Nairaland Forum

Bringing up Children
October 25, 2011.

"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4)

This verse, together with the parallel passage in Colossians 3:21, is probably the key New Testament instruction specifically dealing with the training of children. "Nurture" is from the same Greek word that is translated "chastening" in Hebrews 12:5, 7, and "instruction" in 2 Timothy 3:16. It has particular reference to carrying out child training with both firmness and gentleness, as needed and appropriate in each particular case.

The term "admonition" is from a Greek word meaning"putting in mind." Thus, the "admonition of the Lord" implies teaching the ways of the Lord by using the Word of the Lord. There is no substitute for implanting a knowledge of God's Word in the minds of our children. Even if they should drift away for a while in later life, the Lord can use His Word in their hearts to bring them back.

Both types of training--through action and through verbal teaching--are said in this passage to be primarily the responsibility of the father. The first reference in the Bible to training children deals with Abraham's responsibility to bring up his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (see Genesis 18:19). Mothers, of course, also have much responsibility and ability in this ministry (see Proverbs 1:8, and the example cited by Paul himself of how Timothy's mother and grandmother had taught him--2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15).  Fathers, too, sometimes delegate certain teaching responsibilities to tutors (Galatians 4:1-2), but the overall responsibilities are theirs.

And all of this training should be done in love. "Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged" (Colossians 3:21). Then we trust the Lord and pray. HMM

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When Christ Ascended
October 26, 2011.

"Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?)" (Ephesians 4:8-9)

This verse has been controversial, but is nonetheless very important.  The context is taken from Psalm 68:17-20: "The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: . . . Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: . . . our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death." 

The psalmist is apparently describing the Lord among His heavenly hosts, riding home as a mighty king returning with the spoils of battle.  Evidently this prize of battle consisted of His own people who had been held captive in an alien land, but who now in turn had been captured from the enemy by the returning King.  To do this, the King (none other than the Lord Jesus Himself) "ascended up on high," leading them to His own throne in the heavens.

But first He had to descend to the earth, and then even to "the lower parts of the earth." This unusual phrase must refer to the great pit in the centre of the earth confining the souls of the dead--the place called Hades.

One of Christ's purposes on earth was "to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound" (Isaiah 61:1).  That is exactly what He did when He died on the cross for the sins of these very captives, then, in the Spirit, descended into Hades to set them free.

He returned with the very "keys of hell and of death" (Revelation 1:18), alive forevermore.  The souls of those who had died in faith came with Him, finally ascending with Him into "paradise," in "the third heaven" (note Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:2, 4) to wait with Him for His future return to reclaim the whole earth. HMM

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Unceasing Prayer
October 27, 2011.

"Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

This is, no doubt, the shortest commandment in the Bible, and seemingly the most difficult to obey. How could anyone possibly pray without ceasing? What about sleeping, or working, or other necessary pursuits?

Paul himself claimed to pray without ceasing. For example, he wrote to the Roman church: "For God is my witness, . . . that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers" (Romans 1:9). To the Thessalonians he wrote: "We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; Remembering without ceasing your work of faith" (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3). In his very last epistle he wrote: "I thank God . . . that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day" (2 Timothy 1:3).

It is obvious from such references that Paul did not mean we should be uttering prayers continually, but rather to be continually in a prayerful attitude and never to stop the regular practice of prayer. In like fashion, the Lord Jesus said: "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint" (Luke 18:1). In the parable following this command, He spoke of God's "own elect, which cry day and night unto him" (Luke 18:7). This would further imply that our prayerful attitude and regular practice of specific prayer should be taking place every day and every night. We should never "faint"--that is, "lose heart"--if the answer isn't what or when we hope, but keep on praying anyway. When it's the right time, He will, indeed, answer "speedily," and in the right way (Luke 18:.

To pray without ceasing means simply to be free to communicate quickly with Him, night and day, always in an attitude of prayer. "If ye abide in me," He said, "and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7). HMM

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One Day as a Thousand Years
October 28, 2011.

"Beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:

It is sad that many Christians today are so eager to appear intellectual, they are willing to compromise God's clear revelation to do so. God has made it as clear as plain words could make it, that "in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is" (Exodus 20:11). Yet because evolutionary "science" has alleged that the earth is billions of years old, multitudes of evangelicals have fallen in line, rejecting God's plain statement of fact and then trying to find some interpretive loophole to hide behind.

Our text verse is perhaps the key verse of the so-called "progressive creationists" who try to correlate the days of creation in Genesis with the supposed 4.6 billion-year system of evolutionary geological ages, by citing Peter as agreeing that "one day is a thousand years."

No, Peter is saying that "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years"! That is, God can do in one day what might, by natural processes, take a thousand years. In context, the apostle is condemning the last-day uniformitarians (those who teach that "all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation") as "willingly ignorant" of the tremendous significance of the historical facts of creation and the Flood (2 Peter 3:3-6). Real written records only go back a few thousand years, and to attempt to calculate any date before that requires use of a premise which, in context, the Scriptures have just condemned! God says the uniformitarians are willingly ignorant and then urges those who believe His Word to "be not ignorant." The only way we can know the date and duration of creation is for God to tell us, and He says He made all of heaven and earth in six days, and not so long ago! HMM

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Compound Names of Jehovah
October 29, 2011.

"In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jeremiah 23:6)

There are seven compound names of Jehovah in Scripture which together provide profound insight into the person and work of our Lord. The first of these identifies Jehovah, the God of the Covenant, with the Creator "the LORD God |'Jehovahelohim'| |who| made the earth and the heavens" (Genesis 2:4).

On finding a ram to sacrifice in place of his son, Isaac, "Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh |the Lord will provide|" (Genesis 22:14).

Contingent upon their keeping the law, God promised the people of Israel that "I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee |literally, 'Jehovah-rapha'|" (Exodus 15:26).

Fresh from a miraculous victory in the first battle of the people of Israel, "Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi |Jehovah the Victor|" (Exodus 17:15).

Once the Lord had commissioned Gideon to lead the people of Israel out of bondage, "Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom |Jehovah sends peace|" (Judges 6:24).

In a passage concerning the future regathering and conversion of Israel quoted in our text, we see that Israel refers to the "Lord our righteousness |'Jehovah-tsidkenu'|."

Finally, in the last verse of his book, Ezekiel describes the absorbing charm of the heavenly city and the One who will preside over it, claiming, "The name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there |'Jehovah-shama,' Jehovah the indweller|" (Ezekiel 48:35).

And best of all, He is all seven to us. JDM

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The Joyful Sound
October 30, 2011.

"Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance" (Psalm 89:15)

Many have been the Christians who have joined in singing "We have heard the joyful sound: Jesus saves; Jesus saves!" Not all have known, however, that this beautiful phrase comes from a great psalm extolling God’s marvelous works of creation and then His promises of redemption.

"The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them. The north and the south thou hast created them" (Psalm 89:11-12). Earlier verses note that "the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD" (v. 5), speaking of the angels, "the sons of the mighty" (v. 6), literally, "the sons of God." It is exciting to realize that the very first "joyful sound" was heard when God "laid the foundations of the earth." Then it was that "the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy" (Job 38:4, 7).

There was also a joyful sound when Christ was born, and the angel came bringing "good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born . . . a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. . . . And suddenly there was . . . the heavenly host praising God" (Luke 2:10-11, 13).

Whenever a soul is saved, there is another joyful sound: "Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth," said Jesus (Luke 15:7). Finally, there will be a most wonderful sound of joy on earth when the Lord comes again. "And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" (Isaiah 35:10). Therefore, even now, "my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation" (Psalm 35:9). HMM

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The Doctrine of Christ
October 31, 2011.

"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son" (2 John 9)

It is obvious from this passage that "the doctrine of Christ" is vitally important, for a person who does not "abide" (that is "continue" in this doctrine does not know God at all.  In fact, the next verse forbids fellow Christians even to welcome such a person into one's home or into the fellowship of his church.  That person certainly must not be permitted to teach his false doctrine there.  "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed" (2 John 10).

But exactly what is "the doctrine of Christ"? In context, it must certainly include the incarnation of God in Christ in human flesh (2 John 7).  In addition, however, the Greek word actually means "the teachings," and probably refers to everything the Scriptures teach concerning Him, as well as all that He Himself taught.  This breadth of meaning in the Word is illustrated by the Lord's warning against "the doctrine of Balaam" (Revelation 2:14), which obviously refers to Balaam's teachings.  The "the doctrine of Christ" thus embraces everything God's Word teaches about Christ's person and work, as well as what He Himself taught about everything else.

There may be questions that can arise about interpretation or proper translation of some portion of the doctrine of Christ, but not about its validity or authority.  Once the teaching is clearly understood, it must not be questioned or diluted or explained away, but simply believed, practiced, and proclaimed.  For any teacher that "abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God" and we must not have Christian fellowship with him or encourage his erroneous teaching in any way. HMM

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@Olaadegbu; « on: November 16, 2010, 12:45 PM »
[Quote]What the Creator Requires
November 16, 2010

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour" (Titus 3:5-6)

Certainly one of the most precious doctrines of all Scripture is that reflected in our text. Our salvation depends not on our own "works of righteousness," but upon His mercy and grace, given us freely through the atoning work of Jesus Christ our Saviour.[/Quote]no authority has xame from God that says the above is absolutely true for all times!

When i saw this thread, just now, i was fascinated to read what jesus said that God gave him, 'the doctrine of Jesus', except to read lowly Titus. Can Jesus tell us what the Creator said to him, sending him with a message to his people for specific time, or to the who on mankind,from beginning to end, including all that were already dead?

Olaadegbu, think for a minute, leaving your dogged mindset aside, how can anyone deliver message to cover those who were already passed, beginning from Abel, the first man to die? How did Jesus cover all humans; did he wake all the dead up to preach to them?

Your stingy mind need to let go and stop being Ijebu with your mind, especially when thats not your blood. Me, who is an authentic Ijebu free up my mind and wallet, but will just not buy into fraudulent concept where 3 makes 1 and 1 is 3 and something appearing in the middle is credited with all that were long gone before it.

Think, man.

^^^^


This is what is called Trolling at it's worst.

Really grow up , this is a praise and worship article !

^^^ When you worship false gods, somebody need to call you out on it.

perchance, your stray out dog may hear the whistle of the hunter/shepherd calling, still.

Frosbel; your case may be a loss cause, but not everyone is, yet.
Alhamdulillah, we are talking to people in Nigeria, who are igbos, yorubas, etc, still in darkness.
Allah is bringing them to light. Yesterday, Nnene, through my wife by Allah made promise to take shahadah; i will know whether is done, already later.


You are losing the battle of success, frosty.
Those who will be disgraced, their situation may actually start to unravel from this earth. be careful your sef o.


Take heed.

@Frosbel: I need to recommend Surah Yunus to you. Read from verse 57 ending up at 91.
Chapter 10 {Surah Yunus], is full of many similitude; including how tyrannical pharaoh was led to his end even after so mch warning.

his end did not come until God inspired Moses to pray against this evil ruler; Verses 88 to 91 tell us the essence of it. frosbel, don't be an ally of pharaoh. so change your way of 'God has a son'. it is a falsified statement that there is authority given by God for it.

Sweetnecta:

@Olaadegbu; « on: November 16, 2010, 12:45 PM »no authority has xame from God that says the above is absolutely true for all times!

Who told you that?

Sweetnecta:

When i saw this thread, just now, i was fascinated to read what jesus said that God gave him, 'the doctrine of Jesus', except to read lowly Titus. Can Jesus tell us what the Creator said to him, sending him with a message to his people for specific time, or to the who on mankind,from beginning to end, including all that were already dead?

You saw the doctrine of Christ and you ended up being distracted on another subject entirely.

Sweetnecta:

Olaadegbu, think for a minute, leaving your dogged mindset aside, how can anyone deliver message to cover those who were already passed, beginning from Abel, the first man to die? How did Jesus cover all humans; did he wake all the dead up to preach to them?

Let me break it down for you. Abel's sacrifice of an animal involved the shedding of blood likewise all the Old Testament saints and the blood shed was like an i.o.u. (I owe you) notes that Jesus the real Lamb of God came to pay (fulfil) with his own blood on the cross. Jesus paid it all.

Sweetnecta:

Your stingy mind need to let go and stop being Ijebu with your mind, especially when thats not your blood. Me, who is an authentic Ijebu free up my mind and wallet, but will just not buy into fraudulent concept where 3 makes 1 and 1 is 3 and something appearing in the middle is credited with all that were long gone before it.

Think, man.

You have already swallowed the counterfeit hook, line and sinker. If you open your mind and allow the light of the gospel of Christ to come in to your heart you will see the glory of the Lord.

Biblical Accuracy
November 1, 2011.

"If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?" (John 3:12).

Many who profess to be Christian intellectuals today are arguing that we should defer to the evolutionists in matters of science and history, since the real message of the Bible is spiritual.  The Genesis account, for example, is not meant to give us details of the events of creation, for scientists can give us this information.  It merely assures us that God is somehow behind it all.  But if this were all that God meant to tell us, its very first verse is enough for that!  What is the need to describe all the days and acts of creation at all if the record has no real relevance to history or science?

As the Lord Jesus told Nicodemus in our text verse, if we cannot trust God's Word when it relates "earthly things," how can we possibly rely on its testimony of "heavenly things"? To some extent we can check for ourselves whether or not it is accurate when it records facts of history and processes of nature, but we have no means at all of determining whether it speaks the truth when it deals with heaven and hell, with salvation and eternal life, or with God's purpose for the world in the ages to come.

The fact is that the Bible is accurate in all matters with which it deals, scientific and historical as well as spiritual and theological.  It is a dangerous thing to listen to these modern "pied pipers" of evangelicalism whose self-serving compromises with evolutionary scientism have already led multitudes of young people astray in our Christian colleges and seminaries.

We yet may not have all the answers to alleged problems in the Bible, but we can be absolutely sure of God's Word.  When the answers are found, they will merely confirm what He has said all along.  He is able and willing to speak the truth, and He means what He says! HMM

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The Counting God
November 2, 2011.

"Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?" (Job 31:4).

God is surely the Great Mathematician.  All the intricacies of structure and process of His mighty cosmos are, at least in principle, capable of being described mathematically, and the goal of science is to do just that. This precise intelligibility of the universe clearly points to a marvelous intelligence as its Creator.

God even "telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names" (Psalm 147:4).  Astronomers estimate that at least ten trillion trillion stars exist in the heavens, and God has counted and identified each one!  And that is not all: "The very hairs of your head are all numbered," Jesus said (Matthew 10:30).  From the most massive star to the tiniest hair, God has counted each component of His creation.

Such countings are far beyond human capabilities, for "the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured" (Jeremiah 33:22).  But God has also created "an innumerable company of angels" (Hebrews 12:22) and has promised that the redeemed will include "a great multitude, which no man could number" (Revelation 7:9).

No wonder David exclaimed, "Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered" (Psalm 40:5).

Perhaps the most wonderful of all God's counting activities is that implied in Job's rhetorical question: "Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?" If He has numbered the hairs on our heads, we can be certain He numbers our steps along the way, and guides them all.  "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way" (Psalm 37:23). HMM

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Creation and the Finger of God
November 3, 2011.

"It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God?" (Exodus 31:17-18).

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16), but this portion of Scripture was given by direct inscription of God! Moses testified: "The LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly" (Deuteronomy 9:10). "He wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments" (Exodus 34:28). Thus, out of all the Holy Scriptures, God chose to write this section, not through one of His prophets, but with His own finger! It should, therefore, be taken literally and most seriously.

It is also significant that these commandments were structured around a weekly day of rest, "remembering" God's creation week--six days of creating and making everything in heaven and earth, followed by a sanctified day of rest and refreshment (note also Exodus 20:8-11 and Genesis 1:31-2:3). Ever since the creation, people have observed a weekly calendar. The seven-day week (unlike the day, month, and year) has no astronomical basis at all. People keep time in weeks simply because God did! Even those who deny the six-day week of creation must observe it, for their biological rhythms are constructed that way by God. "The sabbath was made for man," said Jesus (Mark 2:27). Since God considered the truth of the literal creation week so important that He inscribed it Himself, we should believe this portion of His Word first of all. HMM

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Follow the Leader
November 4, 2011.

"Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ" (Philippians 3:17-18).

Godly leaders are responsible for living exemplary lives so that those whom they teach will both follow and eventually become leaders of others.  "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ," Paul demanded of the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 11:1).  "In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works," he instructed Titus (Titus 2:7). But Paul was first a follower of the life example of Christ.

Today's verse uses some unusual terms to both define the responsibility to follow and mark those walking after Paul's lifestyle. Memos is Greek for "follow," compounded with a prefix that means "together." Our English word "mimic," comes from memos.  We are expected to imitate the examples of those who lead godly lives, who themselves are committed to emulate the Lord Jesus.

Further, we are expected to "Mark" those living after godly examples.  The Greek word skopeo is the strongest word among several for identifying someone or something.  It has the sense of intense observation.  In the secular literature, it is sometimes used for a spy.  God expects us to pay careful attention to those who "have the rule over |us|" (Hebrews 13:17).

And we are to watch out for those who may influence us for evil. There are "enemies" of the Lord Jesus.  Those are sometimes among us, and we must "mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them" (Romans 16:17).  May God give us the discernment to know the difference between "good and evil" (Hebrews 5:14). HMM III

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Greetings
November 5, 2011.

"Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness" (Titus 1:1).

In New Testament times it was common to begin one's letter to a friend with a salutation such as this, which usually identified the writer and the reader and then gave personal greetings.

Contrary to his normal practice, Paul spends the first three verses of this four-verse greeting speaking about himself, but he places the emphasis not on his own authority, but on the nature of the message which he has been given.

First, in designating his position as writer, Paul refers to himself as a "servant" (literally, "slave" of God. His will had been voluntarily surrendered to do his Master's will. Next, he identifies himself as "an apostle of Jesus Christ," commissioned by Him to represent Him and His revelation. He then defines his apostleship as being in agreement with the message to which the elect have responded, and the "acknowledging |literally, 'advanced knowledge'| of the truth which is after godliness."

Next, Paul claims that his message is not a new doctrine, but has its past, present, and future aspects. It was "promised before the world began" (v. 2) by God, who has in the present been proclaiming "his word through preaching" (v. 3). Furthermore, his apostolic calling is "in |literally, 'resting on'| hope of eternal life" (v. 2).

Paul then claims the message as his own, "committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour" (v. 3).

In a very real sense, this same message is now committed to us. Our knowledge of the truth and need for faith are at least as great; our call to submission and godliness equally serious. May God grant us the same level of commitment to the gospel and its propagation as that of Paul. JDM

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Jesus and the Fact of Hell
November 6, 2011.

"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).

How can it be that Jesus Christ, who taught so strongly the importance of love and forgiveness, could speak such words as these? Actually, Jesus had more to say about hell and eternal punishment than any other speaker or writer in the Bible. Since He is the Creator (Colossians 1:16), the coming Judge (John 5:22), and the only man who has died and risen permanently from the dead (2 Corinthians 5:14-15), we would do well to believe and heed His warnings. He knows whereof He speaks!

Listen to these prophecies, for example: "So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 13:49-50). "If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:47-48). There are other such warnings from Christ, but how can we reconcile such threats of everlasting doom with His own nature of love?

The fact is, however, that hell was prepared for the devil and his angels, not for people. The devil has been a rebel against God since the beginning, wanting to be his own god. When people follow the devil in this same rebellious path, rejecting God’s Word, they are showing they would be more comfortable with Satan than with Christ in eternity. Therefore Christ, because of His great love, has repeatedly warned them of what is coming, and so should we. "Of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire" (Jude 22-23). HMM

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Those Fossil Fuels
November 7, 2011.

"And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark" (Genesis 7:23).

People today are concerned about the eventual depletion of the oil and coal supplies of the world.  The economics of all the world's nations are largely dependent upon these "fossil fuels," as they are called.

And they are called "fossils" because they apparently once were living organisms, somehow buried in vast sediments and later compressed and converted into oil and coal and combustible gas.  How could this have happened?

Evolutionists speculate that hundreds of millions of years of slow processes must have been involved, but the details of such processes are very uncertain.  Coal and oil can be produced in a matter of hours in modern laboratories under appropriate conditions of heat and pressure.  Recent studies by creation scientists have proved that at least the great coal beds (and even diamond mines) contain modern radiocarbon, so must have been formed recently.

Although evolutionists ridicule the idea of a world-destroying hydraulic cataclysm in Noah's day, that phenomenon really does provide the most reasonable explanation for all these phenomena.  "The world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished" (2 Peter 3:6).

Isn't it ironic that the whole world's economy has come to depend on that SinParty of death imposed on a wicked world in its early days?  Without the energy stored in these dwindling fossils, man's rush toward greater sin and judgment in these latter days would almost certainly be hindered.  In the meantime, "The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming" (Psalm 37:13). HMM

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Should a Christian Get Angry?
November 8, 2011.

"But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment" (Matthew 5:22).

There are a number of Scriptures which, taken alone, would indicate that a Christian should never get angry about anything. For example, note Ephesians 4:31: "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger . . . be put away from you."

Yet Jesus indicated only that anger "without a cause" was wrong and invited judgment. Many modern translations omit the phrase "without a cause" in this verse (NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.), but the phrase does occur in over 99.5 percent of all the Greek manuscripts, and thus clearly should be retained.

If anger were never permitted for a believer, it would contradict even the occasional example of Jesus Himself. "And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts" (Mark 3:5). He was angered here by certain hypocrites among the Pharisees who were ready to condemn Him for healing a disabled man on the Sabbath.

We are never justified in getting angry over some personal injury or insult to ourselves. This is implied in context in such verses as cited above (Colossians 3:8, etc.). "Recompense to no man evil for evil . . . avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath" (Romans 12:17, 19). But if we do get angry in spite of ourselves, we are commanded, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath" (Ephesians 4:26).

There may be some situations involving injury or insult to the name or work of Christ where anger is indeed "with cause." Even then, however, God would warn us to be "swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath" (James 1:19), remembering that "vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord" (Romans 12:19). HMM

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How Can a Man Be Just before God?
November 9, 2011.

"Then Job answered and said, I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God"? (Job 9:1-2).

The patriarch Job was the most "just" (i.e., "righteous" man of his age, according to the testimony of God Himself (Job 1:8; 2:3), yet his friends were insisting that his terrible suffering had been sent by God because of his sins. He knew he was innocent of the sins of which they were accusing him, and he knew he had earnestly tried to be obedient and faithful to God.  Yet he also knew that he, like all men, had come far short of God’s holiness (Romans 3:23).  "I have sinned", he had confessed, "what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men?" (Job 7:20).  "Cause me to understand wherein I have erred" (Job 6:24).  And then comes the plaintive plea in our text.  "How should a man be just with God?" 

There is, indeed, no way by which a man can make himself righteous before God, for he is even born with a sin nature, inherited from father Adam.  "If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse" (Job 9:20).  Yet God created man for His own glory (Isaiah 43:7) and wants "all men to be saved" (1 Timothy 2:4).  The great enigma is, how can God justify unrighteousness in men and still be righteous Himself.

The answer, of course, is that God, in Christ, has paid the price to make us righteous by dying for all our sins.  "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:.  "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Ephesians 1:7).

Even Job finally realised that God must somehow become his redeemer.  "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and . . . in my flesh shall I see God" (Job 19:25-26).  It is indeed wonderfully true that God can both "be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Romans 3:26). HMM

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The Oracles of God

"What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God" (Romans 3:1-2).

Although God loves all the world (John 3:16), it became necessary for Him to choose one nation through which He could convey His Word to all nations. The Jews therefore were given the high honour of bringing both the written Word and the living Word into the world. With such privileges, they also must bear great responsibility; yet most modern-day Jews deny both the inspiration of the Bible and the incarnate deity of Christ. Nevertheless, as the next verses point out: "Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid" (Romans 3:3-4).

This phrase, "oracles of God," occurs just three times in the New Testament. The word "oracles" (Greek logion) was understood by the Greeks of that day to refer to actual supernatural utterances given by a spirit through a human medium. Thus, as used in our text, it indicates that the Old Testament should be regarded as nothing less than verbally inspired by God.

Then, in Hebrews 5:12, there is emphasis on the importance of "the first principles of the oracles of God," rebuking those believers who have neglected to learn even the foundational truths of the inerrant Scriptures.

Lastly, the phrase is used in 1 Peter 4:11: "if any man speak, let them speak as the oracles of God." In context, the apostle is urging anyone with the spiritual gift of teaching to see that his teaching conforms fully to the words of God as revealed in Scripture.

One other time the word "oracles" is used when Moses "received the lively oracles to give unto us" (Acts 7:38). Thus the first five books of the Bible are especially singled out as the "living words" of God! HMM

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The New Covenant
November 12, 2011

"Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you" (Luke 22:20).

The Greek word diatheke, translated as both "testament" and "covenant," occurs thirty-three times in the New Testament, seventeen of which are in the book of Hebrews. The Hebrew word for "covenant" (berith) comes from a word meaning to "cut, or divide," referring to the fact that blood had to be shed to bind the parties involved to the covenant. (See Genesis 15:10; Jeremiah 34:18-19.) God had made covenants with Abraham and Moses on the part of the people of Israel. He had kept His part of the agreement; but in each case the others involved "continued not in my covenant" (Hebrews 8:9). But God, in His grace, has issued a new covenant.

This covenant or testament is not unlike a human "last will and testament," but there are some differences. He did not merely die, thereby enabling His children to inherit His fortune, but He is now "the mediator of a better covenant" (Hebrews 8:6). He is the sacrifice whose death was necessary to make the covenant binding, and yet He is the "surety of a better testament" (Hebrews 7:22).

He cannot fail, and hence the new covenant cannot be done away with. Through His death, He not only has removed the penalty for our previous failures, but qualified us to receive the inheritance. "For this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator" (Hebrews 9:15-16). "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25). JDM

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The Marvel of Design
November 14, 2011

"And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another" (Genesis 43:33).

When creationists calculate the extremely low probability of the chance origin of life, many evolutionists scoff at the calculation, alleging that any one arrangement of the components of a simple, living molecule is just as likely as any other arrangement, so it is no great marvel that the components fell into this particular arrangement.

This is a puerile argument, of course, quite unworthy of the intelligent scientists who use it. There are at best only a few arrangements that will contain the organized information necessary for reproduction, compared to "zillions" of arrangements with no information at all.

This fact is beautifully illustrated in our text. Why should Joseph's brothers "marvel" when they were seated in chronological order of birth by a host who (presumably) was entirely unaware of that order?

The reason why they marveled was because there are almost 40 million different ways (calculated by multiplying all the numbers, one through eleven, together) in which the eleven brothers could have been seated! It seemingly couldn't happen by chance.

Maybe an evolutionist would not "marvel" that this unique seating arrangement happened by chance, since he somehow believes that far more intricately organized arrangements than this happened by chance to produce our universe and its array of complex systems. Anyone else, however, would immediately have realized this, and so the brothers of Joseph "marvelled one at another." So also, when we behold the wonders of design in the creation, we should "lift up |our| eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things" (Isaiah 40:26). HMM

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Captives of the Devil
November 15, 2011

"And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before" (Job 42:10).

Strange as it may seem, the experience of Job indicates that godly believers can be captured by the devil. God Himself allowed Job to fall into such captivity, for He told Satan: "Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life" (Job 2:6). All the sufferings which Job endured were inflicted by his captor, who hoped thereby to get him to renounce the Lord. Similarly, Peter was briefly bound in Satanic captivity. "Simon, Simon," said Jesus, "behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat" (Luke 22:31).

Such bondage, however, is temporary. Job was delivered "when he prayed for his friends" and Peter when he was "converted" and went forth to "strengthen |his| brethren" as Christ had told him (Luke 22:32). In both cases, they continued strong in faith during their captivity, and deliverance came when they turned their concerns to others.

More serious is the case of those who are in bondage because of sin. Nevertheless, Christ died to set them free, "that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:14-15).

Christ died to set the captives free, but they must first be told and then gently led to freedom by those who care for their souls. "The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will" (2 Timothy 2:24-26). HMM

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Spiritual Entropy
June 26, 2012

"I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?" (1 Corinthians 6:5).

The word for "shame" in this verse is the Greek entrope, meaning "turning inward" or "inversion." It is used only one other time, in 1 Corinthians 15:34: "Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame." Evidently this special variety of shame is associated with taking controversies between Christian brethren to ungodly judges and also with failing to witness to the non-Christian community. Instead of bringing the true wisdom of God to the ungodly, such "entropic Christians" were turning to worldly wisdom to resolve their own spiritual problems. This inverted behavior was nothing less than spiritual confusion!

The modern scientific term "entropy" is essentially this same Greek word. In science, entropy is a measure of disorder in any given system. The universal law of increasing entropy states that every system tends to disintegrate into disorder, or confusion, if left to itself. This tendency can only be reversed if ordering energy is applied to it effectively from a source outside the system.

This universal scientific law has a striking parallel in the spiritual realm. A person turning inward to draw on his own bank of power, or seeking power from an ineffective outside source, will inevitably deteriorate eventually into utter spiritual confusion and death. But when Christ enters the life, that person becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). Through the Holy Spirit and through the Holy Scriptures, "his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3). The law of spiritual entropy is transformed into the "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:2). HMM

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The Arm of the Lord
June 27, 2012

"The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God?" (Isaiah 52:10).

The human arm is often used in the Bible to symbolise spiritual strength or power. The word is first used in Jacob's dying prophecy concerning His beloved son Joseph: "But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob" (Genesis 49:24).

The source of all true strength is in the mighty God, so it is not surprising to find at least 40 biblical references to the Lord's powerful "arm" or "arms." One of the most striking is our text, promising that when God "bares His arm" for His great work of delivering the lost world from its bondage to Satan and sin and death, then the whole world will see His salvation (literally, His "Jesus" ).

In a real sense, therefore, "the arm of the Lord" is none other than Jesus Christ. When He came into His world, however, the world refused Him. Just a few verses later, introducing the incomparable 53rd chapter of Isaiah, appears this tragic question: "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?" (Isaiah 53:1).

Nevertheless, some believed, and the first was His own mother. In her "Magnificat," spoken in faith before Jesus was born, Mary said, "God my Saviour . . . hath shewed strength with his arm" (Luke 1:47, 51). This confession of faith is the first use of "arm" in the New Testament and again refers to the saving arm of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, His arm is not only mighty to save, but also secure to hold: "His arm shall rule for him. . . . He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom" (Isaiah 40:10-11). HMM

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Scattered Abroad
June 28, 2012

"Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word?" (Acts 8:4).

God has given two great commissions to His people, both of which would require worldwide effort to accomplish. Both, however, were so resisted that God Himself had to step in and force His people to be obedient.

Immediately after the great Flood, God gave the following command: "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth" (Genesis 9:1). This was an extension of the Edenic mandate given to Adam in the beginning, a commission to fill the earth and exercise dominion over it, under God (1:28 ). Noah's descendants, however, decided to stay in Babel and "make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." As a result of this rebellion, "the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth" (11:4, 9).

Over 2000 years later, the Lord gave His disciples another great worldwide commission. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). Then followed the coming of the Holy Spirit, and soon "the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly" (Acts 6:7).

But they remained in Jerusalem, instead of spreading out to "the uttermost part of the earth" (1:8 ). Therefore God once again intervened, and "there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem: and they were all scattered abroad" (8:1). Then, finally, began their full obedience to the great commission, for "they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word," and eventually some "of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues" will stand in saving faith before the Lord (Revelation 7:9). HMM

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The Unshakable Foundations
June 29, 2012

"For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:2-3).

Often we hear or feel the drum beat of those who oppose the work of God. Many would undermine our faith in God's promises and try to shake our confidence in the authority of His Word. David's short answers are wonderful sources of strength for us each day.

Trust in the LORD (Psalm 11:1)--He has not forsaken us (Psalm 9:10), and we can "taste" and see that God is good (Psalm 34:8 ). No matter what happens, God knows what we need, and He promises that we will be taken care of (Psalm 37:3). If we trust in Him and do not lean on our own wisdom, God promises to direct all of our life decisions (Proverbs 3:5-6).

The LORD is on His throne (Psalm 11:4)--The picture of God's majesty can be easily lost in our sin-cursed world. If we are not going to be overwhelmed by the wicked, we must see God "high and lifted up" (Isaiah 6:1), surrounded by the great host of heaven, recognising that "heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool" (Isaiah 66:1).

The LORD sees everything (Psalm 11:4-5)--His "eyes behold the nations" (Psalm 66:7) and He "knoweth the thoughts of man" (Psalm 94:11). There is no place that will hide us from His sight (Psalm 139:7-12).

The LORD judges everything (Psalm 11:5-6)--God loves justice (Psalm 37:28 ) and will finally come to judge the earth (Psalm 96:13). "The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD" (Psalm 146:9-10). HMM III

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No More Problems
June 30, 2012

"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake" (Matthew 24:9).

All too often in these days of "easy believism" and the erroneous "peace and prosperity" teaching, we hear someone say, "Once you become a Christian, all your problems will be over." It is doubtful that anyone really believes such a statement, much less experiences it. Certainly the Israelites who had just been miraculously delivered from bondage didn't experience it.

Of course, this concept is not biblical. In fact, the Bible teaches quite the opposite. Christ promised, "Ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake" (Matthew 10:22). He, Himself, would have many problems. "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you" (John 15:18 ). Later, after experiencing many problems, John wrote, "Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you" (1 John 3:13).

These problems may take the form of general troubles which come from living in a sinful, cursed world; specific afflictions, which God allows in our lives to bring about His purpose; or discipline for personal sin, as well as direct persecution from without.

While troubles will come, all is not lost! Christ promised, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Through Him we have the strength to meet every difficulty of this life with peace, good cheer, and victory. Through Him we also receive the promise that throughout eternity "there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Revelation 21:4). JDM

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Called and Chosen
July 1, 2012

"But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).

Note the order established by God in His great plan of salvation. God had chosen these Thessalonian believers to salvation even before they were born, for it was from the beginning. Then He called them, and they heard the gospel, believed the truth, and were sanctified (that is, "set apart" ) by the Holy Spirit, eventually destined to be glorified in Christ.

To accomplish this, however, the Spirit used human messengers. He first, in a vision, directed Paul to go to Greece to preach the gospel (Acts 16:9), where he eventually reached Thessalonica and taught the truth to those he found in the synagogue. However, of the many who were "called" as Paul preached and taught, only "some of them believed" (17:4). Most of his listeners had not been "chosen," so they resisted the "call" and refused to believe. As Jesus said, "Many be called, but few |are| chosen" (Matthew 20:16).

Such a truth may be difficult to understand with our finite minds, but (like Paul) "we are bound to give thanks" that we who believe today, like the Thessalonian believers then, have been both "chosen . . . in him before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4), and also "called . . . out of darkness into his marvellous light" (1 Peter 2:9).

This same mysterious but glorious truth is found throughout Scripture. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. . . . What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:28, 31). HMM

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Always Rejoicing
July 2, 2012

"Rejoice evermore" (1 Thessalonians 5:16).

Most people think that John 11:35 ("Jesus wept" ) is the shortest verse in the Bible, but our text is actually even shorter in the original Greek. In one sense, these two two-word verses complement each other: because Jesus wept, we can rejoice evermore. Christ died that we might live. He became poor so that we could be eternally rich. When Christ rose from the dead and met the women returning from the empty tomb, He greeted them with the words, "All hail" (Matthew 28:9). The actual Greek was the same word as "rejoice" and surely His victory over sin and death provided the greatest of all reasons for the world to rejoice.

The contrast between suffering and rejoicing is present throughout the New Testament, with the former typically preceding and bringing in the latter. Its first occurrence is in the closing verse of the beatitudes: "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you . . . for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven" (Matthew 5:11-12). The final passage, when the sufferings of the saints are all past and Christ comes to reign, the multitude sings in heaven, "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come" (Revelation 19:7). In that great day, "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes" (Revelation 21:4), and all the redeemed will, indeed, rejoice evermore.

Therefore, we can live our present lives in the light of our future lives, "As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things" (2 Corinthians 6:10). The apostle Paul exhorts us to "Rejoice in the Lord alway" (Philippians 4:4), and Peter says that, loving Christ, we "rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Peter 1:8 ). HMM

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