Angry Atheists

Angry Atheists' Antics

Non-believers have been losing ground in the USA courts in their blatant attempts to separate Christian faith from the public arena. So they have decided to publicly display their own faith messages. Because they have no evidence for not believing in God, it is understandable that their message is lacking in integrity. Believers have evidence to back our faith in God. Atheists have only their circular logic and their feelings to back their arguments of disbelief. Atheists hate believers, as evidenced by their actions, because if God exists, they are in a heap of trouble. And in fact, they are hopeless of anything of lasting good coming of their lives. For them, death is the end of their existence. Or, as an atheist friend of mine once said, "Our lives are just dust in the wind."

So the atheists feel compelled to blaspheme the message of the gospel. They cannot successfully deny the death and burial of Jesus. The history of what happened is compelling, and established in secular history, and in the writing of eye witnesses.  His resurrection is also well established in history, and written in the blood of those who died because of their faith in the resurrection of Jesus. 

We should welcome the atheists to the platform of open examination of what each of us believes. Truth has no fear of examination. It is time we forced comparison of the doctrine of time and chance as the origin of life, pushed by the atheists into our public school curriculum, to the faith in creation by the God Who Is, the One who always existed. He is the source of all things, and the only rational explanation for the existence of the universe. 

The time has come for us to remove the lock that has been imposed by atheists upon the science of the existence of the Universe. We have stood by while they have endlessly changed their opinions about how things are, and watched as they proclaim from time to time what new thing they have discovered about the universe.

The more they discover, the more their ideas sound like the first chapter of Genesis. Now they have the universe starting with a unity, whatever they think that is.  The unity that the universe started with is the Great I Am.  

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

2 Now the earth was without shape and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the watery deep, but the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the water. 3 God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light! 4 God saw that the light was good, so God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” There was evening, and there was morning, marking the first day.

6 God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters and let it separate water from water.” 7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. It was so. 8 God called the expanse “sky.” There was evening, and there was morning, a second day.
9 God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place and let dry ground appear.” It was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” God saw that it was good.

God's existence is proven by the existence and nature of the universe. The heavens declare His glory. 

The Heavens Declare His Glory

God's existence is proven by history. I challenge any atheist to explain the history of Abraham and the people who are connected with him  throughout history. The only logical explanation of Abraham is that he was called for a special purpose, to bring the One denied by the atheist, Jesus, into the world.  Jesus is the ultimate focus of the Abraham story, and the rock upon which the unbeliever has stumbled. 

Yes, Islam is part of the historical story involving Abraham. I am intrigued that atheists like Muslims better than Christians. Yes, their actions prove their affinity for anything that is not Christian.  But Islam demands submission to the Laws of the God of Abraham. Islamic militants hate what the unbelievers represent and teach. Given the opportunity, Islamic militants would cut off the heads of all the unbelievers who refuse to repent and believe, or at least force them to pay taxes for the right to live.  It is time for unbelievers to realize the terrible price they will pay where Islam returns to state power, and Islamic empire is re-established.

So how does the atheist explain this scripture?

Genesis 16:3 So after Abram had lived in Canaan for ten years, Sarai, Abram’s wife, gave Hagar, her Egyptian servant, to her husband to be his wife. 4 He had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. Once Hagar realized she was pregnant, she despised Sarai. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “You have brought this wrong on me! I allowed my servant to have sexual relations with you, but when she realized that she was pregnant, she despised me. May the Lord judge between you and me!”

6 Abram said to Sarai, “Since your servant is under your authority, do to her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai treated Hagar harshly, so she ran away from Sarai.

7 The Lord’s angel found Hagar near a spring of water in the desert—the spring that is along the road to Shur. 8 He said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She replied, “I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai.”

9 Then the Lord’s angel said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority. 10 I will greatly multiply your descendants,” the Lord’s angel added, “so that they will be too numerous to count.” 11 Then the Lord’s angel said to her,


“You are now pregnant
and are about to give birth to a son.
You are to name him Ishmael,
for the Lord has heard your painful groans.
12 He will be a wild donkey of a man.
He will be hostile to everyone,
and everyone will be hostile to him.
He will live away from his brothers.”

13 So Hagar named the Lord who spoke to her, “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “Here I have seen one who sees me!”14 That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi. (It is located between Kadesh and Bered.) 

It should be of interest that God promised to Abraham that Ishmael would be the father of twelve nations, and the Arab story becomes a profound part of the historical evidence of the God of Abraham. 

Yes, unbeliever, explain Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. Are they the result of evolution?  If they evolved, you should support their existence. If they have some other cause, you should examine the evidence of the Cause of all things.

Welcome, dear atheist, to the platform of fair examination of reality. Stop hiding behind your faith in the impossible.  Your faith is indefensible. Time and chance did not cause the universe. Such a faith is not rational.

Faith of Our Fathers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaPntncSK6s

 

Death in the Roman Coliseum

Frederick W. Faber wrote a song about the faith of the early Christians who were martyred by the Roman Emperors.  The words of his song call us to consider the faith of the first century Christians who laid down their lives for Christ. Consider the words of the song published in 1849 titled “Faith of our Fathers.”

“Faith of our fathers! Living still In spite of dungeon, fire, and sword. O how our hearts beat high with joy When-e’er we hear that glorious word! Our fathers chained in prisons dark, were still in heart and conscience free; How sweet would be their children’s fate If they, like them, could die for Thee. Faith of our fathers! We will love both friend and foe in all our strife, And preach Thee too, as love knows how, By kindly words and virtuous life: Faith of our fathers, holy faith! We will be true to Thee till death.”

Sadly, the faith of early Christians was soon upset over various issues of human philosophy, church tradition and proclamations of church councils. Christians in the West became dominated by the bishop of Rome, and Christians in the East became dominated by the bishops of Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria, and other large churches of the East. Conflict between East and West opened the doors for Islamic expansion from the seventh century until the thirteenth century. Then the inquisition brought the horrors of persecution by the apostate Holy Roman Empire upon Jews and upon Christians of conscience who refused to submit to the traditions of Rome. The control of religion by the state enabled the persecutions.  State sanctioned Protestant churches practiced similar atrocities upon those who refused to submit to their decrees.

State Persecution of Dissidents

Christians today who live in nations where religion is controlled by the state may be subject to persecution if they violate the religious decrees of the state connected religion. When we resist the powers of false religion and come under persecution, it is a blessing. No power can suppress true faith in Jesus Christ. Even if we die, we will be blessed abundantly.         

Missionary to Ecuador Jim Elliot wrote the words which seem prophetic of his death at the hands of tribal people he was trying to reach with a message about Jesus. He wrote “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

We cannot keep our physical lives, so we are blessed to give up our selfishness to gain eternal life in Jesus. There is a blessing in sacrifice for a just cause. The greatest cause to which anyone can dedicate his or her life is the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ. Whatever we give of the temporary means and circumstances of this life can not compare with the blessings promised to those who love and follow Jesus. As Paul wrote, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.” (Rom 8:16-19, NKJV)

Faith of our fathers, holy faith! How sweet would be our fate if we, like them, could die for Thee! Jesus calls us to die to self and live for Him. Preach Jesus by kind words and virtuous life.

 

Acts 2:40 With many other words he testified and exhorted them saying, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!” 41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added.

The Fellowship of the Early Believers

42 They were devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Reverential awe came over everyone, and many wonders and miraculous signs came about by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and held everything in common, 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and distributing the proceeds to everyone, as anyone had need. 46 Every day they continued to gather together by common consent in the temple courts, breaking bread from house to house, sharing their food with glad and humble hearts, 47 praising God and having the good will of all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number every day those who were being saved.

What About Love?

A Mother's Love

My mother's love still brightens my heart. She loved me enough to switch my bare legs with a keen willow branch when I rebelled against her. She held me close and nurtured me when I was hurting. Her love lives on in my inner being.

I know that Jesus loved His mother. It is beyond my comprehension how He was able to look down at her from the cross, and to carry on with His plan to die a terrible death with her watching from the foot of the cross. He could have called ten thousand angels to destroy His enemies, and to deliver Himself from death. But, for the joy set before Him of bringing many sons to God, He despised the shame of the cross, and endured the agony in His mother's eyes. Jesus suffering so that others may live is the definition of sacrificial love, agape.

The English word love is used to translate Biblical words that mean erotic love, friendship love, and sacrificial love. It seems that some folks only think of erotic love when they see the word love. In their minds, love is associated with warm and fuzzy feelings, or a stirring in the loins. Some people who promote homosexual rights sometimes say that David and Jesus were homosexuals because it is said that David loved Jonathan, and Jesus loved John. This way of thinking is stupid.

The context within which a word is used determines the intended meaning, and sacrificial love should never be confused with erotic or sexual love.

After His resurrection, Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter loved Him. Peter responded with a different word that meant friendship. 

http://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-john-21-15-19.htm

John 21:15-17

Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love (phileo) You." [How could Peter say, unequivocally, I love (agape) you, after he had so miserably failed him?] He said to him, "Tend My lambs." (16) He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love (phileo) You." He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep." (17) He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love (phileo) Me?" [notice that the Lord changed the word from agape to phileo] Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love (phileo) Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love (phileo) You." Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep. [Peter was “grieved” not because Jesus asked him a third time, but because Jesus lowered the standard.] We can only imagine the heartbreak Peter was feeling. Before fear and isolation enveloped Peter during the crucifixion he would have boldly said, “Lord, how could you ask such a thing? Of course I love (agape) you!” But his actions showed how miserably he failed to agape the Lord. He had previously even denied friendship (phileo) with the Lord!  

Sacrificial love is the greatest gift of the Holy Spirit. I Cor 13 gives a listing of what agape love does, and it concludes that love is greater than faith and hope, because after faith and hope are realized, love endures. Love is eternal. Thus we are told that God is Love, and that His mercy endures forever.

But God's love demands justice and righteousness, and gives us the power to live righteous lives, when we love and trust in God. It was Jesus dying on the cross, while watching the despair in Mary's eyes, that fulfilled the justice and righteousness of God. The wages of sin is death. The sinner dies, he runs from God's presence, he hides in the bushes, and attempts to fashion clothing from leaves to cover his shame.  But God prepared suitable clothing, the righteousness of Jesus, that is available to all who believe in Jesus. 

But that loving embrace, like a mother's love, is only available to those who are willing, who come to Jesus and reside in Him. Destruction lurks for all who leave the protective love of God, who flee to the world for satisfaction, who reject the love of God. Stripes on bare legs with a willow switch is nothing compared to what the world gives to those who trust in themselves, and who reject the love of God.  

For those who accept and abide in the love of God, we must love one another. Love encourages fidelity, and fidelity demands obedience to the righteous principles of God, taught by His word. Love demands that we walk in the light of His love. Walk means we have some responsibility for doing good, for sharing the good news.  

Jesus, John, and Mary

John 15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 

John 19:23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.”This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,

“They divided my garments among them,

   and for my clothing they cast lots.”

So the soldiers did these things, 25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

John, the apostle who sat next to Jesus at the Lord’s Supper, said this about God’s love: John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

For God So Loved the World

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Yes, walking in the light does not mean being enslaved to the lust of the flesh and doing as we please in rebellion against the clear teaching of God's word. Claiming love as permission for behavior that deviates from the revelation of righteousness in Jesus is not walking in the light. Our genetic composition is not license for living against the will of God. We must learn to control our natural tendencies to anger, avarice, lust, hatred, covetousness, and self destruction. We are called to walk in the light, and not in the natural order of time and chance. There is a way that seems right to mankind, but the end of that path is destruction. Love calls us to deny self, and to work for the good of all.

Yes, the world is enticing; looks good, feels good, lets one be their own guide (god?).  But the end is death and destruction.  We must flee from the idea of using the world's definition of "love" to encourage toleration for sin. Yes, we love all people, and Jesus came to call sinners to salvation. But when we come to Jesus and experience His love, we are called to love righteousness and holiness, and to join the battle against evil. 

Isaiah 5:20-- 
Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter!

The politically correct advocates of evolutionary living want to teach our children that actions forbidden by the teaching of the Bible are ok. The time has come for those who love Jesus to say "enough!"

Love is not permissive, but restrictive. Love involves using a willow branch to switch bear legs, to teach avoidance of my rebellion against righteousness. Love involved destroying the world with water, to wipe out sin and preserve righteousness. Love promises to destroy the worldly order of time and chance with fire. There is a battle between what the world considers love (permissiveness), and what has been eternally established as love (sacrifice for the good of all). 

Which side are you on?

Wilderness Temptation Scene from "The Bible"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2561677/The-devil-cut-The-Bible-spin-film-looks-like-President-Obama.html

The Vine and the Branches

I Am the True Vine

John 15

English Standard Version (ESV)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqq-zyD2qMc

Jesus is the true vine. He is the source of life for God's people. Only those connected with him have life and produce fruit. And branches lose their connection if they do not bear fruit.  The fruit of being connected to Jesus is all spiritual blessings, revealed in a life that brings glory to God. 

Pruning is part of the process. God takes away the things that hinder. He removes the diseased sprigs. He cuts off the branches that do not produce fruit.

But the branch has responsibility to develop the connection to the vine, by growing and maturing the fruit of righteousness, keeping the commandments of God because of love for Him. 

Whoever abides in Jesus, and has the power of God within himself, will bear much fruit. It is the connection to the vine, and the life provided by the root of the vine, that produces fruit. The branch can do nothing by itself. 

Jn 15:15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine dresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Members of One Body

Branches of the True Vine are also called members of one body. When we understand how we become members of one body, we can understand how we become branches on the True Vine. We are reconciled to God in one body through the Cross. The blood of Jesus takes away our sins, and allows us to become connected to Christ in His body. 

This process of becoming connected to Jesus is an exercise of faith that Paul called obeying the gospel.  Rom 10: 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

So the gospel is the key to becoming connected in Jesus. The gospel is preached to all, and those who believe in Jesus to the point of being willing to put their trust in Him (by repentance and baptism) are connected to the vine, becoming members of one body.  When about 3000 were baptized on the day of Pentecost, God added them to the number of His people. 

Acts 2:36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
The Fellowship of the Believers

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe[e] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

So that is how we get attached to the vine, how we become members of one body. We are added by God when we hear and believe the gospel enough to put our trust in Jesus by repenting and being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.  We become part of the household of God. 

Eph 2:17,  And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Yes, Paul says that by one Spirit we are baptized into one body. Jesus said that we must be born of the water and the Spirit in order to enter the Kingdom of God.  So we understand that we become branches of the vine by the new birth of water and the Spirit.

One Body with Many Members

Rom 12:12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Once we are connected to the true vine, we must let the love of God and His Holy Spirit work in us to produce the fruit of the Spirit, to bring glory to Jesus. Else we will be cut off and burned.   

 Branches Bearing No Fruit

What About the Law?

Psalms 119 praises God’s commandments. Verse 105-“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Apostle Paul said, Rom 7:12 “So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.”

The Law given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai was good and holy. There is nothing wrong with God’s Law, which reveals righteousness. But a righteous Law brings condemnation upon those who break the Law. Violation of righteous principles is sin, and sin produces death. The wages of sin is death. 

The foundation of respect for the Law given by God is faith that He is our creator, and thus we believe that He knows what is best for us. Advocates of evolution as the origin of mankind have a different idea. They believe that social laws have evolved by trial and error, and they condone most things that are done by mankind naturally, especially in the realm of human sexuality.

If mankind’s activities are only natural, then what happens in human sexuality is natural, and so one form of sexual expression is just as natural as another, from the secular humanist perspective. I know that some animals practice homosexuality, especially hogs. I once owned a boar that spent his time and energy having anal intercourse with other boars. His actions may have been natural, but were not useful. He went to slaughter. Even in the area of nature, we should practice some sense of values.

There is a natural conflict between those who believe in the Creator God {the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob} and those who believe in time and chance as the cause of all things. Paul describes this antagonism as two kinds of odor in 2 Cor 2:14, A Ministry of Life or Death, 14 But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. 15 For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To some we are an aroma of death  leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. And who is competent for this? 17 For we are not like the many who market God’s message for profit. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God. Holman Christian Standard Translation

Yes, to believers and those who seek God, God’s message brings the smell of life. To the unbeliever and arrogant secularist who hates the mention of God, we bring the smell of death. Yes, if God is right, the secular humanist is headed to destruction, and is dead while he is living. This does not mean that God hates them personally, it is just that God knows how things really are, and wants the best for the people He created in His image. How we live, especially in the realm of human sexuality, has a huge impact upon our lives, for good or evil. We should not challenge our Creator on the issue of what is in mankind’s best interest. The One Who made us knows us, and we can trust in Him.

Yes, homosexuality is condemned in the Law, and in the New Testament scriptures. When Paul said that all things are lawful, regarding foods and other things forbidden by the Law of Moses, he did not include sexual immorality. Rather, he calls attention to the need for self control in exercise of human sexuality. 1 Cor 6: Glorifying God in Body and Spirit, 12 “Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be brought under the control of anything. 13 “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,” but God will do away with both of them. The body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 God raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. 15 Don’t you know that your bodies are a part of Christ’s body? So should I take a part of Christ’s body and make it part of a prostitute? Absolutely not! 16 Don’t you know that anyone joined to a prostitute is one body with her? For Scripture says, The two will become one flesh. 17 But anyone joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

18 Run from sexual immorality! “Every sin a person can commit is outside the body.” On the contrary, the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body. 19 Don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.

Paul reinforces the need to keep God’s law about human sexuality, even within the context of freedom from some requirements of the Law. In the beginning, God joined one man to one woman, and told them to multiply, and fill the earth. The perfect rule for human sexuality is one man married to and loyal to one woman so long as they both shall live. And procreation is one of the important functions of marriage. Those people groups who procreate will inherit the earth, if they honor God with their lives.

Yes, God still loves those who disobey Him, but He disciplines them so that they may come to a realization of what is good. And He protects His family by destroying those who willfully reject Him and practice evil. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life to all who trust in Him.

The agnostic and atheistic culture has been making war on God for 200 years. They have currently chosen as their mantra that homosexuals should be encouraged to practice their unnatural proclivity as a basic human right. Self control is not part of the humanist agenda when it comes to sexuality. “If it feels good, then do it” seems to me to be the gist of their agenda.

Many things that come from basic impulses and are not modified by self control are destructive. Maybe the secular humanist community is not in favor of man-boy sexual relationships, or beastiality, or whatever, based upon their concepts of what is acceptable behavior. But their opinions are always changing. Culture shaped by secular human will is fatally flawed. The evidence of history is a wasteland of failed societies that were based upon mankind's human reasoning rather than God’s righteousness.

Greek and Roman men in power preyed upon boys to satisfy their sexual lusts. Pagan temples existed for the purpose of glorifying homosexual lust. How close we are to returning to the pagan principles of lustful living! This is the humanist agenda, live for the experience of the moment without regard to what edifies and builds up a blessed society. They call it existentialism, but it is self destruction. There is a way that seems right to mankind, but the end of that humanist pursuit is destruction.

How close is our great nation to being destroyed? Too close for comfort! It is time to cry out for righteousness instead of defending the right of humans to practice degrading sexual impulses. People are not born homosexual. People are born with myriad human impulses, many of which are destructive. We are supposed to learn self control, we are supposed to learn to deny our destructive impulses, and practice righteous principles that bless other people.

Jesus did not practice any sexual perversions. He lived a pure life under the Law, and died to save us from ourselves. Yes, He was friends with sinners, but He always encouraged them to repent and practice righteousness. Sexual sins get much notice in scripture because they are destructive to the blessed relationship of one man joined to one woman so long as they both shall live.

Apostle Paul was taught by direct revelation from Jesus by the Holy Spirit, and this is what he says about human morality. Gal 5:16, Keep in Step with the Spirit, 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. ESV

And just in case you do not understand the language about human sexuality, Paul makes it plainer in Romans 1: The Righteous Shall Live by Faith. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

God's Wrath on Unrighteousness
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Yes, the secular humanist not only practices such things, but gives approval to those who practice them, and they hate those who dare support the righteousness of God declared in scripture.

It is no sin to contradict human wisdom, but in fact true wisdom requires that we measure everything by God’s proclaimed righteousness. The Law is good, and holy, and just. Men are sinners, and left to themselves, they encourage the practice of unrighteousness. It is not hate, but love, when we speak the truth. Yes, we must love sinners, but to do so we must speak the truth in love.

Affluenza

affluenza, n. 1. The bloated, sluggish and unfulfilled feeling that results from efforts to keep up with the Joneses. 2. An epidemic of stress, overwork, waste and indebtedness caused by the pursuit of the American Dream. 3. An unsustainable addiction to economic growth. (PBS)

This catchy name for an old malady connects selfishness with a prevalent virus caused illness, flu. It is an appropriate name, as both are very contagious. Eve had the malady, as she wanted to be in charge, and have whatever she wanted, without regard to the words of her Creator. The plague is still with us, and most evident in the nations that have been blessed materially.

Three fourths of the world’s population struggles to have food and clothing, while others are being destroyed by too much food, and too many things. Mankind has a history of destroying himself with abundance and greed. Truly there is no satisfaction in getting things. The more one has, the more one seems to need, in order to continue the quest to find fulfillment in possessions and self satisfaction of worldly desires..

The world’s greatest teacher addressed the quest for possessions while speaking from a mountain in Galilee, Matt 6:19-21--Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. NASU

Matt 6:24-33--No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? ---- Do not worry then, saying, "What will we eat?' or "What will we drink?' or "What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. NASU

Jesus said that putting God first is the way to escape from the disease affluenza. It sounds easy, to put God first, but doing so goes against our inherent desire to be in control of things. Man wants to be his own god, and finds it difficult to fall at the feet of an invisible Creator. But the evidence of history reveals the truth of the words spoken by Jesus. God became a man in Jesus, and Jesus is approachable. His life defines what it means to give to others. We find contentment in being like Jesus.

The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy, 1 Tim 6:6-11--But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. NASU

So the cure for affluenza is loving and trusting God in Jesus Christ. As Paul wrote, Phil 4:11-13--Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 

Also involved in the cure of affluenza is sharing what we have with others. Instead of seeking more for ourselves and never being satisfied, we should seek to share with others, and find true blessings.

While visiting Nepal in Dec 2013, I stayed in the home of a family who are believers in Jesus. A brother’s home was nearby on the top of the same hill. He is also a believer. These two families carry their water almost one kilometer from a spring that is seventy meters elevation lower than the homes. The women carry the water on their backs, in a metal vessel in a basket with a support strap across their foreheads.

They can have water in a tank at their house by the expenditure of about $2500 for submersible pump, two polyethylene water tanks, 600 meters of polyethylene pipe, and 600 meters of #10 UF electric cable. They will do the installation themselves. When I think of our convenience to have running water and water heaters in our homes, I feel compelled to help these people have a water system, because I know them. They are part of my spiritual family.

Water system installed in 2014

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_GzxeVCXng6SlBjXzRFanRkVHc/view?usp=sharing

More critical than the need for fresh water is the supply of the water of life. The message about Jesus, savior of all who trust in Him, can save those who have no hope. The most precious gift we can give is to tell someone about Jesus.

The Brass Snake

The Brass Snake

God’s people were complaining again, blaspheming God and Moses, because water was scarce and they did not like eating Manna every meal. God was providing their needs, but God's provision did not suit them, so they complained. Num 21:5-9—The people spoke against God and Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food."

The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. So the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us." And Moses interceded for the people.

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live."

And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived. (scriptures quoted from the New American Standard Updated)

Are you complaining about what is on your plate? Does God's way of doing things not meet the level of your approval? God does not like for His people to complain.  Speaking against God is dangerous.

1Co 10:5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.

7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play." (Aaron's golden calf)

8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.

9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.

11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

But He does provide salvation from the death penalty for sin when we look to Him.  The gospel is God's provision to produce faith in all who will heed the message. Rom 1:15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.  16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." 

The preaching of Jesus Christ, and Him crucified, seems foolish to many. Some think that salvation based on the shedding of blood is somehow out of place with modern thinking. But the scriptures are clear, that the believer’s salvation is purchased with the blood of Christ. As Paul wrote to Christians in Ephesus, Eph 1:5-8—“He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.” ESV 

Thus a sinner does not contribute anything toward the purchase of our salvation. Salvation is freely provided in Jesus Christ. But some do not agree about how we get into Jesus Christ. Many people who follow a concept known as "Faith Only" (Sola Fide) deny that immersion in water has anything to do with the new birth into the kingdom of God. The reason used for arguing against water immersion being connected with the new birth is that salvation is a gift, not of works, so that we do not think we are earning our salvation. But submission to the commands of God is not about earning something, it is a demonstration of faith which is fidelity. 

Peter clearly shows that baptism is not just about immersion in water, but about faith, our submission to the command of God. 1Pe 3:21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. ESV

An appeal to God for a good conscience?  A good conscience comes from doing what God commands. What if immersion in water is counted as faith, because it is the simple command of Jesus? What if being born of water and the Spirit includes immersion in water by faith in the command of Jesus? 

It is true that being immersed in water cannot remove sins, any more than looking at a brass snake can heal anyone from snake bite. But what would have happened if those Israelites, bitten by the serpents, refused to look up at the bronze serpent on the pole? What if they had stayed in their tent, praying for healing? Would they have been healed in their refusal to obey a simple command to look up at the bronze serpent? 


When they looked at the bronze serpent on the pole, they were healed of their snake bite. Jesus compared the lifting up of the brass snake with His crucifixion, John 3:14-15-"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.”

It was Jesus who said, Mark 16:15-16--"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”

Baptism, according to the record of scriptures, is immersion in water. It makes no more sense than looking up at a brass snake. But faith is completed in submission, and without submission there is no faith.

Stop arguing with Jesus by substituting man's ideas for what Jesus commanded. He did not command a sinner to pray a prayer to demonstrate faith, but He commanded repentance and immersion in water. It was Jesus who said, John 3:5--"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

We do not have to understand, but we do have to submit, to demonstrate faith. Without submission to the simple command of Jesus, there is no faith.

Please review the recent debate at the Southern Baptist Convention over the "Sinner's Prayer."
http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/2012/juneweb-only/baptists-sinners-prayer.html

God's people can have unity on the subject of baptism when we reject our reasoned arguments about "Sola Fide", and submit to the clear teaching of the scriptures.  Please reject the popular teaching about "Faith Only" and realize that faith includes submission to the commands of Jesus and the apostles. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sola_fide

See the reaction of believers to the first preaching of the Gospel. 
Act 2:36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

38 And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."

40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."

41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ESV

As Paul wrote to the Christians in Galatia, Gal 3:23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

Repentance and baptism are the commands of Jesus and the Apostles, recorded by the Holy Spirit.  Repentance and baptism are part of faith, which is loyalty. Fidelity means loyalty, and refusal to honor and teach a direct commandment, recorded in scripture by the Holy Spirit, in no way demonstrates fidelity. There is no "sola fide" that brings salvation without looking at the Cross, with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus pictured in baptism. Rom 6:1-4, 1 Cor 15:1-4.

Jesus Lifted Up