Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” Revelation 14:6 - 7
The Gospel is multifaceted like a many-sided diamond. The word “gospel” means good news. No man, woman, boy or girl may be saved apart from the hearing of the gsopel. It is absolutely essential to man’s salvation. This is the good news that Jesus Christ died on the cross for the sins of the world, that He was raised from the dead on account of our justification, and that by Him all who believe are justified from all things.
It is described as the Gospel
1. “of God” because it originates in His love (Romans 1:1);
2. “of Christ” because it flows from His sacrifice, and because He is the object of faith (2 Corinthians 10:14);
3. “of God’s grace” because it saves those whom the law curses (acts 20:24);
4. “of the glory of Christ” because it concerns Him who is in the glory and who is bringing many sons to glory (2 Corinthians 4:4; Hebrews 2:10);
5. “of your salvation” because it is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16 and Ephesians 1:13);
6. And “of peace” because through Christ it makes peace between the believing sinner and God, and makes inward peace possible (Ephesians 6:15).
The “eternal gospel” mentioned in Revelation 14:6 reveals another side of the diamond of God’s grace. It is everlasting or eternal because:
1. Its truths have always existed in the eternal plan of our Father;
2. Its truths remain unchanged by fashion or opinion;
3. Its effect shall be everlasting carrying over right into the eternal state.
So, this gospel in Revelation extends once again the olive branch of salvation. Another opportunity present itself -- turn to the God who saves eternally. Fear and worship Him alone (v. 7). Though multifaceted, only one gospel exists. “Grace is the basis for salvation in all dispensations, and is under all circumstances the only way of salvation from sin” (C. I. Scofield, The NIV Scofield Study Bible).
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
God Is real
The Universal Belief In a Supreme Being Declares That God Is Real.
Anthropological (study of man) research has indicated there is a universal belief in God among the most remote peoples today. In the earliest histories and legends of peoples all around the world the original concept was of one God, who is the Creator. An original high God appears to have been in their consciousness even in those societies that are today polytheistic. Regardless of other accretions added to this unknown god, the idea of one God has persisted. How is God making His presence known?:
1. Through natural revelation: Romans 1:18-23 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” God has not left the world to wonder whether or not He exists. Even without the Bible people know that a god is out there somewhere. They don't know His name or much about Him, but they know He is real.
2. Through conscience: A universal understanding of right and wrong exists. In less developed cultures people believe that a god or gods will judge according to what people do in this life. God places this in the hearts of people because they are made in His image. Natives sacrifice a virgin to a volcano or give their children to the gods of the mountains in hopes of appeasing them. Even in more advanced cultures we see Moral Law that is intrinsically a part of our makeup. Fair play, unselfishness, courage, good faith, honesty, truthfulness and the such cannot be adequately explained by evolutionary forces. Made in the image of God, we come into the world with these categories of thought front loaded.
Let me give an example. A baby takes another baby's toy in preschool and you see that the Moral Law is already in place. The offended baby cries for justice and the offender baby denies any wrong doing (she tries to justify her wrong actions!). Another example might be that I take your chair or cut in front of you in traffic and you know that you have been wronged. Why? You have a sense of right and wrong and of fair play. Where did this come from -- the answer is our Creator. God wants to be known. He is saying, “Here I am”.
The writer of Ecclesiastes referred to God as having “set eternity in the hearts of men” (Ecc. 3:11). Blaise Pascal, the great seventeenth-century mathematician, wrote of “the God-shaped vacuum” in every person. Augustine concluded, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in thee.” Our loving and patient Creator-God continues to reveal Himself even when His creation rejects Him. Wow!
God is indeed real. He is a God who wants to be known. He wants us to know Him so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus, into the world to suffer, bleed, and die in our place on the cross. He raise Him up again. Why? So that we could know Him and enjoy Him forever. The Bible says, "This is eternal life that they may know thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3). One of the best and clearest answers to how we know there is a God is that he has visited us in the person of His Son. Trust Him now and rejoice!
Anthropological (study of man) research has indicated there is a universal belief in God among the most remote peoples today. In the earliest histories and legends of peoples all around the world the original concept was of one God, who is the Creator. An original high God appears to have been in their consciousness even in those societies that are today polytheistic. Regardless of other accretions added to this unknown god, the idea of one God has persisted. How is God making His presence known?:
1. Through natural revelation: Romans 1:18-23 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” God has not left the world to wonder whether or not He exists. Even without the Bible people know that a god is out there somewhere. They don't know His name or much about Him, but they know He is real.
2. Through conscience: A universal understanding of right and wrong exists. In less developed cultures people believe that a god or gods will judge according to what people do in this life. God places this in the hearts of people because they are made in His image. Natives sacrifice a virgin to a volcano or give their children to the gods of the mountains in hopes of appeasing them. Even in more advanced cultures we see Moral Law that is intrinsically a part of our makeup. Fair play, unselfishness, courage, good faith, honesty, truthfulness and the such cannot be adequately explained by evolutionary forces. Made in the image of God, we come into the world with these categories of thought front loaded.
Let me give an example. A baby takes another baby's toy in preschool and you see that the Moral Law is already in place. The offended baby cries for justice and the offender baby denies any wrong doing (she tries to justify her wrong actions!). Another example might be that I take your chair or cut in front of you in traffic and you know that you have been wronged. Why? You have a sense of right and wrong and of fair play. Where did this come from -- the answer is our Creator. God wants to be known. He is saying, “Here I am”.
The writer of Ecclesiastes referred to God as having “set eternity in the hearts of men” (Ecc. 3:11). Blaise Pascal, the great seventeenth-century mathematician, wrote of “the God-shaped vacuum” in every person. Augustine concluded, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in thee.” Our loving and patient Creator-God continues to reveal Himself even when His creation rejects Him. Wow!
God is indeed real. He is a God who wants to be known. He wants us to know Him so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus, into the world to suffer, bleed, and die in our place on the cross. He raise Him up again. Why? So that we could know Him and enjoy Him forever. The Bible says, "This is eternal life that they may know thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3). One of the best and clearest answers to how we know there is a God is that he has visited us in the person of His Son. Trust Him now and rejoice!
Monday, January 02, 2012
New Year's Eve 2011 @ Great Divide
GRANT CATCHING BIG AIR IN THE DRIFTS
GROOMERS GETTING THINGS READY / PARISH STANDING TO THE LEFT IN PATROLLER'S COAT
"Who'll Take the Son?"
I don't often use devotions that come forwarded to me from my friends. Some of them are not that great and I just delete them. This one is an exception. You may have already received this one. If so, I am sorry. If you haven't read "Who'll Take the Son?", then please read on.
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A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, fromPicasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.
When the Vietnamconflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.
About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly.... He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out a package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.'
The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.
The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.
On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'
There was silence....
Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'
But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'
Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!'
But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting....' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.
'We have $10, who will bid $20?'
'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'
The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.
They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.
The auctioneer pounded the gavel. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'
A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'
The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'
'What about the paintings?'
'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will.... I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including all the other paintings.
The man who took the son got everything!'
God gave His son over 2,000 years ago to die on the cross for our sins and to be raised again. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The Son, the Son, who'll take the Son?'
Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything!
God the world in this way: He gave His one-and-only Son that anyone who believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
<><><><><><><><><><><>
A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, fromPicasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.
When the Vietnamconflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.
About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly.... He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out a package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.'
The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.
The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.
On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'
There was silence....
Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'
But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'
Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!'
But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting....' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.
'We have $10, who will bid $20?'
'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'
The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.
They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.
The auctioneer pounded the gavel. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'
A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'
The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'
'What about the paintings?'
'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will.... I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including all the other paintings.
The man who took the son got everything!'
God gave His son over 2,000 years ago to die on the cross for our sins and to be raised again. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The Son, the Son, who'll take the Son?'
Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything!
God the world in this way: He gave His one-and-only Son that anyone who believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
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