VBC College & Career

Believing What You Believe

2009-11-03T12:25:00.000-08:00

As Christians we make some bold claims about what we believe. We say that we believe that God created the world in six literal days and rested on the seventh. We say that we believe Jesus was born of a virgin, was crucified on a cross, buried in a grave and rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven. We say that Jesus is the only way to heaven. And we say that salvation is a free gift from God that we can never earn.

We say a lot of things. I wonder how many things we really really believe. I am not really talking about things like salvation. But how much do we believe in and trust God’s love and provision towards us. As you continue to read the remainder of chapter four, you see a story unfold that describes a man that in the face of undeniable obstacles, had an unwavering trust in God. All of Abraham’s experience would have gone against what God was telling him. Yet he chose to believe God. And this belief drove Abraham to action.

Notice what the writer of Hebrews says.

ESV Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

The faith that the writer is talking about is not simply that God exists, but that the God of the Bible exists. The miracle working, all powerful, all merciful, all loving God that blesses us, not because we deserve it, but because He desires to glorify himself. Furthermore, notice that the writer continues to declare that that kind of faith believes that this God rewards that earnestly seek after Him. Abraham would not be detoured, because he believed in a God that had only good intentions towards him, that would ultimately reward him, no matter what the present circumstances looked like.

This is called believing what you believe. Do you truly believe that you are the object of an infinite love? Do you believe that an infinite God is truly molding you into His image? Do you believe that if you continue to submit to His leading hand and look to Him for all that you are that you will ultimately receive His reward?

Do you? I mean, really, do you?

Ed<><

Moving On To Chapter Four

2009-10-27T08:08:00.000-07:00

We had a great discussion this passed Sunday. We missed you guys that couldn't be there. But now we are going to move on to Chapter four.

As you are reading through this chapter, take note that according to my Greek New Testament, the paragraph break is between verses 12&13. The NIV puts new paragraphs at verses 4, 9, 13, 16 & 18. Please remember that it is the words that are inspired and not the punctuation.

The main point is that Abraham is not the father of just the righteous Jews, but also of the righteous gentiles. Paul is using Abraham as a case study to prove that salvation is not of works but of faith.

There were three things that the Jews were very proud of: 1.Abraham as father 2. circumcision 3. their religious system. Paul is demonstrating that it was not Abraham's circumcision, nor his religious system that justified him before God. It was his faith.

Here is the thing. All religious systems are works based. [True Christianity is not a religion. It is a relationship.] God is not calling anyone to religion. He is calling us to a relationship with Him. As has been revealed, this relationship can only be gained and maintained through faith. It is also VERY EASY for us in the church, even the true church, to drift away from relationship and shipwreck ourselves on the rocks of religion. We begin to focus on what we are doing, instead of for whom we are doing. As soon as our eyes get off of God, He gets small and we get big.

Look at what Paul says in verse 4. A works based religion puts you in the driver's seat. It puts God in a place of owing you something. God is never our debtor, but we continue to be His.

Furthermore, works religion makes us the goal. It is focused on what we do and the one that does the most and the best wins. Therefore, someone could say, "You need to be like me." But we are not the goal. Jesus Christ is the goal. Our job as missionaries, and we are all missionaries, whether we walk across the street or fly across an ocean, is not to make people that look like us, but people that look like Jesus.

Your thoughts please;

Ed<><

Let's get on with it.

2009-10-20T10:35:00.000-07:00

Well I think we have ridden this horse long enough. We have looked at it every way we know how and still come up with the same conclusion. All men & women, boys & girls, young & old, black, white, yellow, red & any other color you can come up with are BAD! As such, Paul makes the declaration of 3.20: Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

Thus Paul can now move to the central truth of the Christian faith. Justification before God does not come through good living, but through faith in Jesus Christ. Really try and digest verses 21-25 this week. A simple out line of these verses goes something like this:

[21] The Plan of Justification
[22] The Prerequisite of Justification
[24-25] The Price of Justification
[26] The Pronouncement of Justification

Since Justification is a work that rests completely in the work of God, Paul is then able to declare that there is no room for personal human pride in the presence of the cross.

Then Paul makes a startling statement in verse 31. He states that faith in Jesus Christ is not a nullification of the Law, but an establishment [NASB] of the Law. How is it that our faith in Jesus Christ upholds and establishes the Law?

Ed<><

Game Night

2009-10-15T11:33:00.000-07:00

Since we talked with Karen & discussed NAME this past Sunday we will just plan to discuss Romans Chpt 3 this Sunday.

But I also just want to remind everyone that we are having a get together this Saturday night at our house. We will be having Pizza or something and just a good time together. If you want to bring a friend, please do so. And if you need directions to the house just give us a call.

We will be getting together about 5:30 or so.

Hope to see you all there.

Ed<><

What does Michael Jackson & You have in common?

2009-10-05T08:12:00.000-07:00

We have been having some great discussions these past few weeks. This next week we want to look at Romans 3.5-20.

Verses 5-8 finish up Paul's thoughts about our sin and God's glory. Some argued that Paul was saying: If our sinfulness highlights God's righteousness and thus glorifies God, shouldn't we sin all the more that God's glory would be shown? Forget the fact that that is just stupid. Why should we seek to live a righteous life before the Lord?

In verses 9-20 Paul makes his final argument against mankind. It is a very depressing statement. How should it effect the way we look at the people around us?

Now to Michael Jackson. One of my favorite modern preachers is John Piper. This video was made quite a while back. It is based on one of his sermons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-GxkAJ1OBU

Ed<><

Will Church Folk go to Hell too?

2009-09-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

We had a good discussion this Sunday, and man weren’t the worship services awesome! We got through about 2:24. So what do you see in the rest of this chapter and into chapter three?

Paul is still talking to what I would call the “church folks.” What kind of things would physical circumcision correspond to today? What is circumcision of the heart? And if going to church can’t get you into heaven [can it or can’t it] what good is it?

All really good questions to ponder as you look at the rest of Romans Chapter Two.

Ed<><

Continuing In Romans Chpt Two

2009-09-15T12:31:00.000-07:00

OK guys;

I think we had a good discussion this past Sunday. In the verses one through sixteen, Paul proves that "moralism" will not justify you before God. By the way, I have not read it yet, but I notices that Al Mohler has a new blog entry entitled "Why Moralism Is Not The Gospel & Why Christians Think It Is." It should be a good read.

Anyway, we move on. Let's look at the rest of Chapter Two this week. Paul moves from the Moralist to the Religionist. The context is an argument against the Religion of the Jews. However, we can clearly see the application to to our modern church.

I once heard Dr. Vines, from FBC Jacksonville say, "People call me one of those narrow minded Baptist who think that only Baptists are going to heaven. No, I am more narrow minded than that. I don't think all Baptists are going to heaven." The Jews did have the LAW. But possession of the LAW is not enough.

In order to fully appreciate Paul's argument, you will really have to continue reading on to 3.8.
My office day is coming to an end. So I will continue this thought tomorrow.

But what do you think?

Ed<><

Romans Chapter Two

2009-08-24T08:55:00.000-07:00

OK, OK, I know we probably will not get into chapter two this week. But I want you to go ahead and start reading chapter two. You can post your comment s here.

Ed<><

The New Atheism

2009-08-24T08:47:00.000-07:00

These are a series of lectures on the world in which we exist presented by one of the greatest minds in modern Baptist thought, Dr. Albert Mohler. His is the only blog that I read on a regular basis. His blog can be found at http://www.albertmohler.com/

The New Atheism Lecture #1

http://www.dts.edu/media/play/?MediaItemID=7da9a043-fb24-412e-b0e4-efded1f6a61a

The New Atheism lecture #2
http://www.dts.edu/media/play/?MediaItemID=2c91a646-af23-4a26-99a0-8950c9501e5c

The New Atheism lecture #3
http://www.dts.edu/media/play/?MediaItemID=b13a97f9-e51a-42f9-91ec-9ac8b7cdacae

The New Atheism lecture #4
http://www.dts.edu/media/play/?MediaItemID=8dea8824-69d8-4822-9795-a4dbb6b93c94

Ed<><

An Answer To Suffering

2009-08-24T08:38:00.000-07:00

During the discussion we ended with an open ended question. If God’s wrath on this world is letting sin take its natural course, why does suffering occur in this world? Some people would even use the existence of suffering as an argument against the existence of God. They argue that an all-powerful, loving God would not tolerate such suffering in the world. Suffering does exist. Therefore, God must not exist. This argument, however, makes some unjustified assumptions about the nature of God.

Understanding this some people will argue that it is not that suffering exists, but that the really bad stuff exists, like hurricanes and cancer or murder. However, even this argument falls short. Simply put, we do not know how bad things could be. We only have our own perspective. Thus from our viewpoint, things like murder seem really bad. However, if murder did not exist, then there would simply be a “lesser” exile that would slide into the most bad spot. This line of reasoning is futile. However, there is a third possibility.

What if the existence of suffering actually stood as an argument for the existence of God? I would argue that the mere fact that we complain about suffering betrays the fact that we recognize that something is wrong. We say, “Things just ought not be that way.” See when we make such a statement we unwittingly say that there is something wrong with this world. And by acknowledging this fact we are conceding that there must be a better way from which we have fallen. So let’s see if we can make since of it all.

There was a time when all was well in the world. After God finished his creation, the Bible says that He looked at all that He made and God said “It was very good,” [Gen 1.31]. Even the man and woman enjoyed perfect fellowship with each other and with God in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 2 tells us that God gave the man and woman instruction concerning the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He said that, “in the day that you eat from it ayou will surely die," [Gen 2.17]. This death talks about both spiritual and physical death. As we know the story, we know that they did eat. In doing so sin, death and suffering entered into the world and sin, death and suffering have ruled ever since. Romans chapter eight tells us that this curse extended beyond the human race to the entire creation.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. Romans 8:18-22 (NASB77)

Now let’s put this all together. God told the man and the woman that if they ate of the forbidden fruit their world would be turned from a garden of blessing into a world of suffering. And that is exactly what has happened. We see storms, earthquakes, disease and all kinds of suffering, all of which lead to death. We continue to see it because God said it would be so and God never breaks his word. Therefore, people say it ought not be this way because it ought not be this way. The world has fallen from grace. But when I look at the suffering in this world, I also am reminded that God keeps His promises. Therefore I can trust Him to keep His promises when He says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life,” John 3:16 (NKJV)

So, now we know why suffering exists in the world. It has its origin in the fall of man. Adding to this we also can know that one day God is going to set it right. Notice what the Book of Revelation says. Describing the time when Jesus returns, John says, “And there shall be no more curse,” [Rev 22:3]. The curse to which John refers is the cures of the fall in the garden. God will set things right again! But what do we do in the meantime?
Studying the Bible you find that there are basically three types of suffering in the world. 1] Suffering because of a fallen world [hurricanes, cancer, AIDS] 2] Suffering for righteousness sake [a Christian beaten for his faith] 3]Our Heavenly Father disciplining His children

Suffering in a Fallen World

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Cor 1:3-4 (NKJV)

Notice that this passage is not an explanation for suffering. It is a word of comfort to tell you what God will do for you in the suffering. The Bible promises that God will comfort you. And the Bible says why God will comfort you: So that you can comfort others with the comfort that you have received from God. Thus we can know that in the midst of life’s storms, God is with us and comforting us.

Suffering for Righteousness Sake

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

Notice again that this passage does not explain the reason for the suffering, but is a word of comfort to let you know what God will do with it. The context of this passage is suffering for your Christian faith. Notice what Paul says, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution,” [2 Tim 3:12]. This passage tells us that when we suffer for God, He will work it out for good. Therefore, take heart and trust God.

Suffering As Discipline

"My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? Heb 12:5-7 (NKJV)

God promises that he will discipline his erring children. Although this may not result in physical pain, and most likely will not, physical pain cannot be excluded. The key here is that God disciplines His children because He loves them and they are His. Therefore, when we feel that hand of God’s punishment, we need not fear because it comes from a heart of love that wants the very best for us.
Hopefully this brings some clarity. Your comments are welcomed.

Ed<><

Thoughts in Romans Chapter 1

2009-08-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

OK, we had a great discussion this past Sunday. We are still in the first chapter of Romans. So here is your opportunity to make your comments.

Look particularly at verses 16-17 & 18-32.

What does 16-17 say about the power of the gospel and what our attitude should be towards it?

What does 18-32 say about God's wrath in the world? Are storms and destruction God's wrath? Or is it something else. How does this effect the way we look at the world and respond to hardships in the world?

Just some thoughts to ponder. Let me here your thoughts about these and other questions.

Have a great day in the Lord!

Ed<><

A New Day

2009-08-13T12:33:00.000-07:00

God is doing a great work here at Victory Baptist Church! I am very excited to see what He has done over the summer, especially in our youth. Now we are starting a new adventure by re birthing a College & Career class.

This blog is our place to keep up with each other, and to post comments and observations as to what God has revealed to you, as we make our way through this journey in His word. Hopefully, this will be a place where we can grow together. I may have pastor attached to my name. But that does not mean I know it all and can no longer learn.

I am hear to mediate, encourage, help find answers and pose challenging questions. By the way, your mission [if you choose to accept it is also to encourage, help find answers and pose challenging questions.

A few simple rules. 1] There are no stupid questions 2] There is no personal attacking 3] There is no faking it (sometimes, "I don't know; let's find out together," is the best answer.] 4] Have fun

So Saddle Up Your Horse. We have a ride to make!

Ed<><