A different Gospel!

Many years ago, when my family and I lived in Livingston, in West Lothian, my wife and I were members of Ladywell Baptist Church, and I was occasionally invited to preach at the Sunday Worship Services. During the week prior to one particular preaching engagement, we received a visit from two charming young men who shared their testimonies with us. Much of what they said sounded good, as they spoke of what God was doing in their lives, and how much Jesus meant to them.

At the morning worship service on the Sunday, I shared with the fellowship about these two young men. I assured them that, if I had invited the two men to come with me, and to share their testimonies from the front of the sanctuary, that many of them would have been wanting to shake hands with two such fine specimens. I then added a very important piece of information - that the two young men were Mormons: members of the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints". 

What, one might ask, is the greatest challenge facing Biblical disciples of the Lord Jesus in the early part of the 21st century? It isn't difficult to find contenders for such a title! Is it divisive social issues - whether stemming from the current BLM movement (that conveniently forgets the number of black lives destroyed in the womb!), or from the demands of certain sexual deviants? Is it the rampant immorality as even young children are allegedly sending nude self-images of themselves to their friends? Is it the current refusal of so many to adhere to the guidelines with regard to 'social distancing'? These, and many other topics, would certainly be 'in the running'. However, I would dare to suggest that the biggest threat, as my two visitors all of those years ago showed, is religion - any religion that draws us away from the truth of the Gospel as revealed in the written Word of God. 

Some religions, of course, openly oppose the Christ; others are more subtle They use language that disciples of Jesus already know, giving their testimony a familiar sound. Then they add to it their own twisted brand of thinking - whether it be the teachings of the Book of Mormon; or the inaccuracies of the New World Translation of the Bible, used by the "Jehovah's Witnesses"; or whatever is placed alongside, or above, the written Word of God contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.

But if such groups "sound" Christian, how may we know that they are preaching "... a different gospel - not that there is another gospel ..." (Gal.1:6-7)? Here are a few false teachings for which we may look out:

1. Salvation through anything other than faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus, the Christ! The Lord Jesus made that perfectly clear when he told Thomas: "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6). In his great sermon, preached on the first Day of Pentecost of the Christian era, Peter proclaimed: "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12).

2. A refusal to see the Lord Jesus as the eternal God in human flesh, our only, and all-sufficient, Saviour. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made." (John 1:1-2).

3. Giving more importance to the words of men than to the Word of God. Paul writes to the Corinthian disciples: "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit Who is from God, that we might understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit." (2:12-13).

4. Leaders who do not provide Christlike guidance through careful Biblical instruction. Advising his young "son in the faith", Timothy, Paul wrote: "If you put these instructions before the brethren, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have followed." (I Tim.4:6 - but be sure to read the full context!). Jude wrote, in his short letter:  "For admission has been secretly gained by some who, long ago, were designated for this condemnation; ungodly persons who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness, and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus the Christ." (v.4).

There are, indeed, those who want to lead us into another 'gospel' that is no Gospel (Good News). Learn God's Word; steep yourself in it; soak it up as a sponge soaks up water; so that you won;t be deceived by fine, but false, words. Apply yourself to the Bible; and the Bible to yourself.

Birthday Anniversary Quiz!

Former pupils who happen to check out this blog will appreciate the title. I always pointed out that, physically, we have only one birthday - the day of our physical birth. After that, we celebrate the anniversary of that day, usually on an annual basis (although one does eventually reach a stage at which the numbers don't really matter, and the day is little different from any other!).

Tomorrow is the celebration of the Jewish festival of the Day of Pentecost (Shavuot), the first if which in the Christian era is generally considered to be the day on which the Christian Church was born. It was as Peter preached his Biblical message on that day that 3,000 were saved.

So, here is a wee quiz to check what you know about the first disciples of Jesus!

1. The disciples of Jesus started preaching about Him
       (a) the day after He died;
       (b) shortly after His death;
       (c) years later.
2.  Their first message was that
       (a) Jesus had been wrongly convicted;
       (b) Father God had raised Jesus as Lord and King;
       (c) people should love one another.
3.  They started to preach after
       (a) God the Holy Spirit came upon them;
       (b) a democratic vote;
       (c) their leaders had decided that the time was right.
4.  They asked their hearers to
       (a) accept that they were right;
       (b) be more religious;
       (c) allow Jesus to change their lives.
5.  When the authorities told them to stop, they
       (a) did what they were told;
       (b) organised a mass resistance movement;
       (c) prayed, and then continued to preach.
6.  Their message was based on
       (a) inner experience;
       (b) facts about Jesus;
       (c) philosophical ideas.
7.  Their preaching was accompanied by
       (a) miracles;
       (b) impressive arguments;
       (c) mob hysteria.
8.  The disciples were noted for
       (a) their love for one another;
       (b) their exclusivity;
       (c) their financial acumen.
9.  Their enemies accused them of
       (a) being old-fashioned;
       (b) being narrow-minded;
       (c) turning the world "upside-down".
10. There members were from
       (a) every social class;
       (b) the ruling classes;
       (c) the well-educated people.

Okay, see how you get on. I shall endeavour to publish the correct answers within the next few days!

Stop the world - I want to get off!

Was it a film?  Was it a song? I can't recall, but the phrase (or something very similar!) was certainly in vogue when I was a lot younger.  "Stop the world - I want to get off!"

As I try to keep abreast of contemporary world news, it is a sentiment that any sane person would surely understand - and with which many would readily identify.  Today's, apparently co-ordinated, attacks in the German city of Munchen (Munich) are but the latest in an ever-lengthening catalogue of violent and fatal incidents.  We have witnessed an abortive coup in Turkey; police officers murdered in the USoA; Bastille day celebrations in Nice cancelled because of another mass murder, using a bus.

Yes - will someone please stop the world.  I, for one, would be happy not to be here!

Of course, we know that such a wish is impossible to fulfil - at least in physical terms.  However, as Shakespeare has his character Hamlet say: "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." (Hamlet: Act 1, scene 5).

Yesterday morning, I completed a period in which I have been using the "minor" prophets of the Tanakh (the Hebrew Scriptures) as the basis of my private devotions.  It has, at times, been like reading the morning newspaper!  

The book of the prophet Joel is particularly applicable, as he writes about the coming "Day of YHWH".  His words are, of course, the words most quoted by the apostle Peter in the first Day of Pentecost of the Christian era.  That "Day of YHWH" has two applications.  The first may be seen as the destruction of the Second Temple and the dispersion of the Children of Israel when Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D.  However, that date and event does not exhaust the prophetic word.   Those words of Joel also point to the end-times - times in which many believe we are currently living.

Obadiah - the shortest book in the Tanakh - also speaks of "the Day of YHWH", and makes clear that, while the forthcoming destruction of Edom would be the immediate fulfilment of the prophetic word, that it also applied to the final move of Almighty God before the end of time itself, and the judgment of mankind.   

However, there is also a message of hope.  Obadiah assures his listeners and readers that "... in Mount Zion there shall be those that escape, and it shall be holy; and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions." (v.17).  The later equivalent of that promise, that goes beyond the Children of Israel (Jacob), is found in the letter to Hebrew disciples of Jesus who, the writer claims: "... have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a Judge Who is God of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more graciously than the blood of Abel." (Heb 12:22-24; emphasis added). 

Joel also makes clear that if we are to escape that great judgment, then we must repent: "'Yet even now,' says YHWH, 'return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.' Return to YHWH, your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil." (Joel 2:12-13). 

That, of course, is also the message of the Christian Gospel - that we confess that we are sinners; that we are, of ourselves, unable to do anything about our sin; that we accept that Almighty God, in the Persona (not a typo!) of the Son has, Himself, graciously paid the penalty for our sin; and that we need only come to Him, with repentant hearts, to receive cleansing and forgiveness, and begin a new life under His control.  If we have done that, then we need have no fear.  John writes that: "... He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (I John 4:4).

The crucial question is this: Have we found that salvation, deliverance, shelter, and strength only the Lord can provide when the final “day of the Lord” comes?   If not, then remember that "... now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (II Cor 6:2; emphases added).

If I may be of any further assistance, please feel free to contact me at author@minister.com Alternatively, there are some useful links further down the page.  May you know the prompting of God the Holy Spirit.  May He give you no rest until you have accepted the great gift, purchased at such great cost.

Promises, promises, promises!

Having arrived back in Wishaw late last evening, I was able to listen to the 'Today' programme, on the radio, this morning.   There was an interview with the leader of the Conservative Party, Mr David Cameron (I confess that I am not always as polite as that when referring to him!).  It was, as one might expect in the run-up to a General Election, all about what the Coalition Government had achieved, and what the Conservatives would achieve in the next Parliament, if they were given an absolute majority.

There was, for me, a problem.  All that I can see that the Coalition Government achieved - with the support of almost all of the other Parties in Westminster - was the redefinition of marriage (in spite of the overwhelming opposition to it throughout the country); an increase in the numbers of immigrants (illegal, and legal); an increase in the national deficit; and the run-down of the military.   In fact, I cannot think of anything positive that was achieved by the Conservative/Liberal Democrat government in their five years of office.

However, the next five years will be different, Mr Cameron assured listeners.  He made one promise after another - on job creation; on housing; and, of course, on the deficit!  He is not alone.  All of the political parties that made up the last parliament are making their promises - promises that, in my experience, are forgotten no more than thirty seconds after they gain power!

This time, however, there is a genuine "new kid on the block".  I refer to UKIP (the United Kingdom Independence Party).   Obviously, I have no way of ensuring that, given even the balance of power in a 'hung' parliament, they would produce the goods any more than the current parties.  It's just that they have about them what J.B.Phillips might refer to as "the ring of truth"!   I look at Nigel Farage; I listen to his words; and I have that gut-feeling that this is a man who is not out to produce carefully-crafted (by 'spin doctors'!) sound-bites, but who actually means what he says!  That, I would suggest, is refreshingly original in modern British politics!   Disciples of Jesus often ask about which political party best represents Christian values.  I am no expert in the field, but I would say that UKIP is streets ahead of the others at this time.  When Mr Farage, or any of the other UKIP spokesmen/women make a promise, I actually believe them!  As far as the others are concerned, I see only attempts to convince the gullible to continue to support them!

The Bible, too, is full of promises/prophecies.  Indeed, someone has counted more than 3,500 of them!  Many of these have already been kept (fulfilled).  For example, the prophet Isaiah informs us that the Messiah would be conceived and born of a virgin (Is.7:14).  Of course, some non-Christian scholars have challenged this interpretation. They say that the Hebrew word 'almah', which is the word that English-language Bibles often translate as 'virgin', actually means no more than 'young maiden' or 'young woman'. It should be noted, however, that the Old Testament uses the word to refer to young, unmarried women, and that unmarried women were, culturally and religiously, expected to be virgins.  It should also be noted that the Jewish scholars who translated the Hebrew writings into the Greek language (the Septuagint), used the Greek word 'parthenos' - which can only mean 'virgin'!    A later prophet,Micah, also revealed that Messiah would be born in the relatively insignificant town of Bethlehem (Mic.5:1-2).

In this Holy Week, as we anticipate the special remembrance of the crucifixion, and the resurrection, of the Lord Jesus, we may be encouraged by the fact that those events, too, were prophesied.  Read Isaiah 53 - it foretells the suffering of Messiah, and even His death by crucifixion - some 700 years before the event! Jesus, Himself, assured His first disciples that, although He would be killed, He would rise again from the dead (Mk.9:31).   In Acts 1:8, the coming of God the Holy Spirit is promised - a promise that was fulfilled on the first Day of Pentecost of the Christian era.

There are also promises that have yet to be fulfilled.  After Jesus had been taken from the disciples, Dr Luke records that "... while they were gazing into heaven as He went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, Who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven'." (Acts 1:10-11).   As one studies the signs that, we are assured, will precede and accompany that momentous event, we may easily come to the conclusion that His return is imminent.  The promise will be kept, of that we need have no doubt.  Politicians may easily, and thoughtlessly, make and break their promises.  But the Word of God is settled and sure, and He is faithful!

So, however you decide to vote on May 7th (if you are eligible to do so!), be sure that you have cast your personal vote for Jesus - by confessing your sinfulness, and sins; by repenting of those sins; by accepting the salvation that He won for you, at Calvary; and by telling others of His great sacrifice, made for each one of us.  He has promised that, if you do, then He will stand beside you before the Father - the only Advocate you need; the only Advocate there is!  

And He keeps all of His promises!