The Ultrasound Of Divine Love In Salvation

Psalm 139:13-16 "For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them."

Jeremiah 1:4-5  "Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Galatians 1:15-16b "But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles."

Introduction: Ultrasounds

We have four wonderful children. I can recall when I first saw each one while the doctors and nurses performed an ultra sound of my wife's womb. It is truly a remarkable moment when your child's image appears on that little tiny screen. In the latter weeks of the pregnancy, she and I could discern features that resembled each side of our respective families. As I would get those first images in my eye and mind, I can honestly tell you that love swelled up in my heart. 

That little one inside my wife's womb was ours. Even though I hadn't the chance yet to hold that little one, feel its fingers squeeze my own nor hear its cooing; nevertheless, I loved him or her. By the day of birth, the love was already there. It is fair to say that my experience of pre-loving and seeing my children's images on the ultrasound was a faint analogy of what the Bible calls "God's foreknowledge". 

In the above opening passages, we find reference to God having "foreknown" David, Jeremiah and the Apostle Paul. We see those first glimpses of Biblical "ultrasounds", as each man describes how God foreknew each of them before any days of life had begun. 

Certainly God had chosen to use them as His vessels of communication. God had already known about David, Jeremiah and Paul before they were born, before they were conceived - before time began. Today's post will aim to connect the Biblical teaching on God's "foreknowledge" to His particular love for particular people (like David, Jeremiah, Paul and other believers).

Biblical Ultrasound #1: David 

When we think of David for example, did God decide to set his affection upon David before David had even thought about loving God? Both the Old and New Testaments affirm that David was sought by God for the purpose that He might raise Him up to be a man after His own heart (see 1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 7:46; 13:22). 

God already had David in the sonar screen of His omniscience. Sometimes reference is made to what is called God's "supercomprehension" - which means that God knows each of the creatures in ways that not even that creature could possibly know. God knew what each of His free-will creatures would do in particular places and times. 

As we already saw in Psalm 139, God had already marked out David's days. God foreknew David, which is to say, God fore-loved David. And yet, we also know too that David was a man that loved God and was clearly acquainted with what it meant to love God from an early age. David loved God because God had first loved him. God's foreknowledge of David did not preclude David's own free-moral agency from genuinely pursuing God. God's grace and Divine calling on David's life gave the context and the means for David's human responsibility to respond and freely follow. 

God's reasons for loving David are never stated beyond the fact that He loved and favored David. We know from reading David's life in 1 & 2 Samuel that some horrendous sins would be committed along the way. Yet, God ever loved him. Followers of Jesus Christ can also say the same thing about themselves. God's love for any of His people is not based upon what that person would or would not do, but rather what God wanted to do in that person's life to redeem them from darkness to life (see Romans 8:28-31).

God's covenant with David, which would bring about the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ, was based upon God's covenant love for him (2 Samuel 7:13-16; Romans 1:3). God's fore-loving of David did not preclude nor negate any free-decisions David would make. As noted already, despite making some very terrible choices, David was still used by God and God's ultimate purposes for Him were still brought to pass. These realities can be also said of every person who has believed and repented of their sins throughout redemptive history (see 1 John 4:19).

Biblical Ultrasound #2: Jeremiah 

What of Jeremiah? What was God's thoughts toward him? The rest of Jeremiah 1:6-8 unfolds God's thoughts toward him: 

"Then I said, “Alas, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth. 7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. 8 “Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you,” declares the Lord."

Or later on another book authored by Jeremiah, namely Lamentations 3:21-25

"This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him."

God never left Jeremiah's side. Jeremiah was chosen and foreknown by God before Jeremiah had been born, before time itself had began (see Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:4-5). God's love toward Jeremiah was pre-eternal. Such love called and drew Jeremiah out of the mass of humanity. He gave Jeremiah a call, a purpose and a promise to ever be with him. Such comforting thoughts uphold salvation in both the Old and New Testaments. 

Biblical Ultrasound #3: Saul/Paul 

We then consider the Apostle Paul. Paul, introduced in the New Testament as Saul of Tarsus, was freely and knowingly persecuting Christians (see Acts 9; 22;24). There was nothing in Saul's (i.e Paul's) life that made him commendable or worthy of God's choice to save him and to call him as the Apostle to the Gentiles (Galatians 1:13-14; Philippians 3:4-6). God's choice to love and show mercy to Paul was for the sake of His Son and loving character.  

Certainly Saul/Paul had done nothing to merit such love. He persecuted Christians and breathed out threats against Christ's people. God's grace broke in and Jesus made Himself known to Saul/Paul. 

In so far as God had foreknown and chosen Paul, it is nonetheless still true that Saul/Paul was responsive to Christ's call to him. In Galatians 2:20, we find Paul's will and God's will intertwined with one another in the living out of the Christian life:  "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."

God's foreknowledge and purposes of grace include the free-moral agency of the persons upon whom such purposes come. Time and time again, Paul could only give credit to God as to why he responded to the Gospel, whilst blaming those who reject Christ as being responsible for their own condemnation (see Acts 13:46).

The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 reminds us of God's purposes of grace in things like election and foreknowledge as being totally compatible with human responsibility: 

"Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility."

Closing thoughts

Today we considered three examples of God's people whom were foreknown or fore-loved by God. Such a Divine initiative in vocation and salvation is God's eternal love directed towards His people before they ever existed or even before time began. Such pre-eternal love is person-specific, and includes the free-moral decisions of that person. God not only knows the ends of all things, but included means (such as human responsibility) in His decision to bring about our world populated by human free-moral agents. Why is it that any follower of Jesus Christ loves God? because God first loved them (Romans 8:29-31; 1 John 4:19). The great 19th century Baptist preacher C.H Spurgeon once noted:

"If there are some whom God will save, then I know also who they are, for He tells me they are such as repent of sin, confess it, forsake it and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."

Urging All Christians To Keep The Fire Of God Burning Brightly In Their Lives

Leviticus 9:22-24 "Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he stepped down after making the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings. 23 Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. When they came out and blessed the people, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. 24 Then fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the portions of fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces."

Introduction: The need to keep the fire burning

I was thinking upon the above passage of scripture regarding the beginnings of the priesthood in Old Testament Israel. Aaron, Moses' brother, was chosen by God to be the first high priest of Israel. His family and clan and tribe were the chosen portion of Israel that were set aside by God to represent His interests to the people. The Book of Leviticus represents the Israelite's first month or two of life following their Exodus from Egypt. We see the beginnings of their journeys and the start of a ministry. As God was finalizing all of the instructions to Aaron and his sons through Moses, the one feature of their calling and office as priests had to do with keeping the fire burning upon the altar (see Leviticus 6:13).

I can recall in my younger days as a beginning preacher gathering with older pastors at a retreat. One of the men began to sing an old hymn that went something like the following:

"Oh Lord, in my heart, keep the fire burning, burning, burning". 

The rest of the words I cannot recall, but I do remember the depth of walk that older pastor had, and the impression it left on my life. In my beginnings, I knew that if I was going to make it in ministry and daily Christian living, I needed to tend the flame of God burning in my soul by way of the Spirit-filled life.

We need not so much the "forms of Godliness" as we need the fire of God burning in those forms

Undoubtedly the preparation for the moment of the beginnings of Aaron's priesthood is recorded for us in Leviticus 9. The priesthood of Israel was a special office commissioned by God. Aaron and his sons had experienced the prescribed rituals of anointing and donning of garments. However, one thing was needed - "the fire of God". Lest the Spirit of God would come and kindle the altar, the priesthood would remain a ritual - and not a relationship with the covenant keeping God of Israel. 

The scene must had been truly an emotional one as the Jewish Levitical priesthood was getting underway. The people were present. Moses was there. Aaron and his sons were arrayed in their white garments. Then the fire came. The corporate spiritual life of a nation could now officially begin. They had experienced the deliverance by God from Egypt and were at the place God had called them. But until the fire of His presence kindled that altar, the ministry, the life of following God - could not commence nor continue. 

Matthew Henry, the great commentator of old wrote these words: "This fire did, as it were, take possession of the altar. The fire was thus kindled in God’s house, which was to continue as long as the house stood, as we read before, Lev. 6:13. This also was a figure of good things to come."

Henry later writes:

"The Spirit descended upon the apostles in fire (Acts 2:3), so ratifying their commission, as this spoken of here did the priests’. And the descent of this holy fire into our souls to kindle in them pious and devout affections towards God, and such a holy zeal as burns up the flesh and the lusts of it, is a certain token of God’s gracious acceptance of our persons and performances. That redounds to God’s glory which is the work of his own grace in us." 

Henry continues: "Hereby we know that we dwell in God, and God in us, because he hath thus given us of his Spirit, 1 John 4:13. Now henceforward, (1.) All their sacrifices and incense must be offered with this fire. Note, Nothing goes to God but what comes from him. We must have grace, that holy fire, from the God of grace, else we cannot serve him acceptably,Heb. 12:28. (2.) The priests must keep it burning with a constant supply of fuel, and the fuel must be wood, the cleanest of fuel. Thus those to whom God has given grace must take heed of quenching the Spirit."

Would the fire of God's Spirit burn brightly on the altar of our changed lives in Christ Jesus

Israel of the Old Testament was characterized by the heavenly fire of Yahweh. Such fire represented the Person of the Spirit of God attending with His people. God was the One that met Moses in the fiery bush and revealed His name as Yahweh (Exodus 3:14). Moses' calling could not commence without that confirmation of God's glorious presence. The beginnings of Aaron's ministry, the ministry of the tabernacle and the much later ministry of the temple built by Solomon had with them the coming of the heavenly fire. 

In the New Testament we see yet again the Holy Spirit descending upon His church. The church worldwide and on the local level is composed of all born-again people who are classified as a spiritual priesthood (1 Peter 2:9-10). Jesus had told his disciples to wait and tarry in Jerusalem until the Power from on High came down (see Acts 1:8). 

The one crucial difference between the Spirit's ministry in the Old Testament and today is that whilst He dwelt with and among the people in O.T Israel; He now permanently dwells in and through the church. Lest the Spirit comes, indwells at salvation and continues to lead and guide in sanctification - no spiritual life and service to God will commence or continue. The Spirit did come. 

When He comes into our hearts at salvation, simultaneously faith issues forth. True, genuine trust is issued froth by the sinner and they freely embrace Jesus Christ - resulting in their conversion. The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 notes: "Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Saviour." Scripture describes this miracle as regeneration or the new birth (John 3:1-5; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:3,23). 

Closing thoughts:

When a man preaches a sermon or a anyone serves God in any capacity, they can only do so by the Spirit's continuing work of gifting and empowerment in their post-conversion Christian walk (Ephesians 4:11-12). Today, I simply close with the thought that as Christians, we need to tend to the fire of God kindled in our human spirit by the Holy Spirit. Let's keep the fire burning and thus serve God with joy and gladness!

How The Spirit-Filled Life Leads Christians To Be Focused On The Heavenly Father

Ephesians 5:1-2 "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma."

Introduction:

The great 18th century preacher George Whitfield made a comment once about the ignorance so-many Christian people had in his day about the benefits of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. What we writes seems so true in so much of the American church today:

"Nothing has rendered the cross of Christ of less effect; nothing has been a greater stumbling-block and rock of offense to weak minds, that a supposition, now current among us, that most of what is contained in the gospel of Jesus Christ, was designed for the Lord's first and immediate followers, and consequently calculated but for one or two hundred years."

Whitfield later adds:

"Many now read the life, sufferings, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, in the same manner as Caesar's commentaries, or the Conquests of Alexander are read: as things rather intended to afford matter for speculation, than to be acted over again in and by us."

When it comes to the Spirit-filled life, we find the Spirit's main purpose in bringing about a more vibrant awareness and experience of God in the believer's soul. 

Jesus was in His ministry and life both Spirit-led and Father-focused

Whenever one studies the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, two immediate traits emerge. First and foremost, the Lord Jesus Christ, touching His humanity, was led by and filled with the Holy Spirit. The title "Christ" literally means "anointed one". In nearly 45 places we find references to Jesus mentioning, ministering and being empowered by the Holy Spirit. He not only lived by the Holy Spirit as a mark of His Messiahship, but more so to portray for us a true humanity empowered by the Holy Spirit - a heritage He has available to every Christian.

The second trait about the ministry and life of the Lord Jesus is how "Father-centered" He was in His thinking, emotions and decision making. We discover Jesus referring to the Heavenly Father nearly 70 times in the four Gospels. He called on Him in prayer, spent time with Him and never reckoned the timing of His decisions apart from the Father's will.

The Christian is called to be Spirit-filled and Father-focused

Is it possible for the Christian in their humanity to approximate this intense "Father-focused" lifestyle of Jesus Christ? Absolutely! Note the command urged upon every Christian in Ephesians 5:1, wherein we read: "be imitators of God". Wow! How can this be? Jesus states similarly in His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:48 - "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." It is very clear that I in my humanity am called to carry-out this command. Yet, I by myself cannot do it alone. 

The Holy Spirit, Who is by very nature God, comes to indwell at salvation (1 Corinthians 3:16). This means then that by the Holy Spirit in me, I can imitate God in terms of His moral attributes (love, righteousness, holiness, goodness and all the rest). Theologians sometimes make a distinction between God's "incommunicable attributes" and "communicable attributes". The former are qualities not shared between God and other beings (such as omniscience, omnipresence). However, there are traits which God does share with people in a comparative sense (love, mercy, justice, etc.) 

In a Christian, these communicable attributes become empowered by the Holy Spirit, resulting in the Christian acting, thinking and expressing in their emotions an approximation of God's very presence. Much like sunlight shining through stained-glass windows, the Spirit's power expresses itself through those communicable attributes of the believer's human soul. The result? Read Ephesians 5:2 - "and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma." 

Final Thoughts

As we become more focused on the Father, we come to imitate Jesus. Why? Because of the Holy Spirit's work in the Christian life.  The filling of the Holy Spirit is required if the Christian ever expects to be focused on the Heavenly Father.

What The Spirit-Filled Christian Life Looks Like

Acts 11:22-24 "The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. 23 Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; 24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord."

Introduction: Rechargeable batteries and the Spirit-filled life

It is amazing how many batteries one can go through when raising young children.  Whenever the children were younger, they would come to my wife or me and inquire about batteries. We would make sure we had fresh ones - ready-to-go. Now-a-days, most in our family have various devices that need plugged in so as to get "recharged". The performance of electronic devices will degrade unless you plug them in for a periodic recharge. Having available power is important whether we are talking about children's toys, cell-phones or computers.

What ought to characterize the Christian throughout the remainder of their post-conversion life? The Spirit-filled life.

Just as in the illustration above, you and I as Christians - whether new to the faith or converted for years - continue to live life in this world. All Christians live life with the "batteries" of the Christian walk (commitment, obedience, love for God and others), needing  recharged.  God's people are not only called to live out a certain spiritual position or privilege, but also to walk forth in power. The Spirit-filled life can be likened to the repeated need to be recharged and influenced by the Spirit following one's conversion to saving faith. 

Meet a Spirit-filled man by the name of Barnabas

Acts 11:19-30 details the events the were still following from the persecution of Stephen the Martyr in Acts 7-8.  The early church in the Book of Acts had blossomed and grown despite the hardship and tribulations that she endured.  Acts 11:21 records a major development in regards to the progress of the church at Antioch - "And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord." These people were getting converted as a result of the Spirit's work through the preaching of the Gospel. But now with the people becoming new believers, what was going to be needed? How was this fledgling Christian movement in Antioch going to continue on from this point? Enter the man Barnabas and the key trait which he possessed - being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 11:24, quoted at the beginning of today's post, records how Barnabas "....was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith."  In the remainder of time that we have I would like us to briefly consider what the rest of Acts 11 (particularly 11:23-25 and 30) has to teach us about the filling of the Spirit in regards to is characteristics.

Characteristics of the Spirit-filled life. Acts 11:23-25, 30

Notice the following characteristics of the Spirit-filled life:

1. Clear testimony  11:23a
2. Confident joy      11:23b
3. Consistent in Faith 11:24a
4. Kingdom fruit 11:24b
5. Counted reliable  11:30

Certainly there are other scriptures in the New Testament that bear out more examples and more traits. Barnabas is a great introduction to the Spirit-filled or Spirit-empowered life in terms of what it looks like, sounds like and acts like. Barnabas (whose name means "son of encouragement) was the type of Christian that was a joy to be around. The Spirit-filled Christian not only has enough "rechargable energy" for their own Christian walk but they operate in the "over-flow" of the Holy Spirit to the affecting of others.  

It is only apropos that in the very first place in the Bible that we find the term "Christian" that it should be attached to this idea of being "filled with the Holy Spirit." Just as the new birth or regenerative work of the Holy Spirit constitutes the epicenter of conversion; the filling or empowering ministry of the Holy Spirit occupies the center of the post-conversion Christian walk. 

The filling of the Spirit enables me to become in experience of my sanctification (i.e progressive Christian growth) whom God has legally declared me to be in justification in salvation. As we find Barnabas to be a grand example of this precious truth of the Spirit-filled life, may those who are Christians heed the admonition of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:18 - to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Four Reasons Why Christianity Is More Reasonable Than Atheism & Secular Humanism: Considering Three Remaining Reasons

Acts 17:26-27 "and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us."

Introduction:

In the last post, we began exploring four reasons why Christian theism is more reasonable of a position than atheism or secular humanism. We first defined atheism, secular humanism and reasonability. We then observed that one can indeed be a rational person while "knowing God to be true". Other sorts of various arguments for God's existence can function as a second-type of ground for "showing Christianity to be true". In today's post, we will give three other reasons or arguments that "show" the God of Christianity, and belief in Him, as being far more reasonable of a worldview than atheism and secular humanism. 

Three more reasons why Christianity is more reasonable than Atheism and Secular Humanism

Reason #2: Biblical Christianity best explains the universe’s cause. Material causes cannot account for why there is something rather than nothing.

Evidences:

Most astronomers conclude the universe began to exist a finite time ago.

It is absurd to rely upon an infinite chain of material causes. Logical reasoning leads us to conclude that the cause of the universe was an immaterial, spaceless, timeless, unimaginably powerful, intelligent being – i.e God. A type of argument which uses observations from the universe to show that God exists is what we call a "cosmological argument". The one below is a simple and very effective type of cosmological argument called "The Kalaam Cosmological Argument" ("kalaam" is from a term meaning "learning").

Kalaam Cosmological Argument: 
A. Everything that begins to exist has a cause

B. The universe began to exist

C. Therefore, the universe has a cause

Biblical texts: Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 43:10-11; 1 Corinthians 8:6

Reason #3. Biblical Christianity best explains meaning, value and purpose in life. 

We not only live in a physical universe, but a moral one, containing universal moral values and duties. Human well-being is not a sufficient explanation for the reality of morality.

Evidences:
Answer this question: “Is it wrong to purposefully hurt little children?” “Is it right to fight injustice?” “Was the Holocaust wrong, even though the people doing it thought it was right?” You respond like you do because of there being universal right and wrong. Below is a sample of what we call "the moral argument for God's existence". 

Moral Argument:
A. If God does not exist, universal moral values and duties don’t exist

B. Universal moral values and duties exist

C. Therefore, God exists

Biblical texts: Ecclesiastes 12:13; Philippians 3:7-10

Reason # 4. The existence of the Biblical God best explains the facts surrounding the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. 

No other non-Christian explanation has sufficed to explain what took place on that first Easter morning. This particular argument gets us from a "generalized deity" to the specific God of Christianity (the only God there is). 

Evidence:
Naturalistic explanations (Jesus fainted in the tomb / Jesus faked His death / Disciples stole the body / His appearances were hallucinations / They got the wrong tomb) have consistently failed. Whenever there are no reasonable grounds for rejecting a superior explanation, that explanation is deemed: “beyond reasonable doubt”. The resurrection explanation alone reaches this gold standard. 

Argument:

A. There are four facts concerning Jesus resurrection agreed upon by most historians: His honorable burial / the discovery of the empty tomb / post-resurrection appearances to critics and followers / Disciples’ sudden switch from skepticism to faith 

B. The hypothesis that God raised Jesus from the dead best explains these facts

C. This hypothesis entails the Biblical God’s existence

D. Therefore, the Biblical God exists

Example Biblical Text: 1 Cor 15:1-6, 19-20

As can be seen in the above arguments, the case for showing that it is more reasonable to believe in the God of Christianity takes into consideration all the evidence (scientific evidence, moral intuitions and historical considerations). Such arguments are valuable in helping people to come to the point of saying there to be a high probability that Christianity is true. As we saw in the last post, there is an important distinction between "showing Christianity to be true" and "knowing Christianity to be true". Only the Person and work of the Holy Spirit in the explanation of the scriptures can take a person from "probably Christianity is true" to that of "Christianity is most certainly true". May these posts aid the reader in their quest for truth or helping others in their journey.

Four Reasons Why Christianity Is More Reasonable Than Atheism & Secular Humanism: God Can Be Experienced & Known

Romans 1:18-20 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse."

Introduction:

Today's post will aim to demonstrate to the reader why Christian theism is more reasonable than atheism and secular humanism. Now before we move forward, its important to define some terms.

Atheism?  
The belief that asserts there is no compelling evidence for God’s existence (paraphrase of the late atheist Christopher Hitchens).

Another atheist organization defines atheism as: "It is the lack of belief in such a being as God (omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, all-good, personal, immaterial Creator of the universe) or in any other deity (adopted from the organization "American Atheists").

Secular Humanism?
The secular humanist organization "American Humanist" defines secular humanism as follows: “(A)n ethical and life-affirming philosophy free of belief in any gods and other supernatural forces” (americanhumanist.org). Later on, the same organization notes: 
“Therefore, we take very seriously the idea that “No deity will save us; we must save ourselves.”  We are living the only life we’ll have, in the only world we know about. The responsibility for the choices we make are ours and ours alone” (americanhumanist.org).

Reasonability?

Whenever one talks to atheists or humanists, there is great concern over being reasonable or rational. What is meant by reasonability? Something is reasonable when we use properly functioning brain to weigh and commit to a specific belief as being more probable than its opposite. Until opposing evidence (i.e defeater) is shown to be more probable than the currently held belief, one is reasonable in holding to that belief (see 1 Peter 3:15)

With those definitions expressed, we can now begin to explore the four reasons for why Christianity is more reasonable than its opposite. For sake of time today, we will mention the first reason, and then follow up with three other reasons in the next post.

First Reason: God can be personally known and experienced

This first point is not so much an argument as it is an observation of the wide-range of human experience. In the philosophical literature, there are a collection of positive statements or "arguments" for Christian theism by what is called "Arguments for Religious Experience" (ARE's for short). Five bullet-points below summarize this type of argument or positive assertion for Christianity in particular. In making the case for Christianity, there is a distinction between "knowing God to be true" and "showing God to be true". In this instance, the assertion of knowing and experiencing God counts as part of "knowing God to be true". 

It must be remembered that even if several different people have differing details on their various experiences and knowledge of God, the core of such knowledge will generally match ("sense of God's power"; "conviction of sin"; a strong sense of needing to read the Bible"; "an unusual awareness of God's peace"). 

Before giving the bullet points with relevant Biblical references, one final observation must be noted: Atheism cannot sufficiently account for the wide-prevalence of genuine experiences of God.

A. The experience of the Holy Spirit is unmistakable or verifiable to the one who has it. Sin can quench such an experience, and continual exercise in prayer and Bible reading serve to heighten this awareness.

B. This authenticating witness of the Spirit occurs apart from arguments & evidence.

C. In certain contexts (like church services), responses to certain truths indicate that the person is genuinely experiencing God by the Holy Spirit.

D. Such an experience of the Spirit's authenticating work provides personal assurance and genuine knowledge that the God of Christianity exists.

E. Arguments and objections that attempt to overthrow the Christian's faith are overwhelmed by this authenticating witness of the Spirit for the Christian who gives themselves regularly to fellowship, prayer and the scriptures.

Biblical texts: John 14:16-17; 16:8-12; Col 2:2; 1 Thess 1:5; 1 Cor 2:10-13; 1 John 2:20,27

This observation of being able to know or experience God is important when making the case for the reasonability and superiority of Christianity over atheism. We have shown that one can indeed be a rational person while "knowing God to be true". As will be noted in the next post, other sorts of various arguments for God's existence can function as a second-type of ground for "showing Christianity to be true". 

Warning! Be Aware Of Taking Up Offenses! - The Consequences Of Taking Up Offense And How To Defeat It

Mark 6:3 “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him.

Introduction:

Over the last couple of posts, we have dealt with the subject of taking up offense. We have defined it and then given practical suggestions for guarding against it. In today's post we offer one final bit of reflection on this dangerous weapon of the enemy. We will explore what took place when Jesus' hometown took up offense against Him. The greatest tragedy of offense is in how we can miss having seasons of closer walks with the Lord when we choose to "hold-on-to" things of the past rather than "letting-go". 

Meet the people who thought they were dealing with a "safe" Jesus

Jesus was rounding out the first year of his public ministry. His ministry circuit in Galilee would take him to Nazareth, the town where he grew up. In Mark 6:1-2 we pick up the narrative: "Jesus went out from there and came into His hometown; and His disciples followed Him. 2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, 'Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands?"' 

These people had known Jesus from his childhood days growing up. They were familiar with him - or at least they thought they were.

Jesus crossed their line - they took up the offense

The people of Nazareth had drawn lines around Jesus. They pigeonholed him and concluded he was just "one of the boys" so to speak.  Upon his return, Jesus very quickly shattered their preconceptions.  The Bible tells us that they uttered what they thought they knew about Jesus.  Their description of Jesus was a view of Jesus that was safe. Anytime people assume that following Jesus entails total comfort and lack of confrontation with preconceived notions are setting themselves up for offense.  It was very clear: the people had drawn a line that they thought Jesus had crossed. The people of Nazareth took up the offense and chose to remain bitter, rather than get right and get better. 

Offenses come in this world.  Whenever you and I get angry at someone, it can be over something petty or over something that is downright wrong they have done to us.  The point being is that a line has been crossed - perceived or unperceived.  What happens when we bear the grudge?  Note some key characteristics of these people in Nazareth as a case study of the consequences of taking up offense:

1. Refusal to honor Christ's authority. Mark 6:4


Jesus stated that a prophet is without honor in his hometown.  This fits in line with the modern day saying of "familiarity breeds contempt".  Whenever we take up offense, we will find ourselves progressively refusing to give honor to Jesus Christ.  The Bible is the authority of Christ written, since it is classified as the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)  People who take up offense will over time grow cynical to either God's word or spiritual authorities who minister in the name of Jesus.  Clearly these people would not honor Jesus.

2. Restriction of God's power. Mark 6:5


The scripture says "he was not able to do many miracles".  Because the people took up the offense against Jesus, the consequence was the limiting of the demonstration of God's power in their lives.  Whenever we are either defeated in our Christian walk or see defeat in another person's life, it is guaranteed that somewhere in the past  that individual took up offense.  It's as if they shut off God's power in that area.  Jesus did heal a few people, but not many.  

Unless the offended person forgives and puts off the malice and anger that they have been carrying around, the power of God will not be fully experienced in their lives.

3. Rejection. Mark 6:5


I would add this third consequence of taking up offense - rejection.  Rejection describes the spiritual dimension of operating in resentment. When I say "rejection", I mean that a person who is bearing offense will not receive a legitimate offer of help.  I believe Jesus' power was restricted physically as well as supernaturally by these people.  Because they could not get past their perception of Jesus as "Mary's son". The tragic truth of the matter was that since they refused His attempts to minister, they demonstrated they were not in a position to receive what Jesus wanted to give them.

I have had times in my life where I bore up offense, and whenever someone tried to help me, I got angry and thought they were patronizing me.  I know what it is like, and can tell you plainly that only through the cross and forgiveness can the bondage of rejection produced by offense be broken. 

4. Repeats and grows worse if not let go. Matthew 13:53-57


In Matthew 13:53-57 we see Jesus return back to Nazareth after a period of time to attempt a second round of ministry.  Amazingly these people were still hanging onto their offense.  In fact the identical words are repeated by them, indicating that they had not changed.  Matthew 13:56-57 states "And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” 58And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief."

Whenever you and I take up offense, if left unchecked, our hurt and pain will start sounding like a broken record.  We will become "frozen" in the time and memory of those events.  An offense taken up years ago will still be fresh in the mind of the hurt person.  Presented with the same opportunity, the offense will resurface. The result? An issuing forth the same response and the same hurt.  Furthermore, the hurt and pain can be repeated in others around us, which is why Hebrews 12:15 warns us to "not let a root of bitterness to rise up in us, lest we defile many". 

5. Root of offense is unbelief. Mark 6:6; Matthew 13:57


So when did unbelief factor into the offense?  By the response.   You and I dear friend cannot, in a lot of ways, control others, nor our circumstances nor the level of hurt that may come at us.  However there is one thing we can control - our response.  

If as a Christian I take my anger and resentment and "cast all my anxiety upon the Lord", the Bible promises "He will take care of you" (1 Peter 5:7).  Faith says: "Lord, I don't know how to forgive, however you through me is more than able to love and forgive.  Thus I will be in you everything you want."

Offense will prefer to "hang on" to the resentment, not ever speaking to God about it.  For those who have been truly hurt by careless or vindictive people, unchecked anger will lead you to conclude that God can do nothing about it.  This is why James 1:20 states: "the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God". (ESV) 

Forgiveness is the quickest route to be healed of the consequences of offense


James 4:6-7 tells us: "But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." I love this passage, since it states: "He gives greater grace" and "gives grace to the humble".


Closing Thoughts And Applications

If we will but humble ourselves to the Lord and say: "God, I don't know how, but you through me can teach me how", the promise is that His greater grace is there. All we need to do is believe God, not doubt, and trust that what may not make sense emotionally is the only thing that makes sense in light of eternity. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32; Colossians 3:13)