Pastor John Wilkerson Is the Best “S.W.I.M.”mer I Know
February 27, 2009 at 10:19 am | Posted in Quotes | 9 CommentsTags: Baptism, Biblical baptism, Biblical swimming, Pastor John Wilkerson, saved by grace alone, tadpoles
Baptism should be the first step in obedience for every believer, but water baptism does not save you. You can be baptized in every lake, pond, river, and creek, ’til the tadpoles know your social security number, and it won’t save you. You are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
-Pastor John Wilkerson
(To be fair, I have heard other preachers say this, too, or something similar, so I’m not sure who originated it, but Pastor Wilkerson says it with more sincerity and conviction than anyone else.)
Pre-existing Conditions
February 26, 2009 at 10:19 am | Posted in Biblical Doctoring | 2 CommentsTags: 1 John 1, Biblical medical treatment, confession, doctors, Great Physician, medical history, pre-existing conditions
Doctors want an accurate medical history on their patients. This is an important part of diagnosis and treatment. Patient forms have spaces for admitting to a history of high blood pressure, heart problems, and prior injuries. I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Each day we need to confess our faults and sins to our Great Physician. If you have truly trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, your post-salvation sins will not change your status as a child of God with a home in Heaven. However, there’s no use in trying to hide our sins from the Lord – He sees everything. An earthly physician wants an accurate medical history of past problems, but the Great Physician wants honest and sincere confession.
Do You Know the Truth?
February 25, 2009 at 11:31 am | Posted in John, Salvation | 38 CommentsTags: 1 Peter 3, John 14, religion, Salvation, the righteousness of God, The Truth
The Truth is not a philosophy, a set of ideals, or an abstract concept. The Truth is a person: the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:6
The Truth is not a man-made religion. Man-made religions set up systems whereby man tries to get to Heaven by doing something to earn God’s favor. That is impossible. The unjust cannot earn God’s favor.
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
I Peter 3:18
Do you know the Truth? Do you know the Way? Do you have the Life? Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, did what no one else could do. He fulfilled the righteousness of God. And now He offers you His righteousness as a free gift. Will you receive it before it is too late?
Professing Atheists Are Incapable of Being “Good”
February 24, 2009 at 12:31 pm | Posted in ProfessingAtheists | 2 CommentsTags: 1 Corinthians 3, 2 Timothy 1, atheism debate, Dawkins, fundamentalists, Genesis 6, Hebrews 10, Hebrews 4, Hitchens, Holy Spirit, ProfessingAtheists, Romans 9, St. Matthew's Passion
Professing Atheist: Of course intelligent atheists read scripture, just like intelligent believers do. How else are atheists to debate with believers if not from a position of knowledge? I was a fundamentalist once, so I know how things look from where you are.
Christian: I am always encouraged when people read the Bible, so I appreciate your comment. I’m not sure if I’m a “fundamentalist.” We might disagree on what that term means. If it means trying to obey the fundamental principles of the Bible, and agreeing with many of the traditional fundamental tenets of the Christian faith, then I suppose you could call me a “fundamentalist.”
But it seems unlikely that you know what things look like to me, because I am holding fast to the Bible as the inspired Word of God (Hebrews 4:14; 10:23; II Timothy 1:13). I do not mean this to be insulting, but it appears that you did not “hold fast” to the fundamentals of the Christian faith, and they have slipped from your hands.
Professing Atheist: You challenge me to continue reading scripture. I will. Similarly, I challenge you to read the books written by Dawkins, Hitchens and others, so that you can understand for yourself where atheism is coming from. When I hear Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, the music invariably moves me to tears, even though it’s now about 629 times that I have heard it, and even though I reject the Holy Spirit (yes, you read that right).
Christian: You might profess to having rejected the Holy Spirit, but whether the Holy Spirit is still dealing with you is up to God, not you (Genesis 6:3; Romans 9:18).
Professing Atheist: Atheists do not have horns. We help old ladies across the road. We have loving and happy families. We do good because it is simply better for us all.
Christian: I am also glad you help elderly ladies cross the street. Many Christians do likewise, and then afterward offer to share the Gospel message with them. If they refuse to hear it, they help them cross again next time, anyway. Perhaps you give them a copy of a Hitchens or Dawkins book, perhaps not – I have no way of knowing. But there will come a day when many of the works which “seemed” good to men will be tried by fire, only to be burned up as hay, wood, and stubble. Some of the works of Christians, which were thought to be nothing more than debating techniques, will have eternal value, and will last (I Corinthians 3:11-14).
Even Warren Wiersbe Likes to “S.W.I.M.”
February 18, 2009 at 12:21 pm | Posted in John, Quotes | 8 CommentsTags: Biblical swimming, Gospel of John, plumb the depths, wade in, Warren Wiersbe, Warren Wiersbe quotes
There is not space in these studies to plumb the depths, but I have tried to present the basic teachings of this marvelous book. The Gospel of John is simple enough for a child to wade in, but deep enough for the scholar and the most seasoned saint to swim in.
Warren W. Wiersbe
Professing Atheists Understand More of the Bible than They Want to Admit
February 16, 2009 at 1:48 pm | Posted in ProfessingAtheists | 6 CommentsTags: 2 Peter 3, 2 Timothy 3, 2 Timothy 4, atheism debate, atheists know the Bible, causes a reaction, Hebrews 4, Job 32, Job 6, Matthew 5, professing atheists, ProfessingAtheists, Psalm 119
Professing Atheist: What is this odd habit Christians seem to have of quoting the Bible to atheists, as if they should be somehow swayed by its words?
Christian: There is nothing odd about the fact that people who believe the Bible (II Timothy 3:16) quote it to unbelievers. It contains the living and powerful Word (Hebrews 4:12). It causes a reaction in the spirit of unbelievers (Job 32:8 ).
What is remarkable, though, is how diligent professing atheists are in trying to get Christians to stop quoting it at them. I don’t really know who said this, but I’ve heard it attributed to Mark Twain: “It’s not the parts of the Bible I don’t understand which worry me. It’s the parts that I do understand.” He’s not an inerrant authority, like the Bible, but professing atheists who don’t want to hear Scripture share his anxiety.
The Truth is like salt. It adds flavor, but it also has an antiseptic, stinging quality when applied to the wounds of unrepented-of sin (Job 6:6; Matthew 5:11-13). God created man, and therefore will one day judge all men. Scoffers are people who know the truth, but choose to deny the truth because they are walking after their own lusts (II Peter 3:3).
Professing Atheist: You say it causes a reaction in the spirit of unbelievers… Um, no… it doesn’t. The reaction you get from atheists is born of frustration.
Christian: Frustration can be defined as a reaction. It occurs when one experiences great annoyance or irritation over not getting a result which is greatly desired. The Bible explains one of the greatest sources of frustration as a lack of love for God’s law (Psalm 119:165). People who are frustrated at hearing Scripture are easily offended, because they don’t consider Scripture to be “fair” in an argument.
Thankfully, the Christian’s duty is not to win an argument, but to proclaim Truth (II Timothy 4:2). The reaction for many professing atheists is frustration, but for some, the reaction is conviction which leads to repentance which leads, ultimately, to salvation. In those cases the Christian did not win an argument. Instead, Almighty God saved a lost soul, to His own glory. And that is one of the things that makes it all worthwhile.
In Case My Beautiful Intelligent Wife Reads My Blog on Valentine’s Day
February 14, 2009 at 12:09 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 3 CommentsTags: bad poetry, lasting love, Valentine's Day
Though many years have gone by
And you might hear me sigh
And my hair and the air are both thin
Yet my heart will still race
When I look at your face
And my wife and my life make me grin
When I come close behind
You never do mind
Your shivers and quivers respond
In a gown or a dress
Every kiss and caress
Your love goes above and beyond
My wife, my best friend
Our love will not end
Increase and not cease evermore
When the light hits your eye
As you straighten my tie
You awake and you make my heart soar
Beautiful Wife + Limited Verbal Skills = Bad Poetry
(But I meant every word.)
Vance Havner Liked to “S.W.I.M.,” Too
February 14, 2009 at 10:00 am | Posted in Quotes | 10 CommentsTags: Biblical swimming, cult of celebrity, Havner quotes, puddle, shrimp, Vance Havner
When the tide is low, even a shrimp has its own puddle.
-Vance Havner
It can be heartbreaking to see people bowing down to the cult of celebrity in our times. Men and women, boys and girls, all of whom God so gloriously created for His Own glory, seem to persistently ignore Him, and to make idols out of silly individuals famous for even sillier accomplishments.
-Ministry Addict
Professing Atheists Try to Allay Their Fears
February 12, 2009 at 9:49 am | Posted in ProfessingAtheists | 3 CommentsTags: atheism debate, Judges 17, Judges 19, Judges 21, moral relativism, professing atheists, ProfessingAtheists, Proverbs 16, right in their own eyes
Professing Atheist: The Bible, huh? Well, can you please explain to me what on earth is going on in Judges 19, vv. 22-25? I wouldn’t ask, only it seems a little immoral and misogynistic to my 21st century humanist way of thinking.
Christian: It is good to see – in spite of their fears – that some professing atheists ARE reading Scripture. I challenge them to continue doing so. Exploring Judges 19:22-25, we see the attitude and actions of a very sinful Levite. There is a key word in Verse 24: “Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what SEEMETH good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.” The word “seemeth” points out the source of the wicked and vile behavior exhibited by the Levite and the men of Gibeah. It is a theme in the whole book of Judges: Men were rebelling against God, and doing what seemed right in their own eyes. (See Judges 17:6 and 21:25.) The same type of rebellion exists today: “Skepticism ’seems’ natural.” Behavior “’seems’ a little immoral…”
Many men in the days of the Book of Judges behaved wickedly for many of the same reasons men behave wickedly in the 21st century. Their standard is what seems right to them, instead of what God has said.
The type of reprehensible behavior recorded in Judges 19:22-25 – and worse – can be found today being described in the juvenile and criminal courts of any city or town in the U.S. Thankfully, though, God is real, and He is just. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 16:25
The Deep End 