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No Agenda?

Have you seen the charismatic agenda that the Pentecostal movement has for the Southern Baptist Convention?

"Praise the Lord"

A Christian Response To The Golden Compass

Sometimes we Christians are our own worst enemies.

Have you considered how we respond to various media problems?

When the Gospel of Judas made news in the media, Christians publicly railed against it. Rather than discuss something reasonably, so often our emotions get in the way. railing and fire and vindictiveness are the stuff of our response rather than reasonableness and thoughtfulness.

It brings to mind James 3:

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom’s gentleness.
14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and lie in defiance of the truth.
15 Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
16 For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil.
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

 

I attended a prayer meeting recently, a prayer meeting for revival. Rather than pray for revival, most of the participants prayed against the new movie the Golden Compass.

 

What do we really want? To rid the Movie screens of opposing ideologies? Then maybe we should look at the more pervasive influence of our T.V. screens as well, although I note no one prayed against the movie they had watched on TV the previous evening!

 

I believe there needs to be a change of attitude here.

Read  this small portion of Darrell Block's commentary from Christianity Today.

 

This new media reality has introduced what I call "conversation stoppers" for Christians. Conversation stoppers are those questions that nearly everyone on the street knows to ask when the sensitive subject of Jesus comes up. They might say, "Well, what about all those other Gospels that never made it into the Bible?" Or, "Don't you know that history is written by the winners, and now that we can hear the losers, we need to revise the Bible's story?"

As I've traveled the country during the past few years, tackling such questions, I've gotten the sense that the church is not prepared for the opportunities created by media chatter. Whether it's allegations that The Passion of the Christ is anti-Semitic or that Jesus married and had a daughter in France, many of us struggle to know how to respond.

What Christians often do is get angry or talk about the media's attempt to undercut our faith. Neither reaction accomplishes much. The media are simply reporting on the topics being raised and discussed in the public square. In sum, they're doing their job, albeit often with a specific agenda in mind. How should the church respond?

Pastors: Church leaders need to do a better job of teaching not only what is in the Bible, but what is going on around the Bible. How many churchgoers know the history of the Canon? Works by F. F. Bruce and Bruce Metzger tell that story well. How many churchgoers understand the debate swirling around the "lost" Gospels? Books by Ben Witherington (The Gnostic Code), Craig Evans (Fabricating Jesus), Dan Wallace (Reinventing Jesus), and me (The Missing Gospels) address these issues for a popular audience.

Individuals: Rather than seeing new media reports as conspiracies to rail against, why not see them as opportunities to discuss faith with friends and neighbors who will find them intriguing? Only we mustn't do so with an angry or dismissive tone. Rather, we ought to respectfully explain the historic Christian view. Becoming equipped for such discussions may require seminars organized by local churches. Imagine churches working together to help believers contend for the truth in their communities.

Seminaries: Our theological schools need to restructure the way they teach Bible courses. They need to move from a Sergeant Friday "just the facts" approach on authorship and dating of biblical and extra-biblical books to one that puts these issues in historical context and lays them against the backdrop of competing theories. In a day when many schools are neglecting these types of courses, there is an even greater need for church leaders to know the background of each scriptural book, because masses of people are engaging Christianity at this point. It's not only senior pastors who need this training, but youth leaders, as well. How many high school students are prepared for what they will hear about Christianity and the Bible in college classrooms?

 

There is a need to opportunise these media events for the sake of the gospel. Peter wrote

1 Peter 3:15

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

However, do this with gentleness and respect,

The Golden Compass is not the enemy. Satan is the enemy!

The Gospel is the power of God to salvation to all those who believe! (Romans 1:16)

Let's get about positively proclaiming the gospel, rather than negatively declaiming a film.

The Development Of The Doctrine Of The Lamb - A Small Group Bible Study

Bible Doctrine of the Lamb by Sidlow Baxter

The Bible, although a collection of books and letters written by many different people from many different times, cultures, and languages, is one book united around one grand theme. This can only be attributed to the work of supernatural revelation. Scripture’s divine origin shines forth through the progressively revealed nature of its doctrines. The doctrine of the Lamb exemplifies this as well as any theme of Scripture. Ten primary passages trace its progression throughout the Scripture, each revealing a little more about the Lamb. The first passage is Genesis 4 and the account of Abel. The second is Genesis 22 where Abraham nearly sacrifices Isaac. The third passage is Exodus 12 and the Passover lamb. The sin-offering lamb of Leviticus is next, followed by Isaiah 53 and the suffering Lamb. The New Testament revelation begins with John 1 and the Baptizer’s announcement of the Lamb of God. Acts 8 and Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian further unfolds this revelation of the Lamb. The eighth passage is 1 Peter 1:18-21, and the final two are in Revelation 5 with the Lamb on the throne and Revelation 21-22 where the Lamb reigns eternally. Each of these ten passages teaches a different truth about the doctrine of the Lamb, shedding more and more light on the perfect work of redemption that Christ accomplished. Three of these passages emphasize the central position of the Lamb in all of Scripture: Isaiah 53, Revelation 5, and Revelation 20-21. From humiliation to exaltation to consummation, the Lamb is paramount in all of history. Although Christ arose from the grave in victory, the Christian must never leave the vision of the crucified Lamb. After His resurrection, Christ became the joint-occupant with the Father on His kingly throne. He now rules as sovereign over the Church and the universe. In the eternal state, the Lamb will continue His place of centrality. He is its light, its music, its theme, its source of joy, its object of service, its strength, and its glory.

A Lamb For A Sin Offering

Gen 3:24 So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.

Gen 4:1 Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, "I have gotten a manchild with {the help of} the LORD."

2 Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.3 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground.4 Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; 5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 "If you do well, will not {your countenance} be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it."

Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.

The fat of the animal was prized as its "luxury," and was to be given to God when the animal was sacrificed (Lev 3:16-17; 7:23-25). The burning of fat in sacrifice before God is called a sweet aroma to the Lord (Lev 17:6).

1. What was the purpose of the offering being made?

2. What distinguished the two offerings?

3. How is this incident important for us today?

4. How does the truth behind this incident have a bearing on our assurance of salvation?

5. Does this incident give us insight into how others view salvation?

6. Does this incident and its teachings give us insight into how we may effectively help others to saving faith in Christ?

Genesis 22 A Lamb For A Man…. Isaac and the Substitutionary Atonement

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered. 2 “Take your son,” He said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” 3 So early in the morning Abraham got up, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.” 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac. In his hand he took the fire and the sacrificial knife, and the two of them walked on together. 7 Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, “My father.” And he replied, “Here I am, my son.” Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8 Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Then the two of them walked on together. 9 When they arrived at the place that God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He replied, “Here I am.” 12 Then He said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from Me.” 13 Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 And Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide, so today it is said: “It will be provided on the Lord’s mountain.”

This test was especially hard because it seemed to contradict the previous promise of God. Hadn't God promised in Isaac your seed shall be called (Gen 21:12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not be concerned about the boy and your slave. Whatever Sarah says to you, listen to her, because your • offspring will be traced through Isaac.)?

1. What aspects of Genesis 22 demonstrate Abraham’s faith?

2. What 5 aspects of Genesis 22 reflect types of Christ or salvation?

Both were…

3. Was Jesus referring to this incident in Jn. 8:(56Your father Abraham was overjoyed that he would see My day; he saw it and rejoiced.” 57 The Jews replied, “You aren’t 50 years old yet, and You’ve seen Abraham?”58 Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Before Abraham was, I am.”)?

4. of recent days some argue against the centrality of the Substitutionary atonement in the gospel. What other ways are there to look at it? Is it central to the gospel?

Exodus 12 Expiation The Lamb Slain For A Family

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,
2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: 4 If the household is too small for a whole animal, that person and the neighbor nearest his house are to select one based on the combined number of people; you should apportion the animal according to what each person will eat. 5 You must have an unblemished animal, a year-old male; you may take it from either the sheep or the goats. 6 You are to keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembly of the community of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight. 7 They must take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat them. 8 They are to eat the meat that night; they should eat it, roasted over the fire along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

11 Here is how you must eat it: dressed for travel, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. You are to eat it in a hurry; it is the Lord’s Passover. 12 “I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night and strike every firstborn [male]in the land of Egypt, both man and beast. I am the Lord; I will execute judgments against all the gods of Egypt. 13 The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a distinguishing mark for you; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will be among you to destroy [you]when I strike the land of Egypt. 14 “This day is to be a memorial for you, and you must celebrate it as a festival to the Lord. You are to celebrate it throughout your generations as a permanent statute.

21 Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go, select an animal from the flock according to your families, and slaughter the Passover lamb. 22 Take a cluster of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and brush the lintel and the two doorposts with some of the blood in the basin. None of you may go out the door of his house until morning. 23 When the Lord passes through to strike Egypt and sees the blood on the lintel and the two doorposts, He will pass over the door and not let the destroyer enter your houses to strike [you]. 24 “Keep this command permanently as a statute for you and your descendants. 25 When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as He promised, you are to observe this ritual. 26 When your children ask you, ‘What does this ritual mean to you?’ 27 you are to reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, for He passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and spared our homes.’ ” So the people bowed down and worshiped. 28 Then the Israelites went and did [this]; they did just as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron.

1. In what ways do you think the redemption of Israel pictures the cross for us today?

For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 1 Corinthians 5:7b

2. How significant was the Passover to the Jews?

3. How significant should it be to us today?

4. What is the significance for the family here?

5. What did the manner of eating signify?

Sometimes it may be necessary to present the gospel using the Old Testament.

F is for FORGIVENESS
We cannot have eternal life and heaven without God’s forgiveness. “If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared” – Psalm 130:3-4, NASB.

A is for AVAILABLE
Forgiveness is available. It is—
AVAILABLE FOR ALL “ ‘To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him’ ”—Daniel 9:9, NASB.
BUT NOT AUTOMATIC “ ‘Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt’ ”—Daniel 12:2, NASB.

I is for IMPOSSIBLE
It is impossible for God to allow sin into heaven.
GOD IS—

LOVE “ ‘The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives inquiry, transgression and sin’ ”—Exodus 34:6-7, NASB.

JUST “ ‘He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished’ ”—Exodus 34:7, NASB.

MAN IS SINFUL “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear”—Isaiah 59:2, NASB.

Question: But how can a sinful person enter heaven, where God allows no sin?

T is for TURN
Question: If you were driving down the road and someone asked you to turn, what would he or she be asking you to do? (change directions)
Turn means repent.
TURN from something—sin and self
“ ‘Say to them, “As I live!” declares the Lord God, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?” ’ ”—Ezekiel 33:11, NASB.
TURN to Someone; trust God’s Messiah only
(Scripture tells us that Messiah) “was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him”—Isaiah 53:5-6, NASB.

H is for HEAVEN
Heaven is eternal life.
HERE “You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy”—Psalm 16:11, NASB.
HEREAFTER “In Your right hand there are pleasures forever”—Psalm 16:11, NASB.
“God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me”—Psalm 49:15, NASB.
HOW How can a person have God’s forgiveness, heaven and eternal life, and His Messiah as personal Saviour and Lord?
“He [Abraham] believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness”—Genesis 15:6, NASB.
“ ‘The righteous will live by faith’ ”—Habakkuk 2:4, NASB.
“ ‘It will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be delivered’ ”—Joel 2:32, NASB.

Leviticus A Lamb For A Nation

1. The daily Offering Leviticus 1

Why is Christ called so often "the Lamb of God," and not "the ox, or the ram, of God"? The reply is, because these were not offered “every day," whereas the lamb was a daily offering, and therefore fitted to proclaim Christ's blood as always ready for use.

How does the idea of the daily offering affect us? Hebrews 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,

2. The Peace Offering Bringing us Peace: the thank, votive and freewill offering, …"upon the offerings," i.e. over the very, remnants of the daily sacrifice. It is exactly like chap. iii. 5. We are there taught that particular sins must be cast upon the one great Atonement; and the cases that occur in this chapter of special guilt are just specific applications of the great truth taught in the daily sacrifice. Israel was taught that their different offerings were all of one nature in the main with the general burnt offering;--one Saviour only was prefigured, and one atonement. The peace offerings speak of the state of grace of the believer in fellowship with God, and they took place mainly in connection with feasts commemorating God. This is very much like assurances of peace we experience in communion

How does the peace made at the cross affect us? Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

3. The Sin Offering was a Lamb, And dealt with Purifying Leviticus 4

The sin offering carries with it in Hebrew the meaning “to purify.”  The effect of the sin offering was forgiveness of the sin and cleansing from the pollution of sin (Lev. 4:20,26,31,35; 5:10; 12:8; 14:20; 16:19). Its presentation assumed that the offeror was conscious of sin; and the laying on of the hands was understood to mean that the sin was to be transferred to the animal (Lev. 4:4,14).

Matthew 1:21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”

How does the cross purify us? Titus 2:14  He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a special people, eager to do good works.

4. The Trespass Offering..a ram but also a lamb for Nazirites and lepers

The trespass offering was also a propitiatory offering, but it was made for a special offense, while the sin offering was made for the person of the offender. "In fact, the trespass offering may be regarded as representing ransom for a special wrong, while the sin offering symbolized general redemption" This ritual shows Christ's atoning for the damage caused by sin and has in view the injury of the sin as opposed to the guilt of the sin. This aspect of the trespass offering is seen in Psalm 51:4, "Against thee and thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight; that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest and be clear when thou judgest."

How does 1 John 1:5-2:2 fit with these sacrifices?

Isaiah 53 The Lamb Is A Person Whose Sacrifice Is For His People

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

1. What was the physical appearance of God's servant?

2. With what animal and in what circumstance was God's servant compared?

3. The verb “has laid” on him 6 is an allusion to Leviticus 16. Describe the situation. Many have seen this passage not only as a prophecy of the suffering of Jesus, but the national confession of sin by Israel on the Day of Atonement—to be fulfilled at the end of the age when all Israel will be saved.

4. “Opened not His mouth” means:

5. How was verses 9 and 10 fulfilled?

6. The “offering for sin” is the reparation offering of Leviticus 5; it takes care of the sin and guilt and also makes reparation or restitution for what was wronged, lost, defrauded, or spoiled by sin. The teaching of justification through the personal knowledge of and belief in this Servant is now stated clearly in verse 11. What does this mean?

7. How does this verse and the repetition of “many” agree with the Upper Room description of communion?

“Five bleeding wounds he bears, for me to intercede; they pour effectual prayers, they strongly pleads for me; forgive him, O, forgive they cry, nor let that ransomed sinner die, nor let that ransomed sinner die.”

John 1 That Lamb Is Jesus Who Removes Sins Of The whole world

John 1: 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
30 This is the One I told you about: ‘After me comes a man who has surpassed me, because He existed before me.’ 31  I didn’t know Him, but I came baptizing with water so He might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John testified, “I watched the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He rested on Him. 33 I didn’t know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The One you see the Spirit descending and resting on—He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and testified that He is the Son of God!” 35 Again the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look! The Lamb of God!”

1. Why was Jesus the Perfect fulfilment of the Lamb image from scripture?

John was familiar with Isaiah "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth." Is. 53:7.

The terms John understood were the sacrificial lamb, and the paschal lamb.

2. How do we yield our lives to God's plan?

3. What does it mean to take away sin?

4. What does the term “world” mean?

"He is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world,”

The world here could represent non-jewish Christians as well as Jewish Christians.

The world could indicate representative people from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation as the world!

The world could represent the depths of sin and the reach of grace. : John 3:16 as in “God so loved the world (people in the depths of sin and following the way of the world), that He gave His only Son.”

The world could mean every single person.

5. Why did John say he “takes away the sin of the world?”

Substitution has a limiting effect. For Christ to die for sins means that He was the actual substitute for men. Substitution means that someone actually fills the place of another.

Limited Atonement, or Particular Redemption, is the most controversial doctrine. Christ died for many (Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 20:28, 26:28), the church (Ephesians 5:25), the sheep (John 10:15), and those who will live for righteousness (1 Peter 2:24). If Christ atoned for the sins of everyone, then everyone goes to heaven. For that is the meaning of “atonement.”

Christ came to save. He came to die for the sins of His people whom He foreknew. There was no uncertainty about Christ’s work on the cross. Christ Himself knew that He was dying for those whom the Father had given Him before the foundation of the world and that He would lose none of them (John 6:37-39).

Atonement could be limited, whilst elements or descriptions of salvation could be wider.

1 Tim 4: 10 In fact, we labor and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, especially of those who believe.

Acts 8 The Lamb, the Son of God, Invites You To Individual Salvation

26 An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip: “Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to desert Gaza.” 27 So he got up and went. There was an Ethiopian man, a eunuch and high official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to worship in Jerusalem 28 and was sitting in his chariot on his way home, reading the prophet Isaiah aloud. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go and join that chariot.” 30 When Philip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you’re reading?” 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the Scripture passage he was reading was this: He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb is silent before its shearer, so He does not open His mouth. 33 In His humiliation justice was denied Him. Who will describe His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.
34 The eunuch replied to Philip, “I ask you, who is the prophet saying this about—himself or another person?” 35 So Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning from that Scripture. 36 As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s water! What would keep me from being baptized?” 37 And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer. But he went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip appeared in Azotus, and passing through, he was evangelizing all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

There are several factors to Philip’s Effective Witness:

1. Sensitivity (26): Chuck Swindoll said “People everywhere are waiting on their own desert roads for us to show them Christ.”

How do we know where and when to meet people who are ready?

2. Availability (27,28) How real an issue is this?

3. Initiative (29),30) How may we word things to take the initiative?

4. Tactfulness (31-34) What are some of the tactful questions we could ask people that will lead into the gospel?

5. Precision (35) In personal evangelism there is always the tension between the object upon which faith must reside and the subjective experience of faith.

What is central to Philip’s evangelism? What other ideas could wrongly replace this?

6. Decisiveness (36-38). Putting people on the spot kindly and lovingly is very important. Sometimes we are embarrassed by some who have done this, other times it is done graciously. Describe a gracious witness.

1 Peter 1:18, Revelation 5 Before the foundation of the world.

For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things, like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. 20 He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the times for you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Rev 5

Then I saw in the right hand of the One seated on the throne a scroll with writing on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it. 4 And I cried and cried because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or even to look in it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop crying. Look! The Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has been victorious so that He may open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth. 7 He came and took [the scroll] out of the right hand of the One seated on the throne.

8 When He took the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals; because You were slaughtered, and You redeemed [people] for God by Your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation.10 You made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth. 11 Then I looked, and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures, and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands. 12 They said with a loud voice: The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing! 13 I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say: Blessing and honor and glory and dominion to the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever! 14 The four living creatures said, “• Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

How does 20 “He was destined before the foundation of the world” affect our understanding of the Trinity in the decree of redemption?

If the Trinity were happy in the fellowship of Themselves throughout eternity past, this meant that there was necessity in God to create man.

If the Lord Jesus (the second person of the Trinity decided to be the redeemer of mankind before the creation of the world, then even the Fall was part of God’s Sovereign will.

What does the scroll or book represent in Rev 5?

If this is the title deed of the world how does this affect our understanding of the Perfect Man reversing the effect of the fall?

How does this understanding of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ fit with the doctrine of the eternal decree implied in 1 Peter 1?

How does this make you feel?

Rev 19-22 The Lamb’s Eternal Kingship Reveals His Glory In His Bride

Rev 19:4 Then the 24 elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who is seated on the throne, saying: Amen! Hallelujah! 
5 A voice came from the throne, saying: Praise our God, all you His servants, you who fear Him, both small and great! 6 Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying: Hallelujah—because our Lord God, the Almighty, has begun to reign! 7 Let us be glad, rejoice, and give Him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has prepared herself. 8 She was permitted to wear fine linen, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.”

Rev 21: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea existed no longer. 2 I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.[4

9 Then one of the seven angels, who had held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues, came and spoke with me: “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 He then carried me away in the Spirit  to a great and high mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 arrayed with God’s glory. Her radiance was like a very precious stone, like a jasper stone, bright as crystal.

Compare this passage with Isa 54:4 -12

Compare Rev 21:22 (I did not see a sanctuary in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its sanctuary. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God’s glory illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb. ) with Isa 60:18 -20

Rev 22:1  Then he showed me the river of living water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the broad street of the city. On both sides of the river was the tree of life bearing 12 kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations, 3 and there will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him. 4 They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 5 Night will no longer exist, and people will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.

What do each of the thoughts here expressed signify?

Why is the term Lamb used for the second person of the Trinity here?

Postmodernism and the Emergent Church

this is a very interesting message concerning issues that greatly affect Baptists in NSW.

(A message delivered by Dr Jeffrey Khoo on Nov 29, 07 at the 2^nd Gethsemane Missionary Conference,
in Cebu, the Philippines)

Poison

The Bible tells us, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matt 24:14). The signs of the times tell us that we are living in the last days, and that Jesus Christ is coming back very soon. Satan knows his time is about up, and so he spares no effort to destroy the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ. The gospel today is attacked like never before. As believers, we should not be surprised at this. The Lord had already warned us, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, … Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: … Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth; … these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. … But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Tim 3:1-13). The more Satan attacks the gospel, the more we must defend it. One way of defending the gospel is to expose error. One such error that must be exposed today is postmodernism.

Postmodernism

Postmodernism is a philosophy or worldview that is difficult to define. Postmodernism grew out of modernism or rationalism (human intelligence and science is God).  But modernism did not work; it did not make the world a morally better place. The modern world is certainly a more sophisticated world—a space-age world but plagued with the same natural disasters and human cruelty. Some have described postmodernism as an attitude—an attitude of pessimism. Self-confidence has been replaced by self-doubt. Such pessimism can be a good point of contact for Christians to reach out to the postmodern man. The Scriptures speak of man’s total depravity and hopelessness, and the only way for man to rise up to the spiritual standard God has set for him is to believe in the Divine Intelligence/Reason which is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself (John 1:1) who died for our sins, and rose from the dead according to the Scriptures (1 Cor 15:1-4).

Without Christ and His Word, the postmodernist will become a relativist. Where is Truth? What is Truth? Jesus Christ tells us His Word is Truth (John 17:17). But the postmodernist in his pessimism will conclude that truth is relative and subjective. There is no such thing as absolute or objective Truth. Truth can be anything and anywhere. Whatever claims to be true or truth is met with scepticism. Pragmatism takes over. Whatever works must be right and good. The end justifies the means even though the means to getting there is morally wrong. 

The Emergent Church

Postmodernism has crept into Christianity through the Emergent Church. The methodology of the Emergent Church feeds on the philosophy of Postmodernism. They feed on each other. The Emergent Church methodology is perhaps best expressed in Brian McLaren’s book called A Generous Orthodoxy: Why I Am a Missional, Evangelical, Post/Protestant, Liberal/Conservative, Mystical/Poetic, Biblical, Charismatic/Contemplative, Fundamentalist/ Calvinist, Anabaptist/Anglican, Methodist, Catholic, Green, Incarnational, Depressed-yet-Hopeful, Emergent, Unfinished CHRISTIAN. Clearly, McLaren’s “Generous Orthodoxy” is a mixed-up and messed up orthodoxy which is no orthodoxy at all. It sidelines God and His Truth, and uplifts the man and his feelings. It is “the more we get together, the merrier we’ll be” kind of a thinking and practice.

Jason Carlson, Vice President of Christian Ministries International, in his testimony—“My Journey In and Out of the Emergent Church”—reveals that the Emergent Church is (1) ambiguous in doctrinal definitions, (2) inclusive and ecumenical, (3) tolerant of sin and error, (4) open to pagan forms of religious worship, (5) critical of biblical or conservative fundamentalism, and (6) low on evangelism but high on social action or interaction. Postmodernism is thus a part of the New Age, ecumenical, pluralistic worldview of contemporary society which has infiltrated the Church and cause her to lose her biblical and Christlike identity and remake her into something that will fit the One-World system of the Antichrist.

Biblical Theological Seminary (Hatfield, PA) is now an emergent seminary seeking to produce emergent pastors who will plant Emergent churches. In 2003, Biblical Seminary decided to embark on a new course to become an emergent seminary for the emergent church with a new statement of vision, “To be the ongoing choice for training missional leaders for the emerging church of the 21^st century and to be a catalyst for engaging evangelical Christians in dialog with postmodern culture” (A New Reality, p5).

The buzzword of Biblical Seminary and the Emergent Church is “missional.” There is nothing wrong with the word “missional.” In fact it is a good word for the Church for the Church is commissioned by the Lord Jesus Christ to evangelise the lost, to baptise those who believe, and to indoctrinate them with the whole counsel of God (Matt 28:18-20). But it is not enough today to know what an institution says; there is a crucial need to know what it means by what it says. More often than not, an institution is particularly vague and ambiguous on what it really is and what it truly believes. But there are tell-tale signs if one were to read their writings carefully and discerningly. As I see it, the whole Emergent Church philosophy and methodology is all about “accommodation” or “compromise.” It is precisely what Emergent Church guru, Brian McLaren, himself describes it—a “generous orthodoxy.” In other words, “If you can’t beat them, join them.” “Be user-friendly.” “Be seeker-sensitive.” “Be broad and accepting.” “Don’t criticise but syncretise.” “Don’t separate but cooperate.” “Love unites, doctrine divides.” In other words, the Church needs an extreme makeover. The ugly, narrow, out-of-date biblical fundamentalism must be replaced by the new, hip and in-fashion postmodern worldliness.

Ecumenism

The up and coming Emergent Church is actually the old Ecumenical Movement and the Neo-evangelical spirit but in a different guise or name. The Emergent Church, Neo-evangelicalism and Ecumenism despise these two things: (1) The Perfect Word of God, its present infallibility and inerrancy, and hence the sole, supreme, and final authority on all faith and life, and (2) the biblical doctrine and practice of separation which rejects the world and its ungodliness, and exposes all forms of apostasy and compromise in the church today. To the emergent churchman, the biblical doctrine of separation is a “sour doctrine.” The mission of the church according to the Emergent Church is thus not the original mission of Christ which is to get sinners to be reconciled to the thrice holy God through the Gospel, but to help people to get along with each other and enjoy one another’s company in the context of a “generous orthodoxy”—truth is subjective, uncertain, broad, and varied.

Many local churches are wittingly or unwittingly pursuing the emergent way with “let’s get warm and cosy” programmes. The church is transformed into a club with “members-only” privileges. Sermons rebuking sin and error are deemed “unedifying.” An edifying sermon is one that makes the church feel nice and comfy. Without a Perfect Bible, “I feel good!” is the new standard of ascertaining truth from error, right from wrong. Emergent churches seek pastors of the “please-all, nice guy” type or the effeminate “soft and mushy” type that fit the postmodern congregation. The Emergent church has no place for the “fire and brimstone” ministry of the prophets as found in the Scriptures. The Apostle Paul had already warned, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears” (2 Tim 4:3).

Antidote

In light of this new danger, what must we do? We must go back to the basics—return to the fundamentals of the Christian Faith! The Apostle Paul commands, “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine (ie, the fundamentals of the Christian Faith); continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Tim 4:16). That is why the Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC) spares no effort to teach “the doctrine” not only to its students training for full-time ministry, but also the lay people taking its “Basic Theology for Everyone” (BTFE) night classes. The more than 200 believers from different churches who attend the FEBC night classes, many of whom are working towards their Certificate of Religious Knowledge or Certificate of Biblical Studies, have no doubt benefited spiritually from knowing deeply and surely God and His Word. Good and sound theology is the only antidote against postmodernism, and every Christian must be a theologian if he wants to keep himself faithful and true to the Lord Jesus Christ. But Satan wants Christians to be weak in doctrine and worthless in service. Pray for FEBC’s BTFE night classes which are making inroads into Satan’s world by strengthening the faith of the saints through an intensive, systematic study of God’s Perfect Word without any mistake, impacting many lives to the glory of God. One lay student who studied Calvin’s Institutes last semester testified, “The antidote against erroneous beliefs and practices that are prevalent these days is a proper teaching and understanding of the Word of God. This is so rare in churches and Bible seminaries today. May God help us to be faithful to His Word.” Do sign up for the BTFE night classes next semester—the Book of Job on Monday by Dr Das Koshy, and Biblical Hermeneutics on Thursday by Dr Quek Suan Yew.

Christians must also strive to walk in the strait and narrow way and practise separation if they want to combat postmodernism. Hear the words of our Lord, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matt 7:13-14). “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? … Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor 6:14-18).

Legacy: Associational Principle at Work Amidst Diversity

Some thoughts from William Brackney, an American Baptist scholar who is presently on the faculty of Acadia Divinity College in Nova Scotia, Canada. Dr. Brackney is the former coordinator of the Ph.D. program in Baptist Studies at Baylor University and a former director of the American Baptist Historical Society.

One might well enquire what the factors were that worked toward Baptist unity in the midst of such great diversification. The answer is the associational principle. Here we find the organizational tendency among all religious groups to combine for mutual benefit and seek common ground where consensus of principles can be established.

First, when gathered for prayer and consultation, the congregations were looked upon as one church, because of the unity of faith and conformity of practice that obtained among the churches of Christ. . . . Here was a clear doctrine of the church inclusive of several congregations. Such congregations of course had previously agreed upon a common confession of faith.

Second, churches voluntarily consenting to mutual communion were capable of determining the mind of the Holy Spirit and declaring the proper sense of Scripture concerning things in dispute among them.

Third, for practical reasons it seemed appropriate to eighteenth-century Baptist in North America that defections in doctrine and order were best handled in the consensual association of churches that still carefully guarded the independence of each congregation

Each major definition of the association in early Baptist history stressed the importance of the independence of each congregation. This could easily lead to isolationism and obscurantism. What therefore must be held in tension for Baptists is their equal desire to associate, to consult, cooperate, be mutually taught and informed, and to be disciplined by each other. The key to the associational principle is voluntarism, whereby like members of a congregation, and member congregations of an association, voluntarily consent to associate with each other. For this reason, no associational body is a superior adjudicatory over the congregation, but the congregations together form a pact of mutuality. When the factors producing the mutuality are most evident, such as theological consensus, mission needs, persecution, or personnel identification, the association is strongest. Likewise, when any of these factors is diminished or erodes, the mutuality is lost and the association loses strength.

 

Please give your tho0ughts about associationalism within the context of the Baptist Union of New South Wales.

A Great Short Video by Chuck Swindoll

Chuck Swindoll has a daily encouragement blog for pastors.

One of the encouragements is a great video that you can watch by just clicking here