern with rocks and flames. There is a satanic figure with a tail and horns, armed with a pitchfork.
Some joke about hell, and some even dress their children up as devils on Halloween. They don’t seem to take it too serious.
I want you to push these scenes out of your mind this morning. Instead I want you to hear how the Bible describes hell.
The word “Hell” shows up 54 times in the Bible, and it is spoken of many other times in other terms. It does not always mean a place of eternal torment. Usually it only refers to “the place of the dead,” where good and evil alike go until the judgment. This is also known as Hades. It is an intermediate state for the dead.
But then there is Gehenna. Gehenna is the place of eternal damnation. There is no escape or parole from this terrible place. It gets its name from the Valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem. II Kings 16 and 21 tell us of a time that the children of Israel allowed their culture to take precedence over the word of God. They began to do what their neighboring cultures did – they sacrificed their children, and other human beings, to foreign gods. They would then take the bodies and throw them into the Valley of Hinom and burn them. You can imagine the sight, and the smells of the burning flesh, the rotting corpses, the valley of bones. So fearful and terrible was the valley that it become a symbol used by the Old Testament prophets to warn of eternal judgment. Once in Gehenna, you never return.
Beyond Gehenna, Sheol, and Hades, the Scriptures goes on to describe Hell like this: Here in Luke 13 Jesus indicates it is a…
1. a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Luke 13:28)
2. In Matthew 3:12 it’s a place of unquenchable fire
3. Matthew 23:33 it’s a place of damnation & condemnation 4. In Matthew 13:42, & 50 it’s described as a furnace of fire
5. In Jude 13 it’s a place of blackness and darkness. Think about that – no color.
6. In Rev. 21:8 it’s a lake which burns with fire and brimstone
7. In Matthew 25:41 it’s a place prepared for the devil and his angels
It sounds like a pretty scary place to me. But those who died in Christ are with Him a kind of paradise, though their bodies remain in the grave, for now.
But those who died without Christ are not in Gehenna yet, but rather in Hades, the abode of the dead. From there one day they will be brought to what the Bible calls the great white throne of judgment. They will be judges and then they will then be thrown (yes, thrown) into Gehenna, also known in Revelation 20:11-15 as the lake of fire. But it is not God’s desire to see any of us end up in that place. It was a place prepared for the devil and his angels. Yet we read that Jesus said it will also be the final destiny of many people as well. That place was never meant for any of us.
Popular culture today says, “There is no Hell.” But that simply contradicts what the Bible has to say on the subject.
The question, ‘Are only a few going to be saved?’ assumes some are not saved and only a few will be saved and escape this hell and go to heaven. I don’t need to know how good heaven is to want to go there. It is sufficient to see how bad hell is to motivate us to avoid it. Regarding this question, how does Jesus respond?
When asked “are only a few people going to be saves,” He doesn’t say “yes.” Instead, He turns the question into a great lesson. In verse 24 He says “Make every effort (or Strive) to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.”
I believe that the first phrase or word in His answer is paramount: “Make every effort,” or as some versions say, “Strive.” Oh, how lazy so many of us have become! So satisfied that we are “saved by grace”, so content that it is the “free gift of God” that we have neglected and ultimately forgotten our duty to “strive” in our salvation.
Many have mastered doing church but fail at living a holy life of love God and neighbor. Are you striving to enter in? Are you making every effort to enter in?
In Philippians 2:12 the apostle Paul wrote, “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”  He wrote that to Christians.
Why, is it necessary to strive? Because if we are “to enter” thru that narrow gate, Jesus indicates that we need to move from where you are to where you need to be. You must make every effort to do so!
This whole lesson reveals that not everyone will be saved! It debunks the pop-cultural myth that everyone goes to heaven. And Jesus lets us know that this narrow gate is difficult to enter.
Why is it so difficult? I thought salvation was free? I thought I was saved by grace? I thought all I had to do was receive Christ confess Him before others and then get baptized and that was it?
Simply put, that was just the beginning of your salvation; that was just your new birth or your born again experience. You simply took the first step in a lifelong journey of “making an effort” or “striving” to enter in. The Christian life can be a great adventure, but we also need to beware of becoming complacent.
You may say, “I don’t understand. Am I to strive to earn my salvation?” No. Jesus earned it for you. But I think we need to get better at living a holy life, or the kind of life that Father God would have us live.
It’s sad thing to see hateful and unholy behavior among Christians in God’s Church. We must “strive” and “Make every effort” to love and forgive one another. I also believe that we need to make every effort to become more generous as God would have us. We should make every effort and strive to complain and grumble less and be more thankful for what we have. We also should strive to become kinder and strive not to argue so much. In other word we need to strive to become more Christ like in every aspect of our life.
As Jesus answered the question, “Are only a few going to be saved?” He also said, “Many will seek to enter in, and but shall not be able.” 
Seeking simply is not enough!
Do you know what the difference is between “seeking” and “striving”? It’s like someone who plays the lottery, they “seek” to win money, but don’t really do anything to get it. But someone who works hard is “striving” or making every effort to get ahead and, he will be the one that makes the money.
Are you just seeking the kingdom of God, or are you striving and making every effort to enter in? Too many in churches today are like those seeking to win the lottery; they passively act religious and do church and hope for the best. But they don’t make every effort or strive to change their life or do what God wants, nor do they serve Him in any way. Outside of church they look or act like everyone else. They don’t let that light shine and they are like the salt that loses its saltiness which Jesus talked about on the sermon on the mount.
Jesus told them and I believe us, to “strive or make every effort to enter in”
Can you do that? If you don’t try one day He may simply say to you, “I don’t know you, where do you come from. Away from Me.” And you may say, “But Lord, I went to church almost every Sunday. I sang those songs and put money in the collection plate and went to Bible study on occasion.”
But He will answer you by saying,” I don’t know you. Away from Me.”
Conclusion: This is a powerful lesson for all of us about not being a Christian in name only or for show. I believe that the Lord wants genuine disciples and wants to see some growth and effort on our part. I believe He wants to see us make some positive changes in our life; changes that will benefit others, Glorify Him, and improve who we are.
Can you do that? You can if you love the Lord with all your heart. I challenge you strive and make every effort to effort to become what He wants you to be.
(Excepts from Are you seeking, or striving? by Clark Sneed)

For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

All comments can be emailed to: bfronzek@gmail.com

“Flee from the midst of Babylon!” by Roy Davison

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/062-flee.html

“Flee from the midst of Babylon!”

In the symbolic language of Revelation, Christians are commanded to distance themselves from false religions just like the Israelites were commanded to leave Babylon and restore true worship at Jerusalem.
“Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4).
When this was written, literal Babylon had lost its power two hundred years earlier, as predicted by Isaiah and Jeremiah. Thus, in Revelation, Babylon obviously refers to something other than the literal city.
Considering the seriousness of this warning, it is vital that we know what it means to come out of Babylon, so we can avoid her sins and her punishment.
To understand the imagery, we must examine Old Testament passages about Babylon and compare them with the warning in Revelation.

What is the historical basis for Babylon’s symbolism?


Babylon had a long history of rebellion against God.

Babel, the forerunner of Babylon, was one of the first cities built. Nimrod, who “began to be a mighty one on the earth” (1 Chronicles 1:10) founded Babel (Genesis 10:10).
The name “Babel” means “confusion” and originates from the confusion of languages, which halted the building of the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:9).

Babylon used political force to promote false religion.

“All the people, nations and languages” were commanded to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s gold image (Daniel 3:1-7). 
Isaiah and Jeremiah predicted the ruin of Babylon as punishment for idolatry.
“Babylon is fallen, is fallen! And all the carved images of her gods He has broken to the ground” (Isaiah 21:9).
“Declare among the nations, proclaim, and set up a standard; proclaim, and do not conceal it - Say, ‘Babylon is taken, Bel is shamed. Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are humiliated, her images are broken in pieces’” (Jeremiah 50:2).
Bel and Merodach were Babylonian idols. Merodach was the patron deity of Babylon, a sun god, often pictured with a dragon. 
Israel went into Babylonian exile as punishment for her own unfaithfulness and idolatry. God allowed the temple to be destroyed because He was disgusted by the hypocritical worship being conducted there (Isaiah 1:13-15).
Because the temple was indispensable for Old Covenant worship, the Israelites could not worship God according to His word in Babylon. When their captors asked them to sing a song of Zion, they replied: “How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?” (Psalm 137:4).

The Israelites were commanded to flee from Babylon.

To flee is to quickly get away from impending danger.
God used Babylonian captivity to bring Israel to repentance.
After 70 years of exile, the Israelites were allowed to return to Jerusalem, rebuild the temple, and restore Old Covenant worship.
Considering the many warnings, some must have preferred to stay in Babylon!
A messianic undertone is discernable in passages where Israel is commanded to flee from Babylon.
“Go forth from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldees! With a voice of singing, declare, proclaim ‘The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob!’” (Isaiah 48:20). [See verses 12-22.]
“Depart! Depart! Go out from there, touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her, be clean, you who bear the vessels of the LORD” (Isaiah 52:11). [See verses 7-12.]
“‘In those days and in that time,’ says the LORD, ‘The children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together; with continual weeping they shall come, and seek the LORD their God. They shall ask the way to Zion, with their faces toward it, saying, “Come and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that will not be forgotten”’” (Jeremiah 50:4, 5). [For additional insight read chapters 50 and 51.]
“Flee from the midst of Babylon, and every one save his life! Do not be cut off in her iniquity, for this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance; He shall recompense her” (Jeremiah 51:6).
“We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed. Forsake her, and let us go everyone to his own country; for her judgment reaches to heaven and is lifted up to the skies. The LORD has revealed our righteousness. Come and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God” (Jeremiah 51:9, 10).
“My people, go out of the midst of her! And let everyone deliver himself from the fierce anger of the LORD” (Jeremiah 51:45).
“Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon” (Zechariah 2:7). 
Observe that although God’s people in Babylon did not serve idols themselves, they were unclean and shared in her sins if they remained and did not go to Jerusalem to worship God according to His word.

What does Babylon represent in Revelation?

Babylon is first mentioned in chapter fourteen: “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” (Revelation 14:8).
To know the meaning of Babylon, we must understand various symbols in Revelation. The dragon is the devil (Revelation 12:9). As in Daniel, beasts represent governments. To the first beast the devil gives “his power, his throne and great authority” (Revelation 13:2). A second beast, who resembles a lamb but speaks like a dragon, exercises all the authority of the first beast, and causes everyone on earth to worship the first beast (Revelation 13:11-14).
Under the influence of these two beasts, all the world worships the devil except those whose names are in the Book of Life: “All the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; ... All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:3, 4, 8).
There are only two classes: the saints of God and those who worship the devil. Only by the blood of Christ can one be conveyed from the power of darkness into the kingdom of God (Colossians 1:13, 14).
The second beast is “the false prophet” (Revelation 19:20). This beast is religious (religious authority) and is supported by the first beast (political authority).
Babylon is a symbolic representation of the false prophet, pictured as a harlot riding on a beast: “The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Revelation 17:4, 5).
The mystery is disclosed: “And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth” (Revelation 17:18).
When this was written, any reader would think of the Roman Empire. Thus Babylon (Rome) is a depiction of the false prophet. All religious and political rebellion against God is symbolized by the harlot and the beast she rides! 
The harlot is not the literal city of Rome, but Rome as a symbol. Paul was a Roman citizen (Acts 22:27, 28). In his letter to the Romans, he did not tell them to leave the city.
Like ancient Babylon, Rome spread false religion by political force. After Augustus (27-14 BC) everyone was commanded to worship the emperor. Thus, like Babylon, Rome is a fitting symbol of all political and religious rebellion against God.
Babylon and Rome are the first and last of four kingdoms in Daniel that would be vanquished by God’s Kingdom (Daniel 2:31-45; 7:17-27).

How has Rome evolved in history?

The harlot on the beast was “drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus” (Revelation 17:6).
Because they refused to worship the emperor, Christians were persecuted by pagan Rome, especially under Nero, Domitian and Trajan.
Pagan Rome mutated into “The Holy Roman Empire” (“holy” is a gross misnomer) with emperors appointed by the pope. Otto I was appointed by Pope John XII in 962.
Through the centuries this unholy Roman empire murdered non- Catholics with the blessing of the popes. Among the thousands killed was William Tyndale, the English Bible translator. He was burned at the stake in Vilvoorde, Belgium on 6 October 1536.
The “Holy Roman Empire” was dissolved by Napoleon in 1806.
After a period of conflicting claims to jurisdiction, the Vatican City State was recognized as a sovereign state in 1929. This ended Rome’s direct political power over kings. Even so, most European and many South American countries have Catholic political parties, and via its hierarchy, the Vatican exercises authority throughout the world.
The Roman Catholic Church is a world-wide, politically organized, pagan religion whose adherents worship images, dead people (“saints”) and a living, speaking idol, blasphemously called “the Holy Father”. The Roman Catholic Church is the largest body that claims to be Christian.

Why is Babylon called a harlot?

In prophetic symbolism, harlotry and fornication represent unfaithfulness to God: “They played the harlot with other gods” (Judges 2:17). [See also Exodus 34:15, 16; Leviticus 20:5; Deuteronomy 31:16; Psalm 73:27; Judges 8:33; Jeremiah 2:20; 3:1; Ezekiel 16:15-17.] Babylon’s fornication represents spiritual corruption. Babylon corrupts the world religiously.

Why is Babylon called the mother of harlots?

Remember that these symbols include everyone on earth who is not in the Book of Life (Revelation 13:3, 4, 8).
The researcher, David B. Barrett, identified 19 major world religions subdivided into about 10,000 distinct religions, and 34,000 denominations in Christendom. Now that is real Babel! 
The devil has created this Babylonian “confusion” so people will worship him rather than God. The devil’s shopping mall offers something appealing for everyone. Denominationalism, which views divergent forms of Christianity as tolerable, is a tool of the devil. He encourages you to join the church of your choice rather than God’s choice
Babylon in Revelation cannot refer to the Roman Catholic Church exclusively, as is sometimes claimed, since everyone in the world, except those in the Book of Life, worships the devil via these two beasts.
But the Roman Catholic Church is definitely the major embodiment (daughter) of prophetic Babylon as successor of the Holy Roman Empire and as the largest, most influential, false form of Christianity.
But she is not alone. Various Protestant denominations are merely spin-offs of the Catholic church, retaining many of her false doctrines and practices. All man-made denominations are daughters of the harlot because, like her, they do not submit to Christ. All false religions in the world are daughters of the harlot for the same reason. Islam, which is spread by political and physical force, is certainly a “daughter” of Babylon.

God will punish Babylon because of her sins.

As God punished ancient Babylon, He will punish prophetic Babylon.
“And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath” (Revelation 16:19). Religious and political opposition to God earn His wrath.
“Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a habitation of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her” (Revelation 18:2b, 3a).
Babylon’s ruin results from God’s defeat of the false prophet and the beast, representing all false religions and godless authorities. “Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet. ... These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone” (Revelation 19:20). 
Their patron, the devil, is also defeated: “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).
The unredeemed share the devil’s punishment: “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels’” (Matthew 25:41).

We too must flee from Babylon!

“Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities” (Revelation 18:4, 5).
How do we flee from Babylon to escape her punishment?
Various passages in the New Testament clarify this warning. “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17). We may not participate in false religions or other forms of worldliness because that is spiritual fornication, uncleanness, unfaithfulness to God.
How can God’s people be in Babylon? Potential Christians and Christians associated with false religions must leave Babylon.
Among those called out of Babylon are people who will obey the gospel when they hear it.
Jesus told Paul: “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; ... for I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9, 10). God had people in Corinth who would accept the gospel when they heard it. Paul’s preaching enabled them to escape from Babylon.
Among those called out of Babylon are also Christians who have compromised with “the lawless one” by being in denominations and religious organizations established by men rather than by Christ. The doctrine of such groups is always different from the doctrine of Christ, otherwise they would simply be a church of Christ rather than a human denomination.
Christians who associate with false forms of Christianity are trying to serve Christ in the camp of the antichrist! They think they can serve God although they worship with a denomination that deviates from the doctrine of Christ.
This is not possible because doctrinal soundness is essential to serving God. “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds” (2 John 9-11).
Anyone who preaches a gospel that differs from the original gospel is accursed (Galatians 1:6-9).
When we fellowship those who do not abide in the doctrine of Christ (even if we do not agree with them), we share in their evil deeds. “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4).
“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16).
“Belial” means “the worthless one” or “the lawless one”. The lawless one includes many who say, “Lord, Lord,” but do not obey Christ. Jesus tells them, “depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:21-23). They have allowed themselves to be deceived by the lawless one because they lack love for the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12).
The forces of religious evil called the “false prophet” and “Babylon” in Revelation, are called the “lawless one” by Paul and the “antichrist” by John. [See 1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7.]
Since Israel returned from captivity, virtually no images have been worshiped by Jews. Yet, in describing the Jews of His day, Jesus said, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:8, 9).
Here Jesus quotes Isaiah 29:13 which describes Israel in the run- up to Babylonian captivity! Although the Jews had restored the temple service, their spiritual condition was the same as before the captivity!
The disciples were concerned that this harsh statement had offended the Pharisees, the strictest denomination of the Jews, but Jesus replied, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch” (Matthew 15:13, 14).
“There is one body” (Ephesians 4:4), which is “the church” (Colossians 1:18). Thus, all religions and all denominations, which are not the church of Christ established by Him, constitute Babylon, are inspired by the devil, and will be uprooted by God.
If we are in a religious group of human origin, we must get out of it or we will be uprooted with it! We must serve God according to the faith “once and for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3), we must serve God according to the gospel that went forth from Jerusalem in the first century! We must “ask the way to Zion” and “declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.”

God’s warning is abundantly clear. 

“Flee from the midst of Babylon, and every one save his life! Do not be cut off in her iniquity” (Jeremiah 51:6).
“Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4). Amen.

Roy Davison


The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982,
Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers unless indicated otherwise.
Permission for reference use has been granted.

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

A new plan by Gary Rose



Have you ever wondered why things don’t go as planned? During the course of our lives literally thousands of things happen to us; things that no one could have ever anticipated. Good things, bad things and everything in between. Trying to make sense of it all can literally drive a person crazy. That, of course is how the world thinks – Christians know better. The Bible says...

Proverbs 14 ( World English Bible )
 12 There is a way which seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.

Jeremiah 10 (WEB)
23 Yahweh, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. 

2 Peter 1 (WEB)
 3 seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue;  4 by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.  5 Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge;  6 and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control patience; and in patience godliness;  7 and in godliness brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love. 

Romans 8 (WEB)
 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. 

  
28  We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. 

Godly people know that we can’t do it on our own, we need God’s help. And God does help! Through his word, we gradually change into the person HE wants us to be and do what HE wants us to do. Our faithfulness to his expressed word (The Bible) will result in a God directed, Christian life. His plan for us will never fail, never falter.

Perhaps you have tried doing things your way; try seeking God’s will for a change. You will be glad you did!