Eternal Destruction
November 2, 2009 at 9:21 am | In Biblical Violence, Eternity | Leave a CommentTags: 2 Thessalonians 1, 2 Thessalonians 2, Biblical Violence, eternal, eternal death, eternal destruction, eternal life, eternal security, Eternity, everlasting, everlasting security, God's vengeance, Gospel of Jesus Christ, hell, hope, immutability, Lord Jesus Christ, mighty angels, once saved always saved, perishing, perseverance of the saints, Romans 3, Romans 4, security of the believer, violence in the Bible, when God condones violence
Some Bible words can be hard to understand. If you are going to get a grip on the idea of “propitiation” or “justification” (Romans 4:25, 3:25), you had better be prepared to stay up all night. There are other words, however, which are extremely self-explanatory. Take the word “everlasting.” Something that is “everlasting,” is something that…(all together now)…LASTS…FOR…EVER.
When God says something is everlasting, it may blow our minds a little. After all, most things in this world have a start and a stop, a beginning and an end. The sun comes up; the sun goes down. Plants spring up and grow; plants wither and rot. People are born; people die. In God’s realm of eternity, however, there is no true end or beginning. So while the conceptualization of “everlasting” may be difficult, the basic sense of it is not. This is a great encouragement to true Christian believers and a great condemnation to those who have rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Unbelievers will experience punishment forever.
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
II Thessalonians 1:7-9
However, believers have the assurance of knowing that their salvation may never be lost.
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
II Thessalonians 2:16
The Raptor and the Captor
September 17, 2009 at 9:54 am | In Biblical Parenting, Biblical Violence | Leave a CommentTags: bald eagles, battle scars, Biblical discipline, Biblical irony, Biblical Parenting, Biblical Violence, birds of prey, California, captives, Captor, captured, chastening of the Lord, child discipline, Christian conduct, eye injuries, Godly parents, head shaving, idol worship, irony in the Bible, lambs, Lemuel Briggs, Mendocino County, Micah, Micah 1, parenting principles, polling, polls, principles for parenting, Raptor, raptors, spoiled children, spoils of war, strategy of Satan, the jealousy of God, the prophet Micah, victory over Satan, violence in the Bible
Lemuel Briggs was a farmer in Mendocino County, California, in 1895. He had a lamb and two sons. Bald eagles were not as scarce in those days as they are today. One day, a bald eagle left its nest in the mountains near Mr. Briggs’s farm, soaring on wings that measured over 8 feet across, and carried off Mr. Briggs’s lamb. He was furious.
He sent his sons, Willie, aged 13, and Eddie, 11, up into the mountains to find the eagle’s nest. They obeyed.
However, as they went up the narrow mountain path, they neared the eagle’s nest before they realized it, and the eagle attacked. It circled around them, swooping in relentlessly, talons tearing and beak pecking. The attack ended with Eddie permanently scarred, having lost an eye.
One can only imagine the grief felt by Lemuel Briggs every time he saw his boy’s patched and scarred face. In the Bible, there was a tradition among the Jewish people of cutting off their hair or shaving their heads during times of devastating grief. As God’s people faced the chastening of God for their idol-worship and spiritual adultery, the prophet Micah used a bit of holy irony to drive home what would have been a sore point.
Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.
Micah 1:16
The irony has to do with his description of their children as “delicate.” Parents who are not strict with their children when it comes to Bible study, church attendance, and Christian conduct, may gloss over the suggestion that they are spoiling them. However, when the enemy comes to take them captive, it will quickly become apparent that children who were too “delicate” to be subjected to discipline, are likewise too delicate to withstand the rough treatment they will experience at the hands of their captor.
Seeing and Following Instead of Scratching and Stabbing
August 11, 2009 at 8:24 am | In Biblical Violence | 1 CommentTags: 1 Thessalonians 5, back rubs, back-scratching, backstabbers, Biblical principles, Biblical Violence, Christian living, Christian standards, Godly principles, Hebrews 12, paths of righteousness, quid pro quo, stabbed in the back, the flesh, the world, tit for tat, vigilance, violence in the Bible
Christians are called to live at a higher level than the world. The principle of the world, when dealing with someone who treats you well, is, in general, treat them well in return. We call this theory, “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.” On the other hand, the world’s principle for dealing with someone who treats you badly, is that it is now acceptable for you to treat them badly in return. We might call this theory, “You stab me in the back, you had better not turn your back on me.”
However, the Bible contains God’s principles for God’s people. And His standards are always higher, and always better.
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
I Thessalonians 5:15
This is a standard that requires vigilance, for our flesh finds it repulsive. Who can tread such a narrow path of righteousness, and not fall? Only the Christian who “watches” always where he is going. (I Thessalonians 5:6; Hebrews 12:15) Thus the reminder to, “See that…” Keep your eyes open, and fixed firmly upon Christ and His Word, and you will always follow that which is good.
Up for the Count
July 27, 2009 at 12:01 pm | In Biblical Violence | Leave a CommentTags: Biblical Violence, boxing, cage fighting, down for the count, endurance, faith, faithlessness, fighting, God condones violence, God's timing, James 5, Job, mercy of God, MMA, patience, patience of Job, pity, the Christian life, UFC, violence, violence in the Bible
When a boxer is badly beaten, knocked down by his opponent, and cannot get up, the referee counts to ten, and the fight is over. This is the idea behind the common expression we use for someone who appears to be defeated, when we say he is “down for the count.”
The Bible, however, says that Christians – even when the powerful punches of life are landing relentlessly – are not “counted out.” Instead, they are counted “up” (happy) if they endure.
Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
James 5:11
“But wait,” says the skeptic, “I thought Christians were supposed to claim their blessings by faith… Isn’t suffering a sign of faithlessness for a believer?” Dear friend, be not deceived. Faith is not blindly grabbing for rewards. True faith is obeying the Lord in spite of consequences, and enduring – like Job did – by depending on His grace, His time, and His Word.
Goin’ off the Deep End
June 18, 2009 at 2:23 pm | In Uncategorized | Leave a CommentTags: Acts, Biblical child-rearing, Biblical neighbors, Biblical Parenting, Biblical swimming, Biblical Violence, Bill Parcells, Book of Acts, Dallas Cowboys, neighbors in the Bible, off the deep end, parenting principles, physicians in the Bible, Quarterback Commandments, sermons on Acts, study guide for Acts, swimming, swimming in the Bible, Tony Romo
To the faithful readers of this blog – all 5 of you (you know who you are!): I will be offline for a little over a week. But, by the grace of God, unless Christ Jesus comes for His Church first, I shall be back.
In the meantime, if you find yourself struggling with insomnia, feel free to read up on some Biblical violence, Biblical parenting, Biblical doctoring, Quarterback Commandments, highlights from the Book of Acts, or other assorted posts.
Thanks!
Frightening Words
June 9, 2009 at 8:33 am | In Biblical Violence | Leave a CommentTags: Biblical Violence, does God condone violence, Exodus 20, frightening words, grace, Jesus Christ, law, lightning, Moses, Old Testament, Romans 6, Savior, violence in the Bible
The Old Testament law, given by God to His people, was first presented to them with a great show of power. The noise and sights it produced caused great fear of its Giver. In fact, there were those present who feared that the Word of God would kill them.
And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
Exodus 20:18-20
Today, Christians are “under grace,” not “the law.” (Romans 6:14) However, the law itself was given for God’s glory, and the people’s good. It inspired a fear which was a healthy reminder of the seriousness of obedience to God. The real problem was not Old Testament law. The real problem was – and it remains today – man’s sinful condition which kept him from keeping the law, thus pointing the way to our need for a Savior Who could truly save from sin. We have that Savior today in the resurrected Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Trust Him today, and be eternally saved!
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