WHY DO WE ASK SUCH QUESTIONS ABOUT GOD?- "Why did He desire to and create a plan of salvation that would frustrate his desire for all to be saved? Why did he create a world that would become sinful and frustrate his desire for perfection? Why was it God’s predetermined plan and foreknowledge to crucify Christ (Acts 2:23) which was accomplished through many acts of sin (which is against God’s will by definition)? God’s plan to crucify Christ can be seen in Isaiah 53:10, ”Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief.” Why does God send Moses to tell Pharaoh to “Let my people go.” Yet Exodus 4:21 God says, “I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.” Was God commanding someone to do something that He was ensuring they wouldn’t do? Did God not frustrate His own desire to have Pharaoh release Israel? (Romans 9 explains more) One of the biggest questions is why did God create a world capable of evil? The mere existence of an evil world works in contrast to God’s will. There are many more examples." A quote from a reader this week.
- The gospel has been described as a pool in which a toddler can wade and yet an elephant can swim. It is both simple enough to tell to a child and profound enough for the greatest minds to explore. Indeed, even angels never tire of looking into it (1 Peter 1:12). Humans are by no means angels, however, so rather than contemplating it, we argue about it.
- A generation ago evangelicals agreed on "the simple gospel": (1) God made you and wants to have a relationship with you, (2) but your sin separates you from God. (3) Jesus took the punishment your sins deserved, (4) so if you repent from sins and trust in him for your salvation, you will be forgiven, justified, and accepted freely by grace, and indwelt with his Spirit until you die and go to heaven.
- One gospel, many forms. So yes, there must be one gospel, yet there are clearly different forms in which that one gospel can be expressed. I am teaching First Thessalonians and Paul said, "For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance." The Gospel is the plan of salvation, but the gospel has a far reaching effect upon those who by God's grace receive it.
- There are other forms of the gospel. You will noticed that the kingdom language of the Synoptic Gospels is virtually missing in the Gospel of John, which usually talks instead about receiving eternal life. However, when we compare Mark 10:17, 23-34 , Matthew 25:34, 46, and John 3:5, 6 and 17, we see that "entering the kingdom of God" and "receiving eternal life" are virtually the same thing. Reading Matthew 18:3, Mark 10:15 and John 3:3, 5 together reveal that conversion, the new birth, and receiving the kingdom of God "as a child" are the same move. The terms eternal life and salvation and the kingdom are speaking of the same gospel.
PRAISE TO GOD IS A LIFESTYLE
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RIVERS OF JOY BAPTIST PRAISE CHOIR, SOUTHERN STYLE
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All too often, praise to God is something that many people leave at church, an event that happens only when they come together with other Christians. However, praise should be a part of a believers lifestyle, inter-mingled as a part of their daily prayer-life. At work, in the car, at home in bed, or anywhere; praise to the Lord brings the refreshing of the Lord’s presence, along with His power and anointing. “...I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalms 34:1).
Praise is an expression of faith, and a declaration of victory! It declares that we believe God is with us and is in control of the outcome of all our circumstances (Romans 8:28). Praise is a “sacrifice,” something that we offer to God sacrificially, not just because we feel like it, but because we believe in Him and wish to please Him. “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Hebrews 13:15).
