C.H. Spurgeon

Sinners, let me address you with words of life; Jesus wants nothing from you, nothing whatsoever, nothing done, nothing felt; he gives both work and feeling. Ragged, penniless, just as you are, lost, forsaken, desolate, with no good feelings, and no good hopes, still Jesus comes to you, and in these words of pity he addresses you, "Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out."

Comment Policy: No profanity or blasphemy will be posted. You do not have to agree, but if you would like your comment posted, you will have to adhere to the policy.


Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Almost, But Lost

“Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian”

In Acts 26, we have the story of Paul speaking before King Agrippa. Paul could have cried and fallen into such self pity that he would have been useless as a testimony for Christ and surely King Agrippa would have tired and sent him away, but instead Paul chose to use the opportunity to give witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.


My dear friend Almost is not close enough. To be at the very edge of the narrow way, to gaze upon the finish line through the haze, to witness those which stride with purpose as they run the course, to wave and ponder the joy they must have, yet you yourself sit in the broad way pointed to the way of the narrow, with your eyes and ears fixed upon the glorious wonders of such a race, yet without faith you dare not cross the paths to come over, is burdensome to my heart.

Why friend do you sit when you could run, why ponder when you can know, why deny when you can enjoy, why reject when you can embrace, why feel rejected when you can be accepted, why doubt when you can have faith?

Don’t be an Almost statistic. Almost is still lost, and lost is without Christ, and without Christ there is no fellowship with God, and without fellowship with God there is no hope.

Trust him fully today, I pray that you would.

Are you in the race and know of one that is Almost? Do not leave the race by jumping to the broad way, but pray that the Spirit moves them, and bid them come to the narrow. Encourage them so they may believe, share your testimony so they may understand, bear the torch so they may follow, reach out your arms and beg them to come!

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Ethnic Diversity

Who hasn’t asked the question, “Where do races come from”? It is amazing what one may hear sometimes. There was even one that made it into a magazine that someone showed me one day that was very interesting, not that is was scriptural or true, but that a “religious” group actually held this view. I currently know of three different views I would like to present now.

[1] I have heard it said that there was a race separation between the children of Adam and Eve, namely Seth and Cain.

The problem I see with this is that there are only two children mentioned and there are more than two races, so then we would have to have a division of one or both of the children to properly consider the races we have.



[2] I have heard it said that the races came from Noah and his three sons, namely Shem, Ham, and Japheth. This view holds stronger than the Seth/Cain view for the simple fact that Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives (8) were the only survivors of the old world. It has even been said that there is only three basic races.

Whereas it may be true that there is only three basic races (yet I am not sure), I still find a problem with this view. One problem I see is that although Noah had three sons, I find it difficult to believe that he and his wife had three children that were difference races. Although it could be possible that their wives were each a different race, that leaves a lot of white page reading.



[3] I have heard it said that races were formed at the tower of Babel. At this time the world was of one language, one speech, and I believe still the one race from Noah. Here they decided to build a tower unto heaven. The LORD decided to come down to “confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech” and “scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth”.

In my opinion, this is where scripture is the clearest of the separation/creation of races. We have a separation of language and a separation of location. Before we were able to travel as we are able in recent times, pretty much races where divided by language and location.



Granted, it may very well be the case as in [2] that the races have come from the three sons of Noah [Genesis 10], but I believe biblically this did not take place until the tower of Babel, since at that time [Genesis 11] they were still of one language.

What have you heard and how do you agree or disagree?

Monday, April 09, 2007

Playing the Fool

Scripture declares in Matthew 5:22, “whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire”, but the fool himself is indeed headed to the chastisement and/or the wrath of God. No one should desire to be called a fool, and none should take joy in calling one as such.

Our interim pastor recently preached on this topic, so I thought I would present the points he used to share with the readers here, along with my thoughts. I believe they are important and should make us aware that we need to witness to those around us before it is too late for them, and that may be things that we need to repent of.

Today we will see four (4) classes of which the scripture calls fools:

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[1] “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” [Psalm 14:1; Psalm 53:1]

This class can be broken down into two groups, but literally they are actually only one.

[a] There is the one that claims there is no God, which is called the atheist. Within this group you have those which could care less about God and then those which work to rid the world of everything that says God. They are in need of the very God they reject, and without trusting in Christ. For in denying the Savior, they are ridding themselves of the only way to escape the wrath of God.

[b] There is the one that claims there is a God but lives as though there is none. Scripture, 2 Timothy 3:5, describes them as “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” and tells us “from such turn away”. This is both detrimental to the very soul of the lost and to the testimony of the saved. Neither are pleasing in the sight of God.

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[2] “Fools make a mock at sin”. [Proverbs 14:9]

This class can include both the saved and unsaved. To make a mock of sin is sickening in the eyes of God. We are told to depart, abhor, and repent of sin, we are never told to make fun, mimic, or encourage it. We are in a perverse generation that will be judged for endorsing, promoting, and embellishing sin instead of calling on men, women and children everywhere to repent and flee from such wickedness. “The wages of sin is death” [Romans 6:23], it is far from being something to be mocked.

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[3] The fool trust in his own works and not in the work of Christ. [Luke 12:19-21]

This class, yet saved or unsaved, is those which trust in riches of this world and lay not up treasure for the next. Scripture says, Revelation 3:17, there are those which “sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked”. Don’t let the riches of this world keep you from trusting in Christ, nor let it allow you to get cold to the things of God and forget that we are to be about His work.

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[4] “The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness” [1 Corinthians 1:18]

This class is the unsaved that fail to see the importance in trusting in the only begotten Son of God to have sins forgiven and fellowship restored with God through the finish work of Christ on the cross. They see no need of a Savior. Maybe once they have “sowed their wild oats” or come to a tragic time in their life, but not while they are young and full of energy, not while everything is going well at the office and they have plenty of money, not while they are enjoying retirement and traveling the globe, but maybe in that quiet time right before they enter eternity. My dear friend, what if you never make it there?

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If you find yourself in one or more of these classes today, it is easy to get out. Come to the risen Savior, Jesus Christ, confess yourself a sinner, repent and turn from your sin, by faith put your trust in Him that He was crucified for your sin, was buried, and was raised that you may be forgiven and cleansed from all unrighteousness and have fellowship with God forevermore!

Are you Playing the Fool?

Deny the flesh and embrace the Spirit!

Let today be the day of your salvation!

Friday, April 06, 2007

Easter: Eggs and Bunnies, Crosses and Tombs

As you know this Sunday, April 8, 2007 is known as Easter Sunday. As you enjoy time with your family and friends I would ask that you ponder a few things.

As Christians, are we really celebrating the risen Savior, the resurrection of Christ for our justification, or is it just a holiday in which we use His name? One might say, “That’s a crazy question, of course we are celebrating Jesus Christ on this day.”

This is what I find interesting:

1. We replace worship service preaching with music services. I am not against music, but scripture clearly says that the preaching of the cross is the power of God, not singing [1 Corinthians 1:18]. You could try and argue the point that singing is the same as proclaiming the gospel, but there may be some difficulty finding scriptural support. It is a well known fact that most people that hardly ever enter the doors of a church may visit on Christmas and Easter, so why then do we give them only singing; and maybe a five (5) minute thought and alter call?

2. We claim this day has a holiday to celebrate a risen Savior and we do it by cancelling services. Oh sure we have a small sunrise service, but often there is very few which attend. If this is a special Christian holiday, why then do we worship less than the other Sunday worship days when we hold morning and evening services?

3. We emphasize an Easter egg hunt with treats to encourage the children to come and bring their friends, so can they really concentrate on the most important story of all time, that Christ give himself ransom for the sins of man? So we have three (3) or four (4) times as many children show up this Sunday, can we really boast, since most came for candy and not Jesus Christ? “But so and so made a profession of faith.” Did they? Or was it to ensure they got to hunt for eggs. I am not saying one can not get saved through this method, but I believe my point has been made.

4. We sport our new clothes we purchased just for the occasion. Are we a little more interested in how we look and what others are wearing than how our Savior hung ashamed on the cross because of us?

5. We can find no scriptural support to consider this day to be a spiritual holiday by the words of Christ nor the apostle, yet let one say that it is based in pagan rituals or that Christ could not have died on Good Friday, and we want to gnaw and gnash at them for speaking ill of our scared day. Again, if such a scared day does exist, and it is this Sunday which we call Easter, why then do we do less for God this day than more?

Just some things to consider; If we are to be separate from the world so that they can see Christ through us, what will they see different in you this Sunday when you tell your kids the Easter Bunny came, they hunt for eggs, and the church is closed?

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Easter: Good Thursday or Friday

It is easy to acknowledge Christ must have risen on a Sunday, for scripture tells us it was on the first day of the week. As for Good Friday, I think we might have a small miscalculation, as do others, in the timeline.

Matthew 12:40
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Mark 8:31
And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

John 2:19
Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

I would agree that a portion of a day would count as a day, meaning I don’t believe it would have to consist of all twelve (12) or twenty-four (24) hours to be consider a day.

And counting of the days is easy.
Friday end of day (1) + Saturday all day (1) + Sunday early morning (1) = 3 days.

Where the problem lies is in how one reads Matthew 12:40. Whereas the other scriptures claim “after three days” and “in three days”, this verse adds “and three nights”. It would be easy to dismiss the “and three nights” to hold true to tradition, but should tradition override scripture?

We must remember that this is Christ speaking. Had He meant to say “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be [three days] in the [grave, tomb, etc.]” He clearly would have. This is God in the flesh, not a mere man that rambles on with no intention in his speech.

Jonah was the only sign given to that generation concerning the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ [Luke 11:29; Luke 11:30], and Jonah as in the whale “three days and three nights” not just “three days”.

Here lies the problem.
Friday all night (1) + Saturday all night (1) = 2 nights.

By this I suppose we have four choices:
1] Christ didn’t mean exactly what He said.
2] All Bible translations are in error concerning this verse.
3] Our tradition supersedes scripture.
4] Admit error.

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Location of Hell Examined (Conclusion)

Conclusion:
I tried my best to simplify my belief concerning the Location of Hell, and use mostly scripture. There is a lot more concerning the issue if one would only take the time to study. Comparing science about the earth and further scripture concerning pit, earth, fire, hell, etc., I personally believe that scripture indeed clearly locates hell in the center of the earth.

Concerning one question that may arise, “If the earth is destroyed one day according to 2 Peter 3:10 for the new heavens and new earth, then wouldn’t that mean that hell is destroyed too?”

Revelation 20:14,
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.


I have presented my case of scripture, it is up to you to decide if you believe scripture is telling us the location of hell is within the center of the earth or not. As admitted early, this is not a necessary belief for salvation, or a reason to break fellowship over.

All I ask is that you consider the scripture presented and consider the validity of whether the possibility exist that hell could very well be in the center of the earth. Remember before you cast it aside as a far out idea, please remember all of the supernatural things we have written within the Word of God, and ask yourself are all things possible with God.

And remember, just because I believe it does not make it so, but neither does ones unbelief make it not so.

As always, thanks for tuning in and have a nice day!

Don’t be afraid to share your beliefs with others!

Location of Hell Examined (Pt. 5)

Point 5: “The heart of the earth”, not just the grave.

There are 3 recordings of the word “paradise” in scripture.

Christ told one of the others crucified with Him that they would be together that very day in paradise.

Luke 23:43,
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Yet Christ also told the people that He would not rise for three days.
Matthew 27:63; Mark 8:31

Paul said that paradise was in the third heaven [2 Corinthians 12:4], and the apostle John says it has the tree of life and those that overcome will be able eat of it [Revelation 2:7] in the city [Revelation 22:14]. Interestingly the tree of life was in the mist of Eden [Genesis 2:9].

We know that Christ did not ascend into heaven within the three days following the crucifixion, for He told Mary that He had not as of yet on the day of His resurrection [John 20:17].

If paradise was in the third heaven (1 – where birds fly, 2 – moon and stars, 3 – God), then did Christ lie to the man on the cross with Him? No.

Remember the story of the rich man and Lazarus? (I am aware than some consider this to be only a parable, which I disagree)

The rich man and Lazarus were in the same corporate location, but Lazarus was in Abraham’s bosom (rest) and the rich man was in torment. They were separated by a gulf that neither could cross [Luke 16].

As Christ died, He said He would go to “the heart of the earth” [Matthew 12:40], but not be left in hell [Acts 2:31]. Yet Christ did not tell the one crucified with Him, “We will be together today in the grave”, but “We will be together today in paradise”.

During the three days between the crucifixion and the resurrection, Christ also “preached to the spirits in prison” [1 Peter 3:18-20].

Consider Ephesians 4:8-10,
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

In the above verses, we see that Christ, at His crucifixion, He “descended first into the lower parts of the earth” and then “ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men”.

Christ did not lie, but indeed met the thief in paradise (Abraham’s bosom) that day they both died, and upon the ascension He brought with Him paradise, the saints of old, to the third heaven, whereby it was seen by Paul.

Location of Hell Examined (Pt. 4)

Point 4: Jonah and Christ.

Luke 11:30,
For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.

Jonah:

Jonah 1:17,
Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
1 Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly,

2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.


Christ:

Matthew 12:39, 40,
39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Acts 2:31,
He [DAVID] seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his [CHRIST] soul was not left in hell, neither his [CHRIST] flesh did see corruption.


Point 5: “The heart of the earth”, not just the grave.

Location of Hell Examined (Pt. 3)

Point 3: The Pit and Hell are together.

Job 33:28,
He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

Psalm 16:10, For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Isaiah 14:15,
Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Ezekiel 31:16,
I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.

Revelation 9:1, 2, 11
1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.

2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

Revelation 11:7,
And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

Revelation 17:8,
The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Revelation 20:1, 3
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.


Point 4: Jonah and Christ.

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Location of Hell Examined (Pt. 2)

Point 2: The Pit and Hell extends to the lower and nether parts of the earth with bars.

Deuteronomy 32:22,
For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.

Jonah 2:6,
I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.

Psalm 86:13,
For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

Ezekiel 26:20,
When I shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, with the people of old time, and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old, with them that go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited; and I shall set glory in the land of the living;

Ezekiel 31:14,
To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit.

Ezekiel 31:16,
I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.

Ezekiel 32:18,
Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down into the pit.

Amos 9:2,
Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:


Point 3: The Pit and Hell are together.

Monday, April 02, 2007

Location of Hell Examined (Pt. 1)

Point 1: The Pit and Hell are down.

Numbers 16:30,
But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.

Job 11:8,
It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

Psalm 28:1,
Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

Psalm 30:3,
O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

Psalm 55:15,
Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

Proverbs 15:24,
The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

Isaiah 5:14,
Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.

Isaiah 14:9,
Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.

Isaiah 14:15,
Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Isaiah 38:18,
For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.

Matthew 11:23,
And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.


Point 2: The Pit and Hell extends to the lower and nether parts of the earth with bars.

Sunday, April 01, 2007

Location of Hell Examined (Intro)

Preface:
This post is not meant to prove the existence of hell, but is for the purpose of examining where I believe scriptural evidence points as to the location of hell. I would ask that you please reframe from arguing your current position – There is no hell - until a later date when I may post the subject of Does Hell Exist.

Purpose:
To share with others my view, with the use of scriptural support, that hell is indeed within the center of the earth.

Introduction:
For what I once thought was common knowledge appears to not be as wide spread as I imagined. Let it be noted that this is not a new idea or concept, but has actually been around quite sometime. I would ask that you please consider the concept, before just simply dismissing it on the basis that you have never heard it or that you currently believe differently. Although I believe the knowledge of hell is important, the location may not be as important and is definitely not something to break fellowship over.

Because of length I have decided to break it down into sections, or days. Hoping this will allow for separation of points, easier and quicker reading, and comments to each day to be made. Please feel free to share your pro/con points. I will limit the writing to only scripture unless necessary.

Point 1: The Pit and Hell are down.
Point 2: The Pit and Hell extends to the lower and nether parts of the earth with bars.
Point 3: The Pit and Hell are together.
Point 4: Jonah and Christ.
Point 5: “The heart of the earth”, not just the grave.
Conclusion

John Bunyan

To be saved is to be preserved in the faith to the end. 'He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.' (Mt. 24:13) Not that perseverance is an accident in Christianity, or a thing performed by human industry; they that are saved 'are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation.' (1 Pet. 1: 3-6) But perseverance is absolutely necessary to the complete saving of the soul…. He that goeth to sea with a purpose to arrive at Spain, cannot arrive there if he be drowned by the way; wherefore perseverance is absolutely necessary to the saving of the soul.